Getting ready for this year’s organic garden. Gardening is one of this countries favorite hobbies. With an increased interest in nutrition, eating healthy and saving money, growing your own organic produce is gaining popularity. Gardens come in all shapes and sizes, from a few pots or some garden boxes on an urban rooftop to somewhat larger gardens in your back yard or possibly even some leased space in your neighborhood. No matter what your circumstances, gardening can be fun, educational and productive. It is something that all in the family will enjoy, especially the kids as they watch those tiny seeds turn into something that mom prepares for dinner.
Here are some gardening tips so that you can have a successful growing season:
1. If you are brand new to gardening or even if not so new but could use some pointers, an excellent resource is a local Co-Op. They will have expertise on growing in your area, with information based on your specific climate.
2. Almost all vegetable crops need sun. Sunshine is important in order for your plants to get off to a good start. Plenty of sun light helps in developing the sugars that will make your produce so delicious as they ripen. So before you start planting, take a little time to walk around your yard, taking notice of the sunny spots VS. the shady spots. Usually you will want to plant in the area that gets the most sun throughout the day.
3. Consider raised beds and adding compost. Row covers are also a nice idea especially early in the planting season when winds and occasional cold snaps can damage delicate new growths. Your own compost maker is another way to be mindful of our fragile ecosystem. Kind of fun too. Hey, the kids can raise their own worms!
4. Start small and chose easy to grow plants. There are some great vegetable options that are very easy to grow, they grow quickly and are less subject to weather related problems. Vegetables like lettuce, spinach, kale and chard take little space and don’t mind if it gets cold out there.
5. Everyone loves a carrot and there is nothing tastier than one that is homegrown, fresh out of the ground. There are lots of root veggies that are at their very best when they come right out of your organic garden.
6. If you have a fence, put it to good use as a trellis. For plants that don’t mind a bit of shade such as blackberries and raspberries, this is a great use of space.
7. Consider a drip irrigation system. Seems we are always in some sort of a water shortage, so with a drip system you will use less water which is good for the environment and helps to keep costs down. Using a drip system you are less likely to over or under water your plants. You can even hook your irrigation system up to a timer which will make watering completely automated for you.
8. Know when is the right time to plant and when to harvest. Again you can chat with your local Co-Op in your area for some guidelines. Talking to your neighbors is always a good idea too. Look for those with especially beautiful gardens.
Some other organizations you might want to check out are:
Of course when planting an organic garden you need to steer clean of toxic chemicals that come in fertilizers or pesticides. If you don’t then that really defeats the purpose of trying to have an organic garden. Here are some great ideas for encouraging pests to stay away from your tasty fruits and vegetables.
Here are some ways to use essential oils in the garden because you want a beautiful organic garden this year, full of luscious vine ripened fruits and vegetables, ready to be picked at the perfect moment and on to your kitchen table in moments. Makes my mouth water just to type those words. Nothing beats fresh produce straight out of the garden. Essential oils are a valuable tool around the garden. Whether chasing away pests, improving the health and growth of your plants, or cleaning up your hands after gardening, essential oils have their place.
No More Slugs or Snails ~ White Fur essential oil has been reported to be very useful in getting rid of slugs and snails.
Aphids, ants and other mystery bugs ~ Peppermint! Most bugs really dislike peppermint. TerraShield has also been successfully used to ward of beetles.
There are even some essential oil options that will promote vigorous plant growth. as and example, Basil essential oil added to a watering can and sprinkled on the foliage or around the root system of your tomato plants. This will improve their vigor and make them more resistant to pests.
Other essential oils that you use around the garden are Cinnamon, Thyme, Geranium, Cedarwood, Lemongrass and Arborvitae which is known to be a strong agent against plant eating pests.
You don’t need a lot. A few drops of an essential oil into a spray bottle with water is all that is needed. Add more or less, depending on the size of your spray bottle. For a large watering can, 8-10 drops should be plenty.
For yourself, to keep you cool while working in the garden, a bit of Peppermint on the back of your neck works wonders. Working in your garden can be hard on the hands and can leave them pretty grubby. Here is a nice Gardeners’s Hand Soap idea:
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 Castille soap
- 2 TBL Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 1 Tsp vitamin E
- 15 drops of Geranium essential oil (excellent for the skin)
For the stiff and sore muscles after a day in your garden, reach for Deep Blue. Right now Deep Blue happens to be doTERRA’s promo for March 2015. For details on that see HERE.
It’s warming up (ok maybe not where you live yet, but it will), and sun is up longer with every day. In places like San Diego, Orange Co., CA and the southern states, trees are flowering which is a pretty sure sign that the growing season is about to begin. Hope you have a great produce haul this year!
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