Of course, Chris and I are both firm believers in growing organic. No synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Organic farming is all about creating healthy, balanced soil to support good bugs, worms, bacteria, fungi, etc. The idea is that healthy soil leads to healthy, productive plants.
So, what's wrong with synthetic fertilizers like Miracle Gro? These chemical mixes provide certain minerals, primarily nitrogen, but they leave out lots of the nutrients and trace elements that plants need in order to be healthy. High levels of nitrogen and low levels of trace minerals force fast growth that results in weak plants. Just because plants are growing fast doesn't mean everything is a-ok. The weak structure of the synthetically fertilized plant and the imbalance of the soil invite no-good insects and disease, creating the “need” for pesticides—a vicious cycle.
A fertilizer is supposed to enrich the soil and, in turn, stimulate plant growth. Organic fertilizers mimic natural fertilizers, like decaying leaves in the woods. These fertilizers release nutrients more slowly, so plants won't suddenly grow like gangbusters and weaken in the process. Since organic fertilizers provide food for soil organisms that recycle and hold nutrients, plants grow at a steady, healthy pace. You can buy organic fertilizers or make your own. Reputable brands of fertilizer include: Alliance, GreenSense, Garden-Ville, Hu-more, Bluebonnet, Sustane, Bioform, and Texas Tee. And here's a recipe I'm going to try for fertilizer “tea.” Apparently liquid fertilizer is great for the soil.
Organic Fertilizer Tea
Ingredients:
Three shovels (about 3 or 4 gallons) of composted manure. If you don’t have your own livestock, you can purchase bags of composted manure at garden centers.
A barrel or garbage can
An old pillowcase or burlap sack
Water
Directions:
1. Place compost in the pillowcase or sack.
2. Tie the bag to a rake or broom handle and suspend it into a barrel or garbage can filled with water.
3. Let it sit for 5 days. When the water is a dark brown color, it’s done.
4. Apply at plant roots once a month, or dilute the mixture with clear water to apply more often.
As far as bug and weed control are concerned, I say poo-poo to pesticides. They're just plain bad, and you know it. Ever-popular Carbaryl (Sevin dust) is a nerve toxin that is readily absorbed through the skin. It has also been shown to have adverse effects on the reproductive system (including possible birth defects), kidneys, liver, and lungs. I know, I know—there are toxins everywhere we turn, but why would anybody willingly handle such nasty stuff? Bugs aren't fun to battle, but then again, neither is cancer.
Mulch is the best way to keep weeds at bay. Pile wood chips, newspaper, or cardboard around the base of your plants to smother weeds and hold moisture in the soil. When it comes to bugs, healthier plants should be less likely to fall victim, but we all know how persistent those vile squash bugs can be. Safer choices for protecting gardens, flower beds, and lawns are available from the following companies who offer free catalogs:
Gardens Alive
www.gardensalive.com
(513) 354-1482
Planet Natural
www.planetnatural.com
(406) 587-5891
Arbico Organics
www.arbico-organics.com
1-800-827-2847
May 1st Update...
Our garden is officially “in” and sweet little green sprigs are sprouting up everywhere. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, my husband and I were planning a his-and-hers garden competition, but when it came down to it, we both really had the same ideas in mind, so we joined forces and got 'er done.
This year's garden is unlike any we've ever created. Instead of sowing straight into the ground and battling the relentless Bermuda grass, we bought a bunch of big pots and also built some small beds out of cedar logs. Each of our kids got to plant a small bed of their own, made out of frames from old dresser drawers. We filled our containers with a bunch of semi-composted stuff from our chicken house and threw in some bagged organic compost for good measure. I love the fact that all of our good dirt is contained, not just spread about willy-nilly and washing away.
I feel like I've acquired a mysterious dose of garden maturity this year. In years past, I've flailed and fumbled my way through the entire affair. Impatient with reading all of the conflicting information about a bazillion bizarre planting practices, I practically just tossed my seeds into the air and figured, “If they're meant to make it, they will.”
Well, not this time around. Our neat 'n tidy little garden compartments have inspired me to actually try some of the tips I've read in Mother Earth News. I've even cracked open our organic pest control book, which I bought last year and stuck on the shelf, unopened. The sheer volume of pages on potential insect invaders overwhelms me (as does the memory of last season's squash bug and cucumber beetle extravaganza), but I'll have a few tricks up my sleeve as the summer ripens. My philosophy is to start simple and see what works. Here are a few I have in mind, in case you want to try them too:
Covering carrots with floating row cover reduces weevil damage by up to 75 percent, according to Organic Gardening Magazine. So, I improvised with a light piece of white fabric that I had on hand. I cut 4 lengths of wire, bent them into arches, and stuck them into my carrot bed. Then I stretched the fabric over the top and secured it down with rocks. Voila! The magazine said to leave the cover in place until harvest, so I've been watering the cloth, spraying a bit underneath, and then tucking the fabric down again. So far, we've got happy sprouts.
Yellow sticky traps attract cucumber beetles. Sticky traps are available in garden centers, or you can make your own. Paint a piece of 1 /4-inch plywood bright yellow and cover the painted trap with an adhesive (many sources say Vaseline works). The trap can be any size or shape. Hang or tack the trap near infested plants. Check the trap every few days and renew the adhesive as needed
Radishes may help deter squash borers and cucumber beetles, so we've paired these plants up, keeping our fingers crossed.
Thyme deters cabbage worms, or so they say. I've never grown cabbage, but I love it, so nestling it into a bed of thyme is worth a shot.
Catnip is supposed to keep away flea beetles, aphids, Japanese beetles, squash bugs, ants, and weevils. So, I bought a couple packets. Hopefully, my cats won't do more harm than the bugs when they get a whiff of it...
Here's a good website to learn more about companion planting for pest control: www.ghorganics.com/page2.html
And here's a good one on other kinds of nontoxic pest management:
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/ec/ec1532/
Good garden luck to you!
try the j. r. liggetts bar shampoo. it works way better than burt's bees and BB was recently bought by clorox. also i've found that chandrika and grandpa's pine tar soap both work well but not quite as good as j. r. liggetts.