Going Green:
Are you looking to make your garden a little greener this year?? To be an organic gardener the goal is to create a balanced ecosystem where people, plants and nature all live in harmony together. In fact a true organic garden is lower maintenance because the garden takes care of itself. Going Green 101:
Feed the soil naturally with compost: A great organic garden starts with a good base. Creating a garden rich in organic matter by frequently adding compost will improve nutrients and continually feed your garden throughout the growing season naturally. Composting as well is a great way to recycle kitchen vegetable scraps, leaves and grass clippings (remember avoid putting meat and dairy into the compost).
Plant the right plant for the right place: Plant selection is vital in organic gardening where the goal is to pick plants hardy for your zone and or those plants that have a good resistance to disease, insects, wildlife and are not nutrient hogs my suggestion is to look for those that are native to your area.
Buy healthy plants: Look for plants free of insect and disease with strong stems and healthy foliage.
Think like Darwin: What I really mean is use the principal of survival of the fittest. If the plant died the first time don’t replant it but look for a better option.
Mulch: A good layer of mulch is worth its weight in gold as it will reduce weed growth, retain moisture and keep your gardens roots cool during extended periods of summer heat and drought.
Prevention not reaction: Take the time to smell the roses. In this manner you can identify disease and insect infestation before they become a problem thus preventing the issue instead of reacting to it by the use of chemicals. In terms of prevention its key to keep your garden free of debris such as fallen leaves, dead or decaying plants or diseased leaves, as these can become breeding grounds of bigger problems to come.
Accept nature and work with it: Invite all things good to the garden by welcoming beneficial bugs, birds, bats and toads.
Make your lawn more eco-friendly by reducing the percentage of Kentucky Blue grass and replacing it with more drought tolerant varieties of perennials rye and hardy fescue.
Reuse aquarium water as a supplement to fertilizer, bathwater as a supplement to insecticidal soap, or used coffee grounds as a supplement to nitrogen.
Purchase plants in biodegradable pots such as fibre pots and packs and or rice pots. If this is not possible buy plants from retailers that have a return and recycling program for plastic pots.
Frankie Fab Five Five great national green volunteer opportunities (garden related)?
Evergeen www.evergreen.ca: Volunteer and help your local community park, school or local residents become green this year.
PlanetVolunteer.net: A link to national organization looking for help in making a greener, more sustainable world. Offering both volunteer and paid openings.
Plant a Row – Grow a Row www.growarow.org: A great way to share the harvest and help feed the hungry in your local community.
World Wildlife Fund Canada www.wwf.ca: Organize a plant sale to raise funds to protect Canada’s wildlife and wild places.
Nature Watch www.naturewatch.ca: A great way to involve children and educate them on the importance of ecology in even our own backyard. Check out frogwatch, wormwatch, icewatch and plantwatch.
