How to Celebrate Earth Day as a Gardener

 It is easy being green, especially in the home garden. Make the transformation and ditch the waste.

Things You’ll Need:
Recycle center.
Compost
Mulch
Soaker hose
Organic garden products.
A willingness to change.

• Why don’t we start with the chemicals! How many bottles of poisons and fertilizer do you have sitting around in useful spaces? When’s the last time you used them?

• Can you even read the label anymore? Change is hard for all of us, but do you know why some of those chemicals have been removed from public use? I know of one popular insecticide that that was considered safe for use by human beings weighing 150 pounds or more. When the government asked them to release its effects when used around pets and children, the chemical manufacturer chose to quietly remove the product from the shelves rather then publish the results!!! Do you see why “going organic” is good? Not just for you, but for your children, grandchildren, pets, and wildlife. This is why you are doing yourself a favor by properly disposing of all of that toxic garbage. Call you local Hazardous Waste facility to find out about disposal, because none of that stuff belongs in our landfills.

• Step 2 is to replace that nasty stuff with the good stuff. For the record, organic fertilizers and pesticides can be overused enough to contaminate our drinking water. Moderation is the key! Instead of spraying weed killers, try a hula hoe. The hula scrapes just below the soils surface, cutting weeds away into a rake-able pile of green waste (hula’s wok best on shallow rooted weeds and grasses)

• For those big ol’ rooted Dandelions, try the Weed Hound. This little gadget plucks deeply rooted weeds right out of the ground. No need for bending over or crawling around on the ground, the long handle keeps you in an upright position. The Weed Hound also works on clumps of crab-grass.

• Now you’ve removed all of the weeds and big stuff by hand. If you have any crack in the cement that has grown the nicest patch of lawn, have a cup of tea. Yup, tea… boil yourself a big pot of water and while you’re enjoying your cup of Oolong, pour the rest of that boiling water on that grass patch. It’s as good as D-E-A-D, but when using the boiling water method, be careful not to get the hot water on any plants you love. The boiling water will kill just about anything.

• Next thing for those garden beds is a fresh layering of Compost. 2 - 3 inches thick please, and dug in between trees, shrubs and perennials. This would also be a good time to add all-natural Corn Gluten to the beds. Corn Gluten is a pre-emergent that keeps new weed seeds from germinating. Don't use the Gluten in beds that you want to have perennials self-sow.

• Fertilizers! The best kinds of organic fertilizers are 100% slow release. Things like Bat Guano (it is organic) are high in Nitrogen and that does green your plants up, but a huge percentage of that nitrogen washes right through the soil and into our drinking water. Why would you want to do that? It’s a complete waste of money, time, and resources. Look for organics with low numbers (5-3-4 versus 15-1-0), and the packaging should say slow release. This goes for lawn, rose, vegetable, rhododendron, all-purpose, or any kind of fertilizer. Follow the instructions on the packaging and remember the old standby: “less is more.”

• Water! It's a double-edge-sword. Do you have to have a lush green lawn in the high heat of the summer? You should be able to maintain a healthy green lawn with 1 inch of water a week. It’s true, if you put out tin cans and collected water each time you turned on the sprinkler, collecting 1 inch of water in the can for the week is enough to keep that lawn alive. You do have to water early in the morning to avoid evaporation, but it’s enough moisture and it’ll save you money. For the garden beds, lay soaker hose generously around trees, shrubs and perennials. Once the soakers are pinned into place, and checked to make sure they’re working, layer on 2 inches of mulch. The mulch will hide the hose and keep the water from evaporating away from the roots of the plants. How long you water depends on the plants and the heat of the season, start with 4 hours once a week (believe me, the water leaks out slowly, 4 hours only sounds like a long time). Check the mulch around the plant roots to see if they’re getting enough water and adjust accordingly. Keep about 6 inches of the hose out of the mulch, so you can connect and disconnect the garden hose easily.

• Finally, the part where we celebrate the Earth. The chemicals are properly disposed of and replaced with organics. The gardens are weeded, fertilized, mulched, and being properly watered. The lawn is healthy and the utility bills are decreasing. Pick up some organic veggies and sustainable seafood and grill outdoors. It's time to enjoy your healthy garden and Celebrate April 22nd.

How to Celebrate Spring

 As the flowers start to bloom and spread their fragrant smells into the fresh morning air, our thoughts naturally turn to spring. But how many of us let those pristine spring mornings and afternoons slip by without appreciating their beauty? Why not make this year different? Plan to take some time to really appreciate all that nature bestows on those glorious spring mornings. Here are some ways to celebrate the first spring day.

Plant a Butterfly Garden.

Nothing speaks of spring more strongly than watching a butterfly land on a colorful flower. Why not provide a special habitat for theses creatures of flight so you can look out your window and enjoy their beauty? You'll need to find a sunny area of your yard that's sheltered from wind. A wind barrier can be anything from a heavy fence to a group of dense shrubs. Next, do some research to determine what types of butterflies are found in your area. You can make flower choices based on the types of butterflies you want to attract. There are a variety of books available that tell you what types of flowers each butterfly prefers. Once your flowers are planted, you can sit back and watch the butterflies enjoy their new garden on the first spring day. It's a great stress reliever!

Relax in a Hammock.

Too many times in life we're so busy with daily activities that we never take the time to experience the moment. On the first day of spring where the weather cooperates, hang a hammock between two trees, kick off your shoes, close your eyes, and listen to the sounds of spring. The chirping birds, the sound of a gentle breeze, and flowing water, if you happen to have a creek nearby, are the ultimate in therapy. For once, don't think about what you need to do but just celebrate spring. When you emerge from your hammock, you'll feel refreshed and renewed.

Plan a Backyard Party.

The cold weather may have kept your friends and neighbors in seclusion. Now, it's time to bring them out of hibernation by holding a springtime backyard party. Set up some picnic tables and a buffet table filled with delicious, warm weather food. Be sure to have fresh squeezed lemonade and cold ice cream for dessert. When your guests are tired of eating and socializing, set up a game of croquette or badminton in your backyard. Enjoy some more cool lemonade once the game is over.

Go To a Dog Park.

Your canine best friend is eager to get outside and what better way to do it than to take him for an afternoon romp at your local dog park. This can be as soothing for humans as it is for canines. Bring a comfortable lawn chair and a cool drink and watch your dog frolic with the other canines. This is another form of relaxing therapy for the first spring day.