There has been a budding interest in growing hydroponically around the country, and reading about it led me to review a study that had been done by BiOWiSH™ Technologies at a lettuce farm.  The outcome of using  BiOWiSH™ Crop was dramatic in plant growth results.  The farm in the study had seven greenhouses in which grow a variety of lettuces, all grown on Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) tables.

In the study, the lettuce farm used BiOWiSH™ Crop to treat water that flowed through the dripper lines, micro-tubes and NFT gulley floors. BiOWiSH™ Crop was a natural additive for these purposes, since it increases the nutrient availability in water flowing to the plants' root systems.  More nutrients mean better absorption, and more nutrients absorbed means bigger, healthier plants.  And that is, in fact, what happened.  In the six-week growth cycle, the farmer had lettuces that were double the usual size, all other factors being equal.  This is the goal of all gardeners!  Especially when growing space is limited...you want your gardening to result in as large and healthy a crop as possible in the space available. 

BiOWiSH™ Crop is 100% natural, biodegradable and safe for use in a wide range of consumer, commercial and industrial situations.  With over 18 years of research and development, BiOWiSH™ products accelerate enzymatic reactions over a thousand times faster than normal speed.  These enzymes breakdown all non-living organic matter, so in addition to increasing the hydroponics’ grows water nutrient availability, it also prevents sludge build-up and scaling in the water lines!

 

 

 

 

I know...it's November, and who thinks about composting in this weather? The answer is that I guess my husband and I do, since we continue to produce compostible materials in our kitchen every day! The thought of throwing it all into the trash is so unpleasant. Not to mention the water wasted when we run the garbage disposal.  Additionally, we are still raking leaves and picking up twigs and small tree branches that all can be run through our chipper and added to our compost tumbler.

 

So starting a compost pile is something you can do any time to reduce waste.  And the added benefit is the compost you’ll be able to work into your garden soil or spread onto your lawn in the spring.

It can be a bit tricky trying to get the right mix of ‘greens’ and ‘browns’ so that they will work together to break down into usable compost. Even the experienced composter can run into this problem now and again.  Rest assured that there are many different materials that are great for composting.  People who compost often refer to “C:N” needs; some materials are rich in carbon (in the form of cellulose), which is what the bacteria in the compost need for energy.  Other composting materials contain nitrogen (in the form of protein), which provide the bacteria with nutrients for the energy exchanges.

 

Some of the best ‘browns’ to add to compost piles and tumblers are:

·        Shredded newspapers (soy based inks only) and cardboard

·        Dryer lint

·        Wood shavings and sawdust

·        Dry leaves and twigs, shredded or chipped

‘Greens’ to add in can include:

·        Grass clippings

·        Kitchen scraps (leave out dairy, meat and citrus though)

·        Green leaves

Include just enough water to make it damp, but not wet, and leave air spaces in the compost because the decomposing organisms need oxygen.  You’ll be well on your way to a compost that will be rich in nutrients.  You’ll be able to use it in your garden and lawn as a soil conditioner, fertilizer and as a natural pesticide for your soil.  Happy composting!

With a good 1 to 2 inch layer of organic compost over your garden bed, and a cover crop of green manure planted from seed in the fall, you will be on your way to improving your garden soil for next year's planting. Sown from seed, cover crops germinate very quickly and will grow all winter long. Then simply till the cover crop in once it flowers in spring. The cover crop's foliage will help protect the soil from getting compacted, which can happen in constant winter rain or from blanketing of snow.  And when you till it in, the foliage adds organic material that will improve soil structure, increase nutrients and help your soil retain moisture.

 

Plants in the the legume family, commonly known as the pea family, bean family or pulse family, include soybean, alfalfa, vetch or fava beans. These are some of the best cover crops available (check online seed companies and nurseries). Legume plants are special in that they will retain nutrients that will then be returned to the soil when tilled in, thereby providing nutrients for your spring and summer crops next year. These crops have assertive root systems, which are helpful in breaking up hard soils.  They are also very hardy and frost tolerant.

 

Cover crop seeds can be broadcast in mid-October right over that one to two inch layer of compost and all around the fall crops that are currently growing in your garden.  Fall cover crops will grow quickly and reduce weed problems, but won't grow tall enough to overwhelm existing plantings.

 

Making organic compost for your fall cover crop is easy with tumbling composters.  Look for models with more than one section inside: one for new compostible materials and one section for completed compost.  If you live where there are temperature extremes, consider one of Jora tumbling composting machines.  They are manufactured in Sweden, and insulated to withstand temperature extremes.

Happy Composting!

Two weeks ago the tops of my Purple Bearded Iris were cut back to about 4 inches above the ground.  They were ready, I was ready...they were overcrowded and not producing flowers like they used to. Also, the rhizomes were snaking out of the ground.  The root systems were so bunched up that the roots were pushing the rhizomes to the surface.  So today was the day for thinning and transplanting them.  One large bunch had been planted in river rocks, thus all the rocks needed to be moved first (and continuously, since many seemed to have burrowed their way into the ground).  Using a garden fork, I loosened the soil around the rhizomes, then removed the clumps of rhizomes in as large a bunch as I could handle.  I carefully brushed the excess dirt off of the roots so they could be inspected, and placed the rhizomes in my folding cart. 

It's important that you check the iris rhizomes for root borers or for softness and throw away any that are diseased or bug damaged. Luckily all my rhizomes were healthy, and I have enough to share with neighbors and co-workers.

I kept rhizomes with leaf fans that were each in pieces about 3 -5 inches long for replanting. Four spots in my garden were selected that had the right combination of room and light.  Holes deep and wide enough for groupings of 3-5 rhizomes were dug, then the rhizomes were placed just below ground level and facing away from each other with the roots spreading out. Next came a covering of organic compost over around the roots and over all in a mound that covers the leaves. Finally the mound was watered well, and will be watered with my garden drip until first frost.  They'll get some moisture throughout the winter with snowmelt and some BiOWiSH™ Crop to promote good absorption of the nutrients in the compost.  My Purple Bearded Iris are set for roots to re-establish themselves in preparation of a glorious springtime bloom across the expanse of my back fence.  Happy Composting!

Growing interest in hydroponics led me to review a study that had been done by BiOWiSH™ Technologies and a lettuce farm.  The consequence of using  BiOWiSH™ Crop was dramatic in plant growth results.  The farm in question had seven greenhouses with a variety of lettuces, all grown on Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) tables. 

The lettuce farm used BiOWiSH™ Crop to treat the water that was flowing through the dripper lines, micro-tubes and NFT gulley floors. BiOWiSH™ Crop was a no-brainer for these purposes, since it increases the nutrient availability in water flowing to the plants' root systems.  More nutrients mean better absorption, and more nutrients absorbed means bigger, healthier plants.  That is, in fact, what happened.  In the six week growth cycle, the farmer had lettuces that were double the usual size, all other factors being equal.  And don't we all love bigger, healthier plants?!  Especially when growing space is limited...you want to as large a crop as possible in the space available. 

 

BiOWiSH™ Crop is 100% natural, biodegradable and safe for use in a wide range of consumer, commercial and industrial situations.  With over 18 years of research and development, BiOWiSH™ products accelerate enzymatic reactions over a thousand times faster than normal speed.  These enzymes breakdown all non-living organic matter, so in addition to increasing the hydroponic grows water nutrient availability, it also prevents sludge build-up and scaling in the water lines!

 

BiOWiSH™ Crop is now available on our  BiOWiSH™ Products page.   It should definitely be part of your hydroponic grow!

With times as they are in this economy, having vegetables and herbs grown at home can really stretch a budget.  I’ve been spending a lot less at the grocery this summer with the produce from my garden as a supplement.  We’re fortunate to have room in our yard to have a sizable garden, but you can grow your own fresh organic vegetables in containers very easily. 

I like to set up a drip irrigation system for my container garden, ala my husband, since plants do much better if they are on a set watering schedule.  We feed them regularly, as well, and nip off dead or yellowed leaves.  I recommend tomatoes in sunny locations, whether upright or hanging ones.  There are so many different types of tomatoes you can choose from, too, and a plethora of recipes that can accommodate this versatile veggie.    

Some of the benefits to container gardening, aside from the fresh produce are:

 - bugs and slugs are virtually non-problematic

 - weeds are usually not a problem either

 - you can have as many as you can fit or as few as you want to deal with

 - almost anything can be used as a planting container, as long as it holds soil and has adequate drainage

 - potting soil can be used with confidence, since they have the proper pH balance

 - containers can be brought indoors when the weather turns cold so you can prolong your growing season

 - container gardening beautifies your patio, porch or balcony with color and foliage

 - even small, tight spaces like as window sills and steps can be utilized to grow herbs

 - they love the compost that you've, hopefully, been making!

Happy Composting!

 

We have a friend with a miniature golf course close by who was lamenting to my husband the other day about having to clean the bathrooms every night after the 'mishaps' of their cherished customers.  Of course while they appreciate the business that their clients bring in, it's not a lot of fun cleaning up after them!

 

But they're closing times been much less gruesome now that they have BiOWiSH™ Cleaner-Deodorizer helping them.  These hard working folks deserve a few breaks, after all.  Their stinky, germ filled chore is taken care of with a quick spray of BiOWiSH™ Cleaner-Deodorizer.  It eliminates, instead of masking odors, because it digests the bacteria.  And one package of BiOWiSH™ Cleaner-Deodorizer equals 2.5 gallons of cleaning and deodorizing power, so it costs under $5 per.  An all-natural cleaner, completely safe around children and pets, and economical too!

 

Cleaner & Deodorizer is a unique chemical-free cleaning treatment for every household and office surface. Rid yourself of the worry of chemical cleaners with all BiOWiSH™ cleaning products, including Floor Wash, Odor, Septic Tank Aid, BiO-Stix Drain Cleaner, Pond & Fountain, Aqua and Cleaner & Degreaser.  View product details on our BiOWiSH Products page.  Happy cleaning!

Water is such an important part of our lives, and I can't think of anyone who doesn't enjoy the relaxing sound of a gurgling brook or splashing waterfall.  Ponds and fountains in your yard add
value to your property...as long as they look good and smell clean!  But let algae begin to take over and the attraction of your water feature will dwindle and turn to revulsion. 

The best plan, of course, is to start out with a clean pond or fountain and maintain it with an environmentally friendly, 100% organic product, BiOWiSH™ Pond & Fountain Conditioner.  For you lucky folks who haven't yet filled or even built your pond, you can start off right by keeping it clean with monthly doses of BiOWiSH™ Pond & Fountain Conditioner.

If you find yourself having to fix a growing algae problem, you've probably dealt with chemical mixes to kill the algae, then something else to remove it and/or the odor.  One of the benefits of BiOWiSH™ Pond & Fountain Conditioner is that, without chemicals, it consumes the algae instead of killing it.  This process reduces accumulated bottom sludge and improve water clarity and odor.  It;s economical and easy to use!

When you first apply BiOWiSH™ Pond & Tank Conditioner, the biology of the water will be bought back to life. This can cause short-term darkening of water as bottom sludge gains buoyancy. This is all part of the accelerated decomposition process. Over the course of 1-2 weeks you will see the water becoming progressively clearer, blue green algal growth will be removed and sludge or waste accumulation will be eliminated.  And there is no need to worry about adverse effects on aquatic plants or animals, pets or people.  It's completely safe to use; a natural cleaner from the earth, for the earth.  Visit our BiOWiSH™ products at page for all your organic cleaning needs - we are authorized distributors of BiOWiSH Technologies full line of products.  Happy Composting!

Successful organic vegetable gardening doesn't happen by accident. The three "P's" are essential to the process: planning, preparation and persistence.

You will enjoy higher yields and better results over the years by paying attention and keeping track of what works and what doesn't work in your garden.  It's one of the things I love about organic gardening - it's a continual learning process. Some of the success in your garden depends on factors outside our control, like the date of the last frost, how much or little rain falls, extreme weather, temperatures and infestations.  Yes, and a certain amount of luck.  But we can do a little research to find out what grows successfully in our region, and so control what we plant.  We can also have a lot of impact on the quality of our soil by testing and amending it, or by using raised beds and pots.

A vital element of organic gardening is maintaining a good supply of nutrients for your plants to take up as they need them. We provide nutrients organically to the soil by adding compost, mulch, green manure cover crops, mature or well composted animal manures, or mixed organic fertilizer. In this way, your vegetables will grow robustly, which will help deter pests and diseases. And having healthy plants will also provide you with bigger yields and faster maturing plants.

When you have a list of plants that typically do well in your region and growing season, and have tested and amended your soil to provide those plants with the nutrients they need, I suggest keeping that information in a gardening journal.  Record what you plant, where in the garden it's planted, when and how.  Add an entry whenever you need to in order to record what's happening in the garden.  Next year refer back to that journal and see what worked, what didn't, and hopefully, why.

Happy Composting! 

There was something I noticed pretty quickly about gardening organically, and that was the plant destroying pests: bugs, weeds and critters. I’d read about beneficial insects, the ones that eat the plant destroyers, and read about how they could be purchased online, through mail order, or sometimes from local nurseries.  I also knew that hot peppers could be used in some fashion as well.  And my organic farmer husband has long used a soap and water mixture sprayed onto plants in order to discourage infestations of insects. But an article in the weekend real estate guide from the Sunday, June 11th Denver Post went into glorious detail about organic pesticides, why they work and even provided a recipe to make it.  Also included were some tips for reducing the likelihood of infestations through healthy gardening habits..

First, the recipe:  3 garlic bulbs, 12 hot chili peppers, 2 TBSP vegetable oil, 5 squirts liquid dish soap and 7 cups of water.  Blend these together using an electric blender and then strain through muslin cloth, storing in a spray bottle.  I made a batch, and have initially found it pretty effective.  I also noticed that it smells bad, but dissipates quickly.  I think the garlic also helps makes it fairly sticky on the plants and cuts off the air supply to most pests.

Next, to attract beneficial insects, the Post article suggests that we should keep our gardens dry and healthy.  Wet plants are more susceptible to infestations and fungus.  Keep your garden mulched (you can use organic compost...easy to do with a tumbling composter from BestComposters.com!) so as to prevent weed growth and retain moisture for the plant roots, then trim leaves so that they don't lay on the ground.  Certain plants will also attract beneficial insects, like carrots, celery, parsley, caraway, Queen Ann's Lace, tansy, yarrow, daisies, blackeyed susans, asters marigolds and goldenrod.

I haven't tried the last steps to protect my garden yet in any quantity.  I do have the first three vegies, but I'm interested in adding some of the flowers around them to see what impact they'll have.  I surely wish I could get our Homeowner's Association to okay chickens.  I'm told chickens are a powerful ally in the war against slugs, (not to mention providers of fresh eggs) and I really need an ally for that war!

Happy Composting!

If you want to learn about gardening while enjoying fresh air and a community spirit, check out the gardening festivals that may be available to you locally.  We attended our first gardening festival as exhibitors this past weekend in the beautiful city of Fort Collins, Colorado.  The town has plenty of gardens to enjoy, and lots of folks interested in gardening.  There was a plethora of information to be gathered at the various booths and lots of gorgeous flowers and vegetable plants.  One thing that I particularly loved was how many people came out with their children, to help them learn how to garden, how important honey bees are to gardens, and best of all - about composting!  We had examples of things that we use in our composting on our table: grass clippings, coffee grounds, straw and alfalfa, dried leaves, drier lint, pet hair and vacuum bag contents.  Since we, like most composting folks, have plenty of greens (nitrogen) to contribute to the compost pile, but struggle to keep the mix of browns (carbons) high enough, we add the drier lint and animal hair.  Still usually not enough, we add BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost to keep the organisms activated and breaking down that compostable material.  This ensures that we have a new batch of compost to add to our garden every 4-6 weeks.  Our garden loves it!  And we love the produce that we are getting from our garden.  And thinking of the zucchini to come, I always keep an eye out for new ways to use zucchini.  Here is a recipe I found for Chilled Zucchini and Green-Bean Soup with Pesto Swirl:

(Start to finish: 1 hour.  Servings: 6)

Ingredients

2 TBSP extra-virgin olive oil

1 small sweet onion, chopped

1 lb zucchini, ends trimmed and thinly sliced

4 cups chicken broth (reduced sodium works great)

10 oz package frozen shelled edamame

1/2 lb green beans, ends trimmed

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground white pepper

1/4 cup store bought basil pesto

1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream or plain greek yogurt(optional)

Directions

In a large saucepan over medium high heat, heat the oil.  Add the onion and zucchini and saute' until very soft, about 10 minutes.  Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil.  Stir in edamame and green beans and simmer, uncovered, until the vegetables are soft, about 20 minutes.  Remove from the heat and cool for 15 minutes.

Transfer the soup, in batches if necessary, to a blender or food processor.  Puree', then season with salt and pepper.

Serve the soup chilled or at room temperature.  When serving, divide the soup among 6 bowls and swirl a spoonful of pesto into each.  Top with sour cream or yogurt, if desired.  Enjoy this low calorie (135), refreshing soup, and build up your intake of healthy vegetables!  Happy Composting!

This time of year is so exciting with all the new growth going on in my garden!  I enjoy checking it every day - ok, sometimes two or three times a day - to watch for the first leaves of the beet plants, see how the peas are almost tall enough to start reaching for the bean poles set out for them to climb, and the flowers as they appear on the tomato plants.  Glorious birth! 

I can really tell a difference this year in the growth and health of my garden vegetables with the addition of home grown organic compost.  It ‘s my hope to have a bumper crop this year, and I plan on filling my freezer with produce.  I've also started to think about whom else might benefit from the abundance I've planned for.  The article in yesterday's Denver Post about school children in Denver who are learning about where food comes from made me think about how many families could benefit if every school had a vegetable garden. So many kids would be empowered with the knowledge of how to feed themselves and their families, as well as the nutritional benefits that they would reap with their harvests. Surely someone at each school could find the time to sponsor a garden; if not a teacher, then a parent, volunteer from the neighborhood or an employee of nearby nursery.  I’d like to donate my time to teaching students how to compost and it’s various uses in a garden. Some schools might even find themselves being able to donate their garden produce to food banks and co-ops.  With good weather, and the good soil that I’ve laid down this year, that’s what I plan to do!

Maybe we need a grass roots movement to contact school districts and request that space be made available at each school for a classroom garden, rather than the lawns that most schools have surrounding their facilities.    Oh, how my mind does travel along a meandering pathway at times, leading me to consider ideas and dreams that crop up along the way!

And speaking of composting, I’d better get the latest batch of kitchen scraps into the composter, and put on my to-do list to shred some cardboard to mix in as well.  After all, can one have too much compost? 

Happy Composting!

I've seen lots of articles lately on square foot gardening.  It's exciting, all the interest in gardening there seems to be in the media these days, from potato boxes to roof gardens to hanging tomato planters.  But one of the things I love about gardening is basic...good soil!  So make sure you start with that.  If you're fortunate enough to have decent soil in a yard, you can start with that. If you lack decent starter soil, you'll need to purchase vermiculite and top soil from your local garden center or hardware store.  To your soil, add organic compost, about 1/2 compost, and 1/4 vermiculite, 1/4 top soil.  Please make the compost yourself with your kitchen scraps, cardboard, shredded newspaper, coffee grounds, grass clippings, etc.  The easiest way is in a tumbling composter, but you can also put toether a bin with fencing, cinderblock, an old barrel or anything that will provide plenty of air circulation!  Be prepared for pests if your compost is not enclosed, though. 
Next visit your local hardware store (again) for lumber to make each of the however many you want to build 4-foot-square boxes that will hold the garden.  If using multiples, make sure to leave room in between them for walkways.
Once you've filled the box(es) with your good soil mixture, place a grid on top of each box to make 1-foot-square sections.  You can use string for this, or dowel rods...you get the idea.
Next, the planting.  Plant each 1-foot-square section with one variety of plant, like 1 tomato plant, or 9 spinach plants, 1 squash.  Once each plant is harvested, you can add more compost and plant another kind of plant in their place for another harvest.  Yum!
Happy Composting!

The other day, I was reading the book "Grocery Gardening" (2009 Cool Springs Press) by food and garden writer Jean Ann Van Krevelen and her co-authors.  It speaks to the frugal gardeners about planting, preparing and preserving garden produce.  I believe I've said before that while I love my fresh from the garden vegies, I haven't done much in the way of preserving that produce.  So far I've left that up to my sister-in-law and mother-in-law.  They are pros at canning and freezing!  No, I really don't leave it all up to them, but volunteer to help in other ways while they're preserving.  But this year, I've vowed to at least do my own freezing, and this book has me motivated!

What really piqued my interest in “Grocery Gardening” was a discussion about vegetables and herbs that have double functionality, providing twice the benefit from growing them!  My very favorite vegetable discussed in the book is beets and beet greens.  Sometimes I think I love the greens more than I do the beet, but they're really good paired together with a little sautéed onion and just a touch of bacon grease.  Yum!  Chives are another favorite, partly because they are so easy to grow and, being perennial, come back every year to bless your garden.  Use the chives all through the growing season to flavor your recipes, but don't neglect the flowers in Spring!  Clip those lovely purple flowers young and tender, rinse and pull apart into separate florets, then toss with your favorite salad.

Some of the other plants listed as twice as nice are:

• Garlic and garlic scapes
• Cliantro and coriander
• Dill weed and dill seed

Fennel was listed as a TRIPLE duty plant since it has fronds, seeds and bulbs that can all be used and enjoyed in different ways.  You might try looking up a recipe for Braised Fennel online - look for one that includes grated Gruyere cheese for a really yummy treat.

All these vegies, and more, will benefit from a hearty dose of home grown organic compost.  Use it as a fertilizer, soil enhancer and mulch!  Composting is easy with a tumbling composter from www.BestComposters.com.  It's even easier when you add BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost: even if you don't have the exact mix of nitrogen and carbon materials, BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost will help those digestive organisms get heated up without any harmful chemicals - it's all 100% organic, from nature, for nature!  Happy Composting!

You may be astounded, like I was, to find that approximately 3 thousand TONS of garbage are added to our landfills each year!  The EPA further estimates that almost a ton of waste is generated by each person in the US each year, and that 70% of that can be recycled and composted. That's a heck of a lot of what could be wonderful soil amendment that's instead getting added to the landfill each year!

I know that it's easier to throw it out than to compost it, but the benefits, to me, far outweigh the drawbacks.  After all, nobody wants a landfill in their neighborhood; the smell, pests, the eye sore, decreasing property values, etc.  And most of us these days are fairly good at conserving our water resources, but don't realize that about 3 gallons of water is used each time we run the garbage disposal to grind up kitchen waste.  Instead of building better bigger landfills and wasting precious water, we could be making our own compost that will provide our gardens and lawn with a valuable boost of natural fertilizer.  We can also be sharing this activity with the next generation, spending time with the children in our lives and teaching them how to better care for our world and ourselves.

Composting can be accomplished many different ways.  My grandparents had a pile next to their garden that they added to each day.  I don't  remember them every turning it, so it may have taken quite a while to break down.  A three sided apparatus can be put together with almost any materials: cinderblocks, old pallets, cyclone fencing, almost anything that you can build with can be used to build an area for compost.  It just needs to allow for air circulation and a surface to keep things together.  This method is inexpensive, but you'll need to put your back and arms into it, turning it over with a pitchfork or a compost 'tiller'.  You'll almost most likely be dealing with pests...the kind that like decomposing food.  Ick!  Finally there are bins commericially available that can be sealed up pretty tight to keep pests out, but there would still be the issue of having to manually turn it at least once a week.

Or you can splurge a little and get yourself and your family a tumbling composter.  www.BestComposters.com has a selection of the finest tumbling composters available anywhere.  An easy turn of a handle and you’re providing your compost with the aeration that it needs to keep all those wonderful organisms happy and heated up. You'll be helping reduce the amount of trash added to landfills, reducing the water consumption and waste, and making some great soil amendment that will help your garden and lawn prosper!  Come on in and order yours today! 

 

 

I walked in my garden this week in our BestComposters.com Lawn Aerator Shoes so that all that wonderful moisture that we’ve gotten all week can make it’s way down to the roots of our lawn.  It’s a really easy way to do something nice for your lawn!  Beforehand, we’d spread a little of our compost as a dressing onto the lawn as well, and the nutrients will be absorbed more quickly with the aerating too.  As I did my aerating and checked out what damage the storms might’ve done in our yard, I was overjoyed to see my alum schoenoprasum, or Common Chive, poking up through the Spring snow.  This hardy and easy to grow perennial is one of two planted in my garden years ago when I discovered that my family enjoys snipped chive on baked potatoes.  I personally love the sweet pink blossoms and look forward to adding them to my salads for a blast of color and splash of mild onion flavor.  The chive plant is a member of the same family as onions, garlic and leeks and is lovely whipped into softened butter and added to mashed potatoes or on grilled meat.  It can be added, as well, to sauces, soups and salads, and is especially yummy in chicken or tuna salad.  The vibrant green pleases the eye as much as the flavor enhances the salad!

 You can plant the seeds of the chive plant now in your garden, or anytime in a pot to set on a sunny window sill.  Once it has bloomed (don’t forget to add those gorgeous clover-like blossoms to your salads!), the tops should be snipped all the way to the soil.  You’ll be pleased to see them shoot right back up and provide you with more chives all through the summer and early fall.

 Being from the garlic family, the flavor of chives is comparable to garlic, but can be savored by those of us who are sensitive to garlic without concern.  And like garlic, chive has therapeutic qualities.  It won’t keep the kids from Twilight away in a ring around your neck, but will aid digestion of rich foods, protect your respiratory system, and has antiseptic value.

 Hints: 

1. Freeze fresh chives by mincing the shoots, spreading in a flat casserole dish and flash freezing.  They can then be stored in plastic freezer bags.
2. When cooking with chives, add them at the end of cooking.

Make chive butter by creaming 4 TBSP chopped chives with ½ cup softened butter.  Add ½ tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.  Roll into a cylinder in a sheet of parchment paper and refrigerate for approximately one week.

I am awfully glad that we have used our tumbling composter all winter long, as well as a static compost heap to which we've added BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost. What this means is that we have a great supply of garden ready 100% organic compost, even though we experienced our typical cold Colorado winter!  And we really need all that compost we've made because we are adding to our garden.  Out in front of my house will be a garden bed that'll be 4' x 3', and then a larger raised bed in back that'll be 12' x 4' and 16" deep.  And I almost forgot the Garbage Can for Potatoes that we'll need to fill as well.  So I'm sure that we will use all of our compost just getting those two gardens and garbage can filled with top soil and compost. 

Our tumbling composter made composting super easy with it's turn handle and sliding door for adding materials.  I make sure that I cut up my kitchen scraps into one inch size pieces...the more sides that can start decomposing the faster the process will be.  We add to our kitchen scraps the leaves that were gathered from last fall that we've stored, along with shredded cardboard, a handful of garden soil to add microorganisms and coffee that our local coffee shop has given to us.  Giving the tumbler a turn every day or so keeps the air circulating and the microorganisms happy.  We check to make sure that the moisture content inside the tumbler is ideal...a handful should feel like a squeezed out sponge...damp but not dripping.

Throughout the fall and winter, as we continued to add composting materials to our tumbler and static heap, I occasionally would wonder what we would do with all the compost that I knew we were making!  It seemed like an enormous amount of materials.  But as the BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost and microorganisms worked their magic, the materials turned into more compact, rich brown soil-like compost.  And the compost itself isn't the only benefit: both my husband and I were pleased at the amount of water we were saving by not running the garbage disposal.  We really saw a difference in our last water bill.  But now that I think of all the garden that needs the rich nutrients that our compost will deliver, I'm doubly glad that we've made all that compost.  I don't think we'll have any to spare for neighbors without composters or compost piles, but I have a feeling we'll have vegetables to share!

Happy Composting!

 

 

Gardening is a lesson in self-sufficiency that can begin in early childhood.  I had always helped my dad with the Spring planting in our backyard garden.  Even though it wasn't extensive, the care of plants helped me understand about nurturing.  Dad taught me that if you are careful when the new life begins, and provide the necessary elements of water, sun and nutrient soil your efforts will pay off in beautiful blossoms all summer long.  We also grew rhubarb, which I was in charge of harvesting by the time I had lost my first baby tooth.  Mother would remove the leaves, wash it, and cut it into one inch pieces.  I helped.  Then she'd boil it for what seemed like hours until it had the consistency of a watery applesauce.  Then the frozen chunk of strawberries would enter the pot, to be boiled down to reduce the liquid.  When the sauce had thickened, it would come off the stovetop and I would be in charge of adding the sugar and mixing it in.  Of course this also meant that I was the taste tester!  Seems like we always had a container of rhubarb sauce in our refrigerator in the summer.

 When my folks moved from their single family home to a townhome, my dad sorely missed his garden.  He found out that there were plots available at a community garden in our area.  He got himself a plot and began his experiment with growing vegetables seriously.  I was at college by then and didn't help with the soil preparation or planting.  I don't remember if he had seeds that he started inside, or store bought plants.  But I do remember that he loved to spend time in his garden, watching over and nurturing the plants, visiting with fellow gardeners, and then harvesting the bounty.  Neighbors all around benefited from his garden, since he'd planted way more than he and mom could consume.  Mom was never that domestic, so there wasn't a thought given to preserving the crops.  Just like his folks had, he and mom enjoyed gathering their fresh picked vegies and cooking them up the same day!

 Community gardens are a great opportunity to meet fellow enthusiasts, learn new techniques and get your gardening fix.  The produce you grow can feed your family, and if you're not into preserving the excess, it often can be donated to local food banks to provide for those in need.  Get some kids involved in your gardening.  They can learn about the soil, the elements required for growing plants, how eating right can make you feel better, and how to care for others.

Happy Composting!

Seedling Update Deux

This is week three of the trial - changing how we made the seedling pots from the suggested method on the video (see blog dated February 28th "Making Seedling Pots from Newspaper", and wanting to see if and how well they might hold up after being filled with potting soil and compost.  We now have four out of four lettuce seeds sprouted, and two of the four spinach seeds.  The pots seem to be holding up just fine, and I was outside today in the glorious Colorado afternoon sun mixing in our home grown, 100% organic compost into our garden soil to prepare for planting.  We're especially excited this year to see how utilizing BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost in our compost effects plant growth.  I'd recommend that you check out BiOWiSH™ Technologies website and read about studies they've been doing on how their products can boost production!  Anyway, I do want to complete the experiment with the pots a full six to eight weeks, though, so I'll save transplanting the seedlings until at least the first week of April...maybe longer, unless I can plan on covering up those baby plants when frost or late snow threatens.  Meanwhile, we have seedlings started and seeds for outside ready to sow.

Happy Composting!

We Made Starter Seedling Pots

You may remember (that is, if there are actually, factually people out there reading this) reading my blog of  Jan. 6th that included a link to a video about making starter pots out of newspaper.  If you've tried this, you no doubt have made some adjustments to the procedure.  We made our first pots last night, and here's how we changed the process:

1. I thought that using a whole sheet of newspaper was too much...too much newspaper, more difficult to fold into the glass, plus I hoped that using less might make it easier to break down in the soil so that we could just plant the seedling pot and all instead of removing it from the pot.  I like to jostle the seedlings as little as possible! So I started with half a sheet of newspaper. 

2. Then I was folding it into thirds (again, less newspaper on the sides, bottom) rather than half and then half again, so that I could have a little taller pot to start out with.  I can also, then, have a little more length at the bottom so that I'm sure to completely cover the bottom and not have soil drop out.

3.  I folded the top over a little, like 1/2 an inch or so, thinking that it will hold it all together a little better.

4.  Finally, I used a jar to roll the newspaper up with because I don't have a straight sided drinking glass and didn't want to go buy one.  I also used a slightly smaller jar to mash down into the pot to flatten the bottom better.

5.  Into the soil that we fill each pot with, we'll be mixing in our home made compost so that we really give our seeds a great medium to start in.  I'm also planning on using a very low dose of BiOWiSH-Aqua™ on a control group of seedlings once they sprout to see what difference it will make on their rate of growth and production.  The BiOWiSH Technologies folks have done a study on hydroponically grown lettuce and BiOWiSH-Aqua™ with great results.

6. I know they recommended, in the video, removing the pot before planting.  Hubby says the pots will break down "in no time".  I'm alittle worried about stunting the growth by making it more difficult for the roots to spread out into the garden soil.  I'm thinking that putting slits into the newspaper every 1/2 inch or so will reduce the effort that the roots have to go through to break out of their pots.  We may have a control group for this, as well.

We're ready with our pots, and the trays that they'll set in.  Hubby is online right now ordering our seeds.  I'm even going to start my impatients from seed this year!  I never have before, but he has, so I'm willing to give it the college try.  I figure we'll save about $50 on the impatients alone.  I hope it works, because in my front yard, the raised bed for impatients that I built next to my porch, are a highlight of my summer! 

We have a garden window in our kitchen  that is made like a greenhouse.  It has traditionally housed only succulents and cacti, because it faces south and I have had a challenge keeping greenery watered enough.  With hubby's help and extra care, we've added a potted oregano plant to the garden window that has been doing just fine. Into this window, we'll be putting 4 trays of starter pots (28 pots in each tray).  Another 4 trays (containing the same number of pots) will go under a grow light in the garage. Wish us luck.  I have my mouth all set for those vegies!

Happy Composting!

 

 

Making Seedling Starter Pots from Newspaper

I found a cool video to watch that teaches how to make starter pots for seeds out of newspaper that is well put together and includes simple  six step-by-step instructions. I'm certainly going to try them this year, since I know I'm going to be starting those new variety of tomatoes from seed. Plus it's great when newspapers can be used and reused!

All you need is black and white print newspaper, a straight sided glass or jar, soil and seeds. You'll note that in the video, the presenter suggests using a full sheet of newspaper. I think that makes for a very sturdy pot, but a half a sheet is just as good for purposes of starting seedlings, and the newspaper will break down much quicker in the ground.

Speaking of the pot in the ground, when you watch the video, you'll note that it's recommended that you take the newspaper off before planting. I personally don't think that's a good idea, because no matter how careful you are, the delicate roots of the seedling are going to be disturbed by the removal. Instead, I recommend a good soaking of the root ball/newspaper pot, then carefully poking through the newspaper at 1/4 inch intervals around the pot and then planting the whole thing.

And when you plant your seedlings, remember to use organic compost mixed into the garden soil for the nutrients the plants need, and the water retaining properties of the amended soil.  The nutrients will be in slow release mode and will continue to nourish your seedlings as they develop.  The compost will reduce the need to water by helping the soil naturally retain the moisture in the soil.

So here's the link for this how-to video: ehow.com seed starting newspaper pots

Happy Composting!

Chickens in Urban Gardens

When I was young we used to get fresh eggs and bushels of apples right off the trees from a small farm in Ontario, Canada.  I remember they always tasted so fabulous, and now that I'm grown, and I know how long produce can sit on shelves in storage areas or on trucks or railcars, I know exactly why the food straight from the farmer's doorstep tasted so much better.  It made complete sense to me, then, when I read an article about a movement that's been formed here in Denver, Colorado to make getting and keeping a permit for livestock a whole lot easier. The article, called "Fowl lovers unite to streamline Denver chicken laws" by Joel Warner was in The Denver Post on Monday, Mar. 16 2009. 

Right now it seems to be a somewhat expensive and time consuming process.  But personally, I'm all for people being more responsible for their own consumption, so anything that makes that process easier is okay by me.   I mean, look at the benefits:

1. You know what you're eating, what's gone into it and what hasn't
2. It's fresher
3. Growing your own reduces transportation and storage costs and expenses
4. It tastes better when you've worked for it
5. A sense of accomplishment
6. It should be less expensive

I guess some people worry about odor that can arise with the keeping of livestock, but by using a product called BiOWiSH-Odor™, there's no need to worry about that potential problem!  BiOWiSH-Odor™ reacts bio-chemically with odor-causing molecules, catalyzing their transformation into smell-free non-toxic end products, which are consumed in nature.  It does not mask the odor, but rather, it rapidly accelerates decomposition.  BiOWiSH-Odor™ has been tested by independent laboratories and confirmed to be non-toxic, non-irritating, non-flammable, non-pathogenic and non-hazardous!  Some of the benefits to using BiOWiSH-Odor™ are:

· It's fast acting

· It's cost effective

· It's operative at low dosage rates

· It works in a wide range of operative conditions

· It has a long residual effective period

· It's all natural anti-microbial action – sanitizes as it works

· 100% organic

· and it's harmless to humans and the environment

Maybe I need to share the above with the Denver Community Planning and Development spokesman Julius Zsako. He expects a city council discussion "sometime in the near future".  I think the City Council needs to know about BiOWiSH-Odor™ so they can be relieved of worries on the point of odor issues.  Just sayin'.  By the way, the article in The Denver Post also expected the proposed changes to:  "go through without much of a feathered fight.  After all, the city council vted last November to allow residents to keep beehives in their backyards and officials seem to be similarly convivial to this proposal. "I'm for anything that makes the process easier, as long as it's effective," says Denver Animal Care and Control's Kelley."

I'm be curious to know just how many people in Denver are really interested and inclined to have chickens in their urban gardens. I wonder if anybody has studied that?  I know I’d like to have some chickens in my own garden.  They don’t have to take up much room, and oh, for fresh eggs once again! 

 

Septic Tank Issues

Have any of you out there ever had Septic Tank issues?   You know what I mean when I say “Eeeeewwww!”  If you don’t have plumbing that’ll take your bathroom waste to a commercial sewage treatment plant, then you may have experienced a septic tank back up, or a leaching field not doing it’s job.  Talk about a mess!  And then there’s the expense of having to call someone out to pump out the whole system.  But if you believe that it’s best to be proactive in your approach to problems of this sort, then you’ll find that  BiOWiSH™ Septic Tank Aid is the easiest and most cost effective, regular maintenance you can perform for your Septic Tank System, providing years of hassle free service.

When I use BiOWiSH™ Septic Tank Aid,  I’m using the same technology developed for use in commercial sewerage treatment plants. Enzyme Technology, designed to consume the organic waste it encounters and remove it and the odors that are associated with organic waste.  Really!

And if you’re like my brother and not proactive, then you might be faced with a problem of a stalled or struggling system that is just waiting to take over!  BiOWiSH™ Septic Tank Aid is powerful enough to restore performance in most systems that have stalled or are struggling under heavy loading (pardon the pun!). But of course it’s best to treat your system every 3 months as a proactive approach, so you can make sure that you won’t have those fat deposits and sludge building up in your tanks and leach field. Over time, BiOWiSH™ Septic Tank Aid will clear the leach field of deposits that have built up and that are restricting your septic tank’s proper drainage.

A Heathier Home

I’ll read just about anything that mentions gardening, composting, sustainable living, helping our environment.  Could be that I’ll eventually end up skimming through the main part of the article, but on the other hand, it may be that I’ll delve deeply into the heart of it to glean every idea put forth.  Wanting to know what others of like mind are thinking and suggesting as ways to improve our lifestyles is a driving force for me. 

 

Knowing this about me, it will not surprise you that on my way to checking my email today I happened upon and read word for word an article by Debra Lynn Dadd about ways we can make our homes healthier.  The author listed ten ways to do so; the numero uno way Ms. Dadd said we could make our homes healthier was to “nix ammonia” as a means of cleaning glass in our homes.  Hurray for Ms. Dadd!  I heard about this “alternative” cleaner a couple of decades ago and use it religiously…not only to clean glass but for my wood floors and to kill bacteria when I clean my humidifier.  One part white or apple cider vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle for window and glass cleaner.  One-quarter cup vinegar to one gallon of water cleans my wood floors, and I use full strength vinegar to clean my humidifier.

 

Another way Ms. Dadd suggested that we could make our homes healthier was to use organically grown produce.  Her reasoning was that most (if not all) non-organically grown produce available in our grocery stores is heavily sprayed by the growers with pesticides and herbicides.  And we know from scientific studies that these poisons can cause cancer.  Ms. Dadd suggests buying organic fruits and vegetables that are in season for a healthier home.  But we don’t have to just buy it.  We can grow it ourselves!  We can reduce our reliance on oil and gas, and decrease emissions by cutting out the need to transport that produce to the market.  Growing and eating our own garden produce is one of the best ways to reduce our carbon footprint that I know of.  Tasty too!

 

This last method of cleaning up our living spaces made me think of one of the reasons I fell in love with my husband!  The first time I met him he told me about the organic garden he cultivated.  It was love at first bite when he shared some home grown organic corn on the cob!  Making your own organic compost is the right way to start down that path to organic gardening.  And, of course, composting also reduces our carbon footprint by reusing our kitchen waste instead of sending it off to the landfill or reduces water usage by not running that waste through the garbage disposal.  Here at BestComposters.com we want to make it easier than ever to have an organic garden and enjoy those fresh vegetables and fruits.  We love our tumbling composter, since all we have to do is add our composting materials and give it a couple of cranks on the handle.  Spinning the materials inside the tumbler gets air to the compost and helps those wonderful organisms to break things down more quickly.  And by adding BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost (six sachets per $13.99 packet, one sachet per month) to the tumbler according to package instructions, we don’t have to be so careful in adding the exactly proper mix of nitrogen (40%) and carbon (60%).  It’s 100% organic and biodegradable, reduces odors and helps in the nutrient absorption of the plants.  Using BiOWiSH™ Compost Boost also reduces the amount of time it takes to achieve the finished batch of compost, so we can make twice as much!  Our garden is going to love us, and our home will be a healthier place.  Thanks for getting me thinking Debra Lynn Dadd!