The Greenest Thing You Can Do - Square Foot Gardening

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

I really love this article, because it records my first real step in becoming a consciously sustainable person. I don't mean becoming eco-friendly or environmentally conscious or any other nebulous phrase that suggests some effort at environmental awareness without really being concrete enough to define a measurable standard.

I have taken tentative steps before, but now that I have done my research, I know what true sustainability is, I know that is our highest goal, and I know how to get it done. I chose to start this journey to full sustainability by starting to become a producer. Yes, of course I will still consume, and for right now there a lot of holes in my game, but I am becoming a producer as well, and it feels pretty damn good.

I bought All New Square Foot Gardening because I had heard good things about it, and I wanted to start growing my own fruits and vegetables with the least amount of hassle. I happen to know that hydroponics is the most efficient way to grow anything, but it is a pretty complicated place to start. Square Foot Gardening seemed to be a good simple solution from the outside looking in. But would it deliver?

After reading it and buying the materials for starting my own square foot garden, I have to say it truly does provide a very easy way to start growing your own food. Among the many fantastic things about this method is that it can be done in any living setting, even an apartment balcony. I strongly recommend this book to people like me who do not want to deal with the hassle of gardening. The author Mel Bartholomew provides a step by step process for building your planter box, mixing the perfect soil, planting, growing and harvesting. No fertilizers. No pesticides. It is good stuff.

It took me less than a week to read the book, purchase the materials, put the box together, mix the soil and plant my veggies. The author does not mention costs, so I am going to list my costs for materials right here, for your benefit:

Heirloom Seeds (more on heirloom in my next blog): 8 packets - $23.25Lumber: (1) sheet of plywood + (2) 2x6 redwood - $28.59Soil Mix: vermiculite + peat moss + compost - $80.93Grid: 5/8" x 1/4" trim board - $14.98Total cost: $147.75Work Time: roughly 8 man hours

This was more than I expected, but most of the costs are one time. The only ongoing costs are for compost and seeds. If you compost yourself, that line item is eliminated. With Mel's technique, seed use and waste is significantly reduced in comparison with tradition row gardening, so seed packets can last as much as five years.

So what is the payoff?

I will have to wait and find out for myself, but according to the book, here is an example harvest from a 4x4 box:

1 cabbage1 broccoli1 cauliflower4 romaine lettuce heads4 red lettuce heads4 leaf lettuce heads4 salad lettuce heads16 scallions5 lbs. of sugar peas8 swiss chard9 bunches of spinach32 carrots32 radishes16 beets

I priced out this theoretical harvest at my local supermarket, and it came to over $115.00. If you have two growing seasons per year (this is typical), you will be in the bonus after the second harvest.

You have probably heard a million times about "getting back in touch with nature", so I'm not going to bore you with that. What I do want to say is that the project is a lot fun, it is a fantastic way to beautify your yard, it has endless possibilities for adaptation and creativity, and it is one of the greenest things you can do. Sometimes I think green can be summed up in one sentence: make it yourself, or buy local. That is the long and the short of it.

The book is far more detailed and complete than this little summary suggests, so I strongly urge you to buy it, read it and make it happen in your garden.

There are a few other items I would like to mention before I sign off that I will be expanding upon in future blogs.

As I mentioned before, my researched has determined that hydroponic agriculture is the most efficient, and I love the idea, but it does require more upfront cash than a square foot garden.I will be pursuing this in the future though, so stay tuned.

One technique I will be testing in future growing is living water. I am not doing it in this first season, so this first yield can be considered as a control in my little experiment. For those of you who are not familiar with the work of Victor Shauberger or Masaru Emoto, water can have amazing regenerative and vitalizing properties given the correct energetic charging. As with hydroponics, I will elucidate in the near future.

OK, one last near future note. One method which is outside of the square foot gardening book that I did experiment with is the seed planting process mentioned in Anastasia, the first book in the Ringing Cedars series. I am late to this party, having just finished the first book, but all I can say is wow. That book has already contributed mightily to the shifting of the paradigm and the material is great, but I am not going just take it at its word. I will review that book in the near future, and let you know just how effective the practical advice in that book is based upon how my crop turns out.

That is all I have for now. Happy Passover, and love to all,

Millard

Source Green Blog [http://source-green.com] offers sustainable news, movie and book reviews, success stories and practical solutions from our "Road To Green" series. For more information on Source Green, please visit our What We Believe page.

Owner and founder Millard Nathan Arterberry, Jr. was born and raised in San Diego. He graduated with honors from the University of California at Berkeley in 1995, has worked in the architectural profession for over 12 years, and is LEED accredited by the United States Green Building Council.

Do It Yourself "How To Books" - Electrical

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

When there are better and more interesting things to do why should one bother with trying to learn how to fix ply boards, repair the fuse and rectify the water faucet? This feeling is most prevalent when one is an adolescent and nagging parents seem to disturb the peace and quite of a teens room. All they want and that too all the time is to make you be an apprentice in whatever they are doing be it plumbing work, electrical work or kitchen work.

With pop, it is either a beam that requires holding while he fixes a hole in the shed wall or handing over nails or holding the torchlight while he tries to get back the electricity. All that this apprentice work gives you is a pain in all the joints that you can count. Little do we realize that we are missing out on a training that will probably come handy some day. It is only on the day that the crisis lands up at our doorstep that we look back longingly and feel "had I paid more attention, I would have been able to solve this issue"

When you finally buy a house of your own and the first night the electric power goes off, you repent that you have never ever tried to learn the nuances of fixing a fuse wire or understanding the live wires from the earthed ones. At times like these one regrets the decision not to invest in some handy 'how to' books.

Looking at all sorts of wires and trying to figure out a way to get the power can have you cracking. These 'how to' electric books explain the matter in great detail using charts and illustrations. This helps the most ignorant people as to the various steps involved when standard issues crop up. There are separate books available for trouble shooting

Before buying a particular 'how to' guide, you must research the Internet and ask those who have purchased such books in the past. Once the right choice is made, these books can help in becoming an all-in-on worker at home. It gives you a sense of pride at having achieved control over certain circumstances. The next thing you know you shall be buying drills and tools and actually looking for areas in your house that need the use o these tools.

To find tips on many subjects check out some "how to" books [http://advice-books.com/how-to-electrical-books.php] visit [http://advice-books.com]

World's Best Compost

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Are you having trouble getting your plants to bloom out in all their glory? If so, you may want to read this review. If you are into gardening, then you are more than aware of the importance of good compost. For it is the compost that provides your plants with the essential nutrients, of course, you could go the 'toxic route' or anything similar. But if you need your plants to bloom naturally, it is always better to do it with good compost than with a chemical fertilizer hot out of a chemical plant. Natural is in and everything else is out, especially if you expect your plants to grow naturally. No good comes out of artificial stuff and sooner than later, you will be bound to come across a whole range of problems if chemical fertilizers are your stuff. Try out the e-book, the world's best compost as it shows you how to get the best out of your plants the natural way.

The world's best compost is all about developing your own compost, without having to hold your breath in. Yeah, as hard as it may seem to believe, this compost method does not stink to the high heavens and you do not need to turn it over either. Every greenhouse needs a good compost to get the best out of the plants, be it roses or orchids. If you are an orchid buff, you probably would not mind splurging a bit on the latest chemical fertilizer. However, before you do so, you may want to consider the long term effects on your orchids due to large scale use of the fertilizer on your part. It is better to stick with natural products and world's best compost, for with the compost method listed here; your plants will start to shine in no time at all.

This book comes packed with all the information that you need in order to develop /make your own colloidal humus compost. The humus compost is the better version of the traditional compost in the sense that it does not stink or does it require to be turned over once in a while. I guess, it is the easy take on the traditional compost methods and this e-book should show you just how to go about it as it comes packed with information, diagrams and photographs to show you exactly how to make your own.

This book is written in an easy-to-understand format so you should have no issues in making sense of it. The process is fairly easy and the only requirement is that you have some basic gardening know-how. So, if you are looking for natural ways to get your plants to bloom, you may want to give this book a second look.

Reuben Wallis has reviewed Rod Turner's e-book the worlds best compost. For a detailed take on growing plants naturally, do click on worlds best compost reviews.

Squash Vine Borer Controlling

Recently a grower from the UK sent us a photo of damage to a pumpkin janick plant and wanted to know what it was and whether it could be controlled. This pest had apparently been a problem for a long time, to the extent that it was questionable whether it was worthwhile planting pumpkins or squashes Kiwi.

Like all vegetables, pumpkins and squashes are no strangers to disease and bugs. Squash Vine Borer (Melittia cucurbitae), which is what was preventing our pumpkins, grower's is only one of the range of pests that affects members of the cucurbit family (members of which include pumpkins, squashes, zucchinis, cucumbers, melons etc). Besides the Squash vine borer lives UK in most temperate areas of North America, although not on the Pacific Coast. This pest is renowned for the fact that you cannot see it until it is too late (when the plant is wilted and does not recover when watered). Close examinations will reveal that the stem has been severed just above ground level.

Symptoms

When you examine the base of affected plants, you will notice a small hole and some frass (sawdust-like droppings). The hole is a sign of the presence of the Squash Vine Borer. If there are multiple numbers of borers, these pests can actually cause the stem to break-especially if it is colder-or to rot, depending on the weather. The injury will also prevent the plant from taking up water and nutrients, which will ultimately cause it to die.

The Squash Vine Borer is the larvae of a species of black moth that attacks both wild and cultivated varieties of squash. The moth looks like a bee or wasp because of its movements, and the bright orange scales on its hind legs. It has a wing span or around 25 to 37 mm (1-11/2). The females usually reddish-brown lay eggs on the leaves, and when they hatch the larvae bore their way into the base of the stem? the larvae feed on and inside the stalk, eventually killing the leaf. From the leaf, the caterpillars migrate to the main stem, and with enough feeding damage to the stem, the entire plant may die.

Squash Vine Borers can affect hubbard squash, gourds, pumpkins, zucchinis and other squashes. It is not common to find them on cucumbers or melons. Control Squash Vine Borer Gardeners find a difficult pest to combat. Some try to avoid it by timing the production season to harvest before the pests can build up, or after they have peaked. However, there are cultural control measures that can be implemented.

Squash Vine Borers As overwinter in the soil as larvae in cocoons, removing and destroying old vines after harvesting will help. Tilling the soil will also help to destroy any cocoons that may be there. Birds will also assist you with this job once the soil is tilled.

Once your crop is planted, if you are vigilant, you may be able to remove eggs when they appear. As the larvae bore into the stem usually close to ground level, a paper or other wrapping at the base of the stem may assist as a barrier. If you notice the plant wilting or a hole at the base of the stem, it is possible (if you are very careful) to slit open the stem and remove the larvae, and then cover the stem with dry soil so that it can grow more roots. In fact if you notice a hole, you can even just pile some dry soil over the affected area to try and promote new root growth so that the plant will not die.

An old trick for growing pumpkins and squash is to cover the vine with earth at various points along its length, inducing rooting at several points, thereby continuing to feed the developing fruit despite the loss of the original stem. After the vine has taken root at multiple points, the infected portion of the plant can be cut off, along with another inch where the larvae is eating into healthy tissue, without significant damage to the plant. Row covers are another option that can be used up until bloom.

Some gardeners use pesticides, but these are ineffective after the larvae are inside the plant. It is also not recommended as these pesticides used to kill the adult moth may contaminate the flowers and the East kill pollinators through poisoned nectar or pollen.

Lucia Grimmer is the main author of best selling books How to Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes and How to Grow Good Potatoes.

Lucia Grimmer is a world renowned expert in plant disease and nutrition who trains horticulturists, agronomists and professional growers. She has won awards for her technical papers and regularly conducts trials on a range of crops with the objective of improving yield and reducing disease.

Co-author Annette Welsford also has a horticultural background, however her true skills like with taking complex technical information and representing it so that even novice gardeners find it easy to understand.

Their books are considered to be the authoritative "bibles" on Growing Tomatoes and Growing Potatoes and have sold to thousands of novice and professional gardeners in 85 countries, and have been featured on TV, radio and leading gardening publications in 4 continents.

Save Water on Your Landscaping Outside Your Southwestern Home

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

What if you live in the Southwest and are worried about water usage outside your home? You know that typically 55% of your water use will be outside your home, but water is in short supply in the desert regions where you live, worse, the authorities are calling for voluntarily water conservation. If this does not work, there will be a level II drought, maybe even a level three in the future.

Imagine, trying to plant a lawn and keep it green in this environment. Not all types of plants can grow well in the desert regions of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona or California. And what about Mexico, you think it's dry in the US in these regions, what about our neighbors in Mexico? You see, if we are going to work together to save water, then we must start paying attention to our landscapes outside our homes.

May I be so blunt to recommend a very good book to you on this subject? A book, which can help you do your part to help, because if we all do a little, we will collectively accomplish a lot:

"Plants for Dry Climates; How to Select, Grow and Enjoy" by Mary Rose Duffield and Warren D. Jones. 2001 (upgraded and re-edited edition).

The book explains the annual rainfall rates, winds, weather, high heat, low humidity, and yes, it all matters. In fact, areas within the regions have micro-climates that can significantly change which plants will grow best. The direction that you house faces and where the shade is and for how long during the day maybe ideal for some plants and bad for others.

Over 600 plant species are in this book with graphs, charts and information is inside. Learn about the different species of lawns, cacti, sage brush, flowers, and what suits your fancy. You will not believe the incredible choices and opportunity for your xeriscape landscape to save water. Please consider doing your part to save water.

"Lance Winslow" - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Compost - Rodale Press - A Book Review

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Coming in at slightly less than 100 pages Rodale's Compost is a "black gold" mine of information on composting.

Rodale's Compost is organized as six chapters. It covers topics ranging from the basics all the way up to of commercial compost.

It opens with a chapter on the reasons for composting, and its benefits for your garden and the overall ecosystem.

Chapter 2 is a review of composting tools and supplies It recommends seven basic tools for the gardener for composting. After reviewing the types of composting piles and containers, it notes a few of the advantages of the different types. Also covered are some unusual techniques for gathering waste materials that are broken out by region of the country.

The next chapter goes into a review of the how compost is made. From this they introduce techniques which are useful for improving the speed and efficiency of your composting. This includes a look at the creatures that may inhabit your bin, and their individual roles in breaking down your waste materials.

Chapter 4 gives the basic process for making compost, including a good list of things to not try composting. This chapter discusses the carbon to nitrogen ratio charts that can be the bane of some gardeners, and includes a sample chart. But it's presented in a clear and understandable way that helps get the makeup of your waste pile right for rapid composting. There is a section on troubleshooting problems that may be seen in a compost pile as well.

The next chapter details ways to use compost After determining that it is properly finished, they go into how and when to sift it, and basic spreading and application techniques.

The final chapter has an overview of commercially available compost, with recommendations on what to look for and especially those things that gardeners should avoid when buying compost.

The final section of the book has a seasonal guide to composting, with a comprehensive glossary, along with a list of recommended reading and web sites as well.

If there were one area that I would like to have seen improved, is would be to have a more comprehensive review of some of the more popular compost bins and tumblers. The book does have a general overview of the various types, but it does not have enough detail that it can serve as a buying guide. Aside from that observation, this book packs a lot of useful information into a compact, clearly illustrated guide.

Editor: Vicki Mattern

Publisher: Rodale Press

ISBN: 0-87596-856-2

How2Compost features information and tools to Jump Start your Composting, including Compost Bins and a review of Compost Tumblers.

What's A Disorganized Person To Do? By Stacey Platt

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

"What's A Disorganized Person To Do?" by Stacey Platt has a subtitle of "317 Ideas, Tips, Projects, and Lists to Unclutter Your Home and Streamline Your Life." That's pretty much exactly what this book is, a book of tips, ideas and strategies to organize your home, and thus your life. The book is easy to read and is well organized (I would hope so!) to find the areas you need help with. It can be a good book to quickly read through once, and then use as a reference when you need help with certain areas of your home.

There is a short introduction to the book, and then a section on general principles. These principles are shared, like everything in this book, with short tips or lessons. Things such as Three habits of highly organized people (Consume consciously, spend your clutter, and live within your space means), lessons from the silverware drawer (forks kept with forks, single consistent home, etc.), and ten steps to organizing anything, which I won't list here.

The book then goes into sections regarding each area of a person's home. These include: The entry, kitchen, bedrooms and closets, bathrooms, living rooms and dens, home office, utility and storage areas, kid clutter, and finally a section on trips and moving. None of the tips are that long or complicated, and the book has many photographs of well organized areas of the home to motivate you with your organizing. Some tips, like how to fold a fitted sheet are accompanied by photographs to teach you the method.

There are 267 topics in the book. I'm guessing the 317 from the title is because some of the tips contain more than one. Such as topic 4 mentioned above that includes ten steps to organizing anything. Regardless of the number, the book is packed full of tips, suggestions and ideas on organizing. Most likely, you won't like or use them all. However, I bet you do find things in this book that can help you become more organized. It's an easy to read book and an attractive one with the layout and quality photographs. (Even though some remind me of some model home in some showcase and not one that is actually lived in)

There are many books on organizing and getting rid of clutter. Some of my favorites are those by Don Aslett, just because I like his style of writing and attitude about the topic. I think this book by Stacey Platt is good for those that need some tips and suggestions on getting organized. It does not have the motivation that Aslett's books have, but that is his style. I'd recommend this as a good reference for organizational tips and suggestions.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a writer, speaker, and mediator who teaches how to live, take action, and get things done through the Warrior's Edge. He is an expert on conflict and mediates and teaches conflict resolution and negotiation. Alain combines his military, martial art, and Asian experiences with his business, law, and conflict resolution education into a powerful way of living with balance, honor, and integrity. He teaches how to use the Warrior's Edge to Take Action and Achieve Remarkable Results, as well as resolve conflict and negotiate. Additionally, he teaches physical conflict skills in his Hapkido and Self-Defense courses, lectures, and seminars. Alain is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks, the DVDs Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking series, and numerous articles and reviews. You can read more articles and reviews and see clips of his DVDs as well as much more at http://www.burrese.com/ and http://www.yourwarriorsedge.com/