FREE Fertilizer

PSU Fact Sheet “Home Compost: a Guide for Home Gardeners” contains information on making compost.
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Over the last 20 years I’ve put compost on the garden almost every year. The garden’s soil is rich and black. I rarely use other fertilizers. You can buy a bin or simply make a pile (heap composting). I used the heap method for many years. Plans for “ConstructingCompost Bins” from PSU Center County Extension.

I simplify the recipe: Three parts brown (leaves) to one part green (garden cuttings. weeds, vegetable scraps). Water if it looks dry, Mix it once in a while to aerate. If I don’t get the ratio exactly right, It’ll turn into compost anyway.

I try to avoid adding weeds that have gone to seed. My pile may not get hot enough to destroy the weed seeds. I also don’t use anything twiggy or woody because it takes too long to break down. Newspaper counts as brown, if I run out of leaves. Coffee grounds count as green. (We drink a lot of coffee.)

You can spend time making compost or spend money on fertilizer. I choose to make compost.

Rodale Institute Volunteers

Would you like to work in a cutting-edge garden?

Rodale Institute is offering volunteer opportunities at the gardens and farm in Kutztown, PA.

Recognized for work in organic farming, global warming and nutrition research, Rodale offers workshops, courses, festivals and plant sales. It is well-known throughout the world advocating for policies that support farmers, and educating consumers about how going organic is the healthiest option for people and the planet.

According to Megan L. Kintzer, Director of Development, “We host volunteers on our farm place every Thursday starting at 9:00 am and lasting until the early afternoon. We meet at the Rodale Institute Visitors Center and Store - here is a link for directions: http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/map_and_directions ”

“We have jobs for everyone, including:

- Feeding our new batch of chickens

- Getting your hands dirty in our gardens and greenhouse

- "Inside jobs" like stuffing mailings or assembling press kits

- Harvesting delicious fruits and veggies”

“Because our volunteer needs vary each week, it is always be a new adventure, but on Volunteer Days our staff members are on hand to work with our volunteers and provide the best learning experience possible.”

To volunteer contact Megan by email megan.kintzer@rodaleinstitute.org or by phone (610) 683-1443

What and exciting place to volunteer!

(I will be away until next week – sort of spring break. I hope you have a lovely holiday. )

Eco-gardening

(I apologize – the sidebar “About Me”, “Previous Posts” and “Archives” has moved to the bottom of this blog. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get it back to the top. I haven’t been able to get an answer from Blog Spot. If anyone out there has the answer, please let me know.)
Eco-gardening

Eco-gardening, sustainable landscape, xeriscape, organic gardening, native plants, bio-diversity – words that elicit strong opinions but are not easy to define. There is controversy at every turn. Experts don’t agree on what organic means. How much organic fertilizer is too much?

Brian Higgins review of Jeff Gillman’s recent book Truth about Organic Gardening http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/20/AR2008022000952.html

‘”…if you are simply replacing synthetic products with organic ones, you are missing the point. The aim is to reduce the need for fertilizers and, especially, pesticides. How do you do that?
You build the soil with correct amounts of compost and mulch, choose plants that do well and place them in their optimum locations. These are the true parts of organic gardening," says Gillman, a professor of horticultural science at the University of Minnesota.’

Here’s a British article on Eco-gardening:
http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article1289066.ecerticle1289066.ece The comments are especially enlightening and outline some of the problems and differences of opinion with sustainable landscaping. The controversies, large and small, are not exclusive to England.

As we all try to be eco-friendly, it’s not easy to follow the many differing viewpoints. And some experts are very opinionated.

Doug Green’s Gardening Blog February 24 “Gardening as a Religion” illustrates just how opinionated some gardeners can be http://blog.douggreensgarden.com/

‘“…I see this extreme attitude in individuals in a huge variety of gardening groups. From the native “plant nazi’s” (yes, that’s how they’re referred to in the trade) who reject any plant that isn’t “native”. (whatever that is)…’

Native plants are good, right? IPM Choosing Healthy Landscapes http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/uj238.pdf has tips for choosing plants well adapted to your site.

“Sometimes, exotic plants are more resistant to pests than are their native relatives. For example, Cornus kousa, an exotic dogwood that was introduced from the Far East, is less susceptible to infestation by the dogwood borer than is Cornus florida, the flowering dogwood, one of our native species.”

I chose the Cornis florida for my garden because I think it’s prettier. Even if it may be shorter lived, the squirrels continue to plant replacements. That’s sustainable enough for me.

Marianne Ophardt Master Gardener, Central Washington Editor, Extension Area Educator, Washington State University recommends trying some unusual weeping trees. ‘. . . the discriminating gardener that “takes the road less traveled” should consider some less familiar, more unusual weeping specimens.’ Well, who wouldn’t want to be known as a “discriminating gardener”?

Rhododendron is an acid soil loving plant. Does it have a place in our limestone soil gardens? . Do we need to add Holly Tone or Mir-Acid? Is that sustainable? New construction changes the natural soil. Most experts seem to agree that soil testing is a good idea. (See September 29, 2007 post)

Bee Colony collapse, white nose syndrome in bats, fish abnormalities, frog and toad deaths, air pollution, water pollution, carbon footprint – we all want to do the right thing. The problem - what is the right thing to do?

Here’s my starter list:
- Don’t spray indiscriminately
- Don’t fertilize indiscriminately
- Read and follow all label directions

Most important
- Make compost
- Use mulch
- Do the research
- Be patient