tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22050897942269757362024-02-08T09:44:54.943-08:00Northern Beaches Garden CareAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657757414565342716noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205089794226975736.post-63900015679799441902016-08-30T00:34:00.001-07:002016-08-30T00:34:31.786-07:00Why Roof Cleaning Matters https://t.co/EsqpqlfXS6 https://t.co/uZklqxVJBy<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657757414565342716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205089794226975736.post-78406306514698620332016-08-02T23:31:00.001-07:002016-08-02T23:31:39.908-07:00Tree Pruning – Tree Health and Safety https://t.co/oIZjFkWDVZ https://t.co/XJINkivZK5<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr" xml:lang="en">10 Things You Might Not Know About Garden Hedges <a href="https://t.co/yC2Ocd1cCK">https://t.co/yC2Ocd1cCK</a> <a href="https://t.co/Kbn2ZNggKw">pic.twitter.com/Kbn2ZNggKw</a></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr" xml:lang="en">Why You Need A Qualified Arborist For Tree Services <a href="https://t.co/y4WlrdZY06">https://t.co/y4WlrdZY06</a> <a href="https://t.co/9kXc1yOZTp">pic.twitter.com/9kXc1yOZTp</a></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr" xml:lang="en">Falling tree limbs always going to be an issue on Northbourne Avenue <a href="https://t.co/Mwv6TSo6hq">https://t.co/Mwv6TSo6hq</a> <a href="https://t.co/Vg5e99QIGN">pic.twitter.com/Vg5e99QIGN</a></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr" xml:lang="en">Top Things to Do In Your Garden… Early Spring <a href="https://t.co/R4a6aYpHFK">https://t.co/R4a6aYpHFK</a> <a href="https://t.co/Og7kUR5KWS">pic.twitter.com/Og7kUR5KWS</a></p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657757414565342716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205089794226975736.post-45192361902754607282016-07-05T23:36:00.001-07:002016-07-05T23:36:15.361-07:00Benefits of Hiring Professionals for Tree Lopping Services https://t.co/iZSqoBLpzt https://t.co/P8gK2XBBLu<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657757414565342716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205089794226975736.post-19202788308621890122016-07-04T16:08:00.001-07:002016-07-04T16:08:58.611-07:00This Year-Round School Gardening Program Should Exist EVERYWHERE!<p><img class="alignleft curated_image" src="http://www.realfarmacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/school.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote class="curated_content">
<p>A few years ago the children at our school grew, harvested and, ultimately, ate a giant, two-pound carrot.Our gardening program at the Waldorf School of Cape Cod has come a long way since then. We now have a unheated hoop house and a program where middle school gardeners lead first through fifth graders as they learn to build soil, plant, transplant, tend, water and harvest food year round. Our harvests are transformed by our school chef into amazing meals served at lunch. The summer tending of the garden is a community responsibility. We have weekly Family Gardening sessions organized by grade level where families share a pot luck meal and then work together in the garden in the cool of the evening.</p>
<p>Winter gardening classes are in the hoop house where we harvest spinach, kale, carrots and more.</p>
<p>The 24 by 48 feet hoop house is the heart of our gardening program. It is an indoor gardening classroom that aligns the school year with garden life by spreading the harvest over four seasons.Since it is unheated, we choose winter crops such as carrots, spinach and kale that grow when the nights are very cold and the days are slightly warm. A sunny day in February can bring temperatures in the 20s outside and in the sixties in the hoop house. The night lows in the hoop house can go into the teens or 20s, Yet, since the soil is warmed by the sun during the day, the soil in the beds never freezes.</p>
<p>Our spring hoop house harvests are substantial. We have early strawberries, bushels of spinach and baby kale, lots of chives and parsley and snow peas. The plastic roof is removed for the summer months to avoid overheating.</p>
<p>Most greenhouse farmers cover most of their indoor space with plants. We are growing kids as well as plants, so only half the space in the greenhouse is covered with growing beds. We have a space to congregate at one end. The children had the idea to use sand rather than gravel between the beds and this has made the hoop house serve double duty as a protected winter sandbox. The used structure was bought through Craigslist and dedicated parents rebuilt the structure at school and built garden beds.</p>
<p>While every student in the school devotes some time each year to growing lunch, each year the third graders are our weekly farmers. They are in charge of turning lunch scraps into compost in our tumbling composter. And, anew-this-yearworm bed in the hoop house creates vermicompost <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicompost" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicompost</a> with the help of thousands of red worms.</p>
<p>I am continually awed by the energy and engagement children pour into all aspects of gardening. Our local newspaper made a video about the giant carrot that shows their tremendous enthusiasm.</p>
<p>This week my class is studying botany and specifically the growth of seeds by tucking seeds between the wall of a clear plastic tub and a few layers of wet paper towels. I gave the class permanent markers so they could write their own names on the tubs. Soon I realized that the quart containers were covered with more than their own names. They had given each seed a name: Poseidon, Zeus, Heidi! Now, each morning, I hear delighted exclamations, One of our beans has sprouted! Heidi has a root! We have a sprouted leek seed. You have to look quite carefully to see it. This is a hands-on exploration of monocotyledons (the leek is an example) and dicotyledons (the bean is an example). The children are learning those terms and what they mean. But, in my mind, even more vital is that they are given the opportunity to celebrate life. This part of the lesson does not need to be taught. It just rises up from within them, as naturally as the rising of the sun, as irrepressibly as the sprouting of the bean seed.</p>
<p>We seem to be a culture that is anxious about whether our children are learning enough, learning soon enough, learning exactly the right information. But, in the end, it is enthusiasm and care for life and learning that will carry them. Who can list with any certainly all of the facts, understandings and skills our children will need to possess twenty, thirty and forty years from now? Certainly, they will need to assimilate much that we cannot even imagine. (If you are my age you know that forty years ago you could never have imagined taking pictures with your phone, nor could anyone have pictured then the tech jobs of this decade.)</p>
<p>Why teach gardening? To help children make good food choices? Yes. To learn about botany? Yes. To bring healthy exercise into the school day? Yes. To give children an understanding of the work behind their food? To teach them how to grow their own food ? Yes. But, most of all, lets grow with children in order to fuel their natural enthusiasm for life.</p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rIZFA8zPPdE" width="420" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Source: childrengrowing.com, Like Growing Children on Facebook for updates!</p>
<p>comments</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="curated_link">See full story on <a href="http://www.realfarmacy.com/school-garden/" target="_blank">realfarmacy.com</a></p>
<p class="image_credit">Image courtesy of realfarmacy.com</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657757414565342716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205089794226975736.post-71829960569523164102016-07-04T15:35:00.001-07:002016-07-04T15:35:43.538-07:00Productive Vegetable Gardening Tips for Beginners<p><img class="alignleft curated_image" src="http://d16u920cdkkea2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/vegetable-gardening-tips_mini-e1446569646343.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote class="curated_content">
<h2>See these effective <strong>vegetable gardening tips for beginners</strong>. The secret to productive garden lies in the outset of several activities. The following 10 tips will help you to create a more productive and less maintenance vegetable garden.</h2>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="curated_content">
<h2>1. Observe</h2>
<p>Before you begin gardening, you must observe the space you are about to use, perfectly. How big or small it is? Which way the wind blows and how windy it is? Is it sloppy or shady? Take a look at every aspect of the selected area neatly and consider how you can use it. How many hours of sun it gets? Which spots are the longest sunny? Where is partial shade? How you will water the garden? How you can userainwater? What is the pH level of soil and other nutrients in it? How you can use the space more effectively and what is the average temperature and in which zone your area falls into?</p>
<p>Jot down these questions and try to find out all the answers. Once you ferret out the details, the chances of your success as a gardener will increase.</p>
<h2>2. Prepare your soil</h2>
<p>Work on your soil. Healthy, organicand nutrient-rich soil is the basis of a stable and productive vegetable garden. This will enable the development of strong root system that is less prone to diseases and supply plants very valuable micro and macro elements and water. Being able to drawnutrients and water from the depths of soil, the plants will grow better above the ground become more productive.</p>
<p>The quickest way to get a few feet thick layer of fertile soil is to make raised beds. A raised bed should be rich in organic matter likeaged manure, compost or vermicompost, and perlite or sand if soil is not well draining. Investing in the construction of raised bedalso has economic advantages: its shape allows the cultivation of more plants in the same space. It is estimated that raised vegetable garden yields four times more than the standard flat bed.</p>
<h2>3. Design and Planning</h2>
<p>Notice how the plants deploy on a spot. Analyze their needs and try to plant the plants in a way that you can utilize every inch ofspace. Imagine the plants like a puzzle or building blocks and take a piece of paper and a pencil to draw the plan of your garden. Consider the practical issues like which plants will be planted where? How can you arrange them to make your garden more efficient and convenient?</p>
<p>Many plants, such as beans, peas, pumpkin like to writhe on the ground or climb on support. Providing them with support in the form of a trellis, nets or grilles increases the area of the garden as you can grow shady vegetables and other edible plantsin the shade ofthem.</p>
<h2>4. Grow Vertical</h2>
<p>Grow vertical, especially if you’re running out of space. Apart from saving space, there are many other benefits of vertical planting: less or no fungal diseases, improved air circulation means healthy and more productive plants, ease in harvesting.</p>
<h2>5. Create a Favorable Environment</h2>
<p>Search for the optimal combinations of plants. Try to maintain biodiversity. Grow the plants together that have similar growing requirements and are a companion to each other. To know more about companion planting, read this educative article of Cornell University.</p>
<p>If you are growing annuals be sure to do crop rotation or plan a new set of plants in the growing area for next season. Grow nitrogen fixing plants such as legumes and beans combined with flowers.</p>
<p>Remember the value of compost and vermicompost. Build your own compost bin. This way you’ll be able to get rid of your organic waste every day and become more self-sufficient and get natural fertilizer, compost also improves the texture of the soil. Use other sources like manure, coffee grounds and wood ash to enrich your soil.</p>
<h2>6. Grow Local</h2>
<p>Local and native plants that are traditionally grown in your region should be your first priority as they are easiest to grow and more productive, especially for beginners. Generally, such crops are also more resistant to pests and diseases and local weather conditions. Opposite to high maintenance exotic vegetables, local vegetables are undemanding and grows in a variety of soil types.</p>
<h2>7. Mulching</h2>
<p>A thick layer of mulch is also necessary for your garden to help retain moisture. Mulching provides warmth on cold days and chill in the hot. It protects roots from the harsh sun and gradually decaying lowest portion of mulch enriches the soil too.</p>
<h2>8. Watering</h2>
<p>Watering the right way can increase the yield of plant and avoid many pests and diseases. Generally, one-inch water per week including rainfall is sufficient for most vegetables. Although, it depends more on soil type, weather and plant.</p>
<p>Most efficient way of irrigating plants in the garden is by usingsoaker hoses and drip lines as they deliver the water right where it is needed and allows time for roots to absorb water. If in case you’re growing a container vegetable garden, read– How to water container plants.</p>
<h2>9. Use of Pesticides</h2>
<p>Pests and diseases are the most heartbreaking and common thing happen to any gardener. The easiest way to kill them is to use chemical pesticides and insecticides, but do you really want to use them?</p>
<p>Don’t use chemical pesticides until possible, they are harmful and also kill the beneficial insects and pollinators. Go organic, experiment with natural remediesto see what is effective. Turmeric, garlic, chilies, onion, insecticidal soaps, neem and horticulture oils are useful and repel the pests. Remember, you need to be patient and consistent with natural pesticides and at last, if you’re using chemical pesticides, use them when pollinators are inactive in the evening.</p>
<h2>10. Don’t Over Fertilise</h2>
<p>Beginners often do this mistake. They believe the more fertilizer they will feed the better and healthier their plants will become. But overfertilization can burn the roots of your plants, it can imbalance the soil and even kill earthworms and other beneficial soil insects.</p>
<p>It is best to get your soil tested to find out which nutrients your soil needs and fulfill them accordingly. Also, mix as much compost and other organic matter as possible.</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="curated_link">See full story on <a href="http://balconygardenweb.com/productive-vegetable-gardening-tips-for-beginners/" target="_blank">balconygardenweb.com</a></p>
<p class="image_credit">Photo courtesy of balconygardenweb.com</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657757414565342716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205089794226975736.post-42687221299848865292016-07-03T23:55:00.001-07:002016-07-03T23:55:44.799-07:00Tips From a Landscape Designer: Garden Perspective Drawing for the Home Gardener<p>Garden perspective drawing can be a handy tool to visualize a redesign, or a therapeutic activity you can use to imagine all the possibilities that space can become. Today we are joined by landscape designer and artist, Erin Lau, who brings some tips on perspective drawing in the garden that makes it simple enough that anyone can do it at home!</p>
<h2>How to Draw your Garden in Perspective</h2>
<p>As a landscape designer, I often create perspective drawings for my clients to help them visualize the design I present to them. Perspective drawing is a technique used to draw a 3-dimensional scene (your garden space) onto a 2-dimensional surface (paper!). At home, a garden perspective drawing allows you to capture the current structure of the space and then helps you to test new ideas, plan new plantings, or redesign the hardscape.</p>
<p>My personal method of drawing a garden in perspective can be done in 7 steps. Perhaps you have some ideas for your garden, but want to see how they would look before investing the time and money to put them in place. You don’t need to have a plan to get started, so don’t worry if you don’t have one. In fact, it can be a much more informative process to see how it looks in perspective first, and then plan out the garden based on what you learn.</p>
<h2>Materials</h2>
<p>Camera (phone camera is fine)<br />
Computer with photo editing and printing capabilities<br />
Trace paper or lightweight bond paper<br />
Ruler or triangle<br />
Pen/ pencil<br />
Markers/ Colored Pencils, etc for coloring</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-161 size-medium" src="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/1-228x300.png" alt="1" width="228" height="300" srcset="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/1-228x300.png 228w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/1-190x250.png 190w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/1.png 547w" sizes="(max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px" /></p>
<p> </p>
<h2>Make it!</h2>
<ol>
<li>Take a photo of your yard that captures the widest, clearest view of the space to be designed. If there is a lot of existing vegetation blocking your view, this can make the first step really hard, so a garden tidy-up may be a necessary first step. If possible, include nearby structures or hardscape, such as your house, fences, and patio. Upload the photos to your computer.</li>
</ol>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-162 size-medium" src="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2-300x225.png" alt="2" width="300" height="225" srcset="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2-300x225.png 300w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2-250x187.png 250w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2.png 545w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>2. Now use some basic photo editing software to increase the brightness and reduce the contrast of the photo. This will fade the image so you can draw on top of it. Print the image out and we are ready to create!</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-163 size-medium" src="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/3-300x189.png" alt="3" width="300" height="189" srcset="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/3-300x189.png 300w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/3-250x158.png 250w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/3.png 546w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>3. Find the perspective lines to start the draft sketch. Using the lines of the hardscape, structure, or the straight edge of a lawn, find the two perspective lines that come together at a point. In this example the lawn had straight edges on both sides so I traced those until they met at a point. I could have used a line from the siding on the house (on the right) and the top of the fence (on the left) and it would have resulted in the same point as the lawn lines. This point is called the Vanishing Point, and it’s where all future lines will originate from. The horizontal line that passes through the Vanishing Point is called the Horizon Line. *Note: all cameras are different and there will be some distortion of perspective, especially in the vertical lines (see how the house looks like it’s leaning). Don’t let this stop you.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-164 size-medium" src="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/4-300x183.png" alt="4" width="300" height="183" srcset="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/4-300x183.png 300w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/4-250x152.png 250w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/4.png 547w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>4. Draw in the hardscape (or lawn). Hardscape may be in the form of a patio, woodchip path, bench, deck, or anything that is not planting. Use the Vanishing Point to originate all the lines that are coming toward you. For any horizontal lines that are not coming from the Vanishing Point, make them parallel with the Horizon Line. I use a ruler or triangle to help draw all my lines. *Note: If there is a tree or other feature you are saving, draw its outline within this step.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-165 size-medium" src="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/5-300x185.png" alt="5" width="300" height="185" srcset="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/5-300x185.png 300w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/5-250x154.png 250w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/5.png 545w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>5. Draw the plants as basic shapes. If you are adding any new trees, start with these. I always design from largest plants to smallest, so that the foundational planting is in first. Draw shrubs and perennials as circles, ovals or inverted triangles for now. Again, this is the first draft so lines will cross each other and it may appear very messy, we’ll tidy it up in the following steps.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-166 size-medium" src="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/6-300x182.png" alt="6" width="300" height="182" srcset="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/6-300x182.png 300w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/6-250x152.png 250w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/6.png 546w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>6. Place a sheet of trace paper over your draft sketch. (You can use normal printing paper also, and tape both sheets to a window or light-board if you have one.) Refine your drawing by starting with the plants first, then hardscape- the opposite order of how we started. Give your plants character- if they are grasses, make them spiky; if they are shrubs make them bushy. Use your ruler to redraw the hardscape if it requires that. Clean up the drawing in general.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-167 size-medium" src="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/7-300x192.png" alt="7" width="300" height="192" srcset="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/7-300x192.png 300w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/7-250x160.png 250w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/7.png 546w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>7. Add color! Finally it’s time to color in your drawing to help fully illustrate your design. Landscape coloring is a multi-step technique within itself, but here are some basics. If you didn’t have certain plants in mind, then this is the time to let colors help you choose the plants. Start with one color you know you want and use it for several plants. For instance, I used this chartreuse color first and made sure both the foreground and background contained it. Fill in the rest, one color at a time, making sure that it is represented by at least two to three plants in the garden- unless it’s a feature plant. We can always add more detail and shading, but let’s stop here and appreciate what we’ve put down on paper!</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-168 size-medium" src="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/8-300x218.png" alt="8" width="300" height="218" srcset="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/8-300x218.png 300w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/8-250x182.png 250w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/8.png 544w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-169 size-medium" src="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/9-300x190.png" alt="9" width="300" height="190" srcset="http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/9-300x190.png 300w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/9-250x158.png 250w, http://northernbeachesgardencare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/9.png 545w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>I would love to see the designs you create using garden perspective drawing at home! If you design a space, please share it on Instagram with the hashtag #drawntogarden.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://gardentherapy.ca/garden-perspective-drawing/" target="_blank">Tips From a Landscape Designer: Garden Perspective Drawing for the Home Gardener </a></p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657757414565342716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205089794226975736.post-67603136926737488462016-06-30T01:02:00.000-07:002016-06-30T01:02:32.018-07:00The Principles of Organic Gardening There are many reasons why you should learn organic gardening principles. Maybe you want to start a garden, but you don’t want to make a big impact on the environment. Maybe you want to change your current garden for the better. You can even put some delicious, organic fruits and vegetables on your table. No matter what your motivations are, you should always consider certain things when building a garden.<br />
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The goal of your organic garden should be to put out as much produce while using as little outside resources as possible. According to organic principles, this means that you should not buy any nutrients, fertilizers, or pesticides from the store. It’s even better to avoid using water from your hose, and instead gather rain water. Instead, you should try to use your resources as best you can to create a healthy crop. It’s a bigger challenge, but it’s worth it in the end. <br />
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Instead of throwing away vegetables and other food waste, you should start a compost heap. This is, by far, the best way to manufacture your own nutrients for your garden. You will find that there is no shortage of material to add to your compost heap. When you mow the lawn, put all of the clipped grass into the heap. Put all of your food waste into the pile. Once it’s hot and ready, you can spread it on your garden and watch the plants flourish.<br />
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Source: <a href="http://garden-office-worker.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/the-principles-of-organic-gardening.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Principles of Organic Gardening</a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657757414565342716noreply@blogger.com0