Profitable Market Gardening - Start the Right Way

There's never been a better time to start market gardening! Demand for fresh organic produce is soaring, driven by food 'scares' and movements like Slow Food and the 100 Mile Diet. When you add in the impact of modern tools and technology, and the use of the Internet as an information resource, it's clear this is a great time to be a market gardener!

However, as with any opportunity, there are some approaches that work better than others. I will let you in on a little 'secret' about an incredibly powerful method to start-up a market garden - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).

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What is Community Supported Agriculture? The government farming organization ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas) - has this definition of a CSA on their website:

Profitable Market Gardening - Start the Right Way

"In basic terms, CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community's farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production.

Members or shareholders of the farm or garden pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation and farmer's salary. In return, they receive shares in the farm's bounty throughout the growing season, as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land. Members also share in risks, including poor harvest due to unfavourable weather or pests."

It might be easier to say, 'customers subscribe to the farm, paying in advance to receive a share of vegetables each week throughout the growing season'.

Why is this a powerful model? Here's a few key points:

• Since customers pay in advance for the season, the farmer gets a guaranteed cash flow to help pay for start-up costs e.g. seed, supplies, equipment;
• Customers are 'locked in' for the season - once they sign up with your CSA, no other marketing required;
• This 'captive market' may also buy other products that you can provide
• No price competition - it doesn't matter what your neighbouring gardener is selling his produce for - yours is already sold (in advance!)

This is an incredible approach to launching a market gardening business. The advance cash you receive from customers could allow you you 'bootstrap' your business, with no money out of your pocket (except for the costs of finding those customers in the first place.)

How do you start a CSA? There are a few steps you should follow before you throw some seed in the ground.

1. Plan your business - set targets for number of customers you want to have, your desired income, and estimate your start-up and operating expenses.
2. Plan your garden - how much of each crop will you have to grow to satisfy your customers? How big will the garden have to be?
3. Market your garden - find a likely pool of prospective customers, and get your message out
4. Manage your garden - put in place the tools, methods and labour to grow and harvest your crops
5. Manage your business - set up a system to keep good records, track income and expenses, and garden production. This will help with planning for next year.

If this is your first attempt at market gardening, its a good idea to 'start small'. Perhaps just approach a few friends and neighbours, and ask them if they would like to receive a basket of farm-fresh veggies from you every week. Then follow the steps above to start up your own bootstrap market garden!

Profitable Market Gardening - Start the Right Way

Scott Kelland is the owner of New Terra Farm and author of several books on market gardening and business management. In 2006 New Terra Farm won the Premier's Award for Agri-food Innovation for their unique small farm marketing and management model.

You can download FREE e-books on market gardening and business building at New Terra Farm free downloads [http://www.new-terra-natural-food.com/download-SBI-books.html]

Mushroom Compost - 7 Organic Vegetable Garden Benefits

Spent mushroom compost, also know as "spent mushroom substrate" or "mushroom soil," is fast growing in popularity for organic soil amending. Crops thrive with 7 organic vegetable garden benefits of mushroom compost. Generally containing coconut hulls, hay, corn cobs, cottonseed meal, poultry manure and straw horse bedding, the pure compost is dark, rich and odorless.

1) Completely recycled
This compost is the discarded after mushrooms have grown in it. Fresh compost can only be used once to grow mushrooms, so the used or spent compost must be disposed of. One excellent way to recycle these "leftovers" is to nourish your vegetable garden. Considered a renewable alternative to peat moss, recycled compost can also help save the peat bogs' delicate ecological balance.

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2) Adds organic matter to the soil
Just like regular organic garden compost, microbial activity is created as it breaks down, creating humus. Excellent at breaking up clay soil, amend generously in your soil to create a rich loamy texture. Remember that all organics continue to break down. After a few months you may need to add a top layer to container plants. A 3 to 6 inch outdoor application is expected to last 2 to 5 years.

Mushroom Compost - 7 Organic Vegetable Garden Benefits

3) Drought resistant
Compost conserves moisture to plants by increasing the capacity to hold water, while aerating the soil at the same time. The fungal activity of previous mushroom growing creates a moist barrier against drought and searing heat. This is excellent for vegetable gardens by improving soil structure and saving water costs, especial in arid zones.

4) Controls Garden Pests
Mushroom compost is organic matter that creates good microbial action. Beneficial microbes in turn encourage beneficial insects, earth worm activity and discourage diseases. All these natural controls help gardeners avoid the use of potentially dangerous garden chemicals that can harm our earth and threaten our family and pet health.

5) Fast growing plants and vegetables
Research shows beneficial fungus or mycorrhizae work with plants to produce synergistic energy that results in rapid growth. Since spent mushroom compost used to host mushrooms, it is full of this good fungus and reports abound about fantastic plant growth. Naturally low in nitrogen, mushroom compost does not encourage over leafy growth, making it ideal for flower bearing plants like vegetables.

6) Weed free
Mushrooms must be grown in medium that has been sterilized and composted, so the left over compost is weed and plant pathogen free. This makes perfect mulch for vegetable and flower gardens, trees, shrubs and top dressings for existing lawns. With this compost you can be confident you are not bringing in unwanted weed seeds to compete with your plants.

7) Pleasant smelling
Properly made and stored, this compost does not smell bad. In fact, it has an almost sweet smell when fresh. Even that odor quickly dissipates once put in the ground. A refreshing relief for gardeners every where who may be used to cow or poultry manures as organic fertilizer. No longer will your neighbors shoot you dirty looks for growing organic. If spent mushroom compost has a foul odor, don't use it unless you re-compost.

Mushroom Compost - 7 Organic Vegetable Garden Benefits

Rhonda Abrons bags spent mushroom compost in Austin, Texas. For more information and a free sample of 100% spent mushroom compost, visit [http://mushroomcompostblog.com]

Organic Gardening - Do Grass Clippings Make a Good Garden Mulch?

The topic of grass clippings to be used as a mulch is a very common question. It is an organic matter and will add benefits to the garden if used properly, but there are things to watch out for.

Understanding the basic function of mulching is very important when choosing a mulch. When applied properly it conserves moisture from both rainfall and other watering practices. You need a mulch that won't mat down and shed water, it needs to be a loose, course texture and a structure to allow water to penetrate through to get to the soil. It also needs to be able to maintain a thickness of about three inches without matting to be effective. A three inch layer of mulch is a good thickness to apply for weed suppression along with serving as an insulator to keep the garden soil warmer in the cold weather and cooler in the hot seasons to protect the root system of especially shallow rooted plants.

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Organic mulches are a beneficial mulch to use because of there ability to add nutrients back into the soil as they decay, along with helping to improve the soils structure by creating an environment for the organisms that are beneficial to your gardens soil to survive.

Organic Gardening - Do Grass Clippings Make a Good Garden Mulch?

Grass clippings are a common yard waste that shouldn't be or shouldn't exist if proper lawn care is practiced. Mowing a lawn at the proper height, 2/12 inches to 3 1/2 inches in with cool season grass and 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches for warm weather grass and mowing frequently by only cutting one third of the grass plants total height with a mulching blade on the lawnmower will allow the clippings to be fine enough to decompose in place.By allowing these clippings to decompose in place they will add nutrients back into the soil for your grass to benefit from. Grass clippings alone will provide about twenty five percent of the nutrients that grass needs alone, they contain about four percent nitrogen, two percent potassium and one percent phosphorus.

Now about using grass clippings for mulch in your garden. The first concern is contamination from insecticides, weed killers and other chemical fertilizers, especially if they have been applied to the grass within a three week period of when you want to use them. There are insecticides that are not to be applied to vegetable plants. Compaction is another problem with grass clippings. They tend to compact tightly and get soggy. They don't have a loose structure to allow for water to penetrate to the soil easily. When applied in a thick layer, grass clippings will heat up during the process of decomposing. This can damage the root system of certain plants, change the soil temperature that can lead to poor plant growth, and the possibility of disease development. The best method when using grass clippings as a mulch is to compost them first by the method of hot composting.

Organic Gardening - Do Grass Clippings Make a Good Garden Mulch?

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

[http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com]

How to Start an Organic Garden - Easy Tips That Lead to the Garden of Your Dreams

It's almost funny how so many people tell me they're "organic" gardeners but after talking for 2 minutes it's obvious that they're not and they had no idea what it means in the first place!

Now I'm not saying that's you but I think it's important we start off on the same page! :)

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The Absolute *Only* Definition Of Organic Gardening You Should Ever Listen To

How to Start an Organic Garden - Easy Tips That Lead to the Garden of Your Dreams

Organic gardening means you don't use any chemical or synthetic fertilizers or pesticides in your garden. (Simple, right?!)

Of course, chemicals do make the job a bit easier but they come at a heavy price: your vegetables and plants will grow unnaturally and - this one's a biggie - your vegetables will *not* taste nearly as good!

There are great organic fertilizers made from vegetable or animal by-products and plenty of creative, natural ways to keep pests away from your garden!

Not Only Does The Food Taste *Way* Better But Organic Veggies Help Fight Cancer (!!!)

Here's the deal: Organic vegetables are much higher in essential vitamins and nutrients. These play a huge role in fighting disease and even cancers!

Plus, if you care at all about the environment we live in, compost usage (which is a really effective key to organic gardening) nourishes your soil instead of depleting it.

It really is "win-win" - you get better tasting, natural food and your garden gets healthier!

The Best Way To Plan Your Organic Garden

Here's the time to really let your creativity go wild. You just need to keep some things in mind if you really want your garden to thrive!

Fool Proof Way To Pick The *Best* Location Every Time

Pick a patch of ground you're interested in and then watch it for a couple days... look at where the sun hits it and how long it shines on that spot.

Sunlight plays a huge part in thriving plants... I know that sounds so 'common sense' these days but seriously, so few people ever do it right!

Decide What To Plant *Beforehand*

After you pick a nice, sunny spot for your garden do not run in and cultivate it... you have to know what you're planting first.

Why? Because different plants require different amounts of sun and even if you think that spot gets "great sun" it might not be right for what you really want to plant!

This is where people say to me: "OK, fine... so how do I find out the sunlight needs of plants?"

And my answer is always the same... "It says so on the seed packets, silly!"... :)

Seed packets will have 3 answers that indicate amount of sunlight: "sun", "shade" and "partial sun".

"sun" means the plant needs at least 8 hours sunlight every day. "shade" means less than 4 hours and "partial sun" means somewhere between 4 and 6 hours.

And Now For The Most *Important* Key To Organic Gardening

Healthy soil is the single most important key to a successful garden.

If you had everything else right - the best location, optimum sunlight and the correct plants but poor quality soil your garden would still suffer!

What Kind Of Plants You Should Choose

Native plants are great choices because they already know how to "live" (and thrive!) in your local climate.

Perennials are big time savers because they come back year after year... no need to replant!

Did You Know That Certain Neighboring Plants Can "Help" Each Other?

Companion planting is when 2 plant types do better when planted near each other....

Here's something you probably didn't know: For instance, when you plant carrots and onions near each other they will repel pests!

How To Attract The "Good" Bugs

Not all insects are bad -- some should actually be welcomed guests in your garden!

Lady beetles are a great example. (If you plant sunflowers and lupine you'll probably see them in your garden!)

You see, lady beetles eat aphids... if you've been gardening for any amount of time you'll know that aphids cause enormous headaches for your garden!

Honestly though, garden design can be as simple or complicated as you make it. You might be the "spontaneous" type of gardener who plants flowers and greenery at a whim and them decides how it looks. (Just don't say I didn't warn you!)

Others will get out a pencil and graph paper to plan out their garden and consider things like plant height, color combination, scent and even soil needs!

How to Start an Organic Garden - Easy Tips That Lead to the Garden of Your Dreams

Discover more shockingly easy organic garden tips including easy ways to keep your garden healthy and thriving at http://www.OrganicGardenTips.net

Organic Gardening - Tips You Should Know When Using Straw Mulch

There are many benefits in mulching your organic garden. Straw mulch is excellent for helping to retain moisture in soil by stopping the water from evaporating. It can be used to suppress weeds, but needs to be applied in a thick layer about four to six inches thick. Once the straw is applied it has to be soaked so that the wind wont blow it away when applied directly from a bale.

When using straw mulch fresh from a bale it is best used when shredded before applied to the garden and should be removed before tilling your soil. A thin layer of straw mulch will slow the spring time warming of the soil, removing the mulch and compost it after the growing season, then reapply new mulch after soil temperatures have warmed.

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Straw mulch can tie up nitrogen at the surface of soil during it's decomposition process. Due to this you should use straw around fruit trees and avoid using it around your annual plants or to avoid this from happening use already rotting straw. Leaving straw bales outdoors over the winter months will allow this rotting process to take place due to the wet and dry conditions of nature. This will also help to kill off any weed seeds that may be in the bales. Make sure when you apply straw you keep it fluffed up instead of it's compacted form that it comes in with a bale.

Organic Gardening - Tips You Should Know When Using Straw Mulch

Straw can be purchased at your local garden center. When purchasing straw make sure it is seed and weed free.

Organic Gardening - Tips You Should Know When Using Straw Mulch

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

[http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com]

Organic Food History and Current Trends

Farming practices used before the 1900's are classed as organic. It was only after this that added chemicals such as urea and DDT were brought into farming - previous to this, farmers didn't have the knowledge and simply put, were happy enough with things as they were; as most of us today would be. After all, home grown food is often the nicest, most tasty food we put on our plates.

For some reason, during the 1960's and 1970's the concept of organic food became a separate entity to the 'normal' food we were then buying. Consumers had been effectively duped into believing that what they were buying, was food as nature intended, it not appreciating that the chemicals which were added during growth of the 'normal stuff' were what actually made the food abnormal in the first place.

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Rachel Carson, a prominent writer, biologist and ecologist established public awareness of these issues via 'Silent Spring', a book she wrote which basically brought about major controversy on the use of agricultural chemicals and synthetic pesticides in particular. As a direct result of this book, and the growing concern over the use of farm chemicals which consumers were suddenly more aware of, chemical regulation procedures were put into place, and when the demand for organically grown food rose, so did the need for further regulatory procedures to cut down on the ecologically destructive and toxic chemicals.

Organic Food History and Current Trends

Today, organic food is finally reaching an all time high of acceptance from consumers, so its demand is increasing - more 'organically acceptable' agricultural procedures are gaining momentum, and it seems even though it is more expensive than chemically treated foodstuffs, it is healthier, and it is that health factor which is winning the battle against chemically treated consumables.

A creation of a whole new set of ideas about organic standards which first came into debate in 1990, took over ten years to refine to relative perfection, and they will still evolve as new practices come into force. It is by these standards now that, organic food and other products such as wool in the USA is grown/gathered.

All of this though begs the questions - why can't farmers just grow food without chemicals at all, why does it need regulation, and why were chemicals introduced into grown food and other consumables in the first place; I think you already know the answer though, and that's money.

In this modern technological age where farmers are in direct competition between each other to gain the bigger contracts of the supermarkets and other food retailers, they have to be cheap. They simply can't grow the vegetables (for example) as fast as the grocery store can sell them, so they have to resort to other methods to keep up, or did do at least until the consumers voice began to ring out strong and true.

Organic food is no longer a small niche in the food desires of Americans; it is becoming what everyone wants. Everyone now wants and feels the need to eat in a more healthy fashion with the onset of so many new medical conditions which prove costly as it is; a little more expense to eat something grown without strong use of chemicals (which could 'theoretically' make it worse) might mean a saving health-wise instead.

The organic food trend of today is growing ever-stronger, and not just for vegetables even though at one point organic purchases totalled over 40% of all organic buys. Meat and fish which is organically produced is still at the lowest of all food purchases, but is moving up the chain too. Dairy, bread and grain, beverages and snacks are all becoming more and more popular.

Today there are more Organic supermarkets popping up everywhere, sometimes in certain areas more than others - almost as though people in one state are more 'organic' than others but on the whole it is more of a blanket change than just a few people trying to eat in a healthier way, the amount of people eating organically is far more substantial than most realize. Suddenly people have more choice, and this is obviously because the demand is there. The world is finally going organic, and with any luck the bigger grocery store chains will have to meet this demand, rather than flood the market with low-cost chemically treated alternatives.

Organic Food History and Current Trends

Carl Copeland is motivated to bringing information and resources to others regarding Food Storage, Food Safety, and Food Preparation and its benefits for everyday life. Save money by having your food last longer. More Info at http://www.Food-Storage-Info.com

How To Make An Organic Moisturizer

Organic Skin Care must include moisturizers. Although it is handy to purchase these in a ready to use form, you may want to try some of the following homemade moisturizers for a luxurious change on occasion.

You will find that they leave your skin feeling like a million bucks. If cost is a concern, check prices online before choosing a certain recipe. Keep in mind that the more essential oil that the recipe calls for, the more expensive it is to make. In places that the essential oil is more for light fragrance than for necessity to the recipe, it is marked as 'optional.' Any essential oils marked this way can be omitted or changed to a scent that you prefer. For those not marked optional, you need them for the recipe to work like it should.

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By packaging the moisturizers in small Mason jars, you leave yourself open to decorate and give as gifts in a pinch. Place a bit of colorful fabric over the flat lid to the jar, screw the ring on, wrap a color coordinated ribbon around the ring and add a personal tag and you have a ready to give, organic skin care gift from the heart. Just be sure that you are willing to share the recipe or they may drive you crazy wanting more!

How To Make An Organic Moisturizer

Quick and Simple Moisturizer:

Jojoba Oil is great for any skin type and absorbs easily. Apply a small amount to your freshly cleaned face before you dry it. The water on your face is very important to the use of this oil as a moisturizer. For added enjoyment, mix a drop of your favorite organic essential oil to the jojoba just before application. For anti-aging help, use one teaspoon of jojoba and a dab of active royal jelly (found in refrigerated in health food stores); keep your royal jelly refrigerated or it becomes inactive and no good to you.

Anti-aging Dry Skin Moisturizer

4 ounces shea butter

2 ounces organic olive oil

2 teaspoons organic vitamin E oil, 5000 IU

1 teaspoon active royal jelly (refrigerated section of health food stores)

6 drops organic lavender essential oil

Mix all ingredients on high until smooth and creamy. Store refrigerated in an airtight container. It is necessary to make small amounts of this at a time and keep refrigerated because of the active royal jelly. This is an awesome ingredient for its healing properties and well worth the effort.

Super Simple Moisturizer

With only 2 necessary ingredients, this one is a breeze. Mix 1/4 cup pure aloe vera gel (directly from plant) and 2 tablespoons organic vegetable glycerin. This amount is for use over the entire body. Use immediately because aloe vera gel begins to lose potency immediately. For added effects, you can add 3 or 4 drops of your favorite essential oil or you can add 1/2 teaspoon of active royal jelly for anti aging effects. Active royal jelly must be kept refrigerated to remain active and can be found in refrigerated sections of health food stores.

Dry Skin Moisturizing Cream

This moisturizer has the healing qualities of aloe vera, the anti-oxidant qualities of Vitamin E, and a variety of oils specifically chosen to infuse dry, tired skin with moisture and a renewed radiance.

1/3 cup aloe vera gel (taken directly from plant)

1/4 cup beeswax (liquefied)

1/3 cup coconut oil

3 drops grape seed extract

6 drops of organic lavender essential oil (optional)

3/4 cup organic olive oil

1/4 tsp vitamin E (5000 IU)

2/3 cup water (distilled)

Combine olive oil, coconut oil, and beeswax and melt in a large, microwave safe bowl then pour in blender and let cool until it is about as thick as a milkshake.

While the above is cooling, combine your water, aloe, essential oil, vitamin E, and grape seed extract in a large liquid measuring cup, pour this into blender when the other mixture has cooled enough. Blend until smooth and creamy.

If you are lucky enough to have a heavy duty kitchen mixer (the kind that is on its own stand with its own bowls), you may find that it works better for you because the mixture does become very heavy.
Store refrigerated in small Mason jars.

How To Make An Organic Moisturizer

Keep YOURSELF looking great with these great Skin Care secrets from http://www.NaturalElements.co.uk In seconds you can access over 36 beauty topics that will keep you looking younger and more radiant. Help your skin with a variety of Organic Skin Care products at Natural Elements

How to Make Your Own Organic Insecticidal Soap and Keep Your Garden Chemical Free

Many home plant pest problems can be easily solved by using a little insecticidal soap. It is easy and inexpensive to mix up your own organic insect killer at home. You will be saving money on pesticides and won't have to worry about dangerous chemicals on your food.

This recipe works best on soft-bodied pests like aphids, thrips, white flies and spider mites. These are among the most common garden pests. Insecticidal soaps kill insects by entering the pest's respiratory system and breaking down internal cell membranes. It is only effective when it is wet, so aim well. After it is dry it will not harm your beneficial insects. For heavy insect infestations, it is best to spray your plants again in a few days.

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Here's a really simple recipe for insecticidal soap.

How to Make Your Own Organic Insecticidal Soap and Keep Your Garden Chemical Free

1 tablespoon of soap

2 cups water 

Mix thoroughly and add to spray bottle. Spray directly onto the insects on your plants. 

Be sure to check the label on your soap first. The key to this recipe is to use regular dish soap, not detergent or anything anti-bacterial. You can also use pure liquid castile soap. 

You can super-charge your organic insecticidal soap to make it stick to hard-bodied pests like fleas. It also damages the protective waxy coating on insects. Add either one tablespoon of mineral oil or a vegetable oil to your mixture. Sunflower or olive oil will work well, any vegetable-based oil will break down faster in your soil. Oil will help the mixture stay on these pests so the soap has a chance to begin working. But it will also stick to your ladybug beetles so be careful where you are aiming. 

Some plants (especially ferns) are sensitive to soaps. Do not use a soap mixture on ferns. New growth on plants may be too tender for soap, so apply sparingly art first. Plants under stress may have a bad reaction to any insecticide. Plants that are under stress from drought should be soaked with water the day before you treat them. You should always test your mixture first on just one leaf on your plant. If it is fine the next day, your solution should be OK to use. It is better not to spray your plants in the middle of the day. Full sun (especially on hairy plants) can turn the water droplets into little magnifying glasses which can burn the leaves.  

Many garden pests like to hide underneath the leaves of plants. For best results aim upwards and get under that foliage. Aim directly at those bugs. You may need to spray your organic pesticide again in a few days if you have a heavy infestation of pests.

Making your own insecticidal soap is a great way to save money on your landscaping budget and keep your vegetable garden organic at the same time. 

How to Make Your Own Organic Insecticidal Soap and Keep Your Garden Chemical Free

Laura Zinkan is a writer in California. She cultivates a gardening site at http://www.theGardenPages.com with plant profiles, growing tips about succulents and native plants. She also cooks up http://www.MomsRetro.com where you can find retro art and kitchen tips for busy cooks. 2009 by Laura Zinkan. Article may be reprinted if author credit is given with a website link. All rights reserved.

How to Start a Vegetable Garden From Scratch!

1. Plot out your garden area. Decide on what you want to plant and how much room you will need to grow those plants. Also, the amount of sunlight is very important in picking out the proper placement of your garden. You will want an area that gets direct sunlight most for the day. Something else to take into account is the drainage of the land. You will not want your garden in a depressed area of land because water will tend to flood those areas and won't drain properly. I prefer using a slightly sloped piece of land or a flat piece of land that retains and drains water properly. Once you have chosen the location and size of you garden you will want to mark the boundaries of the garden with stakes or flags.

2. Next is the part of the job that will likely take the most time, preparing the soil. Preparing the soil means two things to me:

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A. Cutting and removing the sod. You have several options when deciding how you want to get rid of the grass and get down to the soil. If you have a very large garden you may want to hire somebody or rent the equipment (bobcat) to tear up the grass. If you own a rototiller (you can rent one), you can use this to remove the sod. There a two main types of tillers, front tine or rear tine. Rear tine tillers have the blades in the back of the machine and typically are a bit easier to use due to the fact that you (as the operator) get more weight/leverage over top the blades. Front tine tillers have the blades in the front and can be a bit harder to use on hard sod or compacted soil since there is not as much weight/leverage over top the blades to make them bite in as well as a rear tine tiller. If you have a very small garden area then you may also choose to use a shovel to tear up the sod. Personally, my brother and I used a tiller to tear up a rather large patch of land for our garden. We would run the tiller over the grass to break it up then rake the grass clumps into one large pile in the corner of our garden, which eventually decomposed to plain dirt. We had to run the tiller over the garden area several times and rake clumps of grass each time before we had a workable dirt area. This can be a back breaking task so make sure to take your time and rest occasionally.

How to Start a Vegetable Garden From Scratch!

B. Getting the soil ready to plant in. Plants will produce their best when they have a healthy, somewhat loose, soil to grow in. This means that you want a nutrient rich soil that retains just the right amount of moisture. You can take soil samples into many garden centers to get a test done. A soil test will tell you what you need to add or balance out in your soil. The three key nutrients in soil that you will need to worry about are: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Any and all of these nutrients can easily be added using organic or non-organic methods. Ask your garden center what you should use for your soil. I was fortunate with my garden because the land we put our garden on used to be old farm land and was great soil. We simply tilled the soil several times to loosen it up before we created rows.

3. Next you will want to create your rows and plant your seeds or seedlings. To do this, follow the directions for row and seed spacing on the back of your seed packages (you can also find all your planting information at the website listed in the resource box below). Many plants require 24" to 36" between rows. Make sure to leave adequate room between your rows to allow you to walk and/or till between them. I like to mark where my rows will be, by driving stakes into the ground on each end of the row and tying twine between the stakes (I use a tape measure to mark the distance between my stakes).

How to Start a Vegetable Garden From Scratch!

Steve Gunther is passionate about vegetable gardening. Though only introduced to gardening himself a couple of years ago, he has immersed himself in the gardening community. Steve is currently starting a website dedicated to vegetable gardening [http://getready2garden.com/] and a blog: http://getready2garden.blogspot.com/

How to Get Rid of Maggots

What do maggots look like?

Before you can get rid of maggot you must first know what they look like. Maggots are the larvae of flies. They only appear if a fly is able to lay its eggs they appear 2-5 days after a fly has laid its eggs. The fly will lay its eggs after being drawn to the smell of rotten flesh. Maggots are 3/8 to 3/4 inches long they are soft, worm-like, pale-colored maggots.

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How to get rid of maggots

How to Get Rid of Maggots

Learning how to get rid of maggots can be a disgusting and not so fun job. The first thing you should know is that maggots love old food stuff from the garbage bag. So you need to get rid of any of that ASAP. They are mostly attracted to the stench that the trash gives off especially if it is in a place with a lot of heat. It will make the smell worse and attract more maggots to it. The best thing to do for this is to make sure you wrap your food up tight like in a bag before throwing it out and it would be best to leave your garbage outside instead of in the house. For the air from outside can keep some of the stench away and reduce the appearance of maggots and also keep them from getting into your house. Also it would be best to use a garbage disposal for food instead of throwing it in the garbage it would reduce any chance of maggots for there would be less of a smell for them to be attracted to.

If you really have to put the food in your garbage bags then you would have to look for maggots and at the first sign of even one you must get rid of it ASAP. One way is that you can try is that you can use a type of fly spray or pest control spray to get rid of them before you put the trash out. This will kill them instantly without you having to be dealing with a lot more then you bargained for. Maggots love dirt and stench and shelter so as soon as you take that away from them they will disappear start to go away. Also any food that you have out be sure to keep it covered especially if they are meat products. Cover them up tight because flies love the chance to get into meat, and lay there eggs. The best way to keep from getting maggots in the first place is to keep your home free of any flies so when you see a fly in your house be sure to kill it also fly paper helps a lot be sure to put it in every room of the house especially the kitchen where you keep all your food an also near the trash can. This will help to keep maggots from appearing in your house hold.

How to Get Rid of Maggots

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Growing Tomatoes - Little Known Secrets to Growing Ripe & Juicy Organic Tomatoes

No vegetable lover can resist a ripe, juicy tomato fresh from the garden.

I don't even need to make a case for how much of a difference tasty organic tomatoes make in dressing salads (or my personal favorite: BLT sandwiches!)

\"Organic Vegetable\"

The tomato growing secrets I'm about to share with you are specific, easy steps you can take to grow and enjoy your own flavorful organic tomatoes this garden season.

Growing Tomatoes - Little Known Secrets to Growing Ripe & Juicy Organic Tomatoes

Secret #1: Forget The Junk Chemical Fertilizers

It's a proven, undisputed fact that organically grown tomatoes taste much, much better than chemically grown tomatoes.

You see, food companies use chemicals because it makes their tomatoes grow quicker, which allows them to turn around crop faster so they can make more profit.

Remember, making money is not your goal here.. you want great tasting, mouth watering, juicy tomatoes that will amaze your family and guests!

Secret #2: Find a Sunny Patch Of Ground And DON'T Make This *Crucial* Mistake...

Every expert will say "make sure you find a nice patch of sunny ground" - that's common knowledge and you probably already knew it - but here's the thing lots of folks leave out and will destroy your garden if you don't do it: that patch absolutely needs to get at least 6 full hours of focused sunlight!

Feel free to use a garden bed, patch of land near your patio, etc. - just be sure about the 6 hour minimum sunlight requirement!

Helpful Tip: Place your garden near your watering source whenever possible.

People get so preoccupied with where to place their garden - and rightly so because it's important - but then water becomes a stressful chore because the watering source is far away.

How To Know What Type Of Tomato Will Grow The Best

There are plenty of different tomato varieties and depending on where you live, one type will grow better than others. (So many people falsely assume it doesn't matter and select the wrong type for their soil!)

So how do you find what tomato grows best in your garden? Call a local nursery expert.

I've found them to be an excellent resource.

They'll tell you exactly which tomatoes have proven track records for growing nicely in your climate!

Secret #3: Fertilizing Schedule And A 'Trick' That Makes Them Grow Healthier

You'll want to naturally fertilize your tomatoes every other week until you see fruit, and then fertilize again after each flush of fruit. A balanced organic fertilizer will work fine or if you're the do-it-yourself type, you can use fish emulsion in water.

Healthy Growing Tip: Use mulch in your tomato garden and put up tall stakes or wire cages) for them to grow. (Tomato plants can climb as high as 6 feet!)

Point is, don't let them grow along the ground - they'll get diseased and eaten by pests!

Secret #4: Keep Away Pests With These Easy Home Remedies

You definitely want to discourage pests from inviting themselves into your garden.

Here's how to do it: use hair to stop slugs in their tracks, dipel for hornworms and soapy water for aphids.

Secret #5: When To Harvest Your Tomatoes

Make sure you harvest your crop when they're at the "pink shoulders" stage - that's when they first start to ripen.

If you wait much longer you'll have birds and insects fighting you for them!

Growing Tomatoes - Little Known Secrets to Growing Ripe & Juicy Organic Tomatoes

Discover more shockingly easy organic garden tips for your garden, including easy ways to keep your garden healthy and thriving at http://www.OrganicGardenTips.net

The 12 Easiest Vegetables to Grow in Home Gardens Or Containers For First Time Gardeners

A lot of people, myself included, are growing our own vegetables to beat the credit crunch. And why not? Planting a few seeds in containers, in your backyard or in your garden will yield delicious, organic vegetables - and can save money, too! Growing organic vegetables is easier than you think. Here are the 12 vegetables you will have no problem planting, tending for and harvesting in your own garden, even if you are a first-time gardener!

#1. Radish

\"Organic Vegetable Seeds\"

These are particularly easy to grow and can be intercropped with rows of lettuce to take up a minimum amount of space! Great thing about radishes is that very few pests bother them. Choose a sunny, sheltered position in soil, well fed with organic matter. Sow the seed thinly, evenly at ½ inch below the soil's surface with one inch of space between each. Water the soil thoroughly before sowing and after the seeds emerge water them lightly every couple days. Radishes are a great source of potassium, folic acid, magnesium and calcium, and are perfect in salad dressings or as a garnish for salads. Radishes are fast growers and should be ready to pull in several weeks.

The 12 Easiest Vegetables to Grow in Home Gardens Or Containers For First Time Gardeners

#2. Zucchini/ Squash

Zucchini and squash do well in most climates and they need very little special attention. If you plant zucchini you'll could end up with way more than they can even eat!

Zucchini and squash are very low in calories but full of potassium, manganese and folate. Sow several zucchini seeds in a heap pile of composted soil a foot high and a couple feet wide. Space each heap pile approximately 3 feet apart, water them heavily every other day and wait for them to sprout in a couple weeks. They should be ready to harvest about a month later. For any early start sow the seeds singly about 1/2 in (1.25cm) deep, in small pots and place in a temperature of 65-70F (18-21C). After germination of seeds, grow on in a well lit spot, harden off and plant out after the last spring frost when the weather is warm.

#3. Carrots

Carrots tend to be pest free and need little attention. Carrots are rich in vitamin A, antioxidants, carotene and dietary. Dig a hole less than an inch deep and plant a couple of seeds in each, and leave several inches in between holes. Thin out in stages to 4-6in (10-15cm) apart. Keep the soil moist but remember to water the carrots less as they begin to reach maturity.

#4. Spinach

A highly nutritious and easily grown crop, high in both calcium and iron. Spinach can be eaten plain, cooked, and made into a chip dip. Turn over the soil with compost and plant seeds less than an inch deep, placing them at least 4 inches apart to give room for growth. Pick young leaves regularly. Sow the soil a couple more times in the first month and keep this area well-watered.

#5. Peas

Peas are another high-yield crop, both sweet peas and sugar peas. Other than fruit flies, these guys attract very few pests. A good source of vitamins A, B and C. Cultivate the soil just prior to sowing top dress with a balanced fertilizer. Keep in mind that your soil must drain well in order for peas for flourish. Space each seed several inches apart and sow them one inch deep. Freshly planted seeds require 1/2 inch of water every week, while more mature plants need a full inch. Any surplus peas can be frozen very successfully.

#6. Peppers

Peppers contain nutrients like thiamin and manganese. Peppers can be stuffed with meat and rice or used in salsa and pasta, and raw in salads. Till the soil with compost and Epsom salts, this will make it rich in magnesium to help the peppers develop healthily. Peppers can be produced outside in growing bags, large pots etc. Since they grow best in warm soil, sow the seeds a foot or more apart in raised beds or containers. Water them frequently, keeping the soil moist, or they may taste bitter once harvested.

#7. Lettuce/ Baby Greens

Lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to grow; you just have to plant the seeds, water and watch how fast it grows. Lettuce is a good source of folic acid and vitamin A, used as the main ingredient mostly in salads, but also can be stuffed with various ingredients to make a lettuce wrap or top sandwiches, hamburgers and tacos. When cultivating the soil with nutrient-rich compost, break up any chunks and remove debris. Make sure that seeds are planted between 8 and 16 inches apart and water them every morning. Avoid doing so at night because this could cause disease. Loose-leaf varieties are ready to start cutting about seven weeks after sowing.

Baby greens are simply greens that are harvested while they are still young and tender. They are true instant gratification vegetables - you'll be harvesting your first salad in under a month! Sprinkle the seeds as thinly as possible across the soil in a 2- to 3-inch wide band. Space rows of baby greens 6 to 8 inches apart. Or plant baby greens in a pot, and cut your salad fresh every night!

#8. Onion

Rich in dietary fiber, folate and vitamin C, onion need little care - just give them plenty of water. Plow the soil a foot deep and get rid of debris. The easiest way to grow onions is from sets which are small onions. Plant sets so that the tip is showing about 5in (13cm) apart in rows 12in (30cm) apart. Or, plant the seeds a couple centimeters deep and several inches apart. Weed this area frequently but gently and provide them with about an inch of water every week.

#9. Beets

Beets (beetroots) can be peeled, steamed, and then eaten warm with butter; cooked, pickled, and then eaten cold as a condiment; or peeled, shredded raw, and then eaten as a salad.. Betanin, one of the primary nutrients in this deep red or purple vegetable, can help lower blood pressure. Clean and strengthen the seeds by soaking them in water at room temperature for a day. Plow the soil and remove any stones from the top 3 feet. Plant each seed 2in (5cm) apart, thin out to 4in (10cm) apart and water them at least once every day.

#10. Broccoli

For the most part doesn't need a lot of special care, broccoli is easily grown vegetable that gives the best return for the space it occupies and is cropped when other green vegetables are in short supply. One row of 15ft (4.5m) will accommodate six plants to give self-sufficiency for a family of four. Sow broccoli seed in spring in a seed bed ½in (1.25cm) deep and transplant when the seedlings are about 4in (10cm) tall 2ft (60cm) apart each way.

#11. Tomatoes

There are many benefits to growing tomatoes - they're tasty, they9re good for you, and the dollar value of the yield can be very significant. Tomatoes are rich in nutrients like niacin, potassium and phosphorous, antioxidants like lycopene, anthocyanin and carotene, and vitamins A, C and E.

Sow the seed just below the surface in a tray of peat-based compost. When the seedlings have made two pairs of true leaves prick them out into 3in (7.5cm) pots and place them in a light, warm place indoors (like windowsill). After the last danger of frost has passed, pick a spot in your garden that receives at least 6-8 hours of sunlight and test the soil's pH level - it needs to be between 6 and 7. (To decrease pH level add sulfur, to increase it add lime). Spread compost over this area and mix it with the soil. After hardening off, set tomato plants 2ft (60cm) apart in rows 3ft (90cm) apart, bush plants 3ft (90cm) apart. Water them a couple times per week.

Tomatoes do need a little more attention then the other vegetables on the list. However, for the little bit attention that tomatoes do need, you get an incredible reward in the large amount of fruit that they produce. To help you get started, here is a complete guide to growing tomatoes

#12. Herbs

There are many herbs including thyme, rosemary, basil, mint, sage, chives, parsley and oregano that need very little attention and can be grown successfully in containers on a patio, balcony or terrace. Purchase some of your favorite small herb plants from your local nursery and get a container that is at least 6-12 inches deep. You can plant multiple herbs in a wide or long container or use at least a 6" pot for individual plants and you will enjoy not only their fragrance and beauty but also their culinary benefits. Water sparingly because herbs don't like to sit in wet soil.

If you are a first time gardener, start slow with any of the vegetables I've mentioned. Soon, you will gain confidence and have a beautiful organic vegetable garden!

The 12 Easiest Vegetables to Grow in Home Gardens Or Containers For First Time Gardeners

Jane Thomas is experienced and respected vegetable grower, hobbyist gardener with more than 15 years of experience in organic vegetables gardening. Among other projects, she is co-owner of Laminated Garden Guides, your one-stop resource to learn how to start a vegetable garden with subjects like: Home Vegetable Gardens, Container and Raised Beds Gardening, Growing Tomatoes, Herb Gardening and many more. Visit Laminated Garden Guides to learn how to start a vegetable garden!

How to Save Vegetable Seeds For Planting Next Season!

1. Harvest the seeds from the healthiest most mature fruit/vegetables that you have. Try to find the most blemish free plant with the healthiest produce. Most of the time you will want to get seeds from very mature plants not young ones since the seeds are not fully developed yet. For example, I like to leave one pea plant and one bean bush mature past the point where you would want to eat them, I then pick the over-matured plants to use as seed next year. Also, allow one or two fruit on viney plants like zucchini, cucumbers, and pumpkins to get larger than is recommended to use the seeds from.

2. Wash the seeds in lukewarm water. Try to remove any flesh or stringy materials from the seed. If flesh is left on the seed it can cause the seed to rot and smell. Once the seeds are rinsed, drain them and...

\"Organic Vegetable Seeds\"

3. Place them on a surface to dry for several days. It is best to use a plate or other surface that the drying seeds will not stick to. This being said, I tend to place my seeds to dry on paper towels or newspaper (turning them occasionally the first day or two so they don't stick).

How to Save Vegetable Seeds For Planting Next Season!

4. Place the now dry seeds in envelopes, boxes, or other "dry" materials that will allow the seeds to completely dry out and get a bit of air circulation. I like to store my seeds in toilet paper/paper towel rolls with the ends pinched and taped shut. Be sure to write on the outside of the packet what type of seeds they are. The seeds should be stored in a cool dry area away from any heat or direct sunlight. A wine cooler, dry cabinet, or dry basement should work fine. The seeds will likely be viable to use in a month or two.

One final suggestion I have, is to test the validity of the seeds after a couple of months has passed since saving them. This will allow you to make sure that the seed is valid and you won't plant a bunch of dud seeds come planting season. Take 8-10 seeds, place them in a very damp paper towel, put them inside a Ziploc bag, and place the bag in a cool area for 10-14 days. The viable seeds will sprout, thereby letting you know how thinly or heavily to sow your seed in the Spring. Good luck. Please see this article and many other articles at our great new gardening site listed below.

How to Save Vegetable Seeds For Planting Next Season!

PA Gardener is passionate about vegetable gardening. Though only introduced to gardening himself a couple of years ago, he has immersed himself in the gardening community. Steve is currently starting a website dedicated to vegetable gardening [http://getready2garden.com/] and a blog: http://getready2garden.blogspot.com/