Spring Garden

…mornings, so I figured it was time to “spring” into my Spring garden. … My seeds arrived last week and after a bit of Martha Stewart style
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Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own food is a great experience. It is fun, gets your creativity flowing, can help you save money and best of all can help you reduce stress and help you make the switch towards a healthy lifestyle. So how do you go about it? Here are a few tips to get you started on this wonderful journey that you are sure to enjoy:

1.) Find Out What Crops You Can Raise in Your Region: This is step number one. There are a variety of plants that you can grow on your own. But the specific types of crops you can raise in your region will depend on various factors including climate, soil, rainfall and of-course the available space in your backyard. The best way to get this information is to check with a seasoned grower. You can also use the internet to do your research. Subscribing to garden bloggers in your area is a great idea too.

2.) Time to Grow: Once you have made a list of vegetable and fruit plants that you can grow in your area, find out how much time is required to grow each plant variety. This includes but is not limited to planting, harvesting, watering, fertilizing, soil requirements, etc. Start with easier plants first that do not require a lot of maintenance. Fruit plants generally take a long time to bear fruits but they are well worth. It’s almost like an investment where you invest once and keep getting returns for a very long time. Apples, pears, plums, raspberries and peaches are all excellent choices.

3.) Overcoming Climatic Restrictions: What do you do when you live in areas that get less sunlight or experiences adverse conditions not suitable for growing plants? One of the best ways to work with such a climate is to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse. You can get more details on how to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse here.

4.) Storing Food:You cannot eat all the food that you product in one go. So storing food becomes an important consideration. Food can be stored by drying, canning, freezing and bedding. Some foods can be stored in-ground and some like grains need to be stocked in barns. Find out how you can store the food you are planning to produce from experts in your area.

5.) Learning the Tricks: For starters it is best if you have a mentor to guide you. If you do not get a mentor, you can always get the information you need from other seasoned growers in your area. In addition to that the internet is a great place to get some much needed advice. There are a whole lot of forums and social networking sites dedicated to this cause. Just do a search for ‘gardening social networks’ and you will come across a host of them. Most of these networks have experts who will be willing to help you for free. Just join a proper group and post your questions. You can also make some great friends this way.

6.) Just Get Started: The best way to go about this is to get started without thinking twice. You might fail in your first attempt but that does not matter. The important thing is that as soon as you get started, you start to learn. And it is a fact that the universe helps you too. You will be surprised at the amount of info and sources you will start finding.

7.) Don’t Give Up: This is perhaps the most important tip. There is a major chance that you will not do good at your first attempt in growing your own food. But isn’t this the case with most things that we do in life? We learn with time and failures are only stepping stones to success. So whatever you do, do not give up. Just keep learning and moving forward. And once you have mastered your art, make sure to give information to others as well so they do not have to face the same difficulties that you faced.

By growing your own food you are adding a whole lot of value to the environment and you will surely be rewarded. Good luck!

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#10: Wheatgrass Certified Organic Seeds 400 Seeds

Wheatgrass Certified Organic Seeds 400 Seeds. Botanical Interests 1,619% Sales Rank in Patio, Lawn & Garden: 177 (was 3,043) Buy new: $1.69…
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Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own food is a great experience. It is fun, gets your creativity flowing, can help you save money and best of all can help you reduce stress and help you make the switch towards a healthy lifestyle. So how do you go about it? Here are a few tips to get you started on this wonderful journey that you are sure to enjoy:

1.) Find Out What Crops You Can Raise in Your Region: This is step number one. There are a variety of plants that you can grow on your own. But the specific types of crops you can raise in your region will depend on various factors including climate, soil, rainfall and of-course the available space in your backyard. The best way to get this information is to check with a seasoned grower. You can also use the internet to do your research. Subscribing to garden bloggers in your area is a great idea too.

2.) Time to Grow: Once you have made a list of vegetable and fruit plants that you can grow in your area, find out how much time is required to grow each plant variety. This includes but is not limited to planting, harvesting, watering, fertilizing, soil requirements, etc. Start with easier plants first that do not require a lot of maintenance. Fruit plants generally take a long time to bear fruits but they are well worth. It’s almost like an investment where you invest once and keep getting returns for a very long time. Apples, pears, plums, raspberries and peaches are all excellent choices.

3.) Overcoming Climatic Restrictions: What do you do when you live in areas that get less sunlight or experiences adverse conditions not suitable for growing plants? One of the best ways to work with such a climate is to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse. You can get more details on how to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse here.

4.) Storing Food:You cannot eat all the food that you product in one go. So storing food becomes an important consideration. Food can be stored by drying, canning, freezing and bedding. Some foods can be stored in-ground and some like grains need to be stocked in barns. Find out how you can store the food you are planning to produce from experts in your area.

5.) Learning the Tricks: For starters it is best if you have a mentor to guide you. If you do not get a mentor, you can always get the information you need from other seasoned growers in your area. In addition to that the internet is a great place to get some much needed advice. There are a whole lot of forums and social networking sites dedicated to this cause. Just do a search for ‘gardening social networks’ and you will come across a host of them. Most of these networks have experts who will be willing to help you for free. Just join a proper group and post your questions. You can also make some great friends this way.

6.) Just Get Started: The best way to go about this is to get started without thinking twice. You might fail in your first attempt but that does not matter. The important thing is that as soon as you get started, you start to learn. And it is a fact that the universe helps you too. You will be surprised at the amount of info and sources you will start finding.

7.) Don’t Give Up: This is perhaps the most important tip. There is a major chance that you will not do good at your first attempt in growing your own food. But isn’t this the case with most things that we do in life? We learn with time and failures are only stepping stones to success. So whatever you do, do not give up. Just keep learning and moving forward. And once you have mastered your art, make sure to give information to others as well so they do not have to face the same difficulties that you faced.

By growing your own food you are adding a whole lot of value to the environment and you will surely be rewarded. Good luck!

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Advantages of having a Greenhouse

So what are the merits of a greenhouse in your garden? You just love being around plants, but winter restricts your hobby because room in the house is allocated to a few houseplants; do you want to experiment with plants that your local climate restricts, grow stuff you only see in journals or on the box, how about eating produce that is out of season?
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Containment


Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own food is a great experience. It is fun, gets your creativity flowing, can help you save money and best of all can help you reduce stress and help you make the switch towards a healthy lifestyle. So how do you go about it? Here are a few tips to get you started on this wonderful journey that you are sure to enjoy:

1.) Find Out What Crops You Can Raise in Your Region: This is step number one. There are a variety of plants that you can grow on your own. But the specific types of crops you can raise in your region will depend on various factors including climate, soil, rainfall and of-course the available space in your backyard. The best way to get this information is to check with a seasoned grower. You can also use the internet to do your research. Subscribing to garden bloggers in your area is a great idea too.

2.) Time to Grow: Once you have made a list of vegetable and fruit plants that you can grow in your area, find out how much time is required to grow each plant variety. This includes but is not limited to planting, harvesting, watering, fertilizing, soil requirements, etc. Start with easier plants first that do not require a lot of maintenance. Fruit plants generally take a long time to bear fruits but they are well worth. It’s almost like an investment where you invest once and keep getting returns for a very long time. Apples, pears, plums, raspberries and peaches are all excellent choices.

3.) Overcoming Climatic Restrictions: What do you do when you live in areas that get less sunlight or experiences adverse conditions not suitable for growing plants? One of the best ways to work with such a climate is to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse. You can get more details on how to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse here.

4.) Storing Food:You cannot eat all the food that you product in one go. So storing food becomes an important consideration. Food can be stored by drying, canning, freezing and bedding. Some foods can be stored in-ground and some like grains need to be stocked in barns. Find out how you can store the food you are planning to produce from experts in your area.

5.) Learning the Tricks: For starters it is best if you have a mentor to guide you. If you do not get a mentor, you can always get the information you need from other seasoned growers in your area. In addition to that the internet is a great place to get some much needed advice. There are a whole lot of forums and social networking sites dedicated to this cause. Just do a search for ‘gardening social networks’ and you will come across a host of them. Most of these networks have experts who will be willing to help you for free. Just join a proper group and post your questions. You can also make some great friends this way.

6.) Just Get Started: The best way to go about this is to get started without thinking twice. You might fail in your first attempt but that does not matter. The important thing is that as soon as you get started, you start to learn. And it is a fact that the universe helps you too. You will be surprised at the amount of info and sources you will start finding.

7.) Don’t Give Up: This is perhaps the most important tip. There is a major chance that you will not do good at your first attempt in growing your own food. But isn’t this the case with most things that we do in life? We learn with time and failures are only stepping stones to success. So whatever you do, do not give up. Just keep learning and moving forward. And once you have mastered your art, make sure to give information to others as well so they do not have to face the same difficulties that you faced.

By growing your own food you are adding a whole lot of value to the environment and you will surely be rewarded. Good luck!

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Water Colour Flowers and Fibre

…truly hooked now, especially with all this Spring growth in the garden. … Cheerio for now, I am off to stock up on purple pansy seeds !
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Planning a Greenhouse for Free

Many people are growing more and more enthusiastic about getting themselves a greenhouse. Greenhouses are very practical to have nowadays especially when the prices of crops in the market are becoming more and more expensive.

In building greenhouses, one has several options to choose from. One can actually hire a professional greenhouse expert to guide him throughout the whole process of building his greenhouse. From the creation of plans to the actual creation of the greenhouse, one can use the services of a professional. However, this approach will entail a lot of costs. The professional fees will definitely take its toll in the pockets of the greenhouse enthusiast. Another way to do it is to buy resources about building greenhouses. There are many resources out there that contain greenhouse plans and other tips which can be used in building a greenhouse. However, there are sources which give free plans and tips which can be very useful, especially for greenhouse enthusiasts who are just beginning.

There are several parts of a greenhouse which need careful consideration and planning. These are:

1) Base
The base is made from sawn timber. This kind of timber can easily be availed from local timber merchants. This timber is more commonly found in fences. The base for our plan is measured at 2400 mm by 3000 mm.

2) Side walls
The side walls should be built from 75 by 50 tanalised sawn timber. They usually come in 4800 mm.

When the base is established on a flat ground, the two side walls should be built. The two side walls should be put upright and temporarily in place on top of the base. They are to be attached to the base using galvanized nails.

3) Roof frame

The roof frame should also be built using the 75 by 50 tanalised sawn timber. The roof frames should be placed above the side walls. A roof frame should be placed at each end of the side walls. They are also to be attached using galvanized nails.

4) Windows

The windows should be made of 50 by 50 sawn tanalised timber. Some people would want a couple of windows for their greenhouses. The windows should be hinged so as to allow regulation of temperature.

5) Covering

The greenhouse covering should be made up of polythene which is resistant to ultra-violet rays. The covering is to be placed using thin battens which will hold the polythene to the greenhouse. The battens are to be nailed to the greenhouse studs and roof rafters.
One must be cautious about the kind of polythene which he will avail from the hardware store since most of the suppliers only have polythene which is not ultra-violet-resistant.

There are other things to consider when building greenhouses. Here are some of them:

- One should check the local building regulations before engaging into greenhouse construction. If in any case that there are restrictions regarding deeds, one should look at the requirements regarding set backs and regulations about easement. Hoop houses are greenhouses which are made from frames which can be easily disassembled. These kinds of greenhouses are not considered as permanent structures and therefore exempt from the regulations concerning such structures.

-One should make a layout of the whole yard and the house before he constructs a greenhouse. A greenhouse would often times become the centerpiece of a garden or a yard and it is much recommended that people plan before putting a single nail into it.

-Time management and budgeting are two important things to constantly consider in building a greenhouse. One should allot around eight to twenty thousand US dollars if he is serious about constructing a quality greenhouse. However, there are greenhouse kits that are available out there that are not as expensive. One should know what to spend and how to spend it. The time table in constructing a greenhouse should be set according to the plans of the owner. Greenhouses can be built in a couple of days to a couple of years. It all depends on the owner.

One may find many free greenhouse construction plans in the Internet. All one needs to know is the know-how’s of search engines. These free plans come with good tips and wonderful illustrations to guide one in constructing a greenhouse for his plants.
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Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own food is a great experience. It is fun, gets your creativity flowing, can help you save money and best of all can help you reduce stress and help you make the switch towards a healthy lifestyle. So how do you go about it? Here are a few tips to get you started on this wonderful journey that you are sure to enjoy:

1.) Find Out What Crops You Can Raise in Your Region: This is step number one. There are a variety of plants that you can grow on your own. But the specific types of crops you can raise in your region will depend on various factors including climate, soil, rainfall and of-course the available space in your backyard. The best way to get this information is to check with a seasoned grower. You can also use the internet to do your research. Subscribing to garden bloggers in your area is a great idea too.

2.) Time to Grow: Once you have made a list of vegetable and fruit plants that you can grow in your area, find out how much time is required to grow each plant variety. This includes but is not limited to planting, harvesting, watering, fertilizing, soil requirements, etc. Start with easier plants first that do not require a lot of maintenance. Fruit plants generally take a long time to bear fruits but they are well worth. It’s almost like an investment where you invest once and keep getting returns for a very long time. Apples, pears, plums, raspberries and peaches are all excellent choices.

3.) Overcoming Climatic Restrictions: What do you do when you live in areas that get less sunlight or experiences adverse conditions not suitable for growing plants? One of the best ways to work with such a climate is to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse. You can get more details on how to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse here.

4.) Storing Food:You cannot eat all the food that you product in one go. So storing food becomes an important consideration. Food can be stored by drying, canning, freezing and bedding. Some foods can be stored in-ground and some like grains need to be stocked in barns. Find out how you can store the food you are planning to produce from experts in your area.

5.) Learning the Tricks: For starters it is best if you have a mentor to guide you. If you do not get a mentor, you can always get the information you need from other seasoned growers in your area. In addition to that the internet is a great place to get some much needed advice. There are a whole lot of forums and social networking sites dedicated to this cause. Just do a search for ‘gardening social networks’ and you will come across a host of them. Most of these networks have experts who will be willing to help you for free. Just join a proper group and post your questions. You can also make some great friends this way.

6.) Just Get Started: The best way to go about this is to get started without thinking twice. You might fail in your first attempt but that does not matter. The important thing is that as soon as you get started, you start to learn. And it is a fact that the universe helps you too. You will be surprised at the amount of info and sources you will start finding.

7.) Don’t Give Up: This is perhaps the most important tip. There is a major chance that you will not do good at your first attempt in growing your own food. But isn’t this the case with most things that we do in life? We learn with time and failures are only stepping stones to success. So whatever you do, do not give up. Just keep learning and moving forward. And once you have mastered your art, make sure to give information to others as well so they do not have to face the same difficulties that you faced.

By growing your own food you are adding a whole lot of value to the environment and you will surely be rewarded. Good luck!

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A Breath of Fresh Air

…we raked back some mulch in the two front garden beds that we grew vegetables in last summer and planted some lucerne seeds (couple of hundred
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Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own food is a great experience. It is fun, gets your creativity flowing, can help you save money and best of all can help you reduce stress and help you make the switch towards a healthy lifestyle. So how do you go about it? Here are a few tips to get you started on this wonderful journey that you are sure to enjoy:

1.) Find Out What Crops You Can Raise in Your Region: This is step number one. There are a variety of plants that you can grow on your own. But the specific types of crops you can raise in your region will depend on various factors including climate, soil, rainfall and of-course the available space in your backyard. The best way to get this information is to check with a seasoned grower. You can also use the internet to do your research. Subscribing to garden bloggers in your area is a great idea too.

2.) Time to Grow: Once you have made a list of vegetable and fruit plants that you can grow in your area, find out how much time is required to grow each plant variety. This includes but is not limited to planting, harvesting, watering, fertilizing, soil requirements, etc. Start with easier plants first that do not require a lot of maintenance. Fruit plants generally take a long time to bear fruits but they are well worth. It’s almost like an investment where you invest once and keep getting returns for a very long time. Apples, pears, plums, raspberries and peaches are all excellent choices.

3.) Overcoming Climatic Restrictions: What do you do when you live in areas that get less sunlight or experiences adverse conditions not suitable for growing plants? One of the best ways to work with such a climate is to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse. You can get more details on how to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse here.

4.) Storing Food:You cannot eat all the food that you product in one go. So storing food becomes an important consideration. Food can be stored by drying, canning, freezing and bedding. Some foods can be stored in-ground and some like grains need to be stocked in barns. Find out how you can store the food you are planning to produce from experts in your area.

5.) Learning the Tricks: For starters it is best if you have a mentor to guide you. If you do not get a mentor, you can always get the information you need from other seasoned growers in your area. In addition to that the internet is a great place to get some much needed advice. There are a whole lot of forums and social networking sites dedicated to this cause. Just do a search for ‘gardening social networks’ and you will come across a host of them. Most of these networks have experts who will be willing to help you for free. Just join a proper group and post your questions. You can also make some great friends this way.

6.) Just Get Started: The best way to go about this is to get started without thinking twice. You might fail in your first attempt but that does not matter. The important thing is that as soon as you get started, you start to learn. And it is a fact that the universe helps you too. You will be surprised at the amount of info and sources you will start finding.

7.) Don’t Give Up: This is perhaps the most important tip. There is a major chance that you will not do good at your first attempt in growing your own food. But isn’t this the case with most things that we do in life? We learn with time and failures are only stepping stones to success. So whatever you do, do not give up. Just keep learning and moving forward. And once you have mastered your art, make sure to give information to others as well so they do not have to face the same difficulties that you faced.

By growing your own food you are adding a whole lot of value to the environment and you will surely be rewarded. Good luck!

Go to source

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Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own food is a great experience. It is fun, gets your creativity flowing, can help you save money and best of all can help you reduce stress and help you make the switch towards a healthy lifestyle. So how do you go about it? Here are a few tips to get you started on this wonderful journey that you are sure to enjoy:

1.) Find Out What Crops You Can Raise in Your Region: This is step number one. There are a variety of plants that you can grow on your own. But the specific types of crops you can raise in your region will depend on various factors including climate, soil, rainfall and of-course the available space in your backyard. The best way to get this information is to check with a seasoned grower. You can also use the internet to do your research. Subscribing to garden bloggers in your area is a great idea too.

2.) Time to Grow: Once you have made a list of vegetable and fruit plants that you can grow in your area, find out how much time is required to grow each plant variety. This includes but is not limited to planting, harvesting, watering, fertilizing, soil requirements, etc. Start with easier plants first that do not require a lot of maintenance. Fruit plants generally take a long time to bear fruits but they are well worth. It’s almost like an investment where you invest once and keep getting returns for a very long time. Apples, pears, plums, raspberries and peaches are all excellent choices.

3.) Overcoming Climatic Restrictions: What do you do when you live in areas that get less sunlight or experiences adverse conditions not suitable for growing plants? One of the best ways to work with such a climate is to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse. You can get more details on how to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse here.

4.) Storing Food:You cannot eat all the food that you product in one go. So storing food becomes an important consideration. Food can be stored by drying, canning, freezing and bedding. Some foods can be stored in-ground and some like grains need to be stocked in barns. Find out how you can store the food you are planning to produce from experts in your area.

5.) Learning the Tricks: For starters it is best if you have a mentor to guide you. If you do not get a mentor, you can always get the information you need from other seasoned growers in your area. In addition to that the internet is a great place to get some much needed advice. There are a whole lot of forums and social networking sites dedicated to this cause. Just do a search for ‘gardening social networks’ and you will come across a host of them. Most of these networks have experts who will be willing to help you for free. Just join a proper group and post your questions. You can also make some great friends this way.

6.) Just Get Started: The best way to go about this is to get started without thinking twice. You might fail in your first attempt but that does not matter. The important thing is that as soon as you get started, you start to learn. And it is a fact that the universe helps you too. You will be surprised at the amount of info and sources you will start finding.

7.) Don’t Give Up: This is perhaps the most important tip. There is a major chance that you will not do good at your first attempt in growing your own food. But isn’t this the case with most things that we do in life? We learn with time and failures are only stepping stones to success. So whatever you do, do not give up. Just keep learning and moving forward. And once you have mastered your art, make sure to give information to others as well so they do not have to face the same difficulties that you faced.

By growing your own food you are adding a whole lot of value to the environment and you will surely be rewarded. Good luck!

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Fresh Tomato Sauce

…the garden) Directions: Core tomatoes and halve crosswise. Working over a sieve set over a bowl, squeeze the tomatoes gently to remove seeds.
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Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own food is a great experience. It is fun, gets your creativity flowing, can help you save money and best of all can help you reduce stress and help you make the switch towards a healthy lifestyle. So how do you go about it? Here are a few tips to get you started on this wonderful journey that you are sure to enjoy:

1.) Find Out What Crops You Can Raise in Your Region: This is step number one. There are a variety of plants that you can grow on your own. But the specific types of crops you can raise in your region will depend on various factors including climate, soil, rainfall and of-course the available space in your backyard. The best way to get this information is to check with a seasoned grower. You can also use the internet to do your research. Subscribing to garden bloggers in your area is a great idea too.

2.) Time to Grow: Once you have made a list of vegetable and fruit plants that you can grow in your area, find out how much time is required to grow each plant variety. This includes but is not limited to planting, harvesting, watering, fertilizing, soil requirements, etc. Start with easier plants first that do not require a lot of maintenance. Fruit plants generally take a long time to bear fruits but they are well worth. It’s almost like an investment where you invest once and keep getting returns for a very long time. Apples, pears, plums, raspberries and peaches are all excellent choices.

3.) Overcoming Climatic Restrictions: What do you do when you live in areas that get less sunlight or experiences adverse conditions not suitable for growing plants? One of the best ways to work with such a climate is to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse. You can get more details on how to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse here.

4.) Storing Food:You cannot eat all the food that you product in one go. So storing food becomes an important consideration. Food can be stored by drying, canning, freezing and bedding. Some foods can be stored in-ground and some like grains need to be stocked in barns. Find out how you can store the food you are planning to produce from experts in your area.

5.) Learning the Tricks: For starters it is best if you have a mentor to guide you. If you do not get a mentor, you can always get the information you need from other seasoned growers in your area. In addition to that the internet is a great place to get some much needed advice. There are a whole lot of forums and social networking sites dedicated to this cause. Just do a search for ‘gardening social networks’ and you will come across a host of them. Most of these networks have experts who will be willing to help you for free. Just join a proper group and post your questions. You can also make some great friends this way.

6.) Just Get Started: The best way to go about this is to get started without thinking twice. You might fail in your first attempt but that does not matter. The important thing is that as soon as you get started, you start to learn. And it is a fact that the universe helps you too. You will be surprised at the amount of info and sources you will start finding.

7.) Don’t Give Up: This is perhaps the most important tip. There is a major chance that you will not do good at your first attempt in growing your own food. But isn’t this the case with most things that we do in life? We learn with time and failures are only stepping stones to success. So whatever you do, do not give up. Just keep learning and moving forward. And once you have mastered your art, make sure to give information to others as well so they do not have to face the same difficulties that you faced.

By growing your own food you are adding a whole lot of value to the environment and you will surely be rewarded. Good luck!

Go to source

Select Flowers for a Winter Garden

# Decide if you’re going to grow from seeds or seedlings. If you’re going to grow from seeds, you’ll need to go to the garden store late summer.
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Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own food is a great experience. It is fun, gets your creativity flowing, can help you save money and best of all can help you reduce stress and help you make the switch towards a healthy lifestyle. So how do you go about it? Here are a few tips to get you started on this wonderful journey that you are sure to enjoy:

1.) Find Out What Crops You Can Raise in Your Region: This is step number one. There are a variety of plants that you can grow on your own. But the specific types of crops you can raise in your region will depend on various factors including climate, soil, rainfall and of-course the available space in your backyard. The best way to get this information is to check with a seasoned grower. You can also use the internet to do your research. Subscribing to garden bloggers in your area is a great idea too.

2.) Time to Grow: Once you have made a list of vegetable and fruit plants that you can grow in your area, find out how much time is required to grow each plant variety. This includes but is not limited to planting, harvesting, watering, fertilizing, soil requirements, etc. Start with easier plants first that do not require a lot of maintenance. Fruit plants generally take a long time to bear fruits but they are well worth. It’s almost like an investment where you invest once and keep getting returns for a very long time. Apples, pears, plums, raspberries and peaches are all excellent choices.

3.) Overcoming Climatic Restrictions: What do you do when you live in areas that get less sunlight or experiences adverse conditions not suitable for growing plants? One of the best ways to work with such a climate is to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse. You can get more details on how to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse here.

4.) Storing Food:You cannot eat all the food that you product in one go. So storing food becomes an important consideration. Food can be stored by drying, canning, freezing and bedding. Some foods can be stored in-ground and some like grains need to be stocked in barns. Find out how you can store the food you are planning to produce from experts in your area.

5.) Learning the Tricks: For starters it is best if you have a mentor to guide you. If you do not get a mentor, you can always get the information you need from other seasoned growers in your area. In addition to that the internet is a great place to get some much needed advice. There are a whole lot of forums and social networking sites dedicated to this cause. Just do a search for ‘gardening social networks’ and you will come across a host of them. Most of these networks have experts who will be willing to help you for free. Just join a proper group and post your questions. You can also make some great friends this way.

6.) Just Get Started: The best way to go about this is to get started without thinking twice. You might fail in your first attempt but that does not matter. The important thing is that as soon as you get started, you start to learn. And it is a fact that the universe helps you too. You will be surprised at the amount of info and sources you will start finding.

7.) Don’t Give Up: This is perhaps the most important tip. There is a major chance that you will not do good at your first attempt in growing your own food. But isn’t this the case with most things that we do in life? We learn with time and failures are only stepping stones to success. So whatever you do, do not give up. Just keep learning and moving forward. And once you have mastered your art, make sure to give information to others as well so they do not have to face the same difficulties that you faced.

By growing your own food you are adding a whole lot of value to the environment and you will surely be rewarded. Good luck!

Go to source

Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own food is a great experience. It is fun, gets your creativity flowing, can help you save money and best of all can help you reduce stress and help you make the switch towards a healthy lifestyle. So how do you go about it? Here are a few tips to get you started on this wonderful journey that you are sure to enjoy:

1.) Find Out What Crops You Can Raise in Your Region: This is step number one. There are a variety of plants that you can grow on your own. But the specific types of crops you can raise in your region will depend on various factors including climate, soil, rainfall and of-course the available space in your backyard. The best way to get this information is to check with a seasoned grower. You can also use the internet to do your research. Subscribing to garden bloggers in your area is a great idea too.

2.) Time to Grow: Once you have made a list of vegetable and fruit plants that you can grow in your area, find out how much time is required to grow each plant variety. This includes but is not limited to planting, harvesting, watering, fertilizing, soil requirements, etc. Start with easier plants first that do not require a lot of maintenance. Fruit plants generally take a long time to bear fruits but they are well worth. It’s almost like an investment where you invest once and keep getting returns for a very long time. Apples, pears, plums, raspberries and peaches are all excellent choices.

3.) Overcoming Climatic Restrictions: What do you do when you live in areas that get less sunlight or experiences adverse conditions not suitable for growing plants? One of the best ways to work with such a climate is to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse. You can get more details on how to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse here.

4.) Storing Food:You cannot eat all the food that you product in one go. So storing food becomes an important consideration. Food can be stored by drying, canning, freezing and bedding. Some foods can be stored in-ground and some like grains need to be stocked in barns. Find out how you can store the food you are planning to produce from experts in your area.

5.) Learning the Tricks: For starters it is best if you have a mentor to guide you. If you do not get a mentor, you can always get the information you need from other seasoned growers in your area. In addition to that the internet is a great place to get some much needed advice. There are a whole lot of forums and social networking sites dedicated to this cause. Just do a search for ‘gardening social networks’ and you will come across a host of them. Most of these networks have experts who will be willing to help you for free. Just join a proper group and post your questions. You can also make some great friends this way.

6.) Just Get Started: The best way to go about this is to get started without thinking twice. You might fail in your first attempt but that does not matter. The important thing is that as soon as you get started, you start to learn. And it is a fact that the universe helps you too. You will be surprised at the amount of info and sources you will start finding.

7.) Don’t Give Up: This is perhaps the most important tip. There is a major chance that you will not do good at your first attempt in growing your own food. But isn’t this the case with most things that we do in life? We learn with time and failures are only stepping stones to success. So whatever you do, do not give up. Just keep learning and moving forward. And once you have mastered your art, make sure to give information to others as well so they do not have to face the same difficulties that you faced.

By growing your own food you are adding a whole lot of value to the environment and you will surely be rewarded. Good luck!

Go to source

How to save time in your garden

We all want our gardens to look great throughout the year, but few of us have time to spare to keep them that way. However, use some clever design, combined with careful planting, and you can have an outside space that looks fantasic without taking up all your time. Ceri Thomas, editor of Which? Gardening, shows you how.

1. Get tooled up

Make the most of your labours by getting the best tools for the job. A stainless steel spade the right length for your height may not turn digging into a pleasure, but it will get it done more quickly and easily. A good rake will do the job in half the time, and sharp secateurs are better for the plant as well as the gardener. Treat yourself to a large, manoeuvrable wheelbarrow that will hold all your tools, plants and rubbish as you traverse your plot - see how much fetching and carrying time you save.

2. Add carefree colour and style

Don’t rely on plants alone to keep your garden looking good. Replace that bedraggled collection of pot plants on your patio with attractive all-weather furniture or a stylish statue. Add colour by painting your shed, fence, trellis or plant supports in bright or subtle tones.

3. Do less watering

A lot of gardeners water far more than necessary. Watering little and often can be counterproductive as the plants start to rely on this extra water instead of developing a widespread root system so they can look after themselves. Most established plants don’t need routine watering, and most will survive even dry periods perfectly well. When you can water, focus on newly planted trees and shrubs, newly transplanted vegetables, and crops that are getting near to their harvest time.

4. Use carpeting plants to suppress weeds

Ground cover plants produce a tight-knit, low-growing carpet that deters weeds. While you do have to clear the ground of existing weeds first, you should only have to do it once. Aim to plant in autumn, which will give you a head start on next year’s weeds. Put young plants in 40-60cm apart, and fill the gaps between with a 2.5-5cm layer of bark. For the first year, you may need to water in dry spells and pull up the odd weed. Thereafter, it will need an annual tidy-up in late autumn and maybe a bit of a trim in July. Try plants such as low-growing cotoneasters, pretty-leafed epimediums or ivies, especially variegated ones such as ‘Glacier’.

5. Win the weed war - with mulch

Like all plants, weeds need light to thrive. An easy way to prevent them growing is by adding a layer of mulch to exclude light. Mulches can be organic, in which case they will break down slowly, adding nutrients to the soil. These need topping up from time to time. Inorganic mulches, such as gravel, stay put for many years. Bark chippings of small chunks 10-40mm across are ideal, or for fruit and veg areas Black polythene is a good choice, and can be covered with shingle or bark. You can also try grass clippings, old carpet or felt underlay or woven polypropylene.

6. Don’t weed or water the lawn

If you never weed it again, your lawn will still provide a perfectly practical and attractive green space. And you may actually enjoy the pretty flowers of daisies, speedwells, cat’s ears and clovers - they’ll certainly attract wildlife. Never water your lawn - even if it turns brown in a drought, it won’t die and will soon recover once it rains. Watering just wastes time and precious resources - and means more mowing!

7. Beds with boundaries

For plants that only occupy the ground for a short time, such as veg, and flowers for cutting, consider building raised beds with permanent paths instead of taking a traditional allotment approach. This immediately brings a sense of order and can be very decorative if you shape and arrange the beds to create a pattern. It also makes maintenance much easier. The paths give good access whatever the weather and raising the soil means jobs like weeding and sowing are quicker and easier.

8. Fuss-free fruit

If you fancy tasty, healthy, home-grown fruit, start with easy-going apples rather than pears, which need specific conditions to grow well. Try raspberries, which are straightforward to grow, rather than strawberries that need lots of attention. Blueberries are easy to grow in pots - few gardens have the really acid soil they - and have pretty flowers and good autumn colour to add to the display.

9. Sprayers on the spot

Keep a ready-to-use spray weedkiller and general-purpose insecticide to hand to deal with problems as soon as you spot them. If you control pest outbreaks when there are still only a few individuals about, and kill weeds before they flower and set seed, their impact should be short-lived.

10. Keep it simple

If you want your containers to work for you rather than you working for them, choose large, deep containers that are attractive in their own right, and will make a feature even if they remain unplanted. Resist the temptation to scatter lots of small pots around different parts of the garden. They’re a watering nightmare and, even when looking good, may not add that much impact to the overall picture.

About the Author

Annie Deakin is a journalist, fashion and furniture expert and editor at mydeco.com and is currently very impressed by the great range of chairs and photo albums.

Article Source: Content for Reprint

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Updates for my week - Time Flies!

Now the only thing remaining is to get my vege garden drying out so I can plant some seeds over spring. Have a good weekend :-)
Go to source

Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own food is a great experience. It is fun, gets your creativity flowing, can help you save money and best of all can help you reduce stress and help you make the switch towards a healthy lifestyle. So how do you go about it? Here are a few tips to get you started on this wonderful journey that you are sure to enjoy:

1.) Find Out What Crops You Can Raise in Your Region: This is step number one. There are a variety of plants that you can grow on your own. But the specific types of crops you can raise in your region will depend on various factors including climate, soil, rainfall and of-course the available space in your backyard. The best way to get this information is to check with a seasoned grower. You can also use the internet to do your research. Subscribing to garden bloggers in your area is a great idea too.

2.) Time to Grow: Once you have made a list of vegetable and fruit plants that you can grow in your area, find out how much time is required to grow each plant variety. This includes but is not limited to planting, harvesting, watering, fertilizing, soil requirements, etc. Start with easier plants first that do not require a lot of maintenance. Fruit plants generally take a long time to bear fruits but they are well worth. It’s almost like an investment where you invest once and keep getting returns for a very long time. Apples, pears, plums, raspberries and peaches are all excellent choices.

3.) Overcoming Climatic Restrictions: What do you do when you live in areas that get less sunlight or experiences adverse conditions not suitable for growing plants? One of the best ways to work with such a climate is to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse. You can get more details on how to build a geodesic dome solar greenhouse here.

4.) Storing Food:You cannot eat all the food that you product in one go. So storing food becomes an important consideration. Food can be stored by drying, canning, freezing and bedding. Some foods can be stored in-ground and some like grains need to be stocked in barns. Find out how you can store the food you are planning to produce from experts in your area.

5.) Learning the Tricks: For starters it is best if you have a mentor to guide you. If you do not get a mentor, you can always get the information you need from other seasoned growers in your area. In addition to that the internet is a great place to get some much needed advice. There are a whole lot of forums and social networking sites dedicated to this cause. Just do a search for ‘gardening social networks’ and you will come across a host of them. Most of these networks have experts who will be willing to help you for free. Just join a proper group and post your questions. You can also make some great friends this way.

6.) Just Get Started: The best way to go about this is to get started without thinking twice. You might fail in your first attempt but that does not matter. The important thing is that as soon as you get started, you start to learn. And it is a fact that the universe helps you too. You will be surprised at the amount of info and sources you will start finding.

7.) Don’t Give Up: This is perhaps the most important tip. There is a major chance that you will not do good at your first attempt in growing your own food. But isn’t this the case with most things that we do in life? We learn with time and failures are only stepping stones to success. So whatever you do, do not give up. Just keep learning and moving forward. And once you have mastered your art, make sure to give information to others as well so they do not have to face the same difficulties that you faced.

By growing your own food you are adding a whole lot of value to the environment and you will surely be rewarded. Good luck!

Go to source

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