aquaponic organic

Garden for Birds

Now is the time to plant gourd seeds to use as alternate nesting places for your garden bird visitors. The gourds will be grown, cured and ready as birdhouses for the breeding season beginning next spring. They are fun to grow and will, almost inevitably attract the interest of the entire family and the gourds can be arranged to accommodate several bird species, just by varying the size of entrance hole.

What seeds to buy

You want bottle or birdhouse gourds (Latin: Lagenaria siceraria). These are the hard-skinned, white flowered variety. They are readily available and suppliers can easily be found by searching the Web for "birdhouse gourds" or offered in seed catalogues. Buy a pack of tomato food/fertilizer at the same time.

Growing the gourds as vines

These plants are really easy to grow. Germinate indoors in pots, cut-off bottoms of plastic soda-pop bottles that are about 15cm (6") deep or whatever is handy. Use regular potting compost to give them a good start and plant outside when 12cm (5") or so tall, much like tomatoes. Pay attention to the instructions on the seed packet. Plant out in well drained soil (add a little gravel if it seems necessary) and preferably against a fence in a sunny, south facing location. Although they can be grown along the ground they send out extensive shoots and it is more difficult to avoid the gourds rotting or growing with miss-shaped flattened bottoms - hence a fence is suggested to grow the vines upward and lift the fruit off the ground. If not a fence or wall be prepared to support them with stakes.

They will require lots of watering and regular feeding with the tomato food. They will need more than a tomato plant but do this by (slightly) increasing the feeding frequency rather than the strength of feed. These plants generate lots of foliage and large fruits. Once the vines are established vertically you can mulch the ground with black plastic sheeting (trash can or bin liners) to discourage weeds and reduce water evaporation. Water and feed through the one necessary hole they grow out of. That is all - tie them up and perhaps support the developing gourds if required. If the foliage over extends cut it back some but maintain leaves above the fruits on the same stem to suck up nutrients.

Harvesting

Your birdhouse gourds are ready for picking when their stems have turned brown and have dried out. Definitely take the gourds before the first autumnal frost by cutting them from the vine leaving as long a stem as you can remaining on the gourd. Do not keep damaged or bruised gourds because they will not keep and will most likely spoil during curing. Be gentle when picking, they are easily damaged at this stage.

Clean them up

Wash the birdhouse gourds in warm water and some dish washing liquid, just like doing the dishes. Allow them to thoroughly dry, outdoors on a sunny day is ideal. It is important that they are completely dried after their wash.

Curing your gourds

Now move the gourds to a dry shaded room such as a garden shed or other outhouse which is frost free throughout the process and string them up by the stems which you left on the gourds. They should not be touching each other. In a week or two the skin or shell of the gourds will have dried out.

Examine the curing gourds every few days. You are looking for those that decay, which should be discarded, and for the formation of mold on the shells. As long as the gourd shell remains hard the mold can be cleaned off with a rag and a little bleach. Do not keep a gourd that is softening, it will not recover. The curing process is lengthy, some months. When they are ready they will be noticeably light, have a tough, unyielding, hard skin and when shaken the seeds will be heard loose inside the shell.

From gourd to birdhouse

It is suggested that some fine abrasive or steel wool be used just to clean the shell up after the curing process. The gourds are now cured and without any further work will last a couple of seasons outside as a birds nesting container. Drill the correct sized hole in the side of the gourd to allow the desired species of bird entry to its nest or drill a small hole and enlarge. Drill a hole straight through both sides of the narrower top to allow the birdhouse to be slung from a tree branch or whatever is planned. Drill four or five small holes in the bottom at and near the lowest points to allow drainage. Further, the entire shell can be coated with polyurethane as waterproofing which will considerably extend the effective life of the birdhouse. Prior to the polyurethane, if desired, the shell can be painted and decorated in any way you wish, the birds will not mind, though au naturel seems most appropriate. No need to attach a perch outside the entrance hole, the birds do not need it and it increases their vulnerability to predators.

Empty the seeds and dry vegetable matter out of the gourd and keep the seeds for another crop of birdhouses next year, store them in a cool, dry place. It is an idea to replace some of the fibrous vegetable matter removed if it looks useful as nest material for your tenants.

Hole sizes by species for the entrance

For the Blue Tit and Coal Tit an entry hole of 25mm (1") which will exclude the bigger Great Tit. Great Tit, Tree Sparrow and Pied Flycatcher 28mm (1.1"). House Sparrow and Nuthatch, 32mm (1.25"). For all the above birds the birdhouse gourd should be 13 - 15cm (5" - 6") diameter. For more information about species and sizes search "UK nest box plans" or "US nest box plans" online.

Positioning the birdhouse

Birds have much the same criteria as humans when setting up home - food, water and security. Place the birdhouse 2m (6.5') or more high and under the cover of branches. This helps protect against cats, squirrels, some crows and predatory birds (although the Sparrowhawk is a low-level, fast attack raptor it does make a successful kill harder, they average one kill in ten attacks). Face the entry out of the prevailing weather and direct sunlight (generally facing north east). Place fresh food and water nearby on a regular basis and position with similar caution. Experience the pleasure of observing your efforts accepted, appreciated and successfully inhabited!

There is a growing recognition, that the expanding suburban landscape is having a negative environmental impact. Suburban development often includes vast energy dependent monocultures (perfect, grass lawns). They consume a significant amount of natural resources, (water to keep them green and gasoline to keep them trimmed), and they reduce the amount of habitat available for native wildlife. Over use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides can leach into water supplies and be harmful to children and pets. Trends toward ecological landscaping and organic lawn care are lessening the detrimental effects of these designs. Many landscape designers are recommending native plant species, and even golf course managers are moving toward organic methods.

In practical terms our goal should be to move away from designs that depend on an extensive use of energy, without asking people to give up their lawns entirely. There are a number of options:

* Buffer zones and open space requirements in subdivisions allow for wildlife corridors and bird habitats.

* Leaving a portion of each lot in a natural state will invite birds and beneficial insects into the yard, while reducing the amount of grass to water and mow.

* The use of native plants in the design will greatly reduce the amount of care needed for the plants to thrive.

We should stop worrying about whether our lawns looks like the eighteenth fairway of the local country club. Many of the "weeds" that appear in our lawns are considered to be medicinal, by herbalists, and others attract beneficial insects.

We should stop over watering our lawns. Don't worry about your grass dying. Grass will turn green when it rains. Trust me.

If you must have an all grass lawn, there are organic methods that claim to do as well as chemicals will. It's probably a good idea to test any remedy before applying it to your entire yard. Spot treating problem areas will often be all that is needed.

Ecological Landscaping Considerations

The first and most important thing to consider in an ecological landscape design is an environmental assessment of the site. Is it more like a sunny meadow or shady woodland? Is it wet and marshy or dry and well drained?

Secondly, find out which native plants thrive in your particular environment. This can be easily done by taking a closer look at what is growing in undeveloped areas around you. Look at areas that most closely resemble your site. Species that are flourishing in the wild in similar ecosystems nearby are more likely to do well, with little or no care, than species growing in different ecosystems, not to mention different regions of the country or world.

Some purists would argue that only native species be considered, but I personally feel that non-invasive species from other parts of the world are acceptable if used in the proper environmental setting. Whenever possible choose species that are propagated locally and select varieties that are disease, pest and drought resistant. This will preclude the need for intensive care and excessive watering.

Many native plants are often found growing as part of a larger community of plants. For reasons we don't thoroughly understand, plants appear to form symbiotic relationships with each other. This may be for shade, nutrient contribution or protection from pests to name a few. When studying the local landscape, pay attention to plant relationships. In the wild, vegetation occurs in layers from groundcovers to taller plants and shrubs and often to a tree canopy above. These layers provide a diverse habitat for a variety of wildlife. Recreating these conditions in even a small part of your site will help to enhance the overall health of the environment around you.

In many instances homeowners will wish to deter certain wildlife species, while attracting others. While it may be possible to discern which plants attract different species in the wild, it may not be as easy to determine which plants will deter them. Local landscapers and plant nurseries will often be able to advise you about this.

Wherever you live and whatever your landscape consists of, a little thought about working with the natural environment and a commitment to organic lawn care practices, will save on maintenance cost and benefit the larger community landscape.

There is a growing recognition, that the expanding suburban landscape is having a negative environmental impact. Suburban development often includes vast energy dependent monocultures (perfect, grass lawns). They consume a significant amount of natural resources, (water to keep them green and gasoline to keep them trimmed), and they reduce the amount of habitat available for native wildlife. Over use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides can leach into water supplies and be harmful to children and pets. Trends toward ecological landscaping and organic lawn care are lessening the detrimental effects of these designs. Many landscape designers are recommending native plant species, and even golf course managers are moving toward organic methods.

In practical terms our goal should be to move away from designs that depend on an extensive use of energy, without asking people to give up their lawns entirely. There are a number of options:

* Buffer zones and open space requirements in subdivisions allow for wildlife corridors and bird habitats.

* Leaving a portion of each lot in a natural state will invite birds and beneficial insects into the yard, while reducing the amount of grass to water and mow.

* The use of native plants in the design will greatly reduce the amount of care needed for the plants to thrive.

We should stop worrying about whether our lawns looks like the eighteenth fairway of the local country club. Many of the "weeds" that appear in our lawns are considered to be medicinal, by herbalists, and others attract beneficial insects.

We should stop over watering our lawns. Don't worry about your grass dying. Grass will turn green when it rains. Trust me.

If you must have an all grass lawn, there are organic methods that claim to do as well as chemicals will. It's probably a good idea to test any remedy before applying it to your entire yard. Spot treating problem areas will often be all that is needed.

Ecological Landscaping Considerations

The first and most important thing to consider in an ecological landscape design is an environmental assessment of the site. Is it more like a sunny meadow or shady woodland? Is it wet and marshy or dry and well drained?

Secondly, find out which native plants thrive in your particular environment. This can be easily done by taking a closer look at what is growing in undeveloped areas around you. Look at areas that most closely resemble your site. Species that are flourishing in the wild in similar ecosystems nearby are more likely to do well, with little or no care, than species growing in different ecosystems, not to mention different regions of the country or world.

Some purists would argue that only native species be considered, but I personally feel that non-invasive species from other parts of the world are acceptable if used in the proper environmental setting. Whenever possible choose species that are propagated locally and select varieties that are disease, pest and drought resistant. This will preclude the need for intensive care and excessive watering.

Many native plants are often found growing as part of a larger community of plants. For reasons we don't thoroughly understand, plants appear to form symbiotic relationships with each other. This may be for shade, nutrient contribution or protection from pests to name a few. When studying the local landscape, pay attention to plant relationships. In the wild, vegetation occurs in layers from groundcovers to taller plants and shrubs and often to a tree canopy above. These layers provide a diverse habitat for a variety of wildlife. Recreating these conditions in even a small part of your site will help to enhance the overall health of the environment around you.

In many instances homeowners will wish to deter certain wildlife species, while attracting others. While it may be possible to discern which plants attract different species in the wild, it may not be as easy to determine which plants will deter them. Local landscapers and plant nurseries will often be able to advise you about this.

Wherever you live and whatever your landscape consists of, a little thought about working with the natural environment and a commitment to organic lawn care practices, will save on maintenance cost and benefit the larger community landscape.

Many Americans, along with the rest of the world, were shocked by the power of Hurricane Sandy. What was even more shocking was the trail of devastation it left behind. Belongings were lost, homes were destroyed and lives were changed.

Although they were aware of the storm that was to come, people were not prepared enough to face its wrath. Now that everyone is aware of what tragedy a hurricane can bring, the best people can do is learn from the mistakes of Sandy and make sure their homes can weather any kind of storm.

Here are some ways to make your home hurricane proof:

• Roofs are particularly prone to uplifts when strong winds start blowing. So before hurricane season come around, make sure your roof is properly secured. In most places this is code-mandated in order to avoid any part of your roof structure to fly around and hurt anyone. There are many types of roof anchors available depending on your location and construction method.

• Flying debris and other objects that hurricane-force winds may pick up and hurl at your home may penetrate your doors and windows. If your home has a lot of glass windows or sliding doors, you are particularly vulnerable. It is very important to install protective shutters or even impact-resistant glass. If you don't want unsightly shutters to destroy the aesthetic of your home, you can have a permanent track placed on which you can easily install shutters when a storm is brewing.

• Having a well maintained landscape free of dead branches, unstored garden tools, and other items not only looks tidy, it's good preparation for any storm. Having things lying around your lawn only adds to the number of objects that can get blown around. Also, don't forget to keep all your garden furniture, barbecue grills and potted plants stored when weather reports say strong winds are on the way.

• The rest of the home may be storm proof but a lot of times people forget how vulnerable garage doors may be. Garage doors can easily give way and allow strong winds or hurled objects to do damage on your home. Make sure your garage door is made of sturdy material or has extra protection just like the rest of the doors and windows in your house.

• A well protected home is useless unless you have the basic necessities to sustain yourselves. Keep basic supplies good for at least 3 days always stored up in your home. Make sure to have potable water and food that doesn't require refrigeration like canned or preserved goods. Also have candles, batteries, a first aid kit and a radio.

These days, due to the detrimental effects of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, there has been a strong trend towards organic vegetable gardening. Actually organic gardening is merely the old-fashioned way of gardening and going back to basics. The main difference between organic and conventional vegetable gardening is how fertilization and pest control is done. In organic vegetable gardening, fertilization and pest control are done without synthetic fertilizers or manufactured pesticides. In this article, I wish to focus on how to fertilize your vegetables in organic vegetable gardening.

Before adding any form of fertilizer, remove all weeds, rocks, stones, debris and any other unwanted materials in your soil. Generally, organic vegetable gardening involves applying organic matter to the soil in place of manufactured substances. When it comes to fertilizing the soil, the organic matter pertaining to this is green manure, compost and animal manure. Be sure to add this organic matter to your soil at least four weeks before planting your seeds to give enough time for the nutrients to be absorbed into the soil.

Green manure is primarily a type of cover crop grown to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil. These crops are grown primarily in the non-planting seasons of winter and fall and only for a certain period (until flowering or while green) before being plowed under and incorporated into the soil. They also serve to prevent the soil from eroding and compacting over the winter season. Green manure crops include mustard, clover, hairy vetch, buckwheat, alfalfa, lupine, rye etc.

Compost is another category of fertilizer for organic vegetable farming. Compost can either be bought from garden centers or be made yourself. To make compost, use garden or kitchen waste such as leaf and grass cuttings, stems, twigs, wood chips, plant parts etc. But do not include meat, bones, fish, animal waste, dairy products, weeds that have gone to seed, diseased plants or pesticide-laced plants.

Mix them in a compost bin or heap them up at a certain secluded section of your yard. Be sure not to get your compost wet through the rain or exposed to direct sunlight. Add some soil, a bit of water and ground limestone. Turn the mixture over once a week to aerate it. Leave this compost mixture to decompose over a few months. In about 4 to 6 months, your compost would have been decomposed into humus, which is natural fertilizer for your soil. Spread the humus out evenly over your soil before planting.

Among the most common animal manures are farmyard manure (farm animal feces) and farmyard slurry (liquid manure, usually farm animal urine). Animal manures are normally mixed with straw which has been used for animal bedding and has absorbed the feces and urine. Generally, animal manure can be used for at least 30 days. Animal manure may also include other animal products such as recycled wool, hair, feathers and blood. When applying, scatter each side of the rows of vegetables with the manure. However, manure isn't a complete well-balanced fertilizer so it is advisable to add a rock phosphate and potash.

Using these natural fertilizers, organic vegetable gardening can produce vegetables that are not only delicious but nutritious and safe for consumption.

That's right. We're not all good at spelling. And we're not all good at typing.

That being said when we search the web using our favorite search engine, we tend to make typo errors and spelling errors. When we do this, Google will usually make a suggestion to you, but it will still give you search results and Google ads will still appear on the right side.

How does Google know to display those ads even though you misspelled the search expression? That's because believe it or not, advertisers are actually bidding on those misspelled words.

By doing this you end up finding buyers that you wouldn't have before. You also get great positioning for less as less people bid on those misspelled words!

Affiliate marketers new to the PPC marketing game, usually just use a huge list of keywords using broad, exact and phrase matches, which of course are a must. However, they don't include the possible misspellings.

For example, let say the niche you're promoting is Organic Gardening. You may have some keyword phrases such as:

organic vegetable gardening

In Google AdWords you would enter:

"organic vegetable gardening"

[organic vegetable gardening]

organic vegetable gardening

That would cover the broad, exact and phrase matching. But how about:

oganic vegetable gardening (note missing letter)

organicvegetable gardening (note missing space)

organic vegetable gardenning (note double letter)

And even more, you still haven't looked at swapped letters such as:

ogranic vegetable gardening

So, just for this phrase to cover more bases and get low cost hits you would have to do this:

"organic vegetable gardening"

[organic vegetable gardening]

organic vegetable gardening

[oganic vegetable gardening]

"oganic vegetable gardening"

oganic vegetable gardening

[organicvegetable gardening]

"organicvegetable gardening"

organicvegetable gardening

[organic vegetable gardenning]

"organic vegetable gardenning"

organic vegetable gardenning

Plus the swapped letters. You get the idea.

Do this for every keyword phrase to increase your profits!

By now you may be thinking, "Frank, I can't possibly do this for every keyword! I literally have hundreds of keyword phrases I use for advertising". That's a good point.

On the other hand, why give up sales? I mean sales that cost you less and make you more profit. What if you increase your sales for every campaign you're running?

Would the extra time to do this be worth it? What if you get an extra lead commissions of $1000 per week?

You may think this is an exaggeration, but think about it, if you're paying 10 cents for a click instead of 1.00$ for the same targeted traffic, that's a 90% decrease in cost!

The process of doing this is time intensive, but there are tools available that help make this as easy as pie. The process is sometimes referred to as Keyword Transformation.

Frank Mamone

Houston is one of the fourth largest cities of United States and is of the greatest metropolis of the south that is situated a few miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico at the border with Louisiana. Houston delivers diverse culture and people here with fun and enjoyment for the people of all age groups. The place has huge spaces that allow people to have bigger houses with private swimming pools and own gym in the backyard. Some of the best and famous Houston Texas tourist attractions are stated below:

Bayou Place - Bayou place is located in the heart of Houston's downtown theater district, the theater district is one of the famous locations for tourists to visit. The place is spread over 130,000 square foot entertainment mega complex that houses varied bars, restaurants, lounges, theatres and several other entertaining zones. You can start you fabulous evening at the legendary Hard Rock Café or have a taste of Italian food at Italian Trattoria. The Angelika Film center is the place where you can enjoy latest box office hits.

Galleria mall - The Galleria Mall is one of the largest malls of Texas, people come here to do upscale shopping. It is located just outside 610 loop in Houston's uptown district. It has several retail centers housing some of the famous world wide brands. Several famous outlets here include Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Neiman marcus and Macy's, it is the place where any avid shopper would love to shop around with.

The Johnson Space center - the name of the place is Lyndon B Johnson Space center, it is home to the NASA astronaut corps. The place is located in the southeast Houston. The center is housed across 1, 620 acres of land consisting of 100 facilities. Its pleasurable experience for tourists to enjoy zero gravity environment at several of its exhibits.

The Houston Zoo - The Houston Zoo is spread over 4,500 animals and 900 species of animals, it is one of the 7th most visited zoos of the nation. You can almost spend an entire day here enjoying with family and friends, take a walk across the landscaped garden areas or stroll along the scenic beauty of the while environment. You can get live experience of feeding lion cub that is the best attraction of the place.

The Museum District - The Museum District has several Houston Texas tourist attractions that are visited by millions of people every year, the place has a collection of art galleries, museums, cultural centers that are located within a radius of 1.5 mile of Herman park. The museum of fine arts has allthe collection of Bayou bend and gardens having over 56,000 pieces. Few blocks of walking and you will see John P McGovern health museums that is home to Houston's first and the only one 4D theater. Some other attractions of the place are the Lawndale art center, Houston center for photography and Holocaust Museum.

Kemah Boardwalk - the kemah Boardwalk is one of the Houston's largest entertainment and amusement parks, it has several hotels and restaurants to enjoy and spend time with your loved ones. The place is just ideal for family entertainment. Several dining options here the Cadillac Bar, Saltgrass Steakhouse and Landry's Seafood house. The attractions here include the train ride, Ferris wheel and Carousel.

Other famous Houston Texas tourist attractions include Splashtown, the Neighborhood of Montrose, downtown aquarium, old town spring and various other place. The most famous Texas tourist location regions are south padre island, Odessa, Lubbock, Amarillo, Irving, Laredo, Galveston, Dallas, Corpus Christi, Austin, Waco, San Antonio, etc.

Houston is one of the fourth largest cities of United States and is of the greatest metropolis of the south that is situated a few miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico at the border with Louisiana. Houston delivers diverse culture and people here with fun and enjoyment for the people of all age groups. The place has huge spaces that allow people to have bigger houses with private swimming pools and own gym in the backyard. Some of the best and famous Houston Texas tourist attractions are stated below:

Bayou Place - Bayou place is located in the heart of Houston's downtown theater district, the theater district is one of the famous locations for tourists to visit. The place is spread over 130,000 square foot entertainment mega complex that houses varied bars, restaurants, lounges, theatres and several other entertaining zones. You can start you fabulous evening at the legendary Hard Rock Café or have a taste of Italian food at Italian Trattoria. The Angelika Film center is the place where you can enjoy latest box office hits.

Galleria mall - The Galleria Mall is one of the largest malls of Texas, people come here to do upscale shopping. It is located just outside 610 loop in Houston's uptown district. It has several retail centers housing some of the famous world wide brands. Several famous outlets here include Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Neiman marcus and Macy's, it is the place where any avid shopper would love to shop around with.

The Johnson Space center - the name of the place is Lyndon B Johnson Space center, it is home to the NASA astronaut corps. The place is located in the southeast Houston. The center is housed across 1, 620 acres of land consisting of 100 facilities. Its pleasurable experience for tourists to enjoy zero gravity environment at several of its exhibits.

The Houston Zoo - The Houston Zoo is spread over 4,500 animals and 900 species of animals, it is one of the 7th most visited zoos of the nation. You can almost spend an entire day here enjoying with family and friends, take a walk across the landscaped garden areas or stroll along the scenic beauty of the while environment. You can get live experience of feeding lion cub that is the best attraction of the place.

The Museum District - The Museum District has several Houston Texas tourist attractions that are visited by millions of people every year, the place has a collection of art galleries, museums, cultural centers that are located within a radius of 1.5 mile of Herman park. The museum of fine arts has allthe collection of Bayou bend and gardens having over 56,000 pieces. Few blocks of walking and you will see John P McGovern health museums that is home to Houston's first and the only one 4D theater. Some other attractions of the place are the Lawndale art center, Houston center for photography and Holocaust Museum.

Kemah Boardwalk - the kemah Boardwalk is one of the Houston's largest entertainment and amusement parks, it has several hotels and restaurants to enjoy and spend time with your loved ones. The place is just ideal for family entertainment. Several dining options here the Cadillac Bar, Saltgrass Steakhouse and Landry's Seafood house. The attractions here include the train ride, Ferris wheel and Carousel.

Other famous Houston Texas tourist attractions include Splashtown, the Neighborhood of Montrose, downtown aquarium, old town spring and various other place. The most famous Texas tourist location regions are south padre island, Odessa, Lubbock, Amarillo, Irving, Laredo, Galveston, Dallas, Corpus Christi, Austin, Waco, San Antonio, etc.

So you've been to Hawaii before but wish you could have stayed a little longer before heading back to winter. You're not alone in thinking how great another extra few weeks in paradise would be. In this article we're going to tell you how to make that dream a reality and what to do while you're there if you're on a budget. Find out where to stay, how to save money and the best places to visit and explore.

The best way to save money on your next vacation is by going for a 30 day stay. You need to look online for a safe and clean hotel alternative. We're talking about a furnished apartment that offers short term monthly rates. You can also try Craigslist but just be sure that whomever you decide to go with is reputable before sending them any money. Concentrate your search around the Ala Wai Canal area and you should be able to find a furnished monthly apartment rental for a lot less than half of what it would cost to stay at a modest hotel and you will still be within walking distance of Waikiki.

Your furnished apartment will not supply everything you need for your thirty day stay so be sure to ask what's not included and make sure it has air conditioning. You will probably need to bring some bed sheets, pillows, cups, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans, etc. Whatever you forget to bring can easily be purchased from the local Walmart or other stores that are conveniently located nearby. Instead of dining out everyday you can save money by stocking up your fridge and using your apartment's kitchenette. Lower prices for fruits and vegetables can be found in the Chinatown area of downtown Honolulu. After you set up your new apartment get an inexpensive monthly bus pass and you're ready to explore the island.

Grab a map of the island and create a 30 day activity plan for your vacation. Here's a short list of the must-see things to see and do if you haven't done these before: Go to Hanauma Bay to swim with the fish in crystal clear water. Visit the under-rated Honolulu Zoo as well as the always entertaining Sea Life Park and the ever popular Polynesian Cultural Center. Climb Diamond Head with its amazing views, visit the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor and attend a traditional Hawaiian Luau. Sunset dinner cruises are popular as is deep sea fishing, whale watching, snorkeling and water sports of all kinds. You will definitely be spending days soaking up the sights and sun on Waikiki beach but be sure to go to the Ala Moana Beach Park across from the Ala Moana Shopping Center. It's less crowded and has some nice beach areas that are great for a picnic. It's hard not to enjoy every day in Hawaii.

There are many beautiful beach stops on the way to the North Shore and interesting points of interest around the island so jump off the bus and explore the ones you like. Visit Makapuu Beach which is located across the street from Sea Life Park. Travel 20 minutes past Makapuu Beach and you'll arrive at Waimanalo Beach with its 4-mile stretch of sugary white sand, calm waters and lack of tourists. Waimanalo Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches and possibly the best beach on Oahu. You'll want to spend the day here and grab a bite to eat at Keneke's Plate Lunch & BBQ where the food is great and the prices are ridiculously affordable. Other recommended beaches include Kailua Beach and Lanikai Beach in Kailua. You'll want to try the always super fresh shrimp at Fumi's Kahuku Shrimp Farm on the North Shore. No vacation to Hawaii is complete without visiting Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay which are two of the best North Shore beaches.

There are many reasons for choosing Oahu for your next vacation. Great weather and a seemingly endless number of beaches set in a tropical paradise make it the ideal choice for anyone looking to get away from the cold. You'll want to return every year to soak up the sun and enjoy everything Oahu has to offer. Make sure you include visiting the other Hawaiian Islands on future vacations. Hawaii has a lot to offer so find your place in the sun and start packing.

It’s here. It’s finally here. After a rough winter in Texas, the shorts are coming out, and white legs are flashing underneath. Yes, Texans from Austin, to Dallas, to Houston, to the tiny towns on the Eastern border are already working on their tans.

Somewhere amidst the beckoning calls of the Gulf, however, there is an equally important call for safety. Summer brings great times -- trips to the water, barbecues with the neighbors, long walks in the park, vacations across the country, and, for certain patients with conditions like Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD), even relief. But with those pleasures and privileges come risks, not just for ourselves, but for our pets as well.

No one is more excited about summer than our animal companions, particularly dogs. It means more outings, more car trips, more walks, more quality time with the people they love the most. There are millions of pet owners in the United States alone, and the number is growing, including those who think of their pets as children. More and more are purchasing pet health insurance along with their own policies, gourmet animal treat stores are cropping up everywhere, and it seems even the neighborhood grocery stores in Dallas and Houston are offering a wide selection of animal toys. So before making any treks -- across town or across country -- in temperatures already averaging above 90 F in Texas, make sure to review these summer pet care recommendations, as summarized from the Humane Society’s guidelines.

Everyday Care:

Hopefully, it goes without saying: Make sure your animal has plenty of food, water, and shade. Animals can overheat quickly, so if conditions aren’t right, death can occur within a day. Check water often; make sure it’s cool and there’s plenty of it. If your animal lives outside, secure a cool, shady spot to escape from the heat. Excessive heat is miserable for anyone -- including your pets.

If you can avoid chaining your pets, do it. Being on a lead for an extended period of time can literally drive an animal insane. If chaining is a daily operation, make sure the duration of it is as short as possible, allow him or her to take frequent breaks off the lead, and make sure your pet can comfortably reach the food, water, and shade. Place all food and water away from the chain, so they are not knocked over with the animal’s movements.

Also consider alternatives. Try an obedience course. Many dogs with good training will stay exactly where they are told until further notice. Technology has advanced in recent years, making new choices available. For instance, “invisible fences” are now on the market at an affordable rate -- many under a one-time investment of a few hundred dollars.

Car Care:

It’s tempting to take our pets, particularly our dogs, on those everyday errands. With such busy lives, a little car adventure seems an ideal way to spend time with our animal companions while still getting things done. But in temperatures like this, it’s simply not wise. The inside of a car can heat up to 120 F in minutes, even in the shade. Since dogs and cats can’t sweat, but only dissipate heat through the pads of their feet, or by panting, such temperatures -- even temporarily -- can prove deadly. Leave pets at home while you’re running errands, and make that special time for your animal friends when you get back.

Exercising:

Exercising is just as important to our animals’ health as our own. Keep an eye on the temperature. On hot days, make sure to take walks in the early morning or evening hours. Watch for signs of distress, and exercise your animal on the cool, soft grass if possible. Asphalt can heat to blistering temperatures, and can literally burn the pads of their feet. Supervise pool play, as well. Many unfortunate animal deaths have arisen from an unsecured swimming pool, which looks just as inviting to them as to us.

Warning Signs:

Watch for signs of heat exhaustion, particularly with older, short-nosed, and thick-coated dogs. Signs of danger include heavy panting, glazed eyes, rapid pulse, unsteadiness, staggering gait, vomiting, and a deep red or purple tongue. If heat exhaustion does occur, get your animal to a cool, shady spot immediately, pour cool water (not cold) on him or her, and place cool towels around the head, chest, and neck. Encourage your animal to drink small amounts of water at a time or to lick an ice cube. Then take your pet to the vet right away.

Lawn Care:

Summer is also a time for work -- a lot of yard work. Lawn care and gardening can be relaxing and enjoyable activities, full of the rewards of a beautiful home and good produce. But exercise caution when using insecticides. Many chemicals used on the lawn and garden, as well as 700 plant species, are poisonous to animals. To make sure your pet can frolic freely, read labels and ask plenty of questions. Most insecticides come with warnings, and your local gardening store should be able to clarify any issue about which you are unsure. Choosing organic gardening supplies is a great way to reduce these risks.

A Biting Problem:

Bites are more common in the summer simply because there’s more interaction between pets and people. To reduce the risk of bites, make sure you know your animal. If he or she has any territorial or aggressive tendencies, watch your pet closely. Keep dogs leashed when away from the home, just in case. After all, it may not be your animal companion that causes the trouble; unfortunately, unleashed and aggressive animals are not an anomaly, and you’ll have better control over the situation if your pet is leashed. Spaying or neutering will also reduce aggressive and territorial tendencies.

Medications and Identifications:

Prepare for trips by making sure your animals’ vaccinations and medications are up-to-date. Heartworm is of particular concern, as the disease is transmitted through mosquito bites. Ask your vet about any over-the-counter medications first, even flea and tick medications. The size of the animal is important, as are allergies, and the manufacturing company. Unfortunately, there are unsafe products on the market.

Check ID tags or chips to make sure all the information is current -- including contact information. Many pets are lost on vacation, with no way of getting home without the proper identification. With up-to-date tags or chips, however, they’re just a phone call away.

Pets are a responsibility, and we must not forget that. Their lives are in our hands every day, and they depend on us to love them, feed them, and give them water, exercise, and stimulation. But they’re also such wonderful companions, and so much fun! Take care of yourself, and take care of them. Reward them for their unconditional love and loyalty by making sure everything they need is provided for during these hot months ahead. With the proper care and preparation, it can be your best summer together yet!

Taking care of your pets can also bring increased awareness of how you’re taking care of yourself. When, for instance, was the last time you had a check-up? How you take care of your body will certainly affect your health now, and as you age, and eventually your wallet as well. If you’re a young individual who tries to keep informed and maintain a healthy condition and lifestyle, you should take a look at the revolutionary, comprehensive and highly-affordable individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for you. Visit our website, [http://www.precedent.com], for more information. We offer a unique and innovative suite of individual health insurance solutions, including highly-competitive HSA-qualified plans, and an unparalleled "real time" application and acceptance process.

Research studies worldwide have recently begun to uncover the wide array of phytonutrients contained in fruits and vegetables. This factor alone make it even more important than we thought that you include a variety of fruits and vegetables as part of your daily diet.

Phytonutrients offer many benefits with regard to human health, some known and some yet unknown. Did you know the widely touted "vitamin" called folic acid is actually a phytonutrient? On the cusp of the millennium, there is no doubt that the next decade or so is going to burst wide open with many more undiscovered virtues of the phytonutrient rich foods that Americans do not eat enough of.

Given the current dietary government guidelines, phytonutrients are not considered essential nutrients. Nevertheless, a flood of anti-aging research is beginning to demonstrate, and quite provocatively, the potential anti-aging characteristics of some of these mysterious plant compounds. It has been suggested that diseases such as cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's, may plague the middle aged and elderly due to our limited knowledge of these all important, plant specific nutrients. For example, it has been proposed that certain flavinoids found in blueberries may actually reverse nerve cell aging.

The study of phytonutrients has provided the impetus for both plant and nutritional scientists to work together as a team to uncover even more important knowledge. This makes perfect sense because fresh produce is the only currently known source of these valuable and mysterious nutrients. The sad part is that only a small handful of visionary scientists are researching how to improve the nutritional quality of these lovely green edibles. The majority of research to date has been dedicated to increasing crop yields by making stronger, hardier plants that will be able to ward off being damaged by disease, pesticides, etc.

Genetic engineering has already been able to produce tomatoes with up to three times more lycopene. Lycopene is the cancer reducing red pigment found in tomatoes. These modified tomatoes are able to maintain maximum nutrition 3 times longer (shelf life) than their " regular" counterparts. Autar K. Matoo and colleagues of the ARS vegetable laboratory inserted a gene that retards plant aging along with a promoter that is triggered by ripening. The engineered tomatoes were thus proven to be able to accumulate more lycopene and other antioxidants during the longer ripening stage. It is felt that this novel approach should work with other fruits and vegetables.

Environmental factors also appear to make a difference. Cantaloupe melons, grown at the ARS Subtropical Agricultural Research Center in Weslaco Texas, differed in beta carotene levels by as much as 500 percent. The differences in these levels depended on the soil, the cultivar and the size of the fruit. Gene E. Lester, head research scientist and his colleagues, are embarking on a project to understand post harvest storage factors as well as the environmental and genetic factors that affect phytontrient levels and the quality thereof.

It seems that specialized plant breeding will be central to putting produce with enhanced phytonutrient levels on the dinner table. It is now well known that broccoli contains rich sources of certain compounds that may inhibit cancer. It is felt that there is good potential for increasing the anti-cancer power of this wondrous vegetable. Mark W. Farnham, of the ARS vegetable research lab at Charleston South Carolina, has found that the purported anti-cancer precursor glucoraphanin exhibits a 30 fold increase in the inbred broccoli lines.

While we should all feel grateful that such wondrous research is beginning to unfold, a question remains ... some food for thought. Although genetic engineered fruits and vegetables are beginning to demonstrate without a doubt, that we can produce plants that are packed with additional health supporting active compounds, what is the overall risk? Are these plants as Mother Nature intended them to be? Does and will altering the genetic potential of plant life bring forth a plethora of problems yet unseen? To date, we simply don't know.

So, last Spring you may have grown a few tomato plants, which you planted alongside your house.   You got a "bumper crop" of 6 beefsteak tomatoes.  That was good for 2 meals.  This year,  you plan on having a garden, with many more vegetables...not just tomatoes.  You also are more aware of the chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides, so you would like an organic garden.  Well, forget last year... because you will have a great garden if you follow my organic vegetable gardening tips.

Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips:

1. What Vegetables To Grow....Think about the vegetables you and your family enjoy eating.  Balance that with whether these are expensive vegetables.  For your efforts you may as well save as much money by growing your own.  For example, red and orange peppers are much more expensive than green peppers.  Buying lettuces in a mesculun salad is more expensive than iceberg lettuce.  Other expensive vegetables include asparagus, arugula and redicchio.  Try some of the heirloom tomatoes, such as the popular Brandywine variety, instead of a "red" tomato.
2. Raised Beds.....Instead of having to dig deep into your soil (about a foot for tomatoes), build or buy a raised bed and fill it with soil and compost (you can buy organic compost) This will save you a lot of work
3. Keep it Small...if you plant too many plants, you may find it too much work at first.
4. Plant Garlic Bulbs...to keep away the animal pests that might eat your plants.
5. Fence in your garden....if you can use a fence to keep out the pests.
6. 50 degree soil...make sure your soil is at least 50 degrees before planting.
7. Water about 2 times a week...water deep 

How to build your own vegetable garden

You will first need to stake out an area of garden to be converted to a vegetable patch. This area needs to be located a good distance from large trees and in a well drained and sunny position. As mentioned above, sleepers can be used to define the veggie patch area and reduce the number of unwanted roots from entering. Rocks can be removed by sieving (this is important for parsnips and carrots to prevent forking) and plastic can be lined for long term segregation from surrounding soil.

The soil must be fertilized and irrigation or some form of consistent watering applied. Lastly the right vegetables must be selected and planted in sensible regions for optimal growth. Stepping stones for access to stake plants and harvest produce are effective as this will confine walking areas.

Make sure the garden is maintained. This includes watering, fertilizing, weeding and plant maintenance (such as staking).

Growing your own - some common pitfalls

What are some of the common mistakes made when growing vegetables at home? Some of the common pitfalls include:

Lack of plant nutrition and poor soil. When removing grass, try and retain as much of the top soil as possible. This is the darker soil held around the grass roots. Use soil conditioner to develop the long term sustainability of your soil.

Insect attacks Use some methods to control bugs, birds and other pests. There are many organic methods available as well as some simple preventative measures like adding appropriate mulch and keeping fruit and vegetables well away from the ground.

Lack of water Make sure watering is to the plant root system and consistent. If you have a dry spell of a few hot days, this can wipe out your entire vegetable garden, so make sure you water to the season and climate. Adding mulch helps your plants and the surrounding soil retain moisture and nutrients, both vital for plant health and growth.

Poor crop rotation and choice of plants and positioning Does your sweet corn shade out your dwarf beans? Choose crops for the season and ensure that you don't plant the same crop year after year in the same position as the soil will become less able to support that particular plant.

Badly installed vegetable garden Make sure large roots are removed from your vegetable garden as these will take nutrients away from your plants. If you want a great long term vegetable patch you may want to build a frame from sleepers and line this with some sort of plastic to prevent roots encroaching on your highly nutritious veggie patch soil.

How to grow vegetables in pots There is not too much difference here, except you will want to make sure your pot has good drainage, plenty of room to allow root growth and is well watered in a sunny position. Add some blue metal or other gravel into the bottom to allow drainage without letting the soil wash out, and make sure you add some organic fertilizer or potting mix rich in nutrients. Pots are great for residential living where space is restricted.

Where can I buy fresh tomatoes and other vegetables? There are a number of markets which sell relatively fresh fruit and vegetables. This is something which is really specific to your region so you will have to do your own research on where to source organic produce. If you have the room however it really is not that hard to grow your own.

How to organically fertilize your vegetable garden soil Collect grass clippings, leaves and other organic matter, and mix in your old food scraps to make some highly nutritious compost. If you have chickens then use their droppings as fertilizer.

Preventing pests and bugs on your fresh vegetables There are many remedies for this. Some natural snail pellets will be invaluable during seed germination, as this is a time when they are most vulnerable. I have had entire 100 seedling crops virtually wiped out by slugs and snails in the past. Some say that blending some of these bugs (such as caterpillars) and applying as a diluted mix can act as a natural pesticide, and others simply suggest planting certain plants which act as a deterrent. For example planting mint can be a deterrent for ants.

Strips of old video tape can be tied around parts of the veggie patch to scare birds, and mulch will reduce the amount of bugs which want a piece of your tasty vegetables. Lastly, make sure you get the fruit off the ground. Tomatoes need staking and climbing beans need climbing poles or rods.

How to save water when gardening and maintain good drainage Mulch will save you many liters of water as well as providing good weed management. Water will be much less likely to evaporate if generous layers of mulch are applied. You can also buy drip hoses which apply water directly to the base of the plants. This can save considerable amounts of water when compared to a standard sprinkler.

A complex irrigation system would perhaps be the most desirable method of applying water, however we must weigh up the pros and cons of such a system which can certainly become a little expensive. One of the pros however is that we can apply water directly to each plant through drippers, or targeted sprinkler heads.

Installing a sprinkler timer can allow watering in the early hours of the morning, just before a hot day when evaporation is at a minimum. This also allows regular and consistent watering within your suburb's water restriction regulations.

Lastly you may decide to use grey water to add to your water supply. Water from your washing machine or the shower is perfect for the veggies and can drastically reduce your water bill. Just be sure to make sure you only use environmentally friendly shampoos, conditioners and washing powders/liquids. You may also like to install a water tank which collects water during heavy rain and can consistently water your garden over the dryer durations.

Deciding what to plant Perhaps the most popular vegetable is the famous tomato. Commercially produced tomatoes are often picked green, and artificially ripened allowing any sugars to turn to starch. This has led to an enormous number of home growers deciding on fresh tomatoes as the number one choice when it comes to vegetables.

Other popular choices include beans, sweet corn, broccoli and potatoes - all of which are high produce crops. Be aware that some crops are more suited to winter than summer and vice versa, and some require full sun or part shade etc. Be sure to select the appropriate crops for the season and positioning within the vegetable patch.

Why grow organically? Organically grown vegetables taste amazing. Many top chefs stick to organically grown fruit and vegetables in order to add that extra zing to their meals. Using natural fertilizing methods is also much better for the surrounding environment, something which is especially important in built up urban areas. Artificial phosphates and concentrated fertilizers can wreak havoc with wetlands, streams, rivers and other water bodies.

Pesticides are also bad for the environment and somewhat unnecessary. There are many ways of reducing pest activity in your vegetable patch which should definitely be used over pesticides which not only harm the environment, but allow bugs to build up a tolerance to such chemicals in the long run. It is also almost impossible to completely guarantee that some of these pesticides won't end up in the food you eat, and with a world already plagued with carcinogens and other nasties, it is nice to avoid pesticides if at all possible.

The vegetable garden project. If you would like to see an actual vegetable patch made in what used to be an ordinary grassed back yard, and the delicious results obtained, then make sure you have a look at my website below for pictures, walk throughs and further tips about growing your own vegetables at home.

Gardening can be an extremely rewarding activity in so many ways. It can be fun and fulfilling and there is something primordial about working with the earth and the elements to create a thing of beauty and bounty. It can also be rewarding in a very tangible way. Vegetable gardening yields an edible crop as its end result and food has real material value.

However those new to both gardening and growing vegetables in particular may find that first foray into creating a veg plot a little daunting. Here are a few simple tips designed to make the garden planning process simpler:

Tip 1

Consider what type of vegetable garden you should create. There are several options available and the one you eventually choose will depend to a large extent on the amount of land you have available and the amount of time you wish to devote to your new activity. The traditional method of cultivating a vegetable garden used to be to plant in long, well ordered rows, which is fine if you have a large area to use. The drawbacks of this method are that because you have to walk on the plot your soil is constantly becoming compacted which leads to a lot of digging. This is both labour intensive and also releases valuable nutrients from the soil.

Many home gardeners now opt for raised beds, which is an excellent method to employ, particularly for those with limited space. The advantages of this approach are that you can concentrate compost and fertiliser onto the growing area and reduce waste, improve drainage and maintain warmth by building the bed up with added organic matter like manure.

You may like the idea of a potager style garden which can be both productive and ornamental, mixing floral beauty with herbs and vegetables.

Tip 2

Location is an important consideration when planning your veg garden. Consider where you live, when is the last date you can expect to have frost etc. Gardening climates are generally broken down into three different zones; cold, temperate and tropical/sub-tropical. In the Northern hemisphere the cold zone would be considered those areas with freezing temperatures during winter months, temperate is where frost can still occur in the winter months but it doesn't snow and the summers are hot and long and tropical/sub-tropical where frost and snow are unheard of.

Tip 3

Where you site your plot should require some thought too. Vegetable beds have often been consigned to the rear of our gardens, hidden away while the flowers take centre stage. Yet vegetable plants can be beautiful in their own right. They will also need sunlight and therefore will not thrive if they are consigned to dark, shady spots. Make notes on where the sun shines in your garden at different times in the day. Digital cameras and mobile phones are great for this purpose; take photographs on sunny days and you will have visual record to assist you in the planning process. Different plants have different requirements so take that into consideration when planning your vegetable garden. Sometimes, especially with smaller gardens, choice may be restricted. I live on a hill which is exposed to wicked westerly winds and I have had no option but to site my vegetable plot under these conditions. Whilst I would say that it is clearly not ideal I still produce abundant harvests of edible crops throughout the year.

Tip 4

Keep a diary devoted to your gardening to help plan your sowing and planting throughout the growing year. This can also be used to schedule other related activities such as seed ordering and bed preparing etc. Consult a seed sowing and planting guide and decide which vegetables you want to grow and make an appointment in your diary to sow the seeds. This memoir will assist with things like crop rotation too. Gardening, like any other endeavour benefits from a little organisation and discipline.

Tip 5

Order the seeds you need well in advance of the growing season. Seed catalogues are great for thumbing through on cold January days when winter seems as if it is going to last forever. Pouring over these brochures fills you with a sense of anticipation for the warmth of the growing season to come and is an essential part of the whole planning process. In addition to the seeds make sure you have any equipment you will need in place. The basics are garden tools, seed trays, seed pots, compost etc.

Tip 6

Document your progress in your garden diary throughout the year. Record when you sow seed, plant out, prepare a bed etc. Keep note of which varieties perform well or otherwise. Look upon the diary as an essential garden tool. I have been using a garden diary for years now and I have found it to be as important and useful to me as my trowel!

Growing your own fresh organic fruit and vegetables is a wonderful and profitable pastime and there is much to learn even for those who may consider themselves experts. Planning is an important aspect of any undertaking and horticulture is no exception to this rule. So before anyone breaks soil it is essential to give some thought to the preparation and development of your vegetable plot. If the activity is broken down into the simple chunks listed here then the creation of a continually productive vegetable garden should be less off-putting and more fun.

If you are one of those looking into the option of growing your own organic food, you can actually learn it easily. In fact, most of the things you need to do in starting out your own organic food garden are just practical and easy-to-learn organic gardening techniques.

The focus of growing chemical-free foods is in applying techniques in gardening that are aligned with nature as well as making your garden self-sufficient and sustainable. Here are some the organic gardening techniques that you may find useful in helping you grow healthy, chemical-free vegetables as well as making it easy for you to manage your garden.

Composting

Restoring the soil's fertility is a main factor in being able to produce healthy vegetables in your own garden. In fact, a fertile soil is a key element in achieving success in organic food gardening. One of the organic gardening techniques in restoring the fertility of the soil permanently and get rid of soil diseases that is to make your own organic fertilizer by composting garden, kitchen and animal waste and mix them with your garden soil.

Crop rotation

Another technique that you can use in restoring the soil's fertility without having to use chemicals is the crop rotation technique. This is done by changing the type of vegetables you grow in succession in an area. Most often, a vegetable or plant of different families are great to be planted in succession. This prevents the depletion of the nutrients in the soil and prevents diseases, controls pests and weeds.

One thing you need to learn in this technique is to identify which vegetables belong to the same family so you can avoid planting them in succession. Garlic, onion and leek for example belong to the same family so you should avoid planting them in succession in the same area.

Intercropping

Intercropping, also known as companion planting, is also one of the good organic gardening techniques that you can use to repel pests and diseases in your garden without the use of chemicals and pesticides. Plants have their own way of repelling pests and attracting helpful insects by releasing certain chemicals and scents in their leaves or their roots. By intercropping, you can actually make a balance in your garden and drive away pests and diseases.

However, the key to make this technique successful is to know which of the vegetables are great to be planted as companions in your garden. Keep in mind that having a bad choice on the crop pairing can also have adverse effects on your vegetables. Beans, for example, can be intercropped with potatoes, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers or radish but you should not intercrop them with onions, garlic or chives.

Mulching

To help you avoid weeds in your garden without the use of chemicals, mulching is also great practice that prevents the seeds of the weeds to germinate. For your organic garden, you can use grass clippings, hay, straw, or sawdust or compost to serve as your mulch.

Another factor that can keep pests and harmful insects away from your garden is to visit it regularly and check your growing vegetables if they have diseases or you can pick those pests away. With these simple organic gardening techniques, you will be able to find some ways to produce really healthy food from your own garden and make the experience enjoyable as well.

Having a vegetable garden in your own backyard is a very rewarding hobby and in fact, it is one of the best solutions to have organic and healthy food that comes right from your backyard. If you are a gardening enthusiast who wants to start a garden at home, even if you have very limited space, read on for some important vegetable gardening tips.   Know what types of vegetables are good for the climate in your location. Of course, this is a consideration as productive vegetables are those planted in the right location and with the right climate.   Know what type of soil your choice of vegetables would grow best. Some vegetables may prefer loamy soil or those that are clayey. However, most of the vegetables prefer soils with good drainage as accumulated water can easily damage the roots of the plants.   If you are living in the city where there is limited space to plant your vegetables, one of the vegetable gardening tips is to grow them in boxes or containers. This way, you get to choose the healthy soil where your vegetables can grow productively.   However, in this case, you have to take note where to put your boxes and containers. Make sure your plants get the best sunshine they need for growing up. Of course, this depends also on whether you have a shade-loving plant.   If you have a limited space on the ground where you can grow vegetables, you can also adopt the intercropping strategy where you can plant 2 kinds of vegetables at one time. Of course, it is ideal for a backyard garden to grow several types of vegetables and to conserve space, you can do the intercropping. Just be sure that you have the right choices of vegetables to intercrop. Consider a shallow-rooted plant with a deep-rooted one so that they will not compete on the soil's nutrients.   Aside from intercropping, you can also choose vegetables that can climb on trellises so that you will not need more space. In fact, vines that grow on trellis can also be an attraction in your backyard garden.   Know how much water the type of vegetable needs. To much watering can kill the plants and with less water, it can also dehydrate it. If you aim to make an organic vegetable garden, you can also learn about organic or natural fertilizers that you can put in your garden. Stay away from chemical fertilizers. One benefit of growing your own vegetables is the fact that you can grow it free from chemicals and pesticides, so take advantage of this benefit as well.   Regularly visit your garden. This one of the vegetable gardening tips and secrets that can drive away pests and disease in your garden. Manually get rid of worms, and insects that attack your vegetables and you will find them gone if you do this regularly.   These are just a few easy vegetable gardening tips that you can do to be able to start your backyard vegetable garden. Keep in mind that one of the best benefits of gardening aside from the fulfillment in growing your own vegetables is being able to grow healthy food, so keep your vegetables organic and free from pesticides and chemicals as well.

There are several basic, simple processes that you can follow in order to improve the viability and fertility of your backyard gardens and create beds naturally. Here are practical and simple tips that you can use in your landscape and garden to grow fruits and vegetables you need without harmful chemicals and pesticides.

1. Composting

Composting is the backbone of any garden. There are many ways to make compost. It could be in a bin, barrel, a tub, or old pile located in the middle of your garden. Add your kitchen remnants like egg shells, coffee grounds, potato peels, and more. Finished compost needs to be fine not to mention cool to touch and sweet-smelling. If ever you're turning the pile and you still feel the heat, it means that it's still cooking and not ready yet to be used on or near plants.

2. Cover Crops

If you want a long-term garden success, cover crops are the key. They are extremely simple to plant and just like farmers working on big farms, your garden and raised beds will get the same advantages and benefits of a well-cultivated cover crop. They could add tons of nutrients especially nitrogen to the soil, build organic matter back to the earth, and keep other weeds from becoming established on your beds. Cover crops also play an important part in keeping soil erosion at bay.

3. Crop Rotation

Did you know that if you continue planting the same tomato, pepper, cucumber plants, and other plants, fruits, or vegetables in the same location each and every year, you will not be achieving the same results? It is because plants utilize certain nutrients from the soil and it becomes stripped off of specific nutrients if you keep on planting the same crops at exactly the same position. So the best solution is to rotate your crops every year aside from supplying compost and cover crops to help recharge the soil. It will also give the soil more time to get better from the particular crop that was previously grown.

4. Mulching

Weeds also compete in using nutrients and consuming the water with your plants. The fewer weeds you have the more nutrients your vegetable plants will get. You can eliminate these weeds without the need to spray and still keeping your garden beautiful. Mulching is an excellent way of getting rid of unwanted weeds in your garden. Finished compost is great for mulching. It conserves the humidity in the soil while blocking weeds and adding valuable nutrients into the soil as it decomposes. When you don't have compost yet, you could mulch with shredded leaves. You can also place straw and basically you get the same things.

5. Watering

Always remember that proper watering is very important regardless of how great the soil is. Very little water makes the plants wither. Too much amount of water won't help in developing good as well as deep-root structure that are needed for healthier and mature plants.

Having your own organic garden in your own backyard brings you a great many benefits. When you can grow and harvest your very own fresh and organic vegetables, you will reap tremendous reward in terms of nutrition and a sense of genuine accomplishment. The foods to gather from your own vegetable garden are far superior to anything you can buy in the store in terms of both flavor and nutrition. The faster you can eat vegetables after they are harvested, the more nourishment they will deliver. This article provides five organic best practices for beginners. Read on to learn how to plant your very own organic vegetable garden and reap tremendous rewards.

#1. When you are first beginning, it's best to start with a small garden. You'll be amazed at how much you can grow in a very small amount of space. You don't want to become discouraged by having a huge garden that takes a lot of handling when you aren't really expert yet. Be sure to place your garden in an area where you can expand when you're ready to take on a larger project. Choose an area of your yard that has good soil, good sunlight and good drainage.

#2. You can set up your garden in one of two ways. You can either scalp the soil by taking away all existing grass and other ground cover and then break up the dirt, or you can smother the existing grass and ground cover with a thick layer of newspaper an/or cardboard covered by good planting soil. If you choose the latter, you will need to use landscape timbers, bricks or rocks to build walls around your raised bed garden.

#3. Be sure not to plant your garden willy-nilly. Before you begin planting, make a plan. Keep this handy so that you will remember what you have planted where. You can create straight rows in your garden by setting out stakes and running string from one to another. At the end of each row, add a label for the type of vegetable you are planting in that row. This is a good quick reference, but be sure to keep your garden plan safely filed away in case your labels blow away or degrade beyond recognition.

#4. Be sure to choose vegetables that are easy to grow in your area. This will make your first garden much more satisfying. You can ask at your local garden center to help you choose types of plants that will do well in the area where you live. You may choose to plant seeds or seedlings. Of course the latter will be easier to deal with since they will already have a good start. Some very easy choices in first time gardening plants are radishes, zucchini, tomatoes and crookneck squash. If you have particularly deep and soft soil, you can also try deep root crops such as potatoes and carrots.

#5. If your soil is good, you get plenty of sun and water regularly, you should begin seeing some very impressive growth from your little seedlings once they're planted. Be sure to keep your seedlings well watered. Mulching around the seedlings and between the rows will help hold moisture into the soil. Keep pests off with a natural spray consisting of water and a small amount of dish-washing liquid. You'll be surprised at how well this simple concoction protects your delicate plants.

Good gardening is not rocket science. With this simple start, you should become a energized and enthused to learn more and try more. As the seasons pass, you should feel confident to expand your garden and grow an even wider variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to feed your family.

Organic container gardening add interest, color and creativity to a garden. Container gardening gives gardeners great flexibility since containers and planters can be moved as you change your mind or your mood.

Organic potting soil is now available from most retailers so the next step for the organic gardener is to determine what you want to achieve with your container gardening. Do you want to let the kids grow a small herb garden? Do you want the container to hang off your arbor or do you want to add additional color to a section of your landscape?

Container soil dries out quickly so they will generally need more watering than you might think. You might not have a lot of extra time, so dead heading plants or doing a lot of pruning is also something you want to avoid. The good news is that there are plenty of low maintenance plants you can try in your container garden.

These are some easy to care for container plants that I love growing in my organic container garden in areas that receive 3 - 6 hours of sun:

- Bolivian Jew Plant: a/k/a Turtle Vine. This is a trailing dark green plant with purple highlights that can handle heat, sun, part shade, and is drought tolerant. Want more of this plant in your garden? No problem - just break off a piece and put it in the ground and it will grow. Don't want any outside of your container? Don't worry - it pulls easily out of the ground. Very easy to care for, I love this plant for it's interesting texture, color and low maintenance. (Hardy to zones 10 & 11 - annual for everyone else).

- Asparagus Fern: This is one of the few ferns that can handle full sun to partial shade. The asparagus fern has an interesting lace like lime green foliage that adds great color and texture anywhere in your container garden. It also can handle it hot and dry. The asparagus fern can be brought inside and live nicely as a houseplant during the winter as well. (Hardy to zones 9 & 11 - annual for everyone else).

- Catnip: Catnip is an full sun/dappled shade herb that's hardy from zones 3 to 9 and is perfect for a container since this allows for quick relocation if your cats start throwing parties in your backyard. Seriously, cats love this when they find it, but they have to walk right past it so cat pool parties are not an issue. Catnip has grey / green leaves with light purple flowers that grow tall and bushy. Cats go crazy for it of course. Break off a couple of twigs of catnip for your feline and it's "Woodstock for Kitties" - dilated eyes and everything.

- Pentas: I love using this plant for a more upright planting scheme. Another annual in all but the hottest climates, Pentas can give you a true red color in your garden either in a container or the ground. They can handle part sun and here in Texas'really hot sun, I try to locate them to ensure afternoon shade.

Organic container gardening is easy to maintain if you select the right plants for your lifestyle and area. Let us know about favorite plants of your own.

Sticking People Together, Making People "Stick" Out: Oh, Honey

Almost everyone around the world eventually discovers that food brings people together and apart. Bread and rice start medieval peasant riots, GMO's strain or heal international relations, family business for many people happens around the table, and in some countries chocolate may win a girl's affections for a day. In Charlottesville, VA, the Saturday morning City Market clearly brings people together, but an interview with a local honey merchant shows that homegrown food can form communal relationships while also setting people apart from each other within that community.

The Hungry Hill Farms booth sits next to the popsicle stand, the first booth in a long row of organic and homemade stalls. The couple working the booth first caught my attention when the friendly man complimented my friend's "I'm no rocket-surgeon" shirt. Other people who stopped by to look at the honey often just stopped by to chat; two ladies paused because, as they said, "I buy your honey at the Cville Market." The honey they had purchased at the local store had become a way to open up alliance in conversation; it had created a social "debt", albeit a very small one, between the person at the booth and the customer, and while the customer and the vendor did not know each other, they both acknowledged a small friendly bond. Colin Johnson, the friendly man watching the booth, said that often regular customers will come solely for conversation, not to buy honey.

Conversation and social bonds actually started the Hungry Hill Farms business back in 1968 when Glenn Clayton Sr. had a conversation with a friend from the fire department. The fireman had kept two bee hives as a hobby, but became allergic and gave them to Clayton Sr. as a gift. The two beehives expanded to the current 500, and the hobby became a business as the honey became popular among friends and family, who received it from the Claytons on holidays and as gifts. Honey, then, drew people together, and the drawing of people together produced surplus honey. The Claytons soon found that they had too much honey for use year after year, and began to sell it. As they sold honey, they expanded their hives and social linkages, and so the cycle continues. Colin Johnson, who told me the story about "her grandfather," actually joined the business himself through social bonds: he is in a relationship with Mr. Clayton's granddaughter, the confident-looking lady who sold us honey sticks.

The basic needs of food-provision are still a very real part of why Happy Hill Farms exists. In addition to honey, the farm has ten acres of garden which supplies much of the produce that the Clayton family consumes. The farm also grows shiitake mushrooms to sell. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that social and communal connections form a great part, if not most, of the push and pull of Hungry Hill Farms.

While honey brings people together, it also establishes distinctions between people. When asked what kind of people bought Hungry Hill Honey, Johnson told us that "a smattering of people", from the "crunchy hippie types" to those who looked like they "just came off their yacht." While the purchase of the same product seems to establish a kind of unified identity between these kinds of people, Johnson's division of the customer group along sociopolitical lines--rather than racial, ethnic, or otherwise--mirrors a general mental division in the local food conversation. A largely false stereotype does exist to make local and sustainable food a liberal "hippie" issue; an additional stereotype, that conservatives have all the money for highly priced goods, breaks down as in Charlottesville, where it's an upper-middle class liberal bourgeois that provides the purchasing power for farm products. Elsewhere, in more stereotypically "conservative" rural areas, the price of sustainable and local food goes down. Generalizations may not provide true pictures of a society on the outside, but in the local food conversation, they do show glimpses of the stark mental and social attitudes that surround food consumption in the minds of the consumers, vendors, and the rest of the society. People in Cville set themselves apart from each other through the food they eat.

A conversation with one of Hungry Hill's customers further illuminated the way that food purchasing establishes uniqueness. She buys Hungry Hill, she says, because it's a walking distance from her house to the Cville Market that sells it "and besides it's local," but she goes to the Farmer's Market because "everyone's here." It's where the politicians campaign, the people hang out, and you can buy sustainable and local food, she says. She described a communal event that brings people together. As she went on, she explained how sustainable and local food was a lifestyle for her, not "the latest social trend", because she grew up on a farm. The conversation, while demonstrating how food became a unifying event, succinctly demonstrated that my interviewee's identity became set apart by her history with sustainable food. She distinguished herself not only from those who do not buy local, but from those who have a different purchasing history with local food. She wanted that distinction.

Quite obviously, the food that people sell also sets them apart. Every business strives to point out why its food is different or better than everyone else's: that's simply a factor of business. Hungry Hill Honey comes with an additional degree of vendor separation besides that which comes naturally with business products. Vegetable and meat farmers work directly with the crop they sell: bee farmers work with it second-hand from other living creatures.

This distinction creates interesting environmental and political consequences for farmers. Johnson explains that large companies truck their bees across the country to try to hit all the different blooms. The first, the almond blooms, come in very early spring, and when the bees have gathered as much as possible, the companies truck them elsewhere, hitting cotton blooms down south, cherry blooms, and everything else. This travel weakens the bees' immune systems, and understandably leads to disorientation of their internal compasses. Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), a phenomenon rocking the bee industry over the past five years or so, occurs when bees simply stop finding their way around, or fly away and leave the colony for good. Bees without a colony die, and the suicide of the colony becomes a suicide for the bees. A year or two ago Hungry Hill Farms also lost several colonies, even though most of their colonies remain stationary all the time. Johnson and Ms. Clayton attribute CCD primarily to bee diseases spread by the large bee businesses.

The CCD discussion shows that inherent in the honey itself, and the manner in which it can be practically harvested and grown with minimal bee loss, one finds social and economic distinctions and decisions. This occurs, of course, for all products, but for honey, with its unique nature and source, these choices become especially pronounced and complex. The purchasing and selling of honey, then, says something about the people who purchase and sell it. Honey sticks people together in community; it also shows us who we are as individuals.

How-To Basics of getting started with Organic Gardening. No matter whether you are an experienced organic gardener or you have simply decided that you would like to become more self-reliant by growing some of your own food, planting a garden requires planning. A properly planned and planted organic garden will naturally resist disease, deter pests, and be healthy and productive. With the spring planting season fast approaching, winter is the ideal time to get started.

Set Goals What do you want to do with your plot of earth this season? Begin planning by setting goals. Grab your garden map, a pencil, your gardening guide, catalogs, and your thinking cap. List the areas of your yard and garden separately (i.e. lawn, vegetable patch, flower garden), and, keeping in mind the size and conditions of your site, brainstorm! Are you planning a garden for the first time? Do you want to expand your existing garden? Did you have pest or disease problems last year that you're hoping to prevent this year? What map? To create a map of your yard or garden, measure the dimensions of your site as a whole, and then the individual dimensions of your vegetable patch, flowerbeds, and lawn. It's easiest to draw your map to scale on a sheet of graph paper. These measurements will be necessary later, when you are determining how much of a plant or seeds to buy. Once the map is drawn, write in any information you know about soil characteristics, drainage, environmental conditions (sunny, shady, windy), and the names of trees and perennial plants that already exist. Your map will let you know exactly what you have to work with, and will give you a realistic idea of problems that need attention or features you'd like to change or add.

Gardening 101 It is important to understand the magnitude of your project before you begin. Getting the background information necessary to fulfill your goals may take an hour or a week, depending upon your level of experience and how involved you plan to get. Consulting your garden guidebook is a great way to begin - I suggest Warren Schultz's The Organic Suburbanite, The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman, Rodale's Chemical-Free Yard & Garden, or The Handy Garden Answer Book by Karen Troshynski-Thomas. You can also go to your local library and investigate their resources or contact your local garden club for their suggestions. As you research, write down how long each project will take, what tools you will need, and the approximate cost of everything you will need. This information will be invaluable when you make up your shopping list and schedule of activities. Scheduling and Organization. A schedule of activities lists what you hope to accomplish in what time frame. It will help keep you on track. It is important to be realistic about what you are capable of.

This is not a project that can be taken on alone in a week. Staggering your major tasks over time will make them easier to accomplish and save you the ultimate frustration of unfinished projects. Planning for the long term will aid in your organization. You can create a year-by-year schedule that maps out a time frame in which to achieve your big goals. Obviously, the schedule can change as time goes by, you learn new methods and you rethink your objectives, but maintaining focus on what you hope to create in the long term can keep you motivated on what you are doing now.

Tool Tutorial You have a plan! You have knowledge! Do you have tools? Chances are you may be able to obtain most tools at your local lawn and garden store. Bring the list that you assembled in Gardening 101, and, if you are a seasoned gardener, assume that the same pests and plagues will be back that you dealt with last year and buy your supplies now. If you are new to the gardening scene, buy the basic tools that you will need, and then nose around the neighborhood and perhaps your local gardening club to see what is recommended for what you are planting and where you live.

Basic Tools:

• Diggers - You will need a spading fork for aerating your soil and turning your compost pile. Look for a spading fork with rectangular, flat blades. A manure fork may also be compost-pile friendly when it comes to turning.
• Weeders - Weeding tools include hoes and short-handled cultivating tools. Both are made in a variety of styles, and you will probably want more than one of each.
• Hoe
• hoe types include:
• Swan-neck hoe - The curved neck positions the cutting blade to skim just below the surface, making it ideal for light work around garden crops.
• Oscillating hoe - Also called a scuffle hoe or hula, it has a hinged, double-edged blade that barely disturbs the soil surface, minimizing the number of new weeds brought to the surface.
• Collinear hoe - Designed by Eliot Coleman, the narrow blade and angled handle are useful for cutting off small weeds with little soil disturbance.
• Eye hoe - Also called a grub hoe, the heavy blade is for hard chopping at tough, overgrown weeds.

Standard short-handled cultivating tools:

• Hand cultivator - A tined tool, useful for disturbing the soil surface around close planting to uproot young weeds.
• Dandelion weeder - Made for uprooting weeds with long taproots.
• Pavement weeder - A trowel for removing weeds in cracks of stone slab or brick walkways.
• Pruners - Pruning trees and shrubs promotes growth and good health, and pruning out diseased wood helps to control disease problems. Pruning tools come in varying sizes depending on your need. Choose a sharp, high quality pruning tool.
• Tillers - Tillers will also range in size, depending on the job. There are large, gaspowered tillers for breaking ground or big jobs, and small tillers that are lightweight and are useful for cultivating around perennials. Rent a few tillers to try them out before buying, as they do differ a great deal and can be expensive.
• Sowers - Wheeled seeding tools that have changeable interior disks for different seed sizes and spacings are available and very handy if you are planting large areas.
• Comfort tools - There is a plethora of comfort- oriented garden accessories available on the market today. Products range from gloves, to knee pads, to small, wheeled benches/carts. It is up to you to decide what will suit your needs, if you need any at all..

Starting From Seed Starting your plants from seed will ensure that they are chemical free. Most transplants sold in garden centers have been treated with chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Seeds themselves bought at garden centers may be coated in fungicides, so be very careful about what you buy or buy from an organic seed supplier. To start plants from seed, you need sterile soil, sterile planting containers, and labels. It is better to grow each seedling in a separate container to avoid the damage incurred by ripping roots apart, and to make for a less shocking transplant. If you purchase soil mix, be sure that it is sterile to avoid spreading disease to your seedlings.

To make your own mix, use vermiculite (a mica-based mineral that has been heated to make it expand to many times its original size), perlite (volcanic ash that has been heated and 'popped'), and sphagnum (moss that has been collected while still alive, dried, and then finely ground). Add 1 tablespoon of lime for each 2 quarts of sphagnum that you use to counteract its acidity. Good recipes for soil mix are 1 part sphagnum and 1 part vermiculite, or 1 part each sphagnum, vermiculite and perlite. Seeds actually need heat, not light, to germinate. The heat from a grow light or sunny window may be enough for some, but placing the containers on top of a warm refrigerator or on a seed-starting heating pad may be necessary.

Keep your seeds moist by planting them in moist mix and covering them with plastic wrap. As soon as you see the first sign of life, remove the wrap and place them someplace where they will receive 8-10 hours of sunlight per day.

Water them care fully with a spray mister, careful not to knock the seedlings over or wash away the soil. Before you transplant your seedlings outdoors, they need to be acclimated to the different climate. Bring them outside and place them in a sheltered, somewhat shady spot for a few hours each day, gradually increasing their exposure to the elements over a week or two. Plants have a hardiness zone, an area based on the average annual low temperatures where a plant is most likely to withstand the region's annual low temperature http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has produced a map that breaks the U.S. into 11 zones. Growing plants that are outside your hardiness zone is not impossible, but they will need special attention. When deciding what to plant, consult a hardiness zone map to come up with plants that are most likely to thrive in your zone (see map).

Garden Design Switching to chemical-free gardening will not only mean changing your gardening practices, but also your gardening design. Gardening in beds, as opposed to rows, provides for better weed, disease and pest management. Beds are also more attractive and easier to maintain. In a garden bed, everything is planted within arm's reach. The leaves of adjacent plants shade the soil, reducing weed growth. Diversity in a garden bed also has many advantages. A variety of plants in a mixed bed provide some natural pest protection by making it difficult for pests to find and eat their target plants, or helping to attract insects that are beneficial to your garden and prey on pest insects. It also reduces the chances that pests and disease organisms will build to epidemic levels, as they won't be able to hop from tasty host to tasty host, as they would if you had planted in rows. Your soil will also reap the benefits of your diverse planting techniques. A good example is planting nitrogen-gobbling corn with nitrogen-giving beans. Pairing up particular plants or planting in variety can help the soil maintain its nutrient balance, ensuring happier plants and a better crop yield. In fact, this technique even has a name - companion planting.

Companion Planting:

Much of the science of companion planting is figuring out what works for you. Many books can give you guidelines about what plants work well together. Some plants are attractants, some repellents, some can be inter-planted with your crops and flowers, and some compete too vigorously and should be planted in separate borders or hedgerows. For example, sunflowers are a good border plant, attracting lacewings and parasitic wasps; radishes are good to inter-plant because they repel the striped cucumber beetle; and marigolds are good to both use as a border and inter-plant, as they attract hover flies and repel root nematodes, Mexican bean beetles, aphids, and Colorado potato beetles. It can be confusing, and not all plants work well together. Your best bet is to start simple, determine what pests you encounter, and work from there, altering the plants in your garden bed as needed from year to year. Often, a mixture of flowers, vegetables and herbs work well together in a single bed.

For a good guide to the basics of companion planting, consult Rodale's Successful Organic Gardening: Companion Planting. Making your bed. Making your bed can be as simple as marking off 3-by-5-foot sections of garden with pathways left between them. However, to optimize the advantages of planting in garden beds, raise your beds. Raised beds provide lighter, deeper, more nutrient-rich, water absorbent soil. Raised beds, however, must be regarded as permanent in order to maintain their splendor. They cannot be walked on or broken down at the end of the season. You can build sides on your bed with bricks, rocks, or cedar 2-by-4 or 2-by-six planks to maintain the shape instead of raking and reshaping the bed every year.

Stay away from pressure-treated wood, as it is treated with wood preservatives that are harmful to you and the environment. How do you achieve raised beds? With double-digging, of course! (This is also known as hard work.)

Double-digging raised beds. 1. Dig out the top one-foot of soil along one end of the bed. Keep the soil in a wheelbarrow or on a groundcloth. 2. Loosen the exposed subsoil by thrusting in a spading fork and twisting its tines back and forth. For extra benefit, add a small amount of organic matter and work it in as you loosen that subsoil. 3. Once the subsoil is loosened, move over and begin removing the topsoil from the next strip of garden bed. This time, instead of keeping the topsoil that you are removing, shovel it over the subsoil to which you have just added the organic matter. You can add a little more organic matter to the topsoil as you shovel. 4. Repeat step 3. 5. When you have reached the last row of your garden bed, use the reserved topsoil to cover the last area of exposed subsoil. 6. Plant!

Composting Compost is a great fertilizer and can aid in pest prevention. Compost is created when microorganisms, earthworms and nematodes consume and breakdown organic matter into simpler compounds. This process happens more quickly in an active compost pile because these microorganisms have the required heat, air and moisture, and a diverse supply of raw materials to digest. An active pile requires turning every week to add oxygen and keep the decomposition rate high; a passive pile is a pile of organic matter left to decay over time - usually in one to two years. Whichever method of composting you choose, the first step is making a compost pile. You can layer the materials in a heap, set up a heavy chicken wire frame (this works well for a passive pile), build wooden or concrete-block bins, or buy a commercially made bin to hold your pile.

Some commercial bins have built in rotating turners that will make your job much easier. The ideal size for an active compost pile is 4 feet by 4 feet, though size can vary. Choose a location that is shady and well drained for your pile. Clear away any surface cover at the site, loosen the soil with a spading fork, and put down a layer of wood chips or brush as a base. You can toss in garden or kitchen wastes, grass clippings, newspaper, manure, and sawdust. Avoid adding kitchen waste that is heavy in oil and meat products. Shredded materials make better compost more quickly. Try to alternate layers of plant material (chopped leaves or straw) with nitrogen-rich materials (kitchen scraps with manure and blood meal). Keep your pile moist, at a similar level to a squeezed-out sponge, and keep open piles covered with a tarp or heavy canvas so that they won't become waterlogged in the rain. If your pile becomes too dry, add water with kelp extract to moisten it and stimulate biotic activity.

Turn your active pile regularly, mixing and loosening the materials with a spading fork, to prevent overheating and keep microorganisms happy and active. Ideal active compost temperature should be within 140° to 150°, or at slightly higher temperatures if you are composting diseased plant material, around 160°. Your organic compost pile will yield rich humus that will be an ideal fertilizer to your garden. It will save you the money of buying commercial, synthetic fertilizers, many of which have shown to contain toxic waste. Healthy soil makes for hardy plants. Planning your garden can be the most important thing you do this growing season. With a solid plan in place and established

goals, you can minimize your pest problems and potential frustration, and maximize your growing season, and your garden's beauty. All this while saving on your grocery bill and increasing the quality of food you ingest by leaps and bounds. By planting an organic garden you will also be reducing your carbon footprint via producing some of your food (requiring no transportation or storage at the grocery store or packaging) thus contributing to our culture's sustainability in general. Check out Thrifty & Green for more articles on how you can save money and live green.

Suppliers: * Seeds of Change, 888-762-7333, seedsofchange.com * Gardener's Supply Company, 128 Intervale Road, Burlington, VT 05401, 888-833-1412, (fax) 800-551-6712, gardeners.com * Harmony Farm Supply and Nursery, 3244 Highway 116 North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 707-823-9125, harmonyfarm.com * Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, P.O. Box 2209, Grass Valley, CA 95949, 888-784-1722, groworganic.com * Gardeners Alive, 5100 Schenley Place, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025, 812-537-8650, gardensalive.com

Resources: * Bradley, Fern M., ed. Chemical-Free Yard & Garden, Eamus: Rodale, 1991. * Troshynski-Thomas, Karen, The Handy Garden Answer Book, Detroit: Visible Ink, 1999.