Turn to your pantry and medicine cabinet for simple solutions to common garden problems
Check out:
http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/thirty-five-pest-disease-remedies.aspx
Family Farm
Showing posts with label Farm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Farm. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Selling Your Eggs
http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/03/selling-your-eggs.html
My husband has also sold a few dozen to his co-workers and I was thinking of setting up a booth and selling some at the local farmers market this spring. But what are the regulations for selling eggs from backyard chickens ? I had no idea. I decided I needed to find out before I sold any more or got involved with the farmer's market.
_______________________________
Here's what I found out:
So now that the three chickens you originally raised just to provide your family with enough eggs to eat has turned into 25 laying hens because you just HAD to have one more breed, egg color or some of those adorable chicks from the feed store last spring...what do you do with the all those eggs?
Now that we're getting more than a dozen eggs EVERY DAY I finally broke down and stopped hoarded all our beautiful eggs and started giving some away to friends, family, neighbors, our UPS man, mail carrier, the woman at the dry cleaners and the garden center manager.
My husband has also sold a few dozen to his co-workers and I was thinking of setting up a booth and selling some at the local farmers market this spring. But what are the regulations for selling eggs from backyard chickens ? I had no idea. I decided I needed to find out before I sold any more or got involved with the farmer's market.
_______________________________
Here's what I found out:
You do not need to register with any state or federal agency, pasteurize your eggs or use any special wash on the eggs you sell as long as:
- you sell only your own eggs from your chickens
- you sell your eggs only at your house or farm, through home delivery or at a farmer's market
- you don't grade (AA, A or B etc) or sell your eggs by size
-the eggs are fresh and UNwashed
- you don't label your eggs as 'organic' (you can't use the term 'organic' unless you have been certified under the National Organic Program' standards which is a rigorous process)
You will also need to check with your own state department of agriculture to be sure you are complying with the local health and sanitation requirements. You can start with your local extension service or google 'egg laws' for your state. They vary state to state.
For example, Virginia's 'Egg Law' applies only to those selling more than 150 dozen eggs a week, all others are exempt from any further regulation. However, if you sell eggs at a farmer's market (regardless of how many or few sold), then all eggs must be clean, held at 45 degrees or lower and cartons must include a label with the seller's name and address as well as the word "Ungraded" and the following:
Safe Handling Instructions: To prevent illness from bacteria: keep eggs refrigerated, cook eggs until yolks are firm, and cook foods containing eggs thoroughly.
~Interestingly enough the term “fresh eggs” may NOT be used on ungraded cartons of eggs (and may only be used if graded eggs meet the requirements of Grade A quality or better)~
________________________________
Once you have made sure you know the rules and are complying with them, you will need cartons in which to package your eggs for sale. Purchasing new cartons is a good idea because many states prohibit the sale of eggs in used cartons. I love the retro 3x4 cardboard cartons and clear plastic break-apart cartons from Eggcartons.com.
A business card with your name or your 'farm' name and phone number for customers to call to re-order attached with a colorful ribbon makes for a nice hostess gift (although if you are selling to friends or door-to-door you aren't required to attach any kind of card or print anything on the carton or label unless you so choose).
You will want to put a sign out on your mailbox advertising that you have eggs. One with a hanging 'chalkboard' makes it easy to advertise your price or tell customers when you have eggs for sale and when you don't.
You can easily make one yourself or purchase one here:
I feel better knowing that the laws are, but I think I will still keep giving away most of our extra eggs to friends because they seem to enjoy them so much.
But at least I have stopped being an 'egg hoarder'. I guess admitting it was the first step...
Garlic: {Kitchen Q&A}
http://tipnut.com/garlic-answers/
This week’s Kitchen Questions & Answers is all about garlic: Do you know the difference between garlic powder and garlic salt or how to quickly peel a lot of garlic cloves quickly? Would you like to learn how to make your own garlic salt? Or how about a handy kitchen tip for removing garlic smell from your hands or how to fix a cooked dish that has too much garlic in it? These questions and more are answered below…
This week’s Kitchen Questions & Answers is all about garlic: Do you know the difference between garlic powder and garlic salt or how to quickly peel a lot of garlic cloves quickly? Would you like to learn how to make your own garlic salt? Or how about a handy kitchen tip for removing garlic smell from your hands or how to fix a cooked dish that has too much garlic in it? These questions and more are answered below…
A Bulb Of Garlic With Peeled Cloves
- What are some garlic equivalents? 1 medium clove garlic = 1 teaspoon minced garlic = 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt = 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic = 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder. (see note below about garlic clove size–halve if small clove, double if large clove).
- What does a clove of garlic equal minced? 1 small clove = 1/2 teaspoon minced; medium clove = 1 teaspoon minced; large clove = 2 teaspoons minced (these are approximate measurements).
- How should garlic bulbs be stored? Garlic should be kept cool with good air circulation (don’t refrigerate it and don’t lock it up tight in a plastic container). Keep a bulb or two in a small bowl or basket on the kitchen counter if you use it daily, the rest can be stored in a basket in a cool, dark pantry to help the garlic last longer.
- How can I store minced garlic? Put it in a small glass jar then cover with olive oil and refrigerate (use within the week). If you want to make big batches of minced garlic you can freeze the batch by putting it in a small ziploc freezer bag, patting the garlic down into a thin thickness and to remove all the air, then freezing it. Remove frozen pieces of minced garlic as you need by breaking off a chunk.
- Can you freeze whole bulbs of garlic? Yes you can! Freeze whole, unpeeled bulbs of garlic in a freezer bag then remove cloves as you need. You can also separate the cloves before freezing or place peeled cloves in an empty icecube tray, cover each with olive oil, freeze, then pop them out and freeze in a large bag or airtight container–grab a cube when you need it.
- How do I fix too much garlic in my recipe/dish? Mix 1 teaspoon of sugar with two teaspoons of vinegar then mix with 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of water. Mix well then SLOWLY add to your cooked dish until you find an agreeable level of garlic taste. Just mix this in a little at a time since you may not need much!
- How do you roast garlic? Roasting garlic is very easy to do and it’s delicious in mashed potatoes, on meat and vegetables, slathered on bread and used in many other dishes. To roast garlic, see How To Roast Garlic & Recipe Tips.
- Is there a way to make my own garlic salt? Sure! Homemade Garlic Salt: Grind dried garlic in a food processor until it’s a fine powder, measure then add 4 parts salt to one part garlic powder and mix for 2 seconds. Store in an airtight container.
- What is elephant garlic? Elephant garlic is a lot bigger than regular garlic but its taste is more subtle. If you prefer a hint of garlic taste in recipes rather than the full flavor, try substituting regular garlic with elephant garlic. Did you know elephant garlic is actually from the leek family? Source: Growing Garlic: Tip Sheet.
- What’s the difference between granulated garlic and garlic powder? Granulated garlic has a coarser consistency/texture than garlic powder but they’re both made from ground, dehydrated garlic.
- What’s the difference between garlic powder and garlic salt? Garlic powder is ground, dehydrated garlic and garlic salt is garlic powder with salt added. If you wanted to substitute garlic salt for garlic powder in a recipe, you can do so but be careful about adding any more salt to the dish (taste first). If you want to substitute garlic powder for garlic salt, reduce the amount and add a bit of salt–you’ll have to do this by taste. See the equivalents listed at the top.
- What’s the difference between a bulb of garlic and a clove of garlic? The garlic bulb is the whole garlic “plant” while cloves of garlic are the individual garlic pieces found within the bulb.
- Any tips for removing garlic smell from hands? Here’s a few: Remove the smell of garlic from hands by rubbing your fingers over a stainless steel spoon (from More Kitchen Tip Quickies). You can also rub a couple crushed crackers between your hands to remove the smell.
- How do you peel garlic cloves? For big batches dunk garlic cloves for about 10 seconds in boiling water then strain and dunk in ice cold water. The cloves should pop out of their skins easily. If it’s just a few cloves you need to peel, cut off one end of the garlic then peel off the skin with the blade of the knife. If the recipe calls for minced or crushed garlic, just smash the clove with your knife and you’ll be able to pick out the skin easily.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Clothespin Plant Labels
If you run out of labels when #sowing those #seeds, clothes pins are handy in a pinch, pardon the pun.
13 herbs to grow in your kitchen, with tips on getting started and keeping them growing
13 herbs to grow in your kitchen, with tips on getting started and keeping them growing
View full sizeIf you love what fresh herbs can do for food, you can still keep that flavor at hand and satisfy your cravings when you grow them indoors. There are a surprising number of herbs that will thrive as indoor plants. All it takes is a bright space, a few well-chosen varieties and a spirit of adventure. To ensure success, it's usually best to start with healthy plants rather than seeds, especially at this time of year. Established plants put you months ahead (sometimes even a year) compared with plants started from seeds, plus they offer you a wide range of varieties for growing indoors.
Getting started
You'll need a bright space, such as a large sunny window, a sunroom or a room with skylights. Choose a location with temps between 55 and 75 degrees with good air circulation. The area next to a window may be too cold for some herbs in winter.
Most culinary herbs grow best with at least five to six hours of bright light; mint, parsley and chives do fine with four to five. Keep in mind that natural light is more limited and less intense in winter. Other factors to consider when choosing your location are nearby trees that cast shade, a roof overhang or a patio roof. If plants start to look leggy you may need to move them to a location with more light or supplement with grow or fluorescent lights.
Selecting containers and soil
Almost any pot or container at least 6 inches or larger can be used for growing herbs as long as it has drainage holes. Choose the largest pot possible to provide more room for growing roots, which will give you a bigger plant to harvest from.
Use a fast-draining potting mix as garden soil will compact in containers and smother plant roots. Look for a premium mix that includes lightweight ingredients such as perlite or vermiculite to help loosen and aerate the final mix.
Growing tips
Water needs will vary depending on the size and type of plant, the size and type of container, and the time of year. Plants are dormant or growing less actively during winter when light levels are lower and therefore require less water. Allow the soil to dry slightly for most herbs; keep the soil slightly moist for basil, chives, mint and parsley. The best way to tell when a plant needs water is to stick your finger one inch into the soil. If the soil feels dry, it's time to water.
Once herbs start actively growing in spring, you'll need to feed them with a liquid fertilizer every four weeks. Or, oganic fertilizer granules that you scratch into the soil surface every other month can be used instead of a liquid fertilizer.
Keep your indoor herb garden growing strong by checking plants each year and replacing those that are short-lived or have become woody. And don't forget the best part, which is harvesting and using your indoor herbs.
-- Kris Wetherbee
13 culinary herbs worth growing indoors
Herbs grown indoors are usually less productive than outdoor plants, but they'll still give you plenty of fabulous flavor for your favorite dishes.
1. Basil (Ocimum basilicum): Grow as an annual or short-lived perennial. Try 'Genovese' for classic aroma and flavor; 'Lemon' for a hint of citrus; 'Spicy Globe' for compact growth (8 to 10 inches tall); or 'Siam Queen' for unique, spicy flavor.
2. Bay (Laurus nobilis): Grows slowly at first but will eventually form a bush or small tree that can be easily trained into formal shapes or a topiary. Get a head start and purchase a young 1- to 2-foot plant.
3. Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium): Also known as French parsley, this annual is similar in appearance and taste, with delicate overtones of anise. To harvest, snip the outer leaves and stems, or gather a bunch of sprigs together and cut off an inch or two above the soil.
4. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum): A grasslike perennial herb with a delicate onion flavor. 'Grolau' chives is a prolific producer for windowsill growing. Garlic chives (A. tuberosum) has a mild garlic taste. Cut small bunches of leaves back to the soil level when harvesting to keep new ones coming.
5. Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum): Also known as Chinese parsley, this short-lived annual has a distinctive parsley/sage/citrus-like flavor. Best started from seed. Grows quickly, but once harvested it does not regrow. Extend your harvest by growing three pots at different stages (seeded, intermediate growth and ready to harvest).
6. Dill (Anethum graveolens): Aromatic annual best grown for its leaves when grown indoors. Sow several pots at different stages (like cilantro) for a continual supply. 'Fernleaf' dill is a compact variety ideal for growing indoors.
7. Marjoram (Origanum spp.): This Mediterranean native belongs to the oregano family, but its flavor is distinctively sweeter and more delicate. Sweet marjoram (O. majorana) is often grown in pots indoors; Italian marjoram (O. x majoricum) is similar but with an exquisite blend of sweet and spicy.
8. Mints (Mentha spp.): Peppermint (M. x piperita) and spearmint (M. spicata) are good choices for growing in pots. 'English' mint is a well-behaved variety of spearmint. Be sure to give mint its own container as it can easily overtake other herbs.
9. Oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum): Greek oregano delivers true authentic oregano flavor, growing to 12 inches in pots; 'Kaliteri' (O. vulgare 'Kaliteri') is a Greek strain that is spicy and flavorful without being too bitter. Harvest leaves often to encourage new growth. Oregano remains productive for up to two years and should be replaced when plants become woody.
10. Parsley (Petroselinum spp.): Both Italian flat-leaf (P. crispum var. neapolitanum) and curly-leaf parsley (P. crispum) excel when grown indoors. The Italian variety of this biennial herb is often favored for its robust flavor. Cut the outer leaves when harvesting. This will spur new growth from the center and keep parsley remaining productive for several months or more.
11. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): This perennial comes in both trailing and upright forms. 'Blue Boy' is more compact than regular rosemary. For best flavor, choose a more compact upright variety such as 'Taylor's Blue' or 'Salem.' Even though rosemary enjoys drier conditions, it's imperative that the soil is never allowed to dry out completely or the plant may die.
12. Sage (Salvia officinalis): For container growing, try 12-inch-tall dwarf sage (S. officinalis minimus), or nonflowering 'Berggarten,' a vigorous but compact low-growing culinary strain. Dwarf garden sage (S. officinalis 'Compacta') offers the same flavor as garden sage but grows only 10 inches high.
13. Thyme (Thymus spp.): Lemon thyme (T. x citriodorus) and French thyme (T. vulgaris 'Narrow Leaf French') are excellent culinary varieties. Change it up with creeping 'Oregano' thyme, with its great thyme flavor and oregano undertones.
Chicken Salad Seed Mix ~ For Your Chickens!!!
"Our seed kit is for those of you who love to spoil your flock. Sow the seeds and, 4 to 8 weeks later, let your flock loose on them -- these are p...lants chickens especially love to eat! You can also plant them in containers and clip the greens for your flock. Contains: Dwarf Essex Rape, Purple Top Turnip, Bracco White Mustard, Forage Kale, Landino Clover." - My Pet Chicken
Purchase MPC "Chicken Salad" seed mix here: http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/chickens/Chicken-Salad-Seed-Mix-p928.aspx
5 Easy to Grow Mosquito-Repelling Plants
As the outdoor season approaches, many homeowners and outdoor enthusiasts look for ways to control mosquitoes. With all the publicity about the West Nile virus, mosquito repelling products are gaining in popularity. But many commercial insect repellents contain from 5% to 25% DEET. There are concerns about the potential toxic effects of DEET, especially when used by children. Children who absorb high amounts of DEET through insect repellents have developed seizures, slurred speech, hypotension and bradycardia.
There are new DEET-free mosquito repellents on the market today which offer some relief to those venturing outdoors in mosquito season. But there are also certain plants which are easy to grow and will have some effect in repelling mosquitoes from areas of your home and garden.
Here are five of the most effective mosquito repelling plants which are easy to grow in most regions of the US:
1. Citronella
Citronella is the most common natural ingredient used in formulating mosquito repellents. The distinctive citronella aroma is a strong smell which masks other attractants to mosquitoes, making it harder for them to find you. Although citronella is used in many forms, such as scented candles, torches and citronella ‘scented’ plants, the living plant is more effective because it has a stronger smell.Citronella is a perennial ‘clumping’ grass which grows to a height of 5 – 6 feet. It can be grown directly in the ground in climate zones where frost does not occur. If grown in the garden or near the patio, it should be planted in the ‘background’, behind small decorative flowers and shrubs. In northern climate zones citronella can be grown in a large pot or planter, ideally with casters, so it can be rolled indoors during winter.
Gardening centers usually sell citronella as small plants in pots, ready to transplant to a larger pot or into raised garden beds on the ground. Once established, new plants can be propagated in early spring by splitting large clumps into smaller sections and replanting the new ‘starts’ in pots or other areas of the garden. Citronella plants are considered low maintenance, like most grasses, and they do best in full sun and well-drained locations. Periodic applications of nitrogen-rich fertilizers will ensure vigorous growth, but this treatment only needs to be applied once a year, preferably in early spring.
When purchasing citronella, look for the true varieties, Cybopogon nardus or Citronella winterianus. Other plants may be sold as ‘citronella scented’, but these do not have the mosquito repelling qualities of true citronella.
2. Horsemint
Also known as Beebalm, Horsemint is an adaptable perennial plant which repels mosquitoes much the same as citronella. It gives off a strong incense-like odor which confuses mosquitoes by masking the smell of its usual hosts. Horsemint is a fast growing, shade-tolerant and drought-resistant plant which reaches a height and width of 2 – 3 feet. It does well in dry, sandy soil and can tolerate salty conditions, which is why it is often found in coastal and beach areas. Horsemint seeds can be sown indoors in trays for later transplanting, or sown directly into the ground in late summer in colder climate zones. Midwest and Eastern growing zones are favoured for growing horsemint.
Mature horsemint plants can be divided in spring and fall by dividing into small sections and transplanting into permanent locations. Horsemint can also be planted in pots for moving indoors in cold climate zones.
Horsemint leaves can be dried and used to make herbal tea. Its flowers will also attract bees and butterflies to your garden.
3. Marigolds
Commonly grown as ornamental border plants, marigolds are hardy annual plants which have a distinctive smell which mosquitoes, and some gardeners, find particularly offensive. Marigolds contain Pyrethrum, a compound used in many insect repellents.Marigolds prefer full sunlight and reasonably fertile soil. Although marigolds can be planted from seed, starter plants are inexpensive and readily available at most garden centers. Although an annual, marigold will often reseed itself in favourable conditions, or the gardener can easily collect seeds for future germination. Established plants will need to be thinned, and flowers should be dead-headed to promote additional blooms.
Potted marigolds can be positioned near entrances to your home and any common mosquito entry points, such as open windows. The smell may deter mosquitoes from going past this barrier. While marigolds can be used as border plants around the patio, we do not advise putting marigolds on the patio table since the bright blooms may attract wasps.
Besides repelling mosquitoes, marigolds repel insects which prey on tomato plants, so you may want to plant a few marigolds in your tomato bed for added protection.
4. Ageratum
Also known as Flossflowers, Ageratum emits a smell which mosquitos find particularly offensive. Ageratum secretes coumarin, which is widely used in commercial mosquito repellents.Ageratum is a low-lying annual ornamental plant which reaches heights of 8 – 18”, and is easily recognized by its blue flowers, although there are varieties with pink, white and violet blooms. This plant will thrive in full or partial sun and does not require rich soil. It is often displayed in rock gardens where low-lying plants are favoured.
Although the leaves of Ageratum can be crushed to increase the emitted odor, it is not advisable to rub the crushed leaves directly on the skin.
5. Catnip
Catnip is a natural mosquito repellent. In August 2010, entomologists at Iowa State University reported to the American Chemical Society that catnip is ten times more effective than DEET, the chemical found in most commercial insect repellents. According to Iowa State researcher Chris Peterson, the reason for its effectiveness is still unknown. “It might simply be acting as an irritant or they don’t like the smell. But nobody really knows why insect repellents work.”In the laboratory, Peterson put groups of 20 mosquitoes in a two-foot glass tube, half of which was treated with nepetalactone, a biologically active characteristic constituent of catnip. After 10 minutes, only an average of 20 percent – about four mosquitoes – remained on the side of the tube treated with a high dose (1.0%) of the oil. In the low dose test (0.1%) an average of 25% – five mosquitoes – stayed on the treated side. When the same tests were conducted using DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide), approximately 40 to 45% – eight to nine mosquitoes – remained on the treated side. A ten-fold higher concentration of DEET was required to obtain results similar to those of the Catnip.
Catnip, Nepeta cateria, is very easy to grow. This perennial herb is related to mint, and grows readily both as a weed and a commercially cultivated plant in most areas of the US.
While catnip will repel mosquitoes in close proximity to the plant, some people apply crushed catnip leaves or catnip oil for more robust protection. Bear in mind, however, that cats will respond to you similarly as they would respond to the plant itself. Cat owners may want to choose an alternative plant for repelling mosquitoes.
While the plants mentioned in this article have been shown to have mosquito-repelling properties, there are environmental variables that can mitigate their effectiveness. A breeze may direct odors in the opposite direction if advancing mosquitoes, reducing the plant’s effectiveness. New formulations of non-toxic mosquito repellents are commercially available, and are advised for people who want to enjoy the outdoors without the annoyance of persistent mosquitoes.
Visit Eartheasy’s online store to buy non-toxic pest control and mosquito repellent products.
Related articles:
- Top 6 most cost-effective vegetables to grow
- Growing potatoes is easy …and so rewarding
- Organic Mulches and Compost – good for your plants and even better for the soil
- The Top 10 Plants for Removing Indoor Toxins
- How to Save Water During a Heat Wave: 5 Easy Ways
- 7 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to Formaldehyde
Homemade Mosquito Trap
Making a Mosquito Trap
Supplies:
Supplies:
1 2 liter soda bottle
a sharp knife
black paper
... tape
candy thermometer
Take a 2 liter soda bottle. Cut off the top right below where it starts to narrow for the top.
Make a simple sugar syrup.
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 cups cool water
1 tsp. active dry yeast
Directions:
Bring 1 cup of the water to a boil.
Dissolve the sugar into the boiling water.
Once the sugar is dissolved completely, remove the pan from the heat. Stir in 2 cups cool water, stir well.
Check the temperature of the syrup to make sure it is no hotter than 90 degrees F, if hotter, let cool to 90 degrees F, add 1 tsp. active dry yeast, no need to mix. Put syrup in the bottom part of the bottle, using the cut off neck piece, leave in place.
Be sure to seal the two parts of the bottle with the tape. The fermenting yeast will release carbon dioxide.
Put black paper around the bottle since mosquitoes like dark places and carbon dioxide. This mosquito trap will then start working.
TIPS: Put the trap in a dark and humid place for 2 weeks, you'll see the effect. You'll have to replace the sugar water + yeast solution every 2 weeks
~~***DIY--WOODEN SPOON GARDEN STAKES***~~
~~***DIY--WOODEN SPOON GARDEN STAKES***~~
*** I love this idea..and I going to use these this year...what a perfect and inexpensive way to have custom garden stakes !!!***
I found this pic on Pinterest...sorry no link....
http://www.facebook.com/GypsysMeltingPot
*** I love this idea..and I going to use these this year...what a perfect and inexpensive way to have custom garden stakes !!!***
I found this pic on Pinterest...sorry no link....
http://www.facebook.com/GypsysMeltingPot
List of companion plants:
This is a great reference list to print out and keep with your gardening log!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companion_plants
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companion_plants
52 Ways to Eat Kale
http://www.dailybitesblog.com/2012/02/27/52-ways-to-eat-kale/
When the kale craze began gaining momentum a few years ago, I was thrilled. It’s one of my favorite ingredients and I eat it almost every single day. But like all good things, kale has become so old hat that many people I meet these days seem to be asking the same question: got any good ideas for using kale? I’m sick of green smoothies.
For those of you fighting kale fatigue, this post has your name all over it! I offer you 50 different ways to eat one of the world’s most nutritious vegetables. Try one recipe a week and you’ll be set for a year.
Peaches n’ Green Smoothie from Choosing Raw
Chocolate Sweet Potato Smoothie from The Daily Dietribe
Brilliantly Beet Smoothie from The Balanced Platter
Apple Pie Smoothie from Diet, Dessert, and Dogs
Green Smoothie from Lexie’s Kitchen
Vitamin C Plus Green Smoothie from She Let Them Eat Cake
Apple Ginger Kale Juice from Whole Family Fare
Sweet & Green Juice from Healthful Pursuit
Quinoa with Spring Vegetables & Walnut-Kale Pesto from Gluten-Free Girl
Chickpeas with Delicata Squash, Kale, & Coconut Milk from Healthy Green Kitchen
Quinoa Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Kale from Two Peas & Their Pod
Pan-Fried Corona Beans & Kale from 101 Cookbooks
Quinoa, Sweet Potato, & Kale Cakes from YumUniverse
Kale & Porcini Rice Pilaf from Daily Bites
Roasted Squash & White Bean Skillet from Daily Bites
Kale Salad with Quinoa, Tangerines, & Roasted Almonds from Gluten-Free Goddess
Slow Cooked Hoppin’ John from A Year of Slow Cooking
Endive, Kale, & Smoked Salmon Salad from Healthy Green Kitchen
Dairy-Free Creamed Kale from The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen
Cucumber Dill Kale Salad from Healthful Pursuit
Sauteed Kale with Tahini Sauce from Simply Recipes
Kale with Seaweed, Sesame, & Ginger from Simply Recipes
Rainbow Kale Slaw from Go Dairy Free
Raw Kale Grapefruit Salad from Tasty Eats at Home
Chipotle Kale Chips from Naturally Ella
Kale & Carrot Salad with Ginger-Peanut Dressing from Daily Bites
Individual Stacked Salads from The Whole Gang
Red Kale, Pear, & Celeriac Salad from Cannelle et Vanille (omit cheese for dairy-free)
Kale Chips from Whole New Mom
Healthy No-Mayo Slaw from Gluten-Free by Nature
Creamy Fusilli with Beets, Kale, & Toasted Pine Nuts from Choosing Raw
Chicken with Cherries & Kale from Elana’s Pantry
Kale & Potato Lasagna from Diet, Dessert, and Dogs
Roasted Salmon with Kale, Tahini, & Cranberries from Cara’s Cravings
Gluten-Free, Vegan Spoonbread with Mess O’ Greens from Simply…Gluten-Free
Asparagus Stir-Fry from 101 Cookbooks
Kale & Feta Breakfast Casserole from Kalyn’s Kitchen (omit cheese for dairy-free)
Kale Salad Wraps from Lexie’s Kitchen
Savory Almond Bean Burgers from She Let Them Eat Cake
Easy Chopped Chicken & Vegetable Salad from Daily Bites
Lentil & Kale Dal from The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen
Soft Corn Tacos with Salmon, Greens, & Pumpkin Seed Pesto from Daily Bites
Salmon Cakes with Quinoa & Kale from Celiacs in the House
Turkey & Winter Vegetable Chili from Daily Bites
White Bean & Kale Soup from Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free
Mighty Minestrone Soup from The Balanced Platter
Vegan Moroccan White Bean & Kale Soup from Go Dairy Free
Vanilla-Scented Buttercup & Kale Stew from Cara’s Cravings
Creamy Chicken & Vegetable Stew from Tasty Eats at Home
Lentil, Carrot, & Kale Soup from Deliciously Organic
Slow Cooked Tuscan Sausage & Bean Soup from Recipe Girl
Cleansing Winter Vegetable Soup from Phytofoods
When the kale craze began gaining momentum a few years ago, I was thrilled. It’s one of my favorite ingredients and I eat it almost every single day. But like all good things, kale has become so old hat that many people I meet these days seem to be asking the same question: got any good ideas for using kale? I’m sick of green smoothies.
For those of you fighting kale fatigue, this post has your name all over it! I offer you 50 different ways to eat one of the world’s most nutritious vegetables. Try one recipe a week and you’ll be set for a year.
For the smoothie lover…
Peaches n’ Green Smoothie from Choosing Raw
Chocolate Sweet Potato Smoothie from The Daily Dietribe
Brilliantly Beet Smoothie from The Balanced Platter
Apple Pie Smoothie from Diet, Dessert, and Dogs
Green Smoothie from Lexie’s Kitchen
Vitamin C Plus Green Smoothie from She Let Them Eat Cake
Apple Ginger Kale Juice from Whole Family Fare
Sweet & Green Juice from Healthful Pursuit
Grains & Beans
Quinoa with Spring Vegetables & Walnut-Kale Pesto from Gluten-Free Girl
Chickpeas with Delicata Squash, Kale, & Coconut Milk from Healthy Green Kitchen
Quinoa Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Kale from Two Peas & Their Pod
Pan-Fried Corona Beans & Kale from 101 Cookbooks
Quinoa, Sweet Potato, & Kale Cakes from YumUniverse
Kale & Porcini Rice Pilaf from Daily Bites
Roasted Squash & White Bean Skillet from Daily Bites
Kale Salad with Quinoa, Tangerines, & Roasted Almonds from Gluten-Free Goddess
Slow Cooked Hoppin’ John from A Year of Slow Cooking
Salads & Vegetable Sides
Endive, Kale, & Smoked Salmon Salad from Healthy Green Kitchen
Dairy-Free Creamed Kale from The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen
Cucumber Dill Kale Salad from Healthful Pursuit
Sauteed Kale with Tahini Sauce from Simply Recipes
Kale with Seaweed, Sesame, & Ginger from Simply Recipes
Rainbow Kale Slaw from Go Dairy Free
Raw Kale Grapefruit Salad from Tasty Eats at Home
Chipotle Kale Chips from Naturally Ella
Kale & Carrot Salad with Ginger-Peanut Dressing from Daily Bites
Individual Stacked Salads from The Whole Gang
Red Kale, Pear, & Celeriac Salad from Cannelle et Vanille (omit cheese for dairy-free)
Kale Chips from Whole New Mom
Healthy No-Mayo Slaw from Gluten-Free by Nature
Main Dishes
Creamy Fusilli with Beets, Kale, & Toasted Pine Nuts from Choosing Raw
Chicken with Cherries & Kale from Elana’s Pantry
Kale & Potato Lasagna from Diet, Dessert, and Dogs
Roasted Salmon with Kale, Tahini, & Cranberries from Cara’s Cravings
Gluten-Free, Vegan Spoonbread with Mess O’ Greens from Simply…Gluten-Free
Asparagus Stir-Fry from 101 Cookbooks
Kale & Feta Breakfast Casserole from Kalyn’s Kitchen (omit cheese for dairy-free)
Kale Salad Wraps from Lexie’s Kitchen
Savory Almond Bean Burgers from She Let Them Eat Cake
Easy Chopped Chicken & Vegetable Salad from Daily Bites
Lentil & Kale Dal from The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen
Soft Corn Tacos with Salmon, Greens, & Pumpkin Seed Pesto from Daily Bites
Salmon Cakes with Quinoa & Kale from Celiacs in the House
Soups & Stews
Turkey & Winter Vegetable Chili from Daily Bites
White Bean & Kale Soup from Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free
Mighty Minestrone Soup from The Balanced Platter
Vegan Moroccan White Bean & Kale Soup from Go Dairy Free
Vanilla-Scented Buttercup & Kale Stew from Cara’s Cravings
Creamy Chicken & Vegetable Stew from Tasty Eats at Home
Lentil, Carrot, & Kale Soup from Deliciously Organic
Slow Cooked Tuscan Sausage & Bean Soup from Recipe Girl
Cleansing Winter Vegetable Soup from Phytofoods
Five Reasons Why Kids Should Garden
http://www.seasonalwisdom.com/2011/06/five-reasons-why-kids-should-garden/
One of my favorite childhood memories was running around the garden until dinner time, chasing after lightning bugs and catching tadpoles. Sadly, too many kids spend most of their summer time indoors, playing on video games or watching TV.
This lack of contact with nature can negatively affect these children’s health, well being and academic performance, say experts. Here’s why kids should be gardening instead…
Photo by Faith*Buss.
There are so many reasons why kids of all ages can benefit from gardening. Here are only five:
1) Prevents Nature Deficit Disorder: With so many kids spending time away from nature, we’re seeing evidence of a “nature deficit disorder” in many children. As Richard Louv explained in his book, Last Child in the Woods, this disconnect from nature is leading some kids to become overweight, anxious and depressed. Plus, this nature deficit disorder is affecting children’s performance in school too. More about nature deficit disorder. To make sure this doesn’t happen to your kids, be sure to unplug the electronic gadgets regularly, and involve your family more in the garden.
2) Teaches About Nature … and More: Maybe it’s growing a sunflower from seed. Or, building a bean teepee in the backyard. But when you involve kids in gardening, they learn hands-on skills that broaden their awareness of the world around them. They learn why butterflies and bees help pollinate plants. And why the right amounts of water and sun are needed to get gardens to grow. Along with a greater appreciation for nature, gardens can also teach kids about biology, math, history, nutrition and more.
3) Gives Them Exercise: Gardening provides lots of healthy ways for kids to stay active and healthy. Between digging, raking and planting, your children will get plenty of exercise, vitamin D and fresh air. Be sure to make your garden chores creative, and mix them up a bit so they stay interesting. With a little patience, you’ll find your children will become helpful and fun assistants in the garden.
4) Encourages Kids To Eat Produce: Ask any parent with a vegetable garden. The kids that grow up around homegrown vegetables are much more likely to eat them too. Maybe it’s because kids enjoy picking fresh beans or tomatoes. Or perhaps it’s because fresh fruit and vegetables simply taste better just picked from your yard. But whatever the reason, gardening is an excellent way to help solve the problem that most U.S. children are not eating enough fresh fruit and vegetables. Try it yourself and report the results.
5) Prepares Them for Life: There’s something magical about gardening. The tiny seeds that grow into healthy, big plants. The birds that swoop down to capture a juicy worm. The end of the growing season when the plants start to die back for winter. All these lessons can be a wonderful reminder to be patient while things grow, and to keep the faith when some things die away. Besides, as human beings our brains are wired to be out in nature. Perhaps that’s why it’s feels so natural to be out there.
Hear More and Win Prizes: You can learn more about kids and gardening on Nest in Style on Horticulture Radio (for Horticulture Magazine). You’ll find great ideas, products and resources on this topic. Leave a comment and you can enter to win some exciting prizes!
Nest in Style is also on iTunes … so you can listen while gardening with your kids or commuting to work too. Good luck!
Warm Thanks for the wonderful photos from gardening moms and bloggers Faith*Buss and Laura Matthews of Punk Rock Gardens. Be sure to check out their great blogs too.
Meanwhile, happy gardening!
One of my favorite childhood memories was running around the garden until dinner time, chasing after lightning bugs and catching tadpoles. Sadly, too many kids spend most of their summer time indoors, playing on video games or watching TV.
This lack of contact with nature can negatively affect these children’s health, well being and academic performance, say experts. Here’s why kids should be gardening instead…
Photo by Faith*Buss.
Laura Matthews and her son Asa in the garden. Photo credit: Laura Matthews of PunkRockGardens.com
1) Prevents Nature Deficit Disorder: With so many kids spending time away from nature, we’re seeing evidence of a “nature deficit disorder” in many children. As Richard Louv explained in his book, Last Child in the Woods, this disconnect from nature is leading some kids to become overweight, anxious and depressed. Plus, this nature deficit disorder is affecting children’s performance in school too. More about nature deficit disorder. To make sure this doesn’t happen to your kids, be sure to unplug the electronic gadgets regularly, and involve your family more in the garden.
Photo credit: Faith*Buss
3) Gives Them Exercise: Gardening provides lots of healthy ways for kids to stay active and healthy. Between digging, raking and planting, your children will get plenty of exercise, vitamin D and fresh air. Be sure to make your garden chores creative, and mix them up a bit so they stay interesting. With a little patience, you’ll find your children will become helpful and fun assistants in the garden.
Photo by Laura Matthews of PunkRockGardens.com
Photo by Faith*Buss
Photo by Faith*Buss
Nest in Style is also on iTunes … so you can listen while gardening with your kids or commuting to work too. Good luck!
Warm Thanks for the wonderful photos from gardening moms and bloggers Faith*Buss and Laura Matthews of Punk Rock Gardens. Be sure to check out their great blogs too.
Meanwhile, happy gardening!
Make Your Own Bugsprays...
http://www.comfycountrycreations.com/bugspray.htm
The idea of using rubbing alcohol as a spray for plants pests has been around for years. Can cause leaf damage on African Violets, and Apple trees.
Protection offered: Alcohol sprays work on aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, thrips and whiteflies. Alcohol sprays have been used successfully on houseplants and tropical foliage plants. Most of these have heavy, waxy cuticles that are not easily burned.
How to Make: Use only 70% isopropyl alcohol(rubbing alcohol): mix 1 to 2 cups alcohol per quart of water. Using undiluted alcohol as a spray is very risky for plants. You can also mix up an insecticidal soap spray according to the dilution on the label but substitute alcohol for half of the water required.
How to Use: Since alcohol can damage plants always test your spray mix on a few leaves or plants first. Tests results should show up within 2 or 3 days.
Tomatoe Leaf
Make Your Own Bug Sprays
Alcohol Sprays
Protection Offered: Tomatoe leaf sprays have been used to protect plants from aphids. Also, spraying tomatoe leaf spray on corn may reduce corn earworm damage. The corn earworm is also called the tomatoe fruitworm, as it also attacks tomatoe plants. A scientific study has shown that corn plants sprayed with tomatoe leaf spray attracted significantly more Trichogramma wasps to parasitize the corn earworm eggs than the unsprayed did.
How to Make: Soak 1 to 2 cups of chopped or mashed tomatoe leaves in 2 cups of water overnight. Strain through cheescloth or fine mesh, add about 2 more cups of water to the strained liquid, and spray. For aphid control, be sure to thoroughly cover the leaf undersides, especially of lower leaves and growing tips of plants where aphids congregate.
How to Use: Spray plants thoroughly, particularly undersides of lower leaves and growing tips where aphids congregate. while this spray is not poisonous to humans on contact, use care in handling, especially if you are allergic to the nightshade family.
Garlic Oil Sprays:
Organic gardeners have long been familiar with the repellent or toxic affect of garlic oil on pests. when it is combined with mineral oil and pure soap,as it is in the recipe that follows, devised at the Henry Doubleday Research Association in England, it becomes an effective insecticide. Some studies also suggest that a garlic oil spray has fungicidal properties.
Protection Offered: Good results, with quick kill, have been noted against aphids, cabbage loopers, earwigs, June bugs, leafhoppers, sqaush bugs and whiteflies. The spray does not appear to harm adult lady beetles, and some gardeners have found that is does'nt work against the Colorado potaoe beetles, grape leaf skeletonizers, grasshoppers, red ants, or sowbugs.
How to Make: Soak 3 ounces of finely minced garlic cloves in 2 teaspoons of mineral oil for at least 24 hours. Slowly add 1 pint of water that has 1/4 ounce liquid soap or commercial insecticide soap mixed into it. Stir thoroughly and strain into a glass jar for storage. use at a rate of 1 to 2 Tablespoons of mixture to a pint of water. If this is effective, try a more dilute solution in order to use as little as possible.
How to Use: Spray plants carefully to ensure thorough coverage. To check for possible leaf damage to sensitive ornamentals from the oil and soap in the spray, do a test spray on a few leaces or plants first. If no leaf damage occurs in 2 or 3 days, go ahead and spray more.
Herbal Sprays
Many organic farmers are familiar with using sprays made from aromatic herbs to repel pests from the garden plants. Several recent studies confirm the repellent effect of such sprays. The essential oil of Sage and Thyme and the alcohol extracts such as Hyssop, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, and White Clover can be used in this manner. They have been shown to reduce the number of eggs laid and the amount of feeding damage to cabbage by caterpillars of Diamond back moths and large white butterflies. Sprays made from Tansy have demonstrated a repellent effect on imported cabbageworm on cabbage, reducing the number of eggs laid on the plants. Teas made from Wormwood or Nasturtiums are reputed to repel aphids from fruit trees, and sprays made from ground or blended Catnip, Chives, Feverfew, Marigolds, or Rue have also been used by gardeners against pests that feed on leaves.
Protection Offered: Try herbal sprays against any leaf-eating pests and make note of what works for future reference.
How to Make: In General, herbal sprays are made by mashing or blending 1 to 2 cups of fresh leaves with 2 to 4 cups of water and leaving them to soak overnight. Or you can make a herbal tea by pouring the same amount of boiling water over 2 to 4 cups fresh or 1 to 2 cups dry leaves and leaving them to steep until cool. Strain the water through a cheesecloth before spraying and dilute further with 2 to 4 cups water. Add a very small amount of nondetergent liquid soap (1/4 teaspoon in 1 to 2 quarts of water) to help spray stick to leaves and spread better. You can also buy commercial essential herbal oils and dilute with water to make a spray. Experiment with proportions, starting with a few drops of oil per cup of water.
How to Use: Spray plants thoroughly, especially undersides of leaves, and repeat at weekly intervals if neccessary. Go shopping for these herbs.
"Hot" Dusts
Black pepper, chili pepper, dill, ginger, paprika, and red pepper all contain capsaicin, a compound shown to repel insects. Synthetic capsaicin is also available for feild use. Researchers have found that as little as 1/25 ounce of capsaicin sprinkled around an onion plant reduced the number of onion maggot eggs laid around the plant by 75%, compared to a control plant.
Protection Offered: Capsaicin-containing dusts repel onion maggots from seedlings, as well as other root maggot flies from cabbage family plants and carrots. Pepper dusts around the base of the plants help repel ants, which is desirable in a garden where ants often protect and maintain aphid colonies on plants.
How To Make: It can be rather expensive to buy enough packaged pepper dusts to sprinkle throughout your garden. However, if you grow and dry your own red peppers, chili peppers, or dill, you can make lots of dust at low cost. Use a mortar and pestle to grind the peppers, or dill, including the seeds, to dust. Be careful handling the hot peppers because they irritate sensitive skin.
How to Use: Sprinkle along seeded rows of onions, cabbage, or carrots, in a band at least 6 inches wider than the row or planting bed. A fine sprinkling will suffice, but the more dust you use, the better the effect. Renew after a heavy rain or irragation. To protect plants from ants, sprinkle around the base of plants in an area as wide as the widest leaves.
Pyrethrin The dried, powdered flowers of the pyrethrum daisy, Tanacetum cinerarifolium, were used as early as 1880 to control mosquitoes. The popularity of pyrethrum insecticides waned when synthetic insecticides were introduced, but they are now enjoying a commercial comeback. Many new products formulated with natural pyrethrums are available. Pyrethrins are the insecticidal chemicals extracted from the pyrethrum daisy. Do not confuse them with pyrethroids, the term for a new class of synthetic pesticides. Pyrethrums, which are mainly concentrated in the seeds of the flower head, are a contact insecticide, meaning the insect only has to touch the substance to be affected. Pyrthrins have a quick knockdown effect on insects: Flying insects are paralyzed. pyrethrins can be applied up to one day before harvest because they are quickly destroyed by light and heat and are not persistent in the environment. Pyrthrins will kill lady beetes but do not appear to be harmful to bees. They are toxic to fish and to the aqautic insects and other small animals that fish eat. Pyrethrins do not seem to be toxic to birds or mammals.
Protection Offered: Pyrethrins are registered for flowers, fruits, and vegetables, including greenhouse crops. they are effective on many chewing and sucking insects, including most aphids, cabbage loopers, celery leaftiers, codling moth, Colarado potaotoe beetles, leafhoppers, Mexican bean beetles, spider mites, stink bugs, several species of thrips, tomato pinworms, and whiteflies. they are especially good against flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and stored products pests. Flea beetles are not affected, nor are imported cabbageworms, diamondback moths, pear psylla, and tarnished plant bugs.
How to Make: If you grow your own pyrethrum daisies, you'll have the main ingredient for a make-it-yourself spray. The concentration of pyrethrums is at its peak when the flowers are in full bloom, from the time the first row of florets open on the central disk opens too the time all the florets are open. pick flowers in full bloom and hang them in a sheltered, dark spot to dry. Once the flowers have dried thoroughly, grind them to afine powder, using a mortar and pestle, old blender or small hammer mill. Mix with water and add a few drops of liquid soap. Store in a glass jar and keep the lid tightly closed, because the mixture looses activity if left open. You'll have to experiment with the amount of water to add, because the concentration of pyrethins in the flowers is an unknown variable. If the spray you make does not seem to kill insects, use less water the next time you make the concentrated spray. Also keep in mind whole flower heads stay potent longer so do not grind until ready to use.
How to Use: Pyrethrins are more effective at lower temperatures, so for best results, apply in early evening when temperatures are lower. Spray both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves, because spray must directly contact the insects such as thrips that hide in leaf sheaths and crevices. The first spray will excite them and bring them out of hiding, the second will kill them. Never use pyrethrin products around waterways and ponds.
Nicotine
One of the top three insecticides in the 1880s, nicotine in several forms is still widely used. Nicotine comes from the tobacco plant and is extremely toxic to insects. The great advantage of home-made nicotine tea is that it is very short ived, retaining its toxicity for only a few hours after spraying. It is relatively nonhazardous to bees and lady beetles because of its short persistence.
Protection Offered: Nicotine is effective against ground and soil pests, especially root aphids and fungus gnats, and on many leaf-chewing insects, such as aphids, immature scales, leafhoppers, thrips, leafminers, pear psylla, and asparagus beetle larvae.
How To Make: You can brew your own batch of nicotine tea by soaking tobacco leaves or cigarette butts in water to make a spray. Soak 1 cup of dried, crushed tobacco leaves, or an equivalent amount of cigarette butts, in one gallon of warm water with 1/4 teaspoon pure soap added. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth after it has soaked for 1/2 hour. The solution will keep for several weeks if stored in a tightly closed container.
How to Use: For soil pests, pour the spray mixture onto the soil in the area of the stem base and root zone. for leaf pests, spray leaves thoroughly, especially the undersides. Nicotine can be absorbed by plant leaves and remain there for several weeks. to be safe, use nicotine only on young plants and only up to one month before harvest. It's probably safest not to spray nicotine on eggplant, peppers or tomatoes. While most tobacco cultivars now grown are resistant to tobacco mosaic virus, nicotine sprays could contain the pathogen, which will infect nightshade family crops.
Resources: Rodale's Chemical-Free Yard and Garden
The idea of using rubbing alcohol as a spray for plants pests has been around for years. Can cause leaf damage on African Violets, and Apple trees.
Protection offered: Alcohol sprays work on aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, thrips and whiteflies. Alcohol sprays have been used successfully on houseplants and tropical foliage plants. Most of these have heavy, waxy cuticles that are not easily burned.
How to Make: Use only 70% isopropyl alcohol(rubbing alcohol): mix 1 to 2 cups alcohol per quart of water. Using undiluted alcohol as a spray is very risky for plants. You can also mix up an insecticidal soap spray according to the dilution on the label but substitute alcohol for half of the water required.
How to Use: Since alcohol can damage plants always test your spray mix on a few leaves or plants first. Tests results should show up within 2 or 3 days.
Tomatoe Leaf
Alcohol Sprays
Protection Offered: Tomatoe leaf sprays have been used to protect plants from aphids. Also, spraying tomatoe leaf spray on corn may reduce corn earworm damage. The corn earworm is also called the tomatoe fruitworm, as it also attacks tomatoe plants. A scientific study has shown that corn plants sprayed with tomatoe leaf spray attracted significantly more Trichogramma wasps to parasitize the corn earworm eggs than the unsprayed did.
How to Make: Soak 1 to 2 cups of chopped or mashed tomatoe leaves in 2 cups of water overnight. Strain through cheescloth or fine mesh, add about 2 more cups of water to the strained liquid, and spray. For aphid control, be sure to thoroughly cover the leaf undersides, especially of lower leaves and growing tips of plants where aphids congregate.
How to Use: Spray plants thoroughly, particularly undersides of lower leaves and growing tips where aphids congregate. while this spray is not poisonous to humans on contact, use care in handling, especially if you are allergic to the nightshade family.
Garlic Oil Sprays:
Organic gardeners have long been familiar with the repellent or toxic affect of garlic oil on pests. when it is combined with mineral oil and pure soap,as it is in the recipe that follows, devised at the Henry Doubleday Research Association in England, it becomes an effective insecticide. Some studies also suggest that a garlic oil spray has fungicidal properties.
Protection Offered: Good results, with quick kill, have been noted against aphids, cabbage loopers, earwigs, June bugs, leafhoppers, sqaush bugs and whiteflies. The spray does not appear to harm adult lady beetles, and some gardeners have found that is does'nt work against the Colorado potaoe beetles, grape leaf skeletonizers, grasshoppers, red ants, or sowbugs.
How to Make: Soak 3 ounces of finely minced garlic cloves in 2 teaspoons of mineral oil for at least 24 hours. Slowly add 1 pint of water that has 1/4 ounce liquid soap or commercial insecticide soap mixed into it. Stir thoroughly and strain into a glass jar for storage. use at a rate of 1 to 2 Tablespoons of mixture to a pint of water. If this is effective, try a more dilute solution in order to use as little as possible.
How to Use: Spray plants carefully to ensure thorough coverage. To check for possible leaf damage to sensitive ornamentals from the oil and soap in the spray, do a test spray on a few leaces or plants first. If no leaf damage occurs in 2 or 3 days, go ahead and spray more.
Herbal Sprays
Many organic farmers are familiar with using sprays made from aromatic herbs to repel pests from the garden plants. Several recent studies confirm the repellent effect of such sprays. The essential oil of Sage and Thyme and the alcohol extracts such as Hyssop, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, and White Clover can be used in this manner. They have been shown to reduce the number of eggs laid and the amount of feeding damage to cabbage by caterpillars of Diamond back moths and large white butterflies. Sprays made from Tansy have demonstrated a repellent effect on imported cabbageworm on cabbage, reducing the number of eggs laid on the plants. Teas made from Wormwood or Nasturtiums are reputed to repel aphids from fruit trees, and sprays made from ground or blended Catnip, Chives, Feverfew, Marigolds, or Rue have also been used by gardeners against pests that feed on leaves.
Protection Offered: Try herbal sprays against any leaf-eating pests and make note of what works for future reference.
How to Make: In General, herbal sprays are made by mashing or blending 1 to 2 cups of fresh leaves with 2 to 4 cups of water and leaving them to soak overnight. Or you can make a herbal tea by pouring the same amount of boiling water over 2 to 4 cups fresh or 1 to 2 cups dry leaves and leaving them to steep until cool. Strain the water through a cheesecloth before spraying and dilute further with 2 to 4 cups water. Add a very small amount of nondetergent liquid soap (1/4 teaspoon in 1 to 2 quarts of water) to help spray stick to leaves and spread better. You can also buy commercial essential herbal oils and dilute with water to make a spray. Experiment with proportions, starting with a few drops of oil per cup of water.
How to Use: Spray plants thoroughly, especially undersides of leaves, and repeat at weekly intervals if neccessary. Go shopping for these herbs.
"Hot" Dusts
Black pepper, chili pepper, dill, ginger, paprika, and red pepper all contain capsaicin, a compound shown to repel insects. Synthetic capsaicin is also available for feild use. Researchers have found that as little as 1/25 ounce of capsaicin sprinkled around an onion plant reduced the number of onion maggot eggs laid around the plant by 75%, compared to a control plant.
Protection Offered: Capsaicin-containing dusts repel onion maggots from seedlings, as well as other root maggot flies from cabbage family plants and carrots. Pepper dusts around the base of the plants help repel ants, which is desirable in a garden where ants often protect and maintain aphid colonies on plants.
How To Make: It can be rather expensive to buy enough packaged pepper dusts to sprinkle throughout your garden. However, if you grow and dry your own red peppers, chili peppers, or dill, you can make lots of dust at low cost. Use a mortar and pestle to grind the peppers, or dill, including the seeds, to dust. Be careful handling the hot peppers because they irritate sensitive skin.
How to Use: Sprinkle along seeded rows of onions, cabbage, or carrots, in a band at least 6 inches wider than the row or planting bed. A fine sprinkling will suffice, but the more dust you use, the better the effect. Renew after a heavy rain or irragation. To protect plants from ants, sprinkle around the base of plants in an area as wide as the widest leaves.
Pyrethrin The dried, powdered flowers of the pyrethrum daisy, Tanacetum cinerarifolium, were used as early as 1880 to control mosquitoes. The popularity of pyrethrum insecticides waned when synthetic insecticides were introduced, but they are now enjoying a commercial comeback. Many new products formulated with natural pyrethrums are available. Pyrethrins are the insecticidal chemicals extracted from the pyrethrum daisy. Do not confuse them with pyrethroids, the term for a new class of synthetic pesticides. Pyrethrums, which are mainly concentrated in the seeds of the flower head, are a contact insecticide, meaning the insect only has to touch the substance to be affected. Pyrthrins have a quick knockdown effect on insects: Flying insects are paralyzed. pyrethrins can be applied up to one day before harvest because they are quickly destroyed by light and heat and are not persistent in the environment. Pyrthrins will kill lady beetes but do not appear to be harmful to bees. They are toxic to fish and to the aqautic insects and other small animals that fish eat. Pyrethrins do not seem to be toxic to birds or mammals.
Protection Offered: Pyrethrins are registered for flowers, fruits, and vegetables, including greenhouse crops. they are effective on many chewing and sucking insects, including most aphids, cabbage loopers, celery leaftiers, codling moth, Colarado potaotoe beetles, leafhoppers, Mexican bean beetles, spider mites, stink bugs, several species of thrips, tomato pinworms, and whiteflies. they are especially good against flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and stored products pests. Flea beetles are not affected, nor are imported cabbageworms, diamondback moths, pear psylla, and tarnished plant bugs.
How to Make: If you grow your own pyrethrum daisies, you'll have the main ingredient for a make-it-yourself spray. The concentration of pyrethrums is at its peak when the flowers are in full bloom, from the time the first row of florets open on the central disk opens too the time all the florets are open. pick flowers in full bloom and hang them in a sheltered, dark spot to dry. Once the flowers have dried thoroughly, grind them to afine powder, using a mortar and pestle, old blender or small hammer mill. Mix with water and add a few drops of liquid soap. Store in a glass jar and keep the lid tightly closed, because the mixture looses activity if left open. You'll have to experiment with the amount of water to add, because the concentration of pyrethins in the flowers is an unknown variable. If the spray you make does not seem to kill insects, use less water the next time you make the concentrated spray. Also keep in mind whole flower heads stay potent longer so do not grind until ready to use.
How to Use: Pyrethrins are more effective at lower temperatures, so for best results, apply in early evening when temperatures are lower. Spray both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves, because spray must directly contact the insects such as thrips that hide in leaf sheaths and crevices. The first spray will excite them and bring them out of hiding, the second will kill them. Never use pyrethrin products around waterways and ponds.
Nicotine
One of the top three insecticides in the 1880s, nicotine in several forms is still widely used. Nicotine comes from the tobacco plant and is extremely toxic to insects. The great advantage of home-made nicotine tea is that it is very short ived, retaining its toxicity for only a few hours after spraying. It is relatively nonhazardous to bees and lady beetles because of its short persistence.
Protection Offered: Nicotine is effective against ground and soil pests, especially root aphids and fungus gnats, and on many leaf-chewing insects, such as aphids, immature scales, leafhoppers, thrips, leafminers, pear psylla, and asparagus beetle larvae.
How To Make: You can brew your own batch of nicotine tea by soaking tobacco leaves or cigarette butts in water to make a spray. Soak 1 cup of dried, crushed tobacco leaves, or an equivalent amount of cigarette butts, in one gallon of warm water with 1/4 teaspoon pure soap added. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth after it has soaked for 1/2 hour. The solution will keep for several weeks if stored in a tightly closed container.
How to Use: For soil pests, pour the spray mixture onto the soil in the area of the stem base and root zone. for leaf pests, spray leaves thoroughly, especially the undersides. Nicotine can be absorbed by plant leaves and remain there for several weeks. to be safe, use nicotine only on young plants and only up to one month before harvest. It's probably safest not to spray nicotine on eggplant, peppers or tomatoes. While most tobacco cultivars now grown are resistant to tobacco mosaic virus, nicotine sprays could contain the pathogen, which will infect nightshade family crops.
Resources: Rodale's Chemical-Free Yard and Garden
When to Plant Garlic:
When is the best time to plant garlic in the home garden? The answer is, "it depends".
In the USA and Europe, garlic can be planted either in the early spring or late fall / early winter.
The usual advice to gardeners is to plant fall garlic soon after the first major frost of the year, usually between mid-October and late November depending on your local climate. Garlic is generally winter hardy, however can be damaged if the temperatures are very cold and the snow cover thin. If this is the case, cover the garlic with straw to protect it.
If all is well then the shoots of fall planted garlic should emerge from the ground in early spring. If not then you still have the opportunity to plant a spring crop.
In the USA and Europe, garlic can be planted either in the early spring or late fall / early winter.
Spring Planting
Poor weather conditions often mean that spring planted garlic produces smaller bulbs. In addition the seed garlic must be chilled before planting in order to cause it to break out of its dormancy. That said, spring garlic planting can produce good results in the warmer Southern areas where it is often planted in late February or March. It also removes any possibility of the plant being damaged by the winter cold.Autumn / Fall Planting
In more Northerly areas it more common to plant garlic towards the end of the year. In Europe there is a tradition of planting garlic on the shortest day of the year, however this is probably more for symbolic reasons than horticultural ones.The usual advice to gardeners is to plant fall garlic soon after the first major frost of the year, usually between mid-October and late November depending on your local climate. Garlic is generally winter hardy, however can be damaged if the temperatures are very cold and the snow cover thin. If this is the case, cover the garlic with straw to protect it.
If all is well then the shoots of fall planted garlic should emerge from the ground in early spring. If not then you still have the opportunity to plant a spring crop.
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