Organic Gardening For Beginners | Organic Gardening Fundamentals

Choosing the Best Plants for your Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:11:00 +0000

Many times we buy plants on impulse then find there is nowhere in the garden that really suits them.

Before buying plants carefully examine your garden to see how much sun and shade it gets, whether the soil is well drained or waterlogged and whether your aspect is sheltered or windswept. You'll then be equipped to go and buy the best plants for your situation; shade-loving plants for the sheltered areas, sun-lovers for the warm spots, drought-resistant plants for the parched areas which may be either sunny or shaded, and swamp plants for the poorly-drained parts.

But wait! Test your soil first, to determine the pH level of your soil and what kind of nutrients you need to add, if any. Is the soil acid or alkaline? Most plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic, but there are some that must have alkaline soil to grow. You can alter the soil's pH level, but it's much easier to simply plant for the soil you have.

Now you are ready to plant. Well - almost. Will you plant in groups or singly? If you buy 'one of everything' your garden may seem rather spotty. Group plantings are organised, harmonious and you can vary the color for interest.

Before planting out, place your chosen plants around the garden bed in their pots to see how they will look. Re-arrange them until you are satisfied. Grouping plants in sets of threes or fives usually looks better than planting in groups of even numbers. Be sure that you have an interesting combination of colors and textures of plants. Tall plants should go to the back, or the centre if your garden will be viewed equally from all sides. Try to keep your plants away from trees. The roots of trees are fiercely competitive and will steal all the nutrients and moisture meant for your flowers.

The right color scheme is one way to maintain the harmony in your garden. Imagine the color of the flowers when they are in bloom. Some colors may clash with others, but can still be planted side-by-side if they have a different blooming season. Foliage color is also important. Many flower plants have silver, grey or purplish foliage that is just as attractive as the flower. This means that they are still attractive well past the blooming season and so have added value.

Organic Gardening Video Tips 2

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:05:00 +0000

Here are some organic gardening and regular gardening video tips.

Organic pest control - Natural bug and insect repellents

Soil Testing the Easy Way

Soil Test Kit and How To

How To Make an Indoor Worm Compost Bin

Organic Gardening for Beginners | You Can Start An Organic Garden Too!

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:56:00 +0000

No matter what people say about organic gardening, there's nothing more important than you and your family's health.

As you may have knew or guessed it, organic gardening does not involve the use of chemical fertilizers which reduces the risk of Cancer, Birth Defects, Infertility and many other health problems.

Many know of such problems but they do not want to prevent it UNTIL it happens to them. Sad, isn't it? You may argue that money is important than health or equally important.

What I'm trying to convey is, don't wait till the problem happens to you and then prevent it but prevent it before it happens to you. I hope I'm not confusing you. That is why I would say go organic now.

I can't stress the importance with words.

To learn how to start your own organic garden with detailed step-by-step guide within weeks, click on the link below because even you as a beginner can start an organic garden too!

As you see in the photo above you can have your vegetable garden as big or as small as you want it to be.

==> http://bit.ly/i4pQIZ

Vegetable Garden photo by Salvadonica, Chianti, Tuscany

Vegetable Gardening Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:50:00 +0000

With the costs of living rising all the time, it may be possible to save money and increase your family's health at the same time by growing vegetables in your backyard.

It's a good idea to choose your favourite vegetables to grow and plan beds for early, middle of the season and late varieties.

Most vegetables require at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, some need 8. Some quick growers like lettuce and radish can be grown between the rows of plants that take longer to mature, like beet or corn, thus making full use of the area available.

Throughout dry periods, vegetable gardens need extra watering. Most vegetables benefit from an inch or more of water each week, especially when they are fruiting.

During the growing season watch for insect pests. If you discover a bug problem early it will be much easier, but be careful to not use pesticides once the vegetable are close to being picked unless it becomes an absolute necessity. Organic gardening is one healthy and environment-friendly option. Once you have reaped your crop, put the vegetable waste into your compost pile so that it can be recycled for next spring.

It is important to protect your vegetable garden from wild animals looking for a tasty treat. Make sure your garden is surrounded by a fence that will keep out dogs, rabbits, and other animals. The harm done by wandering animals during one season can equal the cost of a fence. A fence also can serve as a frame for peas, beans, tomatoes, and other crops that need support.

Protection is needed in order for your vegetable garden to yield a bountiful harvest. Hard work will pay dividends if necessary precautions have been made.

Exactly What is Congress Organic Standards

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:36:00 +0000

The word “organic” seems simple enough but can be confusing for consumers. Here is an inside look at the standards and laws governing this important group of products, particularly tea.

What exactly determines if a product is grown organically?

In 1990, Congress passed the Organic Food Production Act (OFPA) requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop national organic standards. The National Organic Program (NOP) and OFPA developed regulations requiring products labeled “organic” originate from farms, or handling facilities, that are certified by either State or private agencies that have been accredited by the USDA.
The regulations further state that farms, or handling facilities may not use any of the following in production or handling;

•Genetic Engineering
•Ionizing Radiation
•Sewage Sludge

Organic crops must be grown without the use of;

•Most conventional pesticides
•Petroleum based fertilizers
•Sewage sludge-based fertilizers

How are imported organic products regulated?

•The USDA is required by OFPA to review the certification programs under which imported organic products are produced.
•Certifying agents in foreign countries must apply for USDA certification.
•In lieu of USDA certification, foreign governments can assess and accredit certifying agents, under NOP requirements, with USDA approval.
•An equivalency agreement negotiated between the US and a country’s government may also be used in lieu of certification.

What are “organic” labeling standards?

Organic labeling is the simplest part of the certification process and the aspect that is most confusing for consumers. While many times “organic” on a label means you pay more, what is the meaning behind the label? The standards are based on the percentage of organic ingredients in a product, and by law must be identified like this;

•Products labeled “100 % organic” must contain only organically produced ingredients.

•Products labeled “organic” must consist of at least 95% organically produced ingredients.

•Both may display the USDA Organic Seal.

•Processed products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients can only use the phrase “made with organic ingredients”.

•Processed products that contain less than 70% organic ingredients cannot use the term “organic” other than to identify the specific ingredients, on the ingredients list, that are organically produced.

So what does all this mean to US tea consumers? Since tea is grown outside of the US certification is almost always done by foreign agents. It has become increasingly important for consumers concerned about how their teas are grown to be comfortable with their tea supplier. Bio terrorism laws have impacted tea importation by looking more closely overall at what and who are importing products into this country, particularly food products. While these laws can sometimes impede the smooth flow of tea to us from overseas it may be beneficial overall to consumers due to the “closer look” of the FDA.

Converting gardens and estates to organic farming is a costly and lengthy process and sometimes not even a consideration for small farmers. In some cases farmers are already doing a lot right, but lack the knowledge or funding necessary to become certified. There is an effort by the US tea industry to educate growers on the benefit both economically and ecologically for growing teas organically.

Quality, from a taste perspective, has been an issue with organic teas. Gardens converting to organic farming have challenges, short and long term, producing teas that taste as good. As processes continue to improve an d farmers gain more experience, quality and taste are improving.

As an importer and supplier of premium teas one of our major responsibilities is knowing the production standards and philosophies of the gardens we work with. Securing quality, organic teas with outstanding taste characteristics can be challenging but more become available each season.

photo by Bernt Rostad

Get Your Container garden Going

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Tue, 17 May 2011 21:19:00 +0000

Container garden expert Peg Bier gives her tips to a great environment for your vegetable plants.

I love Peg Bier tips. I learned a lot from her little video. Although I have some nice plants of my own. With her tips they will be even better.

Tips On How To Care For Your Organic Herb Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Sat, 14 May 2011 18:03:00 +0000

There are many benefits to cultivating an organic home herb garden. Going organic means you avoid using chemicals that can harm you, your plant, and the environment. Using organic products also help keep your plants healthier and improve the quality of your soil over time. Avoiding chemicals is specially important if you intend to use your herbs for cooking.

Going organic need not be complicated or expensive. There are many alternatives that are available to an organic gardener like you. There are store-bought products that you can use, or you can choose to create your own organic products if you wish.

Here are some tips to help you create and care for an organic home herb garden:

Using organic fertilizers. Whenever you engage in planting, you will need fertilizers to help make sure your herbs find all the nutrients they need in the soil you put them in. Choose to use organic fertilizers over chemical fertilizers. Not only will you help your herbs get the nutrients they need, but you also make sure that your soil becomes richer and more fertile over time. Chemical fertilizers have a tendency to enrich the soil now, but strip it of nutrients over the long run. So choosing organic is your best bet.

Creating your own compost pit. If you have the time, creating your own compost pit is something you may want to look into. It’s cheaper than buying organic fertilizers from the store and at the same time you get to recycle some of your kitchen and garden scraps. You don’t need a lot of space to be able to make compost. There are a lot of compost bins that you can buy from stores and they don’t take up a lot of space.
For more information on how to set up your own compost pit, you can check out Jeannie Woods’ “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening”. It offers a great guide for anyone who’s new to organic herb gardening. You can learn more about the book here at healthyhappyherbs.com

Using natural methods as a deterrent against pests and illneses. Herbs that are healthy, receive sufficient sunlight and nutrients from the soil naturally repel herb illnesses. They’re able to resist and fight diseases compared to plants that are undernourished. Clearly, taking good care of your herbs is the most important thing you can do to keep them safe and thriving.

Another way to strengthen your herbs’ immunity naturally is to plant them next to other herbs or other plants that can help keep pests and diseases away. For example, plating a neem tree next to your garden is a good idea to keep bugs away. Another example is planting horseradish, which is a type of herb, around the perimeter of your garden.
Creating natural pesticides. Preparing homemade, natural pesticides is a great way to keep pests away. These solutions are harmful to pests but are gentle and safe for your herbs. Again, since these are organic, it is safe to use even on herbs that will end up in your food.
One example of an organic pesticide is made from steeping horseradish roots. Spraying your plants with this solution can keep pests away from your garden.

If you are serious about cultivating an organic herb garden, be sure to check out “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening” by Jeannie Woods. It’s a book packed with all the information you need to be able to successful start and keep a thriving organic herb garden. You can read more about it here at healthyhappyherbs.com.

Plan Ahead 3 Vegetables To Start Early

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Sat, 14 May 2011 00:29:00 +0000

PLAN AHEAD
My garden plan helped me with everything from how to space my plants to when to put them in the ground and where. You could draw up a plan on graph paper or generate one using an online garden planner like I did. I used Growveg.com, which lets you customize a large garden space from scratch. Gardeners.com also offers a planner that is good for smaller spaces and has preplanned gardens to keep it simple.

3 VEGETABLES TO START EARLY
These veggies love cool weather (you can plant Thoma few weeks before the last frost) and grow quickly. So plant them first and you’ll enjoy the rewards of your work in a hurry.

Lettuce: I planted different types of lettuce all over my garden, wherever I could find room. It’s forgiving and grows fast enough that you’ll be harvesting young leaves for salads within a few weeks. Plant seeds every two weeks in the spring so you have a constant supply.

Turnips: I never thought of themas a spring vegetable so I was surprised to harvest turnips before anything else. They take about a month from seed to harvest and have a peppery and sweet flavor when they’re picked fresh.

Peas: We squeezed ours in close together and they yielded pounds and pounds of sugary sweet snap peas. Pea plants produce more in cooler weather than they do once it heats up. And by the heat of the summer, they’re pretty much fizzled out so you can plant a late-season crop in their spot.

3 BASIC TOOLS
Trowel: Use to dig small holes for planting transplants.

Stirrup Hoe: Pull up young weeds at the root with just a gentle back-and-forth motion.

Garden rake: Level beds and filter out large stones that may interrupt seedling growth.

Of course if you need any help with your gardening you can find plenty of guides around my blog to help you with your gardening step by step. You can even print your guide and take it with you when you need it for reference out side in your garden.

In the photo above, in case you are wondering what the plants are, bottom row - purple scallions, Italian parsley, Dino kale, anise-flavored fennel, baby lettuce salad mix; top row - baby bok choi, sugar snap peas, sweet Japanese salad turnips and a cute little broccoli.

vegetables photo by pcutler

Organic Farmers Lose in USDA

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:20:00 +0000

Despite impassioned lobbying from organic consumers and organic dairies and grass-fed beef ranchers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on January 27, 2011 approved the use of genetically engineered alfalfa created by Monsanto. As a result of the deregulation, the chemical company’s Roundup Ready alfalfa—which can withstand heavy spraying of Monsanto’s Roundup pesticide—will be available for unlimited planting this spring.
Alfalfa is one of the most widely used forage crops for dairy and beef farmers around the world. The ruling by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack provided no restrictions against planting GMO alfalfa next to organic crops. This substantially increases the risk of cross-contamination given that alfalfa is pollinated by bees and other insects.

The USDA’s decision ignited an outcry within the U.S. organic community. “Organic and others are now left, once again, having to take all the precautions while biotech takes little responsibility,” said Liana Hoodes, director of the National Organic Coalition.

“We’re disappointed with USDA’s decision and we will be back in court representing the interest of farmers, preservation of the environment and consumer choice” said Andrew Kimbrell, executive director for the Center for Food Safety.

“Last spring more than 200,000 people submitted comments to the USDA highly critical of the substance and conclusions of its Draft EIS on GE Alfalfa,” added Kimbrell. “Clearly the USDA was not listening to the public or farmers but rather to just a handful of corporations.”

As Christine Bushway, executive director of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), sees it, deregulation of GMO alfalfa threatens the growing organic industry. “Preserving market and farmer choice and agricultural diversity are central to USDA’s mission and the future of rural American livelihoods,” Bushway said. “This failure to do so will make it increasingly difficult to meet the growing demand for U.S. organic crops.”
Alfalfa decision threatens growing organic industry.

According to the OTA, the U.S. organic industry generates $26.6 billion a year in product sales and employs tens of thousands of people around the country. The organic industry supports at least 14,540 family farms operating in rural areas.

“Unrestricted commercialization of genetically engineered crops—86 percent of the country’s corn and 93 percent of soybeans—has resulted in widespread unlabeled presence of GE (genetically engineered) materials in mainstream food products unbeknownst to the average consumer,” the OTA reports. According to California’s Department of Food and Agriculture, at least 70 percent of processed foods in American supermarkets now contain GMO ingredients.

More than 20 million acres of alfalfa are grown in the United States, making it the country’s fourth-largest crop by acreage, behind corn, soybeans and wheat, The New York Times reports.

About 1 percent of alfalfa grow in the United States is organic.

Sources : NewHope360 written by Carlotta Mast and Herb Botany

How To Build A Shed In 10 Steps - Outdoor Storage Shed

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 22:38:00 +0000

So you need a storage shed to keep your outdoor items properly protected. You have shopped around to see what’s available, but you just can’t find one that suits your needs. Well, that’s no problem. You can build one yourself ,even if you’re not a carpenter. All that is required is ,for you to follow some quick and easy step by step plans, and you will have it built in no time.

Step One
Is to determine where you want to build it. You need to have a designated area planned out before you begin. What space you have available will determine the maximum size you can build it.

Step two
Once you know your exact size it’s a good idea to rough sketch what you want. There are many home improvement stores that you can take your sketch to. They will draft up your storage shed plans for you, according to the specs you provide them with. They will also supply you with a list of materials that you will require. So now you have your plans. In addition they will provide you with a guide on how to perform each step.

Step Three
Purchase the materials you will need as outlined in your plan. it’s a good idea to have everything at hand so you don’t have to keep running out for supplies once you start construction.

Step Four
Now you are ready to start. Level your ground and prepare to lay the foundation. You would have already decided whether you are going to have a wood plank floor or concrete slab type.

Step Five
Next comes the side walls. Put your materials aside that you are going to use for this. It is better to construct the walls on the ground then lift them into position once they are together. Just follow your guide for the how to instructions.

Step Six
Now its time to start the roof. You will need to build your trusses. So construct one and then use it as a template for the rest. Once again follow your guide on how to build the trusses.

Step Seven
Your storage shed should now be taking on some shape. Its time to build the end walls. How you do this will depend on what you have chosen in your plans. Be sure to stay with your original plans.

Step Eight
Now you are getting down to the final steps. The trim is just as important as the rest of your structure. Its what gives it that finished look so don’t scrimp here.

Step Nine
Your last two steps are applying the shingles for the roof then treating the wood. The wood must have some type of protective coating on it to protect it from the elements and rotting. This can be varnish, stains or paints whatever is your preference.

Step Ten
You’re done! All that’s left is to sit back and admire your completed storage shed. If you hadn’t built it yourself you would think it was a professional store bought model.

Easiest Way To Build Beautiful Sheds... With 12,000 Shed Plans & Woodworking Patterns: Download Your Free Shed Plan

How To Get Free Shed Plans and Blueprints

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:14:00 +0000

If you are planning on building a garden or storage shed you will need some type of plan. It doesn’t matter if you are a novice or a pro, you need guidelines. There are many sources to obtain free shed blueprints and plans. If you are a novice and the word blueprint scares you, relax. These are simple detailed drawings that show everything that you are going to need to know to build your shed. They are no different than a travel map. It simply tells you that you need to travel from one step to the next, and what you need to get there.
So why bother with free shed plans? How often have you purchased an item, and then when you got it home, you wished you had bought the deluxe version, or vice versa? It’s the same with plans. You go to all the trouble of picking one, purchasing it, then get it home, and for one of several reasons it just isn’t want you want. If its free, then you have lost nothing, you can just go and find another one. You can do this several times if you need to until you find the perfect one for you.

Ok it’s a great idea. Now where do we go to find these free shed blueprints and plans? To start with you could check out your local home improvement stores. Some of these have some great options. They often will have a series of standard plans in stock. They will give some of these to you free of charge, in the hopes that you will buy your materials from them. These plans usually consist of the majority of items they carry in their store. Some of them have even written their own series.

Another option is take in a rough sketch of the details of what you are looking for. Many building suppliers will draft up blueprints and plans for you. They may offer to do this for you with some type of commitment that you will purchase supplies from them. Sometimes they will offer this as free deal as a promotion.

Then there is always the internet. Lots of sites are willing to give away the prints and plans for free. One such example is MyShedPlans. Not because they are generous, but because they hope it will entice you to purchase some of the other items they carry.

These items are usually applicable to what they are giving you at no charge. For example if they give you all the drawings and plans you need., then you are going to have to know how to do the things that the plan says. This is where the extras come in. Perhaps the company that gave you the free shed plans sells some self help, or do it yourself books. They would be pleased to sell these to you. This is not being sneaky. In fact its an excellent business proposal. They help you identify what you need and then offer support where you need it. With the combination of your plans, and the self help books you need, you’re ready to build one good looking shed!

The Easiest Way To Build Beautiful Sheds... With 12,000 Shed Plans & Woodworking Patterns: Download Your Free Shed Plan

Eat Organic Food for a Healthier, Fitter You!

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:30:00 +0000

How do you ensure that you have enough energy to last the day, not skip a day or two at work, or even spend some quality time with your loved one or your entire family? Well, that’s easy! Simply eat well. Go natural and switch to a healthy, wholesome, organic diet to ensure a healthier, fitter you.

Benefits of Organic Food

Organic food has a myriad of health benefits. By eating natural, wholesome food, you give your body everything it needs, and keep away the harmful things that it doesn’t. Organic food is devoid of marsh artificial flavors, preservatives, and other such dangerous substances. These range from unnecessary pesticides and fertilizers used to grow fruits and vegetables to strong preservatives and artificial flavors usually used in junk food.

The other thing that’s really great about organic food is that it is safer and gentler on the environment. Since organic food is grown and made naturally, it uses fewer harmful, non-degradable chemicals and materials. Organic, “green” food also tastes much better, has flavors and that are more stronger, and is completely nutritious in every bite.

Eat Organic Meals

Organic food is now amazingly easy to procure and consume. My favorite organic food source is TheNaturalStore.com, a veritable treasure trove for mouth-watering organic treats, ranging from organic snacks and meals to natural spices and seasoning.

For a healthier and fitter life, try the organic milk shakes and fruit juices. The GeniSoy Soy Protein Shake in Chocolate Flavor is a delicious, healthy shake just right to give you the energy to take on the day. The Designer Whey 100% Whey Protein in Strawberry Flavor is another lip-smacking drink after a long day, or just when you are beginning it.

Organic meals don’t have to be bland and tasteless. Try the Lundberg Creamy Parmesan Risotto as a deeply satisfying and nourishing meal. Organic meals like the Thai Kitchen Rice Noodle Bowl with Spring Onion not only indulge your senses, but also give you vigor and strength.

If you are frequently on the move, you can carry easy-to-eat, tasty snacks like the scrumptious Eden Foods Dry Roasted Pumpkin Seeds. The Revolution Foods Organic Mash Ups (4 Pouches, Berry) is another wholesome, easy snack. The Nature's Choice Multigrain Cereal Bars are perfect for a healthy, quick snack too. These crunchy, quick snacks are ideal for picking and keeping in your office bag to ensure you have access to a quick, healthy, energy boost when you’re working.

Organic soups, coffee and tea are a great way to share your healthy lifestyle with your friends and family when you have a quiet evening in. The Mount Hagen Organic-Cafe Coffee is an organic, deeply aromatic coffee with an extremely soothing brew. Annie Chun's All Natural Asian Cuisine Korean Kimchi Soup Bowl is ideal for relaxing with friends and family over a bowl of hot, nourishing soup.

Invest in Good Health

By choosing to eat wholesome, natural food and organic meals, you can ensure life-long good health for you and your loved ones.

By John Menon

Author’s Bio:

John is an organic food enthusiast. He does her best to ensure his children eat healthy, natural meals and snacks, with the odd eating out trip. He is a regular visitor and shopper at TheNaturalStore.com. He especially loves their milkshakes and breakfast cereal.

Source: PopularArticles.com/article251029

Photo attribution Mike Haller

Why Eating Organic Foods Is Good

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. The goal in organic farming is to maintain and replenish the soil fertility without using toxic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. "Certified Organic" means the item has been grown in accordance with strict uniform standards that are verified by an independent state or private organization.

Dr. Alan Greene of Stanford's Children's Hospital neatly summarizes the argument for organics: "Eat organic produce. Your immune system won't waste energy trying to fight off the toxins that are sprayed on conventional fruits and vegetables." Eating organics frees up your immune system and antioxidants to do their evolutionarily evolved job, which is to fight off pathogens, cancer, and other diseases originating from natural environmental sources. Your body's natural defense mechanisms are incredible strong, but like anything else, they can only handle so much attack. To keep your defensive line from being spread too thin, you should therefore limit exposure to toxins (and stress) as much as possible. It's important to realize that consuming pesticides and herbicides — even if they have not been found to be directly cardinogenic — can, in effect, lead to cancer if they use up your supply of antioxidants, which would otherwise have prevented cancer that was generated from another source.

It's true that organic foods typically cost more than conventional, but this may be true only in the short-term. After you adopt a healthier lifestyle with healthier food choices, including organics, you may find yourself frequenting the doctor's office much less and spending less on medications — over the counter and prescriptions — and not to mention a lower chance of being prematurely dead. It's important to know that organically produced foods have to meet rigorous governing regulations in all aspects of production. It's labor and management-intensive, usually produced on smaller farms, which don't benefit from economies of scale. These factors combine, causing the cost to be higher. But as the saying goes, "you get what you pay for."

Organics typically cost about twice as much as conventionally produced food. To put things in perspective, consider bottled water. I know many people who would just about die of thirst before drinking tap water; for them, it's bottled or nothing. But when you do the math, bottled water is about 300-600 times more expensive than tap water, and for good reason. But, depending on which municipality you live in, your tap water might actually be safer and healthier than eating conventionally produced foods. It really doesn't make sense to spend money on bottled water and then eat foods that are not grown organically.

Some of the many benefits of eating organic foods are:

Superior nutrition: Organics have up to 300% more vitamins and minerals than conventionally grown foods.
They have greater flavor. Many top chefs use only organic foods.
Reduced intake of chemicals and heavy metals.
Decreased exposure to carcinogens.
Better working conditions for farmers and workers.
No genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Much better for the environment.
For more information on organics, visit www.ota.org

I only buy organic. The most disappointing thing to me is that most restaurants don't use organic food, due to the higher cost. However, if customers demanded organic, more producers would produce it, and prices would come down. So, start voting with your dollar. When you go to a restaurant and you're paying the bill, take a moment to fill out the comment card, or write directly on to the receipt, that you would eat there more often if they offered some organic foods. This is how we begin to make a difference.

If you need some recipes books on how to make raw organic foods recipes or how to add raw food recipes to your diet or menu, this would be the best place to begin.

Photo attribution Martin Cathrae

12 Foods You Should Buy Organic as per Eating Well

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:55:00 +0000

12 Foods You Should Buy Organic is on the Eating Well blog magazine. I seen this list and I thought it would be a great list to share. To look at each food you have to click each number.

At one time I use to have the eating well magazine delivered to me. Now i just go to their website to get my recipes and to stay updated on the different events that they have going on.

I get good organic recipes from Eating Well blog magazine. You can get there from here.

Get Knowledge On Companion Planting

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:12:00 +0000

Companion Planting Guide

Most gardeners have heard of companion planting and may know that you should plant garlic under your roses, or plant onions and carrots next to each other, but there's so much more to it as I found out recently.

I've just read a great book on companion planting, written by Julie Villani, a passionate organic grower, who's astounded me with her depth of knowledge on companion planting. Not only does her e-book reveal what to plant near what and what not to, but how to reduce your workload in the garden and all sorts of priceless gems.

She has a little e-book out which I found invaluable. It covers things like
How to choose the right plants to grow together
Which plants you must never grow together
How to protect your fruits and vegetables from insect attack
How much to plant for your family
How to save money by not having to replace sickly plants
How to reduce your gardening workload - let mother nature do it for you

If you're interested to find out more, click on this link. Companion Planting Guide (put your Clickbank affiliate link in here.)

The more we know about working in harmony with nature, the healthier our plants are.

Kind regards,

Bronzilla

My Shed Plans Review | Garden Storage Sheds

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:03:00 +0000

My Shed Plan is a complete guide that explains how you can build a beautiful shed from scratch. Ryan Henderson the writer of the book has given detailed blueprints and step by step instructions that even a beginner can follow. Shed builders can choose from 12,000 shed plans and woodworking patterns.

Once you sign up you will receive the entire package instantly in the Members' Area via downloads. There are easy to follow instructions provided in the members’ area just in case you have never downloaded anything from the internet before. After making the purchase you will get all the shed plans and woodworking blueprints within 5 minutes. This means that you get the product for a lower price as there are no shipping costs. However, if you prefer buying the CD then you can buy that and it will be sent to you via mail.

Woodworking can be time consuming but making the right plans takes even longer. My Shed Plans Elite provide you a wide range of design to choose from and once you have the design you will be able to construct your shed nicely and it will take less amount of time to build it. It keeps all things simple. The aim of My Shed Plans is to make woodworking a fun activity for you. Once you follow Ryan Henderson’s instructions making shed will be a less time consuming and more fun thing to do.

Some of the plans include a Garden bench, How to Build a Fence, Dog Kennel, Making an Easy Arbor,", Swing Pet, Nursery Wagon, Doghouse Plans, Outdoor Fireplaces, Feed Cart, Storage Shed for Pesticide and a lot more.

My Shed Plans Elite provides plans for garages and outbuildings too. You can learn to build Large Garage, Elevated Sawdust Bin, Lawn Tool Storage Cabinet, Garden Windmill, etc. It’s a book that enables you become an expert woodworker and complete projects in far less time than you used to.

The book also teaches you how you can build shed that costs less. You will be able to build a good shed much cheaper than the overpriced ready-made sheds that you see. If you have the resources you can build a decent shed for nothing at all.

My Shed Plans Elite will explain everything in detail and you don’t have to worry about running out of ideas anymore. My Shed Plans Elite package comes with 2 bonuses. The first one is about foundation, roofing and the second one is about woodworking secrets and contains tips and tricks that may prove very useful. The Total price of My Shed Plans Elite is 47$ and there is a money back guarantee in case you feel like returning the book. What’s more, you keep the bonus books that you get with it.

Get Access To 12,000 Shed Plans & Projects Now!

Organic Food and Locally Grown Food: Are They the Same?

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:45:00 +0000

In the U.K., consumers are gobbling up organic food by the bushel. In fact, according to the Organic Centre Wales, "Direct sales of organic food through box schemes, farmers' markets and farm shops grew by more than a third to L144 million during 2004." And those numbers have continued to rise as consumers become increasingly concerned about the long-term effects of the chemical fertilizers and pesticides used on crops grown by non-organic farms. While most people agree that organic food is preferable over non-organic, a debate has begun about the source of organic foods. For example, is imported organic food as desirable as UK organic food?

Making the Case for Local Organic Food

Those on one side of the debate insist it doesn't matter where organic food is grown; rather, the crucial factor is that the food meets stringent standards to ensure that it is truly organic. Those on the other side of the debate are equally vehement that locally grown organic food is preferable to imported organic food, both because the fossil fuels used to transport imported organic food add to global warming and because UK organic food supports local farmers.

Advocates say that you can find UK organic food at an organic farm shop, or even arrange for organic food delivery right to your door. You can even find organic fish, such as organic trout from an organic fish farm. There, the organic trout may live in 400-year-old spring water and eat natural shrimp that comes from organic watercress beds.

Those who favor importing organic food point out that an organic farm shop will only have seasonal foods, which severely limit the choices consumers have when preparing meals. Imported organic food, they say, retains its superior nutritional quality while delivering a bountiful variety of fruits and vegetables.

Some people, of course, take the middle ground, and opt to select their foods from an organic farm shop when what they desire is in season and shop for imported organic food the remainder of the year.

The Bottom Line

People may differ in their opinions about whether or not to limit one's consumption of organic food to that grown locally, but virtually everyone agrees that organic fruits, organic vegetables, organic fish, and organic meats are preferable to those that are grown with chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and fungicides.

Currently, non-organic growers are authorized to use over 1,000 chemicals on crops. This translates into everything from soil erosion due to over-farming to dangerous toxic runoff into our drinking water. Growing food organically is a way to reverse this trend. With over 700,000 hectares dedicated to UK organic food, farmers are trying to meet consumer demand. Still, some markets import almost half of the organic food they sell. As for who will win the debate over locally grown organic food vs. imported organic food, only time will tell.

Organic Gardening Videos Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:59:00 +0000

Here are some organic gardening and regular gardening video tips.

Ideas for Designing Your Vegetable Garden

How to grow an organic vegetable garden

Basic Gardening Tips : How to Create Good Growing Soil

Kristen Suzanne's 12 Raw Food Recipe Ebooks!

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:27:00 +0000

Many people are interested in experimenting with Raw food, but don't know where to start. Others would like to gradually work more Raw organic foods into their diet. And some people would like to introduce Raw organic foods into their spouses and families diet in a way that is easy, flexible, and fun.

In this unique book, Raw vegan chef Kristen Suzanne presents "transitional" recipes designed to help people experiment or migrate gradually toward the healthy Raw food diet, using techniques such as combining raw and cooked elements in the same dish, or "sneaking" Raw food into their families meals. By introducing more Raw foods gradually, people's palates become accustomed to the delicious and unique textures and flavor profiles that are common in Raw cuisine.

This book has 107 recipes, including: Pastas, burgers, pizza, tacos, sandwiches, desserts, cookies, breakfasts, salads, soups, sides, smoothies, juices, and shakes.

It even has three bonus sections:

1. Raw Food Tips for beginners
2. Raw Resources
3. Instructions for Soaking & Dehydrating

I have said before that raw organic food is best because you get the full benefits of vitamins & minerals, Enzymes and Proteins.

Kristen's amazing and delicious Raw vegan books also has recipes for entrees, snacks, holidays, hemp, and tips for adopting the vegan Raw Food lifestyle. Recipe books include introduction to Raw food for beginners.

You can get Kristen's books here.

Eating Organic Fruits And Vegetables For More Energy

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:36:00 +0000

You already know by now that eating organic fruits and vegetable give you energy. Most people love to buy their fruits and vegetable from a can or even frozen. Yes, they are good but it is better to grow your own organic garden. This way you know they are fresh and have no preservatives.

When you grow your own garden - they are much fresher and you can get your full vitamins and minerals. When you cook your vegetables - you do not cook them until they are soggy and wept. This will bring out the best in your vegetable. Having your vegetable a little raw bring out the vitamins and minerals better. For which in turn you will get more energy from them.

Now, when you grow your own fruit, you don't get the chemicals that is sprayed on them to preserve them like at the market. You will taste the difference if you do a taste test like I did. To do the test just buy some fruit from the store and after you have grown your own fruit then of course taste it to the store bought.

You will find that the fruits and vegetables are much better. With that being said, you will eat even more from your organic garden. The more you eat the more energy you will have.

There is a book that I read named "Family Organic Garden." Family Organic Garden is a complete and fully illustrated guide that explains in easy steps how to grow an organic food garden. Family Organic Garden provides new gardeners all the information they need to know to grow successfully their own food, save money and become healthier.

Photo attribution Southern Foodways Alliance

Organic Gardening Forum

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:31:00 +0000

Some times you can find help to questions that you might have about your organic garden. The Helpful Gandener forum is the forum I belong to and I recommend.

Just click on the link or the blue title of the forum and you will be right there. http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=11

Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:01:00 +0000

Herb gardening is something I’ve always wanted to try. I blame it on all of those cooking shows, tempting me with their delicious and mouthwatering recipes and always mentioning how the use of rosemary, thyme, basil and all of those herbs adds to the flavor of the food. So can you really blame me for wanting to try my hand at it?

Initially, I thought, “How hard could it be to keep a small herb garden?” Herbs are known to be hardy plants. The purportedly don’t need a lot to thrive – just provide them with sufficient sun and water. They can be grown in farms as comfortably as in apartments.

So imagine my chagrin when I walked into a garden supply shop and found 1,001 choices and not knowing exactly what I need! From soil selection, herb selection, choosing whether to get seeds or seedlings, fertilizer types, container types and so much more – I wasn’t prepared to make so many decisions all at once. The fight or flight reflex kicked in and I decided to take flight and do some more research.

That’s when I came across Jeannie Woods’ book called “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs And Herb Gardening”. I was pleased to find that the book was easy to follow, even for someone like me who have zero gardening background. Not only that, it extensively covered all the relevant points that I need to understand to be able to make competent choices – from seed selection, to soil preparation, to harvesting and much more. It even covers composting and ways to care for your plants organically and economically at the same time.

I’ve been following the book’s advice for over a month now. While it’s still early to say if my plants are going to make it, I have a pretty good feeling that they will. What the book couldn’t prepare me for though was how much joy I’m getting out of caring for my small patch of garden (box is more like it, actually), which I totally did not expect.

Another great thing from buying this book – the freebie which I am absolutely enjoying. When I bought this book, it came with a bonus cookbook, which is all about cooking with herbs! The recipes are great. And it made it easy for me to choose exactly what kind of herbs I want to grow.

So, if you’re thinking of cultivating your own herb garden, be sure to check out Jeannie Woods’ “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs And Herb Gardening”. It’s available exclusively at her book’s website at Happy Healthy Herbs. You’ll be glad that you did.

Photo attribution thebittenword.com

Organic Food Gardening Basics

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:16:00 +0000

Organic gardening is becoming a fast trend for the present generations as most of them are becoming health conscious. The vegetables purchased from the super markets today are not healthy to consume as they are sprayed with a lot of chemicals. People are seriously thinking about this and now they are beginning to switch to organic food that has lots of benefits. One can also grow their own organic garden at home and produce some fresh vegetables free from chemicals.

Before planning to start an organic garden, few basics have to be understood by every beginner. The biggest advantage in doing organic gardening is that it requires less maintenance, less time and cost. By understanding few guidelines and with the help of some basic advice any person can start organic gardening.

The first important thing needs to be considered for planning an organic garden is soil. The soil meant for the organic gardening must be healthy. One must testify the soil from a recognized soil lab before it is being used for the organic gardening. The Soil experts test the soil and will give you assurance about the quality of the soil and whether it can be used or not. Next step towards organic gardening is adding nutrients to the soil such as organic fertilizers etc.

One the most important nutrients that should be added to the soil are compost. The compost can be prepared in our garden or can be purchased from the market. There are some techniques for selecting the best compost; the fast compost is the most popular. By using fast composting technique the soil gets prepared within six to eight weeks. The other techniques of compost consume lot of time, so fast composting is recommended.

Tilling of the soil is done after the soil is ready for use. One can go for the option to till soil by hand or use technology like Machines. Hand tilling is considered much effective. After the soil has been tilled, next step is to sow the garden with organic seeds.

The last step is controlling those weeds and pests by using insecticides, organic pesticides and herbicides. All these above steps and guidelines can be further known by visiting the site myorganicfoodgarden.com that shares some more tips on growing your own healthy organic garden. Remember having an organic garden is not only risk free from harmful chemicals but also healthier to the body. So, why not visit the site and gather further information about organic food gardening.

photo source Oakley Originals

Organic Gardening For Beginners

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:34:00 +0000

Every since I was a little girl my grandmother would take me to Virgina to my great-grandmothers farm. My graps (this is what I call my great-grandmother) had a 100 acres and she raised her own food. Her organic garden was about two acres. She never work for any one her whole life and she lived to be 88 years old.

One of the main things I remembered her teaching me was to always eat fresh fruits and vegetables. For which it is now called, organic food. Here are some of the benefits and what you need to do to start your own organic garden.

What you need to do before you begin your organic garden

1. You need to decide how big you want your garden to be.

2. Try not to make it no more than you can handle by yourself.

3. And this is very important!
You need to find the best place that has the most sunlight. The more sunlight the bigger and juicier your plants will be.

4. You need to find out if the soil you are going to grow your garden in is rich soil. If not then you will have to buy top soil to mix with your soil. You can always make a bed or buy sturdy 6 mil plastic - pre-punched drainage bag with holes.

This sometimes is easier, you just fill with grow media, plant your seeds and your garden is ready to go! Depending on how much space you are using depends on how many bags you will need.

5. Decide what is going to be in your garden. Tomatoes, onions, carrots, string beans and so on.

Organic garden tools you will need

In this Essential Garden Tools video you will see a bunch of tools you might not need if your doing a small garden.

Benefits from an organic garden

1. Save money! It is much cheapper to grow your own fruits and vegetable than it is to buy from the super market. No middle man and seeds can be as little as five cents.

2. Fresh fruit and vegetables. NO chemicals or prservatives.

3. Healthy. When you eat organic food. It helps ever cell in your body. From your hair to your toe nails.

Take a look at the other videos on the side bar for more tips and there are helpful introduction ebooks as well.

To your organic gardening success,

Bronzi

photo source thebittenword.com

About

noreply@blogger.com (Bronzi) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:04:00 +0000

Welcome to my organic gardening blog. My name is Bronzilla Sheppard. I am a mom of two and married to a wonderful husband. My family and I love to eat organic food. In my opinion it is the best way to stay healthy and to save money.

My blog is for beginners who wants to start their own organic gardening. You will find a lot of information that you need to be successful with your new organic garden. My blog is for beginners who wants to start their own organic gardening.

You will see articles or posts as most would say, videos, pictures, ebooks, textbooks and anything else that I will find that I will think will be helpful and beneficial for you.

I love to eat organic food as well as my family do. I remember the fifteen years of going to my great-grandmothers farm and helping here to grow fruits and vegetables. She had a farm of a hundred acres and she grew everything. This also included cows, chickens, hogs and horses.

Every summer I would go to Virgina to help her with her farm. She lived to be eighty-eight years old and I think it was because she grew and ate fresh fruits and vegetables. And of course fresh air had a lot to do with it too!

We didn't have digital cameras back then, so I don't have any of my own pictures to show of the farm. I really wished that I did so I could share them with you. Anyway I hope you find my blog to be of useful content and I hope you learn a lot.

Hope you find joy in growing your own organic garden.

Photo source attribution ilovebutter