Alison White


The idea of a career hit them in a restaurant in London, as they saw on the wine list the description of a “hangover-free alternative” type of wine. Shelley Breckenridge and Lynsey Watson who were at that time involved in careers of the field of customer services and financial management, decided to create their own website, Vine Organic.

Based in Glasgow, the site is dedicated only to the selling chemical-free and biodynamic wines. Breckenridge and Lynsey Watson who are both fascinated by wines, share the idea that “Organic wines have an earthy natural quality that you don’t find in conventional wine. The aromas are superior, the palates have better fruit intensity and purer flavours”.

In a mission in Scotland, at the present, Breckenridge and Watson want to prove that organic wines have the same quality as the natural wines do. They plan to back up their theory by analysing the characteristics of 91 wines from 11 different countries.

The two passionate wine persons have chosen to set up a trading deal with English-based Vintage Roots company, in order to not waste their time on negotiating contracts with wineries, directly. Therefore, they picked only a couple of wines to be the Vine Organic exclusive, such as Vin de Pays d’Oc Sauvignon Blanc and some other wines, sold to restaurants in Glasgow and Aberdeen.

The minuses of the website are that there is no actual definition about what an organic wine is and the creation of Breckenridge and Watson seems to be a little cluttered since they provide no information about the founders-aspect which might be considered important by the customers.

Some tips from the taste test made by Breckenridge and Watson

At the category of fizz wines, the Cava Brut 21 Albet y Noya, at the price of £12.49 has a yeasty biscuity aroma, chalky creamy texture, but finishes very bitter.

Among the white category, there is Rheinhessen Kabinett Riesling Trocken 2005 Weingut Klaus Knobloch, at the price of £6.99. This starts well, with light floral bouquet, fleshy lush fruit palate, but this German white falls well short on the finish.

Other white wine is Domaine St Paul Sauvignon sur Lie and it costs £6.49. It is clean, refreshing southern French Vin de Pays, lacking Loire’s minerality. Also it has a light creamy body, being a very easy French quaffing aperitif.

At the red category, there is Thistle Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 which costs £17.49. This wine it is unbalanced, old, tired and past its sell-by date – an over-priced Aussie red.

Buenas Ondas Malbec 2005 is another red wine, and it will cost you £6.99. You will buy therefore, a rich damson fruits wine, very young tight- knit fruits, some depth to palate, earthy notes; a good value quaffing red from Argentina.

Also a red wine is Coyam 2003 which can be found at the price of £11.99. This is very spicy, tight austere Chilean Bordelais blend and rich concentrated fruits, spoilt by an astringent finish.

As an argument for why did the Breckenridge and Watson have chosen to made this study, Breckenridge said that more and more high quality vineyards are becoming certified. However, among the wine producers there are many who are choosing the organically method but in the same time, they just do not bother to certify and label them as such. On this kind of actual situation, Breckenridge and Watson are willing to sell only certified wines, even if that means that the choice of quality wines available for them to list is still rather limited.



Lorrie

Davinos Greeno


Here are some of the main features of organic growing:

• Organic growing severely restricts the use of artificial chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

• Instead, organic growers rely on developing a healthy, fertile soil and growing a mixture of crops.

• Genetically modified (GM) crops and ingredients are not allowed under organic standards.

Going organic may mean that you have to make a trade-off between glossy, same same supermarket looks with better tasting crops that aren’t perfect in shape or size, but many gardeners think this is a price worth paying. You’ll be able to grow different crops that are always relatively expensive to buy in supermarkets and at farmers markets and, growing your own vegetables is both fun and rewarding.

Among the many things an organic vegetable garden may offer toward a satisfying experience are fresh air, exercise, sunshine, knowledge, supplemental income, mental therapy, and fresh food, rich in vitamins and minerals, harvested at the best stage of maturity.

You can easily make compost from garden and kitchen waste, although this is a bit more time consuming, you will also make cost savings, because you do not need to buy costly chemical fertilizers and pesticides with organic gardening.

Where animal manures are available, they are probably the best source of fertilizer and organic matter for the organic gardener. Use manure which has been aged for at least 30 days if possible, or composted. I am often out in the road if any horses have gone past gathering the manure for the garden. Its looks a bit odd to the teenagers on the street but the dung is worth it!

If you have space for a few pots, or a small space in the garden or even an allotment, it is a wise decision to grow your own organic vegetable garden. To better care for your health, grow your own organic vegetables -and a few pots is all you need at a minimum.

You we also be contributing to the go local food movement which is flourishing – over 15% of people buy organic food locally and this number continues to rise as the number of farmer’s markets, box schemes, cafes and restaurants serving organic food increase. GuideMeGreen helps you to find locally produced foods which are fresher, healthier and more economical. It cuts down on transport costs and food miles where an average shopping basket can include fruit and vegetables transported from all over the world. Even in the UK or USA food is transported from the farm, to the packing centre, then to distribution centre before arriving at the supermarket to be bought which is then transported by car home!



Marie

terri


When you are looking to grow food for your family and loved ones, you already know that you want it to be healthy and nutritious, and one of the best ways to do this is to make sure that your garden is organic!  Organic gardening not only allows you to grow food that is free of chemicals or additives, but it also promote ecological responsibility and has low impact consequences for the environment.  If you are looking grow an organic garden, you’ll find that there are plenty of tips to get you started.

One of the best ways to get started with an organic garden is to get a hold of some heirloom seeds.  You’ll find that heirloom seeds are taken from plants that were once common in human history; as such, they have not been genetically modified and as a rule, they tend to be fairly tough.  They are not hybrids, and there are around 4,000 varieties of seeds, so you’ll be able to take your choice.

When working with organic gardening, you’ll find that it is always a good idea to consider the lay out of your garden.  You’ll find, for instance, that you can work with intensive intercropping, where you’ll find that one crop is grown between rows of another; this will allow you to take full advantage of your gardening space, and reduce your water and composting requirements.  You’ll find that gardening boxes is another way to maximize your space.

Organic gardening also implies that you will be free from the use of chemical pesticides and additives; this does not mean, however, that you are letting your garden run rampant with weeds and bugs!  You’ll find that by planting some flowers and herbs around your garden, you’ll be strengthening its immunity to insects.  Consider marigolds, mints and chives for a start.    You’ll also find that you can deter pests by rotating your crops annually.

Any good organic garden needs a fair amount of planning, and the more you plan, the more prepared you are going to be.



Lara

John Yazo


The most popular plant that is grown in the home garden is the tomato. Most gardeners take more pride in growing tomatoes than any other crop. There is nothing like a ripe, juicy, fresh grown tomato.

There is a large variety of tomatoes that can be grown by the home gardener and they all have there own unique characteristics or qualities. That can be for there size, color, shape or taste. There are tomatoes that hybrids, heirlooms and plants that are indeterminate or determinate. The selections that you can choose from seem to be endless.

Tomatoes are easy to grow and will produce a large amount of fruit if properly cared for. There are a few basic tips that you should know that will help your tomato plants thrive and produce a high yielding crop.

Tomatoes like a good healthy soil that is full of organic matter and nutrients along with a good soil structure that provides good aeration, drainage and retains moisture well.

Never start your plants to early. Tomatoes like warm soil temperatures. If needed warm the soil two weeks before planting by covering with black plastic.

Direct sunlight is very important in growing a strong healthy tomato plant. Tomatoes should be planted in an area that will receive a minimum of eight hours of direct sunlight.

Preparation of the planting location is also very important. Bury your tomato plants deep, burying the stem a minimum of half it’s total height. It takes a little more time to plant this way but the growth and productivity of the plant will be rewarding. When planting tomato plants deep it gives them the ability to form roots that will branch off of the stem. This will give the plant a big advantage of forming a large healthy root system which benefits it’s nutrient intake greatly.

Give your plants enough room to grow. Plant tomatoes a minimum of two to three feet apart depending on the variety. This will allow for the proper air circulation and direct sunlight needed for the plants to thrive.

Watering of tomatoes is very critical. Tomatoes need a steady moisture content in the soil. Over watering or letting the soil dry out will stress the plant and cause the fruit to produce poorly.

Applying a good organic mulch like compost will greatly benefit the plants growth by retaining the moisture content in the soil while adding nutrients to the soil at the same time.

Tomatoes love a regular supply of nutrients. having a good healthy nutrient rich soil full of organic matter is the type of soil that tomatoes will thrive in. Watering your plants every two weeks with a nutrient rich compost tea will greatly boost the productivity of the fruit the plant will produce.

With a little care you can have the best home grown tomatoes in your own back yard.



Jay

Kristijan Senjkovic


Growing a garden in the backyard is not a new concept nowadays. The hobby of organic gardening makes you focus on natural phenomenon and also ensures you some healthy food for consumption. Planning your own garden for the first time might seem difficult but with the help of some relevant guides and tips you can easily perform the required functions and activities.

The concept of organic gardening purely relies on the organic products which are chemical and pesticide free. Following are some important tips and guidelines which you must follow in order to produce some healthy vegetables in your own backyard.

First thing which you require is fertilizers and bug repellent. As you are planning organic garden, you won’t be using any chemical or pesticide. You can easily find organic fertilizers in local nursery stores which can easily be approached by you.

Next thing which comes under consideration is the type of climate that you are in. climate is one of the most important things to consider because the plants you want to grow in your garden must be suitable for the climate of your area. For example if you live in warm area where climate remains warm for most of the year, you must go for the plants which grows in warm climate.

Apart from this another consideration of organic gardening is the type of soil which you currently have. Your soil must be enriched with organic matters and nutrients. You must add compost to your soil for enriching your soil with nutrients which are required.

Location also plays a vital role. Some plants need more exposure to the sunlight while some require less exposure to sunlight. Make sure that your garden must be located in such area where plants can be exposed to sunlight (depending upon the types of plants).

There’s an additional task which has to be performed by you. Weeds will automatically grow in your garden, in order to stop them from spreading you must remove them as quick as you can on regular basis. You must also water your plant on regular basis, as water is the most important requirement of plants.

This is a small organic gardening guide, but if you want to know more about it you can consult local gardeners in your area. They will provide you with some additional information and will also help you in finding right materials for your garden.

Gardening can be fun, but you must remember one thing that in order to execute the required tasks correctly, you must plan your courses of actions after considering the things which we have already discussed.

Learn How To Plant a Vegetable Garden Without Any Headache and Check Out Some Of The Most Exclusive Tips on Gardening and Planting For FREE: GardeningGarden.com

Step Ahead and Take an Action Right Now!



Lenny

Bare Bones Gardener


It does not matter whether you put your kitchen scraps in the compost or the bin, did you know that you could grow many of your favourite fruit or vegetables from those scraps. Indeed, unless your compost is very well matured you will find stray veggie seedlings may appear wherever you deposit the compost.

Take for instance those potato peelings, if it is a fairly thick section of peel with an eye (shoot), then you can often get these to grow into full potato plants. Another indication that a potato is only good for planting or throwing out is the colour. If the potato is starting to look fairly green on the skin then *DO NOT EAT*, as it is an indication that it is producing a poisonous substance common in the nightshade family to which it as well as the tomatoes, chillies and capsicums belong. You can also get sweet potatoes and taros to grow from sections of the tubers.

Have you ever tried to plant or thought about trying to plant the seeds from a particularly nice tomato, capsicum, chili, watermelon or pumpkin? While any plants grown from such seed may vary quite a lot from the parent fruit, you can still achieve fairly good results from them if you are on a tight budget.

The plants grown from seeds of many of your kitchen scraps will not produce fruit to the same high standard as the original fruit/vegetables because of the complicated interbreeding programs put into place by the big seed companies. However the progeny can give a very wide range of resulting offspring. But if you come across one or two particularly good plants in the resulting season, then reuse the seeds of that and always-in future pick the best fruit from the best plants for your future propagation material.

Though there are some veggies in the kitchen where it is not possible to grow them from the seed in the fruit. These are those vegetables where the edible fruit is still in an immature state and the seed is not yet viable. These fruit/veggies include the cucumbers, okra and squashes to name just a few. This is because the fruit when it reaches a stage where the seed is viable is just too big and coarse for human consumption.

If you leave the top of a pineapple out in a shady spot for a week or so during warm weather, then strip back the lower dead leaves. You may even notice some small juvenile roots already forming at the base of the plant top. One thing to remember with pineapples is that it is a species of bromeliad. And as such it requires the same moist but well drained growing conditions.

When the garlic cloves are starting to get a green sprout coming out of the top, it is a pretty good indication, that it might be a good idea to plant them out individually for a good harvest in about 8-10 months time of this fairly expensive herb plant.

Treat it like any member of the onion tribe, because they like moist, well drained soil and a fair amount of feeding during the growing season. Harvest as the tops are dying back. But let them dry out in a cool but airy place, before you try to use them back in the kitchen.

Another fruit/vegetable along a similar line is corn, try leaving a fresh, uncooked cob of sweet corn in a shady dry spot for a couple of weeks, then you can strip the kernels away from the cob and plant them. A quicker suggestion is to grab a handful of corn kernels out of a packet of popping corn, The only comment would be that corn grown from these seeds would not be as sweet or juicy as sweet corn, and in reality would be better dried and used as popping corn.

Why not try growing your own peanuts? Always only using the raw nuts, and only choosing those nuts, which are still whole and encased in the brown skin. Peanuts can be grown during warmer weather in most parts of Australia. One of the fascinating things about peanuts is that they are one of the only plants which flower set fruit and then bury and pre plant their own seed ready for later germination. Yes the peanut, which is dug from the ground, is actually a fruit buried by the parent plant, after flowering.

You can always grow your own ginger; all it takes is a section of the root, purchased from a greengrocer. Plant it in a well drained but moist soil. Allowing plenty of room for the plant to spread out. You can be harvesting your own ginger roots within about 8-12 months.

Whether you have got a long fence, chook pen or an unsightly shed to cover, why not try planting a choko. The Vine can be very prolific, as long as you keep the moisture and fertilizer up to it.

Though once it is established, it can be left to fend for itself, and will still produce a steady supply of fruit for the family. If you have a few dollars why not look at purchasing some of the heritage or heirloom seed ranges of Fruit and vegetables. Many seed firms as well as organizations like the Seed Savers Network have many fascinating and unusual varieties of plants available for the home gardener to grow.

Of course once you have various plants growing in your veggie garden don’t forget to keep some propagating material back ( whether it is root sections, seed or divisions), for future plantings. Also you should think about letting certain plants like lettuce, parsley and basil go to seed, for planting later. I regularly have to weed my lawns around the gardens for rouge seedlings of the above plants. Such spare seedling weeds are easily replanted or swapped with other gardeners for plants I don’t yet have, or given to school and/or charity plant stalls. It is useful to have weeds that other people want and are willing to pay for.

While it usually not a good idea to try and propagate most of the tree fruit, simply from a time perspective and again because the results can also be very variable. It is still interesting to try even if you only end up getting a pot plant out of the results. It is possible to grow the seeds of such trees as mangoes, citrus, avocado, apple, pear, etc. While the fruit of some species simply have no viable seed at all eg, bananas. There is however a few, which readily lend themselves to home propagation eg, pawpaw (papaya), tree tomatoes, unroasted coffee beans, etc. I remember as a child, accidentally germinated a coconut palm, from throwing the mostly eaten out shell onto a garden bed for a few months.

Another suggestion for those of you out there, who are visited by birds to your garden, why not take a handful of birdseed and plant it out in an out of the way section of your garden. These bird friendly plants like Sunflower, oats, sorghum, etc, can be a real bonus for many native birds to supplement their diet. Many of the seeds in any packet of birdseed are very viable.

When my kids were younger and I was showing them such wonders, I used to have trouble convincing them that I could not do similar things in growing and multiplying with a variety of items of importance to them at the time, from toys to chocolate, lollies and even coins.



Taylor

James Rash


Bring Your Garden Indoors

An Indoor Garden might be a good fit for you, it is for me.

 

Are you like me, a casual indoor gardener who  likes to see plants grow?  Fresh vegetables and Flower taste and smell great!

 

Why not have an indoor garden in the kitchen, family room or office or, you can, with the AeroGarden system, fresh  herbs, vegetables and flowers all year long? Plus the system is a clean, no mess, low maintenance system that really Works!

 

Note:  see below for a full description of Hydroponic Gardening.

 

Depending on the kit you choose it will have either 3 -6 -7 pods in each units.  Just drop in a pre-seeded grow pod, dirt free, pre seeded pods act as mini greenhouse for fast  germination – some within 24 hrs, just add water to the grow chamber add nutrients as per directed  and turn the system on  That’s It!

 

It will take  you only a few minutes to set up the kit – basically there are three parts,  the base, the extender arm and top unit that holds the built-in grow lights – they all snap together, with instructions that even I could understand – then drop in the seed pods, water, nutrients then push the on button.

 

You will start to see the sprouts in 4-7 days – sit back and watch them grow,  you will see some growth every day.  The plants will sprout twice as fast, grow twice as fast and last twice as long as the same plants that have been planted in dirt.  Maintenance time – you add nutrients and check the water levels every Two week plus as the plants grow a little pruning will help the plants grow.

 

I go to my kitchen every morning and look at my indoor garden – and the grandkids love to see how much the plant have grown since their last visit.

 

Last week we started a new garden –I’m growing full sized Heirloom Tomatoes, the sprouts came up in about  6-7 days, they are now about and 1 ½” tall!

 

I will have tomatoes in a couple months – right in the middle of winter in Denver, Colorado

 

Hydroponic Gardening: “Hydroponics (from the Greek words hydro water and ponos labor) is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrients solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel or mineral wool.”  From:  Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

 



Francisco

C.L. Hendricks


For some the phrase living off the land brings back an audio memory of a song from the 1970’s; Dog Named Boo by Lobo. For others it means foraging and companionship farming. In the beginning of time all people lived off the land, hunting and gathering food. Eventually people learned how to grow crops and raise animals for food.  These agricultural societies were dependent upon the land for their existence.

Living off the land, can mean learning how to grow food plants easily without employing high till, soil eroding methods requires that you give up the idea of neat rows of growing plants with dirt paths between them. A large amount of time is spent pulling weeds from traditional gardens. Weeds that are usually edible and give back nutrients that food plants remove from the soil.

American Indians used a method for producing three staple vegetables that they called the “Three Sisters.” Using primitive stone and bone tools they would prepare the soil in a circle. They would mound up the dirt. In the center would they would plant corn. Close to the corn seed they would plant three bean seeds. Around the edge of the mound they would plant squash. As the corn grew the bean stalks would wind around the stalk of the corn. As the squash grew, the large leaves would help retain the moisture from the rains to keep all three growing strong. Each plant uses different nutrients from the soil and puts back what the other plants need. Each species contributed to the well being of the other.

Planting large leaved food crops such as squash, pumpkin and melons near other smaller leaved plants helps retain moisture in the soil. Planting quick growing plants like leaf lettuce and greens in the rows between longer growing plants such as beets and turnips you harvest food long before the next one is ripe. Planting flowers in between rows has been a common practice for companionship planting. The flowers draw the bees to the garden helping with pollination.

A word of caution: If you’re using heirloom seeds, keep pumpkins away from squash, and allow lots of space between corn varieties. While cross pollination of Blue Corn and Yellow Corn may be pretty it takes many years to return each to their genetic purity. Mounding on different sides of the area solves this problem. Pumpkins take to mound planting as well as squash. Watermelons and other melons also do well when planted with beans and corn. Heirloom varieties require about 100 feet between them to be safe from cross pollination.

Foraging is almost as important as companionship farming when living off the land. Wild fruits such as raspberry, blackberry, cranberries and blueberries grow wild. Gathering these add variety and flavor to the daily meal. Many wild greens, mushrooms and roots gathered when they are ripe also add nutrients to the diet long before garden plants are ready to harvest. Wild Mustard, Lambs Quarters and Amaranth are ready to be eaten when lettuce, spinach and turnip greens are just barely recognizable.

Later in the fall the various nuts gathered and added to the stores of food that the garden produces increases volume and variety. Walnuts, Butternuts, Hazelnuts, Beechnuts and Hickory nuts are just a few of the many nuts that grow on the North American continent. Nutmeats are high in oil that can be extracted for cooking and they are high in protein. They are well worth gathering.

Living off the land requires that you store what you grow and gather. Canning, water bath and pressure canning, through drying or freezing or cold storing the food that you have foraged or grown will feed you through the winter. Almost all the stems and stalks of food crop plants can be dried and then fed to livestock.

Chickens, turkeys, guinea hens, rabbits and goats are all valuable to a family that is living off the land. The birds will eat the left over plant produce as well as the bugs that bite and irritate. Using tractors, a type of small animal cage that is mobile, and the entire yard can be pest free all season long. Additionally using animal tractors keep your yard fertilized and “mowed” without you spreading any fertilizer or running the lawn mower.

The most important aspect of living off the land is the knowledge that you have provided a healthy, balanced diet for you and your family. Watching the fruits of your labor ripen on the vine or stalk, seeing that tiny egg grow into an adult bird with chicks of her own are things that no supermarket or grocery store can provide.



Pat

Abhishek Agarwal


The following tips is all you need to know for growing a bountiful of beautiful tomatoes. Gardening tomatoes are not at all difficult, all it requires are some attention and care while you get started. Most tomato varieties require just the same or slightly different strategies for effective produce hence tips for gardening tomatoes is the same for all types and varieties.

The tips to be followed for gardening tomatoes, both indoors as well as outdoors are given below. They are very effective by being organic in nature so as to prevent concerns about using pesticides or herbicide in the garden

*The plant should be deep inside the gravel of the garden or the container. Make sure that the entire roots are two or three inches inside the soil. This should be ensured specially if a tomato variety is of the large type. If the tomato plants are rooted shallow they will require support or staking as it will fall over when it starts to bear fruit. The best of tips from the gardening experts on tomato are to see that the seedling is buried up to the last bottom leaves.

*Plant the tomatoes under direct or indirect sunlight and also in moist soil. The soil should be damp but not water saturated. Watch out for signs of the leaves appearing dry or curling in which case the plant needs more water. This requires immediate attention.

* Prior to farming, Stake or tomato cages are to be placed around the plants so as to prevent the plant from falling over or being uprooted. This tip should be given due importance. Also gardening tomatoes require advanced planning to ensure that the plant matures properly.

To begin with the quality of the seed is of utmost importance. It is important to find out what are the varieties that grow best and in which soil and stay with what works best. The Heirloom varieties of tomatoes are a good option to plant as this variety has a natural immunity to most type of soil. It also has a natural immunity to plant insects and plant diseases.

* Do mulch around the tomato plant. It’s a must even when it is planted inside a container. Mulching will prevent weed growing around while conserving the moisture.

*The leaves at the bottom of the tomato plant needs to be removed as they start ageing. The first signs of ageing appear on the bottom leaves as brown spots, moulds or fungus. This is because the moisture levels vary at the bottom of the plant and the absence of enough sunshine on these leaves.

These tomato gardening tips and techniques are for keeping the plants healthy and to get a bountiful yield. For an interesting start up its better to try the heirloom variety or the yellow and even the purple variety of tomatoes. The tips and advice for tomato gardening and the strategies will all be the same for different varieties of tomatoes and of course for the standard varieties most gardeners love growing.



Greg

Paul Hata


More farmers are getting into organic vegetable gardening because it is cost effective and they are able to produce almost the same yield of crops. You to can do this at home but first, you have to understand the principles of organic vegetable gardening.

First, organic vegetable gardening does not use any fertilizers, nutrients or pesticides. Nature is your partner here because you will be using two things to make it all work namely sunlight and water. We don’t produce these ourselves but you have to find the ideal area and provide adequate drainage.

Aside from sunlight and water, you can help the crops grow by using compost heap from leftover food, chipped bark, garden compost, leaf moulds and manure. You can mix these all together and then spread this throughout your garden.

A lot of people are grossed about by manure. You don’t have to scoop this from the toilet because this is sold in stores. If you have a dog, put on some gloves and put it there. Chickens are also great to have. Just let them roam around in the garden.

Some people use dead animals or meat products. You don’t put these in the soil but leave it for a couple of weeks in the bin because maggots will soon appear and this is what you use to help fertilize your garden.

Another helpful creature is the earthworm because it digs deep into the ground and aerates the soil bringing various minerals to the surface which also provides better drainage. This long pink colored creature also leaves casting behind that experts say is five times as rich in nitrogen phosphorous and potassium. Again, this can be purchased from the gardening store.

Organic garden is challenging since you have to deal with unwanted guests. Some of these pests include armyworms, crickets, gypsy moth caterpillars, slugs and squash bugs. Before, people used fertilizer to kill them but in an organic setting, the best weapon is the toad that is known to eat more almost every type of insect. If you have caterpillars or spiders lurking in the garden, get a bird because this is not in the toad’s diet.

In some cases, you don’t have to buy a toad or a bird from the pet store. They may come in to your home as long as you set the ideal environment for them. You can put up a bird house or a small pond. Within days, you will have some new occupants protecting your garden.

Other insect killers which you can get to do the job include the preying mantis and the ladybug because they mark their territory and eat anything that dares enter their domain.

Plants can also be used to protect your vegetables. For example, the rosemary, sage or thyme is an effective deterrent against butterflies. Marigolds on the other hand are effective against nematodes.

But despite all the flowers and creatures that nature has to offer, crop rotation is seen as the best way to keep the soil fertile. If you planted this kind of vegetable for this season, change it with another and the return to the first after this one is harvested.

The principles behind organic gardening are very simple. You just have to be practice it so you can harvest the vegetables you have planted weeks ago.



Lara