Perk Your Garden Up: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden

Every day in America, millions of pots of coffee are brewed at homes, restaurants and coffee houses. That means that millions of pounds of used coffee grounds, filters and bags are ending up in garbage cans, instead of being reused or recycled. That is a tremendous waste, as coffee grounds are a rich source of many nutrients, and make a fantastic (and free) garden fertilizer.

What is so great about coffee grounds?
Coffee grounds are loaded with nutrients any garden would welcome. They are acidic, and will balance out any alkalinity problems your soil may have, as well as adding texture to your soil. They contain 2% nitrogen fertilizer, as well as magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, potassium and trace minerals, making it a perfect fertilizer. Worms love coffee grounds, and wherever you find worms, you’ll find good soil. Using coffee grounds in your garden will attract worms, and the worms will aerate your soil, making drainage better, and loosening compacted soil so that plants and trees have an easier time building root systems. Continue reading »

Creative Organic Gardening: Willow Water

Long ago, the bark of the willow tree was used medicinally without much understanding of how or why it worked. People chewed the bark or made a tea from it. Though most people today do not drink willow water tea or chew willow bark, the historical use of the willow lead to the discovery of one of our most commonly used medications: aspirin. However, most people are surprised to learn that willow water can still be used beneficially in the garden and as organic rooting hormone and plant disease fighter.

Willow bark contains salicin, which is similar in composition to acetylsalicylic acid, commonly called aspirin. Plants soaked in or watered with a willow water brew have been shown to root better and to better fight off disease. This is because willows are some of the most easily rooted plants around secondary to their naturally occurring rooting hormones. Willows actually root so easily that in many cases, simply cutting off a branch and placing it in moist ground will suffice to grow a new willow tree. Furthermore, the salicin in willow helps plants fight off bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This effect can last for up to several months. Continue reading »

Organic Urban Farming: Changing the Way Tomatoes are Grown

Ever since humans first began tilling soil, they have looked for ways to produce bigger, better food plants that will feed ever-growing families and communities. Recent agricultural developments have produced huge industrial gardens dedicated to one type of plant, resulting in land that has lost its natural diversity and been stripped of the nutrients necessary for plant growth. Continue reading »

Five Tactics for Organic Pest Control

One of the biggest problems in organic gardening is controlling pests. Left unchecked, harmful insects can kill plants or leave them unable to produce. From ants and aphids to slugs and snails, there are a number of ways to eliminate pests from your precious produce without harming the environment. Here are five great ways to get rid of pests organically. Continue reading »

The Indoor Organic Herb Garden

An indoor organic herb garden can be an excellent project, providing great smelling plants and great tasting food, which can also be quite nutritious. The advantage of having an indoor organic herb garden is that one can be surrounded by fresh plants all the time. The space hardly matters, as aromatic organic herbs can be grown in small window pots or in areas as large as a green house. A correct choice of herbs to be grown in your organic garden is very much necessary to accommodate your personal tastes. Continue reading »

Organic Pest Treatment

Pest control treatment is done on farms and home gardens to prevent lose of crops. Although the use of pesticides appears to save time and improve crop quality, it is actually very harmful to the water, air, and soil. Additionally, pesticide exposure has been linked to diseases and health problems such as cancer, birth defects, Parkinson’s, and infertility amongst others. Organic foods are in high demand because they’re free of toxins.

Organic pest control was the first method used to abate bug infestations on farms. Our ancestors used several methods that are making a comeback on today’s farms and home gardens. The most popular organic pest control methods include: Continue reading »