33% of the food purchased in the united kingdom was proven to have measurable levels of pesticides and chemicals within them, and this was done by a scientist in the UK. These kinds of chemical substances were used to enhance the crops, and are considered to be harmful to the human body. The exact same study indicated that this was a fact throughout the developed world, and the amounts of contamination were almost the same, and it wasn’t any different for organic food. The pollution was principally caused by the water in the ground that was ingested by the plants. Bug sprays and fertilizers make it possible for plants to grow bigger and quicker but it seems that this has been done at a price.

The chemical compounds are actually entering into water tables which are spreading into everything we eat. In essence, the only solution to not use this water is to use distilled water, but then you will be missing the proper nutrients. The contamination even was spread out by the wind currents. Almost all of the fertilizers and bug sprays are sprayed on the crops, so when the wind is blowing they can be carried anywhere. The air is full of contamination, from who knows what poisons, or where they come from, but they continually circle the globe. Your organic garden may take damage because of this fact.

You never know what might be swirling around in the air and even the best safety measures might not work. Regrettably, unborn and newly born children may be subject to these pesticides. No one actually knows the valid effects of all these pesticides and chemicals that we have been allowing corporations and farmers to put on our food. Just some of the issues we can experience with chemicals are types of cancers, weakening the immune system, and the breakdown of the nervous system.

Safe guarding your food by cleaning them just isn’t as true as many people declare it is. Washing the peel will not be very helpful due to the fact certain chemicals leech through the skin and into the vegetable thus defeating the purpose of washing it. Organic and natural foods can continue to have chemicals within them, and this article revealed to you why organic might not be better Even so, they are in all probability still far healthier than what you get at a supermarket.

Related posts:

1. What’s all the Hype about Organic Cotton Clothing? You may not have known this, but more pesticides are...
2. Some Lil’ Green Changes You Can Make to Your Life One thing you are going to find is that green...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Growing plants organically is an honorable goal, and it’s not as hard as you may think. Consider the fact that gardens have been around for centuries, but chemical weed killers have not. If natural, eco friendly weed killers worked back then, they surely deserve a shot now.

Before figuring out which eco friendly weed killers will help you grow your garden, it’s important to consider just why it is you’re shying away from chemical weed killers – after all, you don’t want to get sucked in by the lure of their apparent effectiveness and efficiency.

Chemical weed killers are actually quite expensive and can be harmful to children, pets and other plants. Worst of all, they have the potential to leach into our water systems. Even light rains can carry the chemicals from recently applied herbicides into storm drains, which lead right to our water supplies. They also seep into the ground, winding up in wells and even in streams and ponds.

Clearly the downsides of using chemicals outweigh any positives. So with that understood, here’s a list of effective eco friendly weed killers.

Salt

Mix salt and water in a spray bucket and spray directly on weeds. It will work, but you should know that salt sterilizes the soil, so its best used for the weeds that lurk among sidewalks, walkways and driveways.

Vinegar

This acidic liquid is one serious weed killer when poured directly on the weed’s roots. You can also mix vinegar with dish detergent and spray the combo on weeds. Lemon juice works just as well, but it’s often more expensive than vinegar, making the latter a more economical eco friendly weed killer.

Water

Boiled water poured over weeds can scald them to death. With no cost involved, it’s worth a try, as long as there are no other plants nearby that could suffer from the heat.

Tabasco sauce

Speaking of heat, a lot of successful gardeners swear by using this fiery sauce to put a damper on weed growth.

Along with these eco friendly weed killers, a little bit of manual labor is in order. Let the weed killers sit for a day or so, then pull up the weeds that are dying to ensure that they stay away. Also make sure that when you pull the weeds up, you get the whole root rather than just the stem. If you miss the root, there’s a good chance the weed will resprout.

If back pain leaves you wary of getting down on your hands and knees to pull those suckers firmly out of the ground, you can use a hoe to hack the roots apart. Remember that despite your best efforts, deep-rooted weeds might survive. In that case, use a hand rake or cultivator to dig them out of the ground altogether.

Related posts:

1. Types of Landscape Mulch Basically, all mulch falls into two categories – organic and...
2. Cleaning with Vinegar – 10 Ways to Go Green with Vinegar In my never-ending pursuit to learn about more ways to...
3. Why You Should Consider a Drip Irrigation System If you are currently watering your plants and flowers with...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

However, the type of landscape mulch that you ultimately choose to use depends on your personal needs.

Organic Mulch

• Pine Bark: Pine Bark is an extremely popular choice in many flower beds. It is extremely effective at controlling weeds and retaining moisture.
• Hardwood Mulch: You can get hardwood in two different types of mulch. The first is wood chips and the second is in a shredded form.  Both types have advantages, but most people feel that the shredded option is easier to work with and more attractive. Shredded hardwood will also decompose more slowly than wood chips.
• Hay or Straw: First, there is a difference between hay and straw and hay should never be used as a mulch in your yard as the hay itself contains weeds.  Straw can be used effectively, but it’s not really very attractive and it decomposes very rapidly.  It is, however, a good choice to cover new lawn area while you wait for your grass to come in.
• Pine Needles: This type of landscape mulch is actually quite attractive depending on the type of flower beds that you have. It allows water to penetrate very easily and is effective at retaining moisture. It’s also a wonderful weed barrier.  Think about walking through a forest that’s full of pine needles – how many weeds do you see?  For a different look, pine needles are a great choice.
• Ground Cover: Okay, I know that ground cover isn’t exactly mulch, but I think it’s worth mentioning here. Many ground covers can be used effectively in place of mulch. It can be an effective form of weed control and will cover your soil – effectively protecting the root area of the plants and retaining moisture.

Inorganic Mulch

• Gravel, Stone, or Pebbles: By far the most popular of all inorganic mulches avaiable, these are good for places where your plants are permanent. Because rocks don’t decompose, it can be a real hassle when you want to replant in an area that’s already covered in rocks or pebbles.  You only need about an inch of any of these substances to assist with weed control.
• Ground Rubber Tire Mulch: A fairly new option on the market, it is an interesting way to deal with tires. It won’t break down and never needs to be replaced.  That said, since the rubber is typically dark colored (as in, BLACK!), it is going to generate additional heat in your garden, just like a asphalt driveway would.
• Landscape Cloth: Not really attractive at all, landscape cloth is usually laid as a weed barrier and then covered with another form of mulch for aesthetics. Landscape cloth is preferable to using garbage bags as it allows air to travel through it.
• Trash Bags: Again, these are usually used for weed control and not as a decorative measure. Never use clear plastic bags – they are not effective at stopping weeds.  You can use black trash bags, but as mentioned above, using landscape cloth is a better choice these types of covers “breath.”

While not a comprehensive list of the types of mulch that are available, this should help to get you on the right path. What you should do now is head out to your local garden store. Look around at the options available in your area to see what appeals to you.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Community Supported Agriculture

Have you heard about Community Supported Agriculture? If you haven’t, you’re missing out. Basically, community supported agriculture is when a group of people become “share holders” in a farm operation. You pledge to buy a certain portion of a crop and provide the money up-front. When the crops are done, you get the portion that you purchased at the beginning of the farming season.

The share holders also take on the risk associated with farming – meaning if the farmer has reduced crops due to drought, pests, etc. you get less product.

The benefits associated with community supported agriculture are numerous though, and far outweigh the risk. First, supporting CSA is a great way to support your local community. It allows farmers to grow without all of the bank loans that they typically have to take on. Second, if the farmer produces crops as expected, you can get a great deal on produce and save money based on what you would pay in the store.

Getting involved in community supported agriculture is also a very green thing to do. A lot of the food that ends up on our tables travels an extremely long way to arrive there. Buying local, when possible, is a great way to be more eco friendly.

CSA’s are now available in every state and you might be surprised at what’s available near you. It’s worth checking out. Many times these farms will make deliveries to many central delivery points in an area weekly during harvest season. You’ll get different produce at different times, based on what’s available at the time.

It’s well worth your time to find out what’s available in your area and it’s a great green thing to do – not to mention good for the community.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

If you are currently watering your plants and flowers with sprinklers or a hose, it’s time to start thinking about installing a drip irrigation system. The main benefit of using drip irrigation is that you’ll conserve water and that in itself is a good enough reason alone.

However, there are more reasons than water conservation alone to make the change from spray to drip. Here’s just a few to get you thinking:

~ Drip irrigation gets water exactly where it’s needed – at the root of the plants. Because plants get a steady stream of water in exactly the right amount, they undergo less stress and tend to be more healthy.
~ If you are considering a sprinkler system, a drip irrigation system is much cheaper to install and run than traditional sprinkler systems.

~ You have the option to choose exactly how much water each plant will get. By adjusting the size of the holes in your netafin, you can water different plants with different amounts of water.

~ You can quickly and easily turn off your system during periods of heavy rain and can increase the amount of water when there’s a drought.

~ A drip irrigation system used in conjuction with mulch will help to keep the base and roots fo your plants moist at all times, which will result in faster plant growth.

The bottom line is that it’s cheap and easy to install.  The best time for you to install your system is as you plant for the year. Simply place your plants and then run the drip lines around them.  You can then top the entire thing with mulch and you’l be ready to give your plants exactly the amount of water that they need.

Okay…it’s not exactly that simple – you’ll have to hook it up to a water source and add some timers, but it’s not hard at all.  In fact, I once installed one by myself and if that’s possible – anyone can do it.

A great book to help get your started on laying your own system is All About Sprinklers & Drip Systems. A quick read through this and you’ll be installing a system in no time.

Remember when I said that installing drip irrigation was cheap? You can pick up a starter system that will take care of up to 700 sq of garden area for about $50.

What are you waiting for? Get dripping…

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.