Thursday, February 26, 2009

How to Grow Healthy Food

To grow healthy food, you literally have to start at rock bottom. No matter what you're growing, from chickpeas to chickens, the truth is that you are what they eat!

It's no secret that all life begins with the soil. Although it may look like dirt to the naked eye, organically rich soil is a living, breathing community of microorganisms. These little denizens of the dirt are born, grow, breed, give birth and die leaving an estate of nutrition-filled remains to the soil. While they live, many of these little critters feed on undesirable elements like harmful bacteria. A good balance is very important if you want to grow healthy food

Every year, gardeners spend thousands of dollars on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides that are little more than a quick fix to gardening problems and create long-term health hazards for everyone, from humans to single-celled organisms in the soil. If you really want to grow healthy food, the first step is to keep your underground colony in good health.

You need to do two things to maintain healthy soil. The first is to keep out of the chemicals. The second is to add rich organic matter to your soil at regular intervals.
Keep out of the chemicals

No matter what amount of chemical you use in your gardening, a drop is a deluge to a microorganism. More to the point, most chemicals don't fade away. They leech into your garden and wait to attach to some growing thing… like your plants. One example is a gardener who claims to grow organic apples. He doesn't spray his trees, but he does use a chemical "weed & feed" application on his lawn, seemingly unaware of the systemic consequences of using chemicals. Of course his apple trees take their nourishment from the soil. Sometimes chemicals seem convenient, but when it comes to growing healthy food they are a definite no-no!

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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Easy to grow vegetable ideas

Cherry tomatoes are a real delight to grow.

You hear a lot of talk these days about how good vegetables are for you. The daily allowance is of five portions of fruit and veg today. But it costs a lot to buy fruit and veg at the supermarket. Despite all the guff about supermarkets being low cost places they still charge a lot for vegetables. It is not uncommon for a couple of lettuces to set you back over $4. You can get veg much cheaper if you go down to the market, but it can be out very cost effective to grow your own.

Here are the top ten vegetables to grow on your own. I have based this list based on my own hard experience. These should suit the lazy gardener who has little time to carefully tend their crops every day. I like to grow in a largely organic way. The only chemicals that I ever use are a few slug pellets.

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Sunday, February 8, 2009

Growing Blackberries in Hydroponics

Did you know that fresh, succulent blackberries, usually associated with warm summer days, don't need to be confined to a brief few moments each year? With the use of greenhouse and hydroponic technology, blackberries can be produced all year round.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Hydroponic Cabinets

Here are hydroponic cabinets and grow boxes to please just about anyone They are the best on the market, growing anywhere from 2 - 24 plants at a time. Check them out!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Micronutrients and their benefit to plants

The most common micronutrients and some of their most obvious benefits to plants include:
o Iron: Iron is vital to chlorophyll production.
o Magnesium: Magnesium is one of the components of chlorophyll. Magnesium is also involved in distributing phosphorus throughout the plant.
o Boron: Boron is needed in very small amounts. No one has yet to discover how plants use Boron.
o Calcium: Calcium encourages root growth in plants. It also helps plants absorb potassium.
o Zinc: Zinc is essential in the transference of energy in plants.
o Manganese: Manganese aids a plant in the absorption of nitrogen. It is also an important component in the energy transference process.
o Sulfur: Sulfur heightens the effectiveness of phosphorus and assists in the production of plant energy.
o Molybdenum: Molybdenum assists in the chemical reactions that take place in plants.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Growing Wheat Grass in hydroponics


"Hi guys, I just wanted to take a moment and say THANKS for one incredible product. I got my wife to break down and let me order the pc planter 4 weeks ago to grow wheat grass. I'm not sure if your familiar with wheat grass, but for us organic salt-of-the-earth nuts, this stuff is heavenly. Anyways, I grew more than I could juice in days, which blew my mind! We ended up with so much extra over the past month we've switched over to cherry tomatoes just for fun. Anyways, just wanted to drop a line and say it's nice to receive a product AS DESCRIBED for once, and a damn good one at that. Take care, and look for a Cool Cab order within the next few weeks!
Jason. T "

Sunday, February 1, 2009

What a great idea!

"On behalf of First United Methodist church I'd like to extend our thanks for your phone and e-mail assistance with setting up our indoor greenhouse. It is up and running just as we had hoped. As promised I'll send you updated pictures of our growing progress for our new Sunday school indoor veggie program. Hopefully we can pay off our purchase in a few months with our vegetable and herb sales.

Thank you again and God bless..... Pastor Mitchell"