Today's Tip: Compost

Composting your food and yard waste reduces the amount of garbage you send to landfills and reduces carbon pollution. Using food and kitchen scraps, yard trimmings, and other organic waste to create a compost pile can also help increase soil water retention, decrease erosion, and replace chemical fertilizers.

Learn more about composting at home: http://www2.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home

 

 

35 Ways to Succeed at Organic Gardening

Here are nearly three dozen easy, green ways to care for your yard and garden.

 

By Colleen Vanderlinden
Harper Woods, MI, USA | Jul 23  2009

 

Going green in the garden is a great way to start living a greener life overall. Here are some simple ideas to help you grow a greener, healthier garden.

 

Water Wisely

 

1.            Mulch everything (vegetable gardens, perennial borders, containers) to conserve water.
               Organic materials, such as shredded bark, chopped leaves, grass clippings, or straw, are
               best.

2.            Water at soil level through drip irrigation or soaker hoses. Overhead watering is wasteful
               and can contribute to plant fungal issues.

3.            Or, even better, use a watering can, and selectively water only those plants that need it
               rather than watering an entire area.

4.            When you water the garden, do so deeply and infrequently. Don't water until the top
                inch of soil feels dry, then be sure to really give plants a good watering. This
                encourages the roots to grow deep, making the plant more drought-tolerant
                and healthier overall.

5.            Consider using gray water to irrigate flowerbeds or perennial borders.

 

Green Pest and Disease Control

 

6.            Say it with me: "No chemical pesticides!" Thank you.

7.            The best way to deal with large insect pests such as beetles, larvae, and slugs, is to pick
               them off of your plants by hand and drop them into a cup of soapy water.

8.            For smaller pests, you can try spraying them with soapy water. The soap breaks down their
               outer coating and the result is deadly for them.

9.            A blast of water from the hose will take care of many insect pests, including aphids.

10.          Help prevent powdery mildew by not planting too closely, and not watering the foliage.

11.          Mulching heavily (at least 3 inches) around garden plants helps protect them from many
               soil-borne fungi, including black spot, tomato leaf spot, and powdery mildew.

12.          Protect vegetable garden crops from pests like cabbage loopers, Colorado potato beetles,
               and cucumber beetles by covering the plants with floating row covers.

 

Organic Lawn Care

 

13.          Mow high. Set your mower at its highest setting. Taller grass shades the soil, which helps
                keep it cool and moist, and also prevents weed seeds from sprouting.

14.          Use a mulching mower. Mulching mowers (there are reel mowers that mulch as well!) help
               your lawn by returning all of those clippings to the soil, where they nourish the grass and
               help conserve moisture.

15.          Clover in the lawn is a good thing. The clover fixes nitrogen in its roots, making it available
               to the surrounding turfgrass. The result? Greener, healthier grass. Plus, the clover provides
               food for the bees.

16.          Fertilize with manure, fish emulsion, or a top-dressing of compost in early spring where
               winters are frigid and late fall where winters are mild. Do it again in late summer, if you
               want.

17.          Apply corn gluten meal, an all-natural, organic material, as a pre-emergent crabgrass and
               dandelion treatment.

18.          You noticed that I didn't mention watering ? That's because you really don't have to
                water your lawn. Cool season lawn grasses naturally go dormant in the hottest,
                driest part of the year, and naturally green up again when temperatures
                and precipitation normalize. Trying to keep them green when they would
                naturally go dormant is a waste of time and resources.

19.          Oh, you don't want a brown lawn? Consider replacing it with a ground cover, meadow
               planting, or other lawn alternative.

 

Getting Sane About Weeds

 

20.          Pulling weeds is the single most effective organic method for removing them. Yes, it takes
               time. But it works.

21.          Decide whether having a weed free garden really matters (but I can assure you that
               there is no such thing as "weed-free.") Many weeds, including dandelions, provide
               valuable food sources for beneficial insects.

22.          If lawn weeds are driving you nuts, consider reducing your lawn area or removing it all
               together. Replace it with mulched garden beds or patio areas and kiss your lawn weed
               problems good-bye.

23.          If you have weeds growing in sidewalk or driveway cracks, either pull them or hit them
               with a dose of boiling water---no chemicals necessary!

24.          When you do pull those weeds, compost them!

 

Compost is King

 

25.          Make a compost pile where it is accessible to the garden, because you will be putting items
               into the pile often.

26.          Composting doesn't have to be complicated. Any pile of organic matter will break down
               over time. The important thing is to do it, rather than obsessing over perfection.

27.          Keeping the pile moist, but not soaking wet, will help the contents break down faster.

28.          Anything from a freestanding pile to a fancy tumbler will work well. What you
               choose depends on the available space you have, how much material you expect
               to add to your compost, and your own aesthetic preferences. You can spend as
               much or as little as you want.

29.          No yard? Try vermicomposting. A worm bin can fit in a cabinet under your kitchen sink, in
               a corner of a room, or in a basement.

30.          While many surprising things can be added to a compost pile, a few things should be
               avoided. Don't add meat or dairy to your pile. It will stink and attract pests.

 

Encourage Beneficials

 

31.          If you can entice a toad to take up residence in your yard, he or she will repay you
               by eating all types of insect pests. Provide a home for toads by setting a clay pot
               on its side in the garden – this is an excellent re-use for a broken pot.

32.          Plant flowering plants to provide food sources for pollinating insects.

33.          Attract beneficial insects, such as lady bugs and lacewings, by planting plenty
               of flowering plants, providing areas for them to hide (if you mulch or have shrubs,
               you've got this covered) and, of course, not using chemical pesticides.

34.          Bats can eat up to 3,000 mosquitoes per night – definitely worth inviting to stay a while.
               You can entice them to your yard by buying or building a bat box and installing it in your
               yard in early spring.

35.          Let's not forget the earth-movers beneath our feet. Keep earthworms happy and busy
               aerating and fertilizing your garden by covering any bare soil with mulch and not disrupting
               the soil more than you have to.

 

Greening your yard and garden isn't complicated, expensive, or difficult. If you pay attention, spend some time checking for signs of trouble, and make your yard a haven for all types of life, you'll have the greenest yard on the block.

 

 

 

5 green resolutions that won't cost you a dime

Hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year’s Eve and a great New Year’s Day.  Here’s one more set of resolutions if you are still trying to decide on how to ‘green’ your life in 2014. 

Living more sustainably doesn't have to be expensive.

By Sami Grover                  Dec 28 2013

"Hybrid cars, solar panels, organic food. This green living thing is just an elitist fantasy."

I've never really understood this line of thinking. The more money you have, the more you tend to consume. The more you consume, the bigger your environmental footprint is going to be. Yes, solar panels and hybrid cars are an important part of our low-carbon future, but many of the most important things we can do to go green are totally and utterly free. 

Here are some resolutions that can help you live sustainably in the long run and won't cost you a single dime. 

Eat less meat
Besides home energy use and transportation, food makes up one of the largest portions of our personal carbon footprint. And meat and dairy make up by far the biggest percentage of our food-related impact. You may not be ready to follow Al Gore's example and go vegan, but why not consider starting with Meatless Mondays or a weekday vegetarian diet? Not only will you slash your impact, you'll save some money at the grocery store, too. 

Drive less, walk and bike more

Despite convincing evidence that our culture has reached "peak car," most of us (myself included) are not quite ready to go car-free. Nevertheless, we can all do our part. From walking to the store to biking to work, there are plenty of ways to cut back without going cold turkey. Like most resolutions worth their salt, however, it can be hard to stay motivated at first — so set yourself up for success. Keep an umbrella by the front door, store your bike in a convenient location (and maintain it well!), and make car-pooling plans with friends to keep you from backtracking. 

Turn off the lights, program the thermostat

LED light bulbs and fancy learning thermostats will almost certainly save you money in the long run, but there are cheaper ways to cut back. Many Americans, for example, already have a programmable thermostat — too many, however, still fail to program it. Even if your thermostat is not programmable, simply knowing what temperature to set it to can be a great way to save money. And whatever kinds of bulbs you use, just remember to turn them off when you leave the room. It's really that easy.

Start composting

I may have been singing the praises of the NatureMill indoor composter of late, but we should never forget that old hippy adage: compost happens. Setting up a basic composting operation in your backyard doesn't have to cost a single penny, just follow these easy steps on setting up a compost pile. You'll not only reduce your household waste, but you'll nurture the earth around you and cut back on trips to the garden store too.

Give things away

For all the talk of buying more sustainable products, there's a lot to be said for simply owning less too. So look around you, identify the things you no longer use or need, and then find someone who can give them a good home. eBay or Craigslist can be a great way to make a few bucks in the process — or you can opt for more community-minded options like freecycle or Really, Really Free Markets. In our neighborhood, people just leave things out on the curb that they don't want with a note to let people know that it is free. We've gotten rid of plenty of unwanted items this way ourselves, and we've scored everything from a donut maker to a bike trailer in return. 

Something to think about after you are finish with your Christmas tree…

Use Your Christmas Tree in the Garden

Don't just give it away. Your old tree can work wonders in your garden.

By Colleen Vanderlinden  Harper Woods, MI, USA | Dec 2009

Christmas trees can be a real conundrum. Real or fake? Living or, um, not-living? Which has the least environmental impact, and how can we lessen any impact our tree has on the planet?
In all honesty, the option with the least impact is the one Mickey Z. suggests: don't get a tree.
For some of us, though, the holidays just aren't the holidays without something upon which to drape garlands and those antique glass ornaments from our grandma. We can choose a living tree, and plant it out in the yard when the holidays are over. Or we can buy a cut tree from an organic tree farm, and then recycle it. Better yet, put that tree to use in your garden.

Five Ways to Use a Holiday Tree in Your Garden

1. Cut the branches off and lay them over perennials in your garden. This will provide protection from temperature fluctuations and prevent the plants from heaving out of the soil.
2. Once you've used all the branches, you'll be left with a trunk. Don't get rid of it! I've used the trunks from a few of our holiday trees to make teepees to grow beans on, rustic fences, and as supports for shade covers and floating row covers.
3. You can cut the branches up into smaller pieces and use them to mulch your beds or garden paths. Don't think you need a big, gas-guzzling chipper for this! I use a pair of trusty bypass pruners, and snip a few branches into pieces each time I go out into the garden. It takes a little more time, but it's free, easy, and doesn't have any impact on the environment.
4. Provide a home for the birds. Once you're done with it indoors, remove the decorations and place your tree, stand and all, out in the yard. Birds will find it and use it as shelter during the winter months. In spring, once the birds don't need it anymore, either chip it up or lay it on its side in a part of your yard where it can serve as a brush pile for other backyard wildlife.
5. Cut the branches off and use them at the base of a fresh compost pile. It's a good idea to have coarser materials, like tree branches, at the bottom of the pile because it helps increase air flow to the pile.
Being green doesn't mean getting rid of the beloved traditions in our lives. It means making new traditions, and really thinking about how we can green those traditions. Reusing a holiday tree is one easy way to do that.

Compostable straws

It's great to see restaurants using green products.  The server even picked up the straws we weren't going to use.  This was in an establishment in Asheville, NC. 

Green BBQ

It’s grilling season and here’s a few pointers to make your grilling a little greener!

  Green BBQ

1.  Choose healthy organic or natural snacks

2.  Make your own ice pops

3.  Use biodegradable or recycled tableware

4.   Clean outdoor furniture with eco-friendly products

5.   Drink with a reusable straw

6.   Switch to fizzy natural juices or sodas

7.    Make sure your drinks are eco-friendly and/or brewed locally

8.    Switch to organic hot dogs

9.    Switch to cloth napkins at home regularly

10.  Buy organic or natural chips regularly

11.   Grill with gas instead of charcoal

12.   Buy organic fruits and vegetables for the Dirty Dozen

13.   Buy meat that is raised using sustainable farming methods

14.   Compost kitchen food waste

http://nbc-smallacts.practicallygreen.com/playlists/157/actions

 

EcoScraps Potting Soil

Pretty cool!

EcoScraps Potting Soil, Made from Grocers' Produce Waste, Now Available Nationwide Through Target

by Jennifer Elks                                    February 26, 2013

EcoScraps, a provider of organic, chemical- and manure-free lawn and garden products, today announced that its 100 percent organic potting soil is now available at more than 1,700 Target stores nationwide. This marks the first time that EcoScraps will appear on the shelves of a major retailer at the national level.

The move is a significant expansion for EcoScraps, as it enters just its third year of operations. The company’s unique process enables retailers to recycle produce waste from their grocery department and resell it as an organic lawn and garden soil supplement. Selling EcoScraps’ potting soil is in alignment with Target’s mission of integrating environmental sustainability into every facet of its business, and its commitment to expanding its selection of sustainable product choices that effectively balance price, performance and convenience.

“There is no national brand that is bringing organic, sustainable lawn and garden products to consumers like EcoScraps is,” said Nancy Pfund, managing partner at DBL Investors. “The growth that this company has seen in just a few short years validates that EcoScraps answers a large consumer need that has not been met until now. As awareness about EcoScraps’ products continues to grow, I anticipate that other major retailers will follow Target’s lead.”

EcoScraps’ products are held to the highest eco-friendly standards while maintaining the industry’s highest levels of lawn and garden performance. Safe for children, pets and the planet, EcoScraps recycles produce waste that would otherwise be hauled into the nation's landfills to create methane — a greenhouse gas emission more harmful than CO2.

“There is no way to overstate what a big milestone this is for us,” said EcoScraps CEO and co-founder, Dan Blake. “This partnership with Target underscores the drive for consumers to find simple, easy ways to use sustainable, high-quality products and we are excited to be a part of that.”

Jennifer Elks is Managing Editor of Sustainable Brands. She is a writer, editor and foodie who is passionate about improving food systems, closing loops and creating more livable cities. She loves cooking, wine, cooking with wine, correcting spelling errors in… [Read more about Jennifer Elks]

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More on EcoScraps - http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/23/smallbusiness/ecoscraps/index.htm

75 Things You Can Compost

75 Things You Can Compost, But Thought You Couldn't

by Colleen Vanderlinden, Planet Green

The basics of composting are simple. Most people know they can compost fruit and vegetable peels, leaves, and grass clippings. But what about that tea bag you used this morning? Or the fur that collects in the brush when you groom your cat?
The following list is meant to get you thinking about your compost possibilities. Not every item on the list is for everyone, and that's fine. Imagine how much trash we could prevent from going into the landfills if each of us just decided to compost a few more things. Here are 75 ideas to get you started.
From the Kitchen
1. Coffee grounds and filters
2. Tea bags
3. Used paper napkins
4. Pizza boxes, ripped into smaller pieces
5. Paper bags, either ripped or balled up
6. The crumbs you sweep off of the counters and floors
7. Plain cooked pasta
8. Plain cooked rice
9. Stale bread
10. Paper towel rolls
11. Stale saltine crackers
12. Stale cereal
13. Used paper plates (as long as they don't have a waxy coating)
14. Cellophane bags (be sure it's really Cellophane and not just clear plastic—there's a difference.)
15. Nut shells (except for walnut shells, which can be toxic to plants)
16. Old herbs and spices
17. Stale pretzels
18. Pizza crusts
19. Cereal boxes (tear them into smaller pieces first)
20. Wine corks
21. Moldy cheese
22. Melted ice cream
23. Old jelly, jam, or preserves
24. Stale beer and wine
25. Paper egg cartons
26. Toothpicks
27. Bamboo skewers
28. Paper cupcake or muffin cups

From the Bathroom

29. Used facial tissues
30. Hair from your hairbrush
31. Toilet paper rolls
32. Old loofahs
33. Nail clippings
34. Urine
35. 100% Cotton cotton balls
36. Cotton swabs made from 100% cotton and cardboard (not plastic) sticks

Personal Items

It might be a good idea to bury these items in your pile. Just sayin'.
37. Cardboard tampon applicators
38. Latex condoms

From the Laundry Room

39. Dryer lint
40. Old/stained cotton clothing—rip or cut it into smaller pieces
41. Old wool clothing—rip or cut it into smaller pieces

From the Office

42. Bills and other documents you've shredded
43. Envelopes (minus the plastic window)
44. Pencil shavings
45. Sticky notes
46. Business cards (as long as they're not glossy)
47. Receipts

Around the House

48. Contents of your vacuum cleaner bag or canister
49. Newspapers (shredded or torn into smaller pieces)
50. Subscription cards from magazines
51. Leaves trimmed from houseplants
52. Dead houseplants and their soil
53. Flowers from floral arrangements
54. Natural potpourri
55. Used matches
56. Ashes from the fireplace, barbecue grill, or outdoor fire pit

Party and Holiday Supplies

57. Wrapping paper rolls
58. Paper table cloths
59. Crepe paper streamers
60. Latex balloons
61. Raffia
62. Excelsior
63. Jack o' Lanterns
64. Those hay bales you used as part of your outdoor fall decor
65. Natural holiday wreaths
66. Your Christmas tree. Chop it up with some pruners first (or use a wood chipper, if you have one...)
67. Evergreen garlands

Pet-Related

68. Fur from the dog or cat brush
69. Droppings and bedding from your rabbit/gerbil/hamsters, etc.
70. Newspaper/droppings from the bottom of the bird cage
71. Feathers
72. Alfalfa hay or pellets (usually fed to rabbits)
73. Rawhide dog chews
74. Fish food
75. Dry dog or cat food
I know that the longer I've had a compost pile, the more likely I've been to take a second look at something I was preparing to throw in the trash. "Hmm. Can I compost this?" is a frequent question in my house. And, as you can see, it's surprising how often you can answer "Yes!"

Questions and Comments

Gene Dempsey, City Forester

Environmental Services

Office - (954) 828-7704 Fax - (954) 828-7897

GDempsey@fortlauderdale.gov

Think before you print!

12 things you can do in your yard that will reduce your footprint on the planet

From the Fort Lauderdale Garden Club website (www.flgc.org):

12 things you can do in your yard that will reduce your footprint on the planet
1. Buy Slow Release Fertilizers and do not Fertilizer within 15 feet of the canals.

They might appear more costly - but you use less and they last longer.  Florida's sandy soil does not hold water. It passes rapidly through the ground and into our water table.  Slow release fertilizers give off diluted chemicals over a longer period of time and the amount is consumed and filtered by the time water reaches well depth.


2. Reduce Garbage and Compost

Save 1,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year. Compost is the best gift you can get for your plants.   Using your yard clippings means fewer trips the city has to make to the dump and greater savings for all.

3. Plant a Tree

Plant trees local to your area that will reduce carbon dioxide and create clean air to breathe. One tree can suck up 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year.

4. Let Mother Nature help out - Get a Rain Barrel - Get another!

You can capture rainfall from your roof and use it to water your plants.  They are easy to make and highly efficient.  Plus rainwater is free from fluorides and chloride chemicals so your plants do better!  If we get a 1/2 rainfall, one downspout can capture 55 gallons of water.  MAKE YOUR OWN RAIN BARREL   http://www.moringagardencircle.org/rain-barrels/RainBarrelHandout-11-6.pdf

5. Buy Products and Plants Locally

Buy locally and reduce the amount of energy required to drive your products to your store.
6. Use a Push or Electric Mower

Use your muscles instead of fossil fuels and get some exercise. Save 80 lbs of carbon dioxide and x $ per year.  Or try an electric mower.

7. NatureScape - Plant Native Plants

Native Plants like it here and they survive In spite of our weather.  Natives also supply food and shelter for our native wildlife.  Bring butterflies and birds back into your yard!8. Buy or Raise Organic Food

The chemicals used in modern agriculture pollute the water supply, and require energy to produce. Besides It is better tasting and better for your health.  Remember how good a homegrown tomato tastes?

9. MULCH - use environmentally friendly Eucalyptus or Melaleuca

Save the Cypress and the Pine trees from being ground up and choose eucalyptus mulch that does not harbor Insects and decomposes in the soil. Put it around your plants leaving at least 1 Inch of free space near the stems so they will not rot and apply the mulch 3 Inches thick.

10. Water efficiently

Established plants do not need to be watered daily - In fact it weakens them and they establish surface roots.  Give your plants 1 inch of water twice a week during the growing season and once a week during the winter.  It is deep roots that help them survive!

11. Get a birdbath

The water shortage effects wildlife that depends on fresh water in puddles and ponds to survive. Share what you have with the other members of our plant.

12. Share your knowledge and encourage your neighbors to do these things. Then, compliment them when you see them making a difference.

Remember --- It takes a village!   We are not in this alone.

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Other yard tips can be found in the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Handbook which you can view online http://hort.ufl.edu/fyn/handbook.pdf