Gateway: Organic Gardening, Permaculture & Guilds

something else to think about … (this would relate to every country and to every community)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

An interesting video, MsDebbieP. Lots to think about there.

-- jroot ....... Southern Ontario .......... grow zone 5A ...................."Gardening is an exercise in optimism." ....... . . Author Unknown

I have said that the only space we will have to grow our food is on golf courses… we need to start paying attention to what is happening.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

One solution is hydroponics. You can implement hydroponics pretty much anywhere there is a controlled environment. It takes up less space, and is cleaner than soil and more controlled because you determine the exact level of nutrition the plants get, the exact temperature, the exact light cycle, and the exact humidity level. It is true that hydroponics can be more complex than traditional soil growing, but once you get a system going, it becomes very easy to maintain and track. If you have a spare bedroom (like me) you can grow, if you have space in a shed or garage with electricity, you can grow, etc. You can even grow outdoors in greenhouse or open environments provided you maintain the water pH and nutrient level reducing contaminants as best as possible.

I have just recently gotten into hydroponics and I am working toward a completed project through my Apartment Hydroponics series. I hope that I will learn a lot from my own experiences and comments from others, and I hope that others will learn from my series.

-- Derik

excellent info

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

a nice video re: permaculture gardening. He makes it looks so easy, relaxed, and natural …

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Permaculture was on my mind this morning… I wrote this for our GardenTenders Google+ page this morning.

Over the past few years I have read a lot of tidbits about permaculture and I have, in a very rough way, included elements in my gardens.

As I sit here waiting for the temperature outside to get a wee bit warmer before I go out and play, I mean putter around my gardens, my mind is pulling some key points together, as I plan the next stage of my garden development:

1. human needs: although aesthetics are nice, my #1 priority is growing my own food; perennial vegetables is a great element of this goal.

2. wildlife needs: this piece of land on which I live is also home to birds, rabbits, insects, worms, fungus and a zillion other forms of life; therefore, since I have claimed myself to be the caretaker of this land I need to care for their habitat/food sources as well. Planting extra fruit bushes is one strategy.

3. naturalization needs: although climate change is having a huge effect on how and what grows in this region, there is a “normal”, with everything working together to give and take; I need to respect this local environment and contribute to it, work with it, enhance it. Native plants are my first choices.

4. environmental issues: my choices affect the earth, the air and the water not only here but planet-wide. The well water, for example, of my neighbours to the south of me is contaminated by toxins that I put on my gardens and rinse down the drain and head in that direction. “Organic/natural” has to be a priority.

5. and speaking of neighbours: I also need to be respectful of what they see when they look out the window and how my gardening affects them. Finding that balance of food production and aesthetics is important and I have to admit that it is sometimes forgotten. I need to add more “pretty” to my yard. :D

6. and last, but not least, work: I want the plants to create their own seeds, fertilizer and mulch so that I don’t have to buy, bring in, create, hoe, etc. Mother Nature is the best caretaker. I need to give the job back to her.

And now.. the temperature is higher and now I am going out to play!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Ideas for organic pesticides

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Edible Weeds: Curly Dock

Here’s a great video (and further information) about edible weeds and curly dock: link

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Increase Nutrients in your veggies/plants by creating healthier “natural” soil environment .. Link

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)