I shouldn’t judge people, like my mom used to say, but it’s tough when you talk to gardeners who claim to be organic, but have proof lying around that says otherwise, like discovering they hire someone to spray poison on their lawns to kill of the weeds that are tough to get rid of.

Not to be honest you might say you are going organic over saying you are an organic gardener. Then work on going 100% but it’s best to start somewhere, right.

Plan your garden right and you can almost let it go on it’s own. Of course it won’t be 100% without a bit of help from you with weeding and pruning.

Even the weeding can be controlled by the way you plant things. If there is no open ground space the weeds will have a hard time to get a foot hold.

We have started creating our own compost to continually add to our organic garden but we are now looking at creating our own mulch as well. This will help us cover the open areas we don’t with to plant on but to cover it so weeds don’t grow either.

The mulch will keep in moisture for the plants you have so you don’t waste water. The compost will add nutrients to the existing soil.

I remember back to when I was a kid. It was all poisons to control Mother Nature but in recent years we have been moving to all things organic so we are doing our part to help Mother Nature instead of killing her.

Whether you are limited to small-scale gardening, or you just want to grow herbs in the kitchen, always try to be mostly organic – you will be rewarded with healthy, chemical-free garden produce.

Don’t waste all your money on buying insecticides, buy new plants instead. I may not know everything about gardening, but I do know what I want, and have a good notion of what constitutes building a thriving ‘organic’ garden. An organic garden is a healthy garden, nurtured and developed in a timely fashion, no unnatural shortcuts allowed!

Colin West is a huge gardening enthusiast. He has been gardening all of his life, and has recently completed a new ebook on how to Grow Herb Garden At Home – which is available as a download.

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As the ole saying goes, a lot of water has passed under the bridge, since the days growing up on a farm. I was a boy that was full of energy and was always getting into something and then out came the old first aid kit.

My big sister took great pleasure in torturing me with anything and anything that would cause pain. My mom on the other hand had that magic touch and used herbs to soothe me. My sister knew what to do to ease the pain and help me heal, she just liked to see how much pain I could endure without screaming.

Herbs were used instead of all the crap drugs we use so readily these days. Perhaps you didn’t know that many of the medicines that you buy in the drug store have herb plants in them? Wouldn’t it be a lot easier and cheaper if you grew your own healing herbs? By using herb plants from my herb garden to fill my medicine cabinet, I have saved a lot of money.

I am already starting an indoor herb medicine cabinet and plan to increase the number of herbs we grow in our home garden as well. Stock up on some Mother Nature’s meds for the winter months.

Do you have any of these issues? Try herb plants!

• Coriander, chervil and thyme all help awesome for aching joints. For a cheap antibacterial, use calendula, lavender, lovage, marjoram, oregano or peppermint.

• Do you have bad breath? Parsley, mint, anise and sweet cicely will help everyone breathe easier.

• Constipation is never any fun. Help get the kinks out with fennel or dandelion.

• It’s amazing how many herb plants will help with flatulence, such as peppermint, summer savory, lemon balm, ginger, caraway, coriander, beebalm and lovage.

• By the end of the day I can usually go for some chamomile tea for my frazzled nerves. Some other herb plants that could assist include dill, goldenrod, lavender and lemon balm.

• Not much can is better than thyme for helping with your Saturday morning hangover. It works better than the raw egg/tomato juice drink people might tell you to drink.

• Can’t cure your hiccups? Give dill a try It not only has a fabulous flavor; it also works like a charm.

• To take care of your insect stings, even mosquito bites, experiment with aloe, goldenrod, hens-and-chicks and summer savory.

• Unable to sleep? A lot of the same herbs that will calm your nerves can help here too, but chamomile and dill are most likely to help you with your insomnia.

• If you suffer from seasonal allergies or nasal congestion, sage, horseradish and violet are good choices. To clean out your sinus passages in no time at all, experiment with a little horseradish.

• Indigestion and stomachache respond well to dill, fennel, lovage and of course peppermint.

Please do not be alarmed with all these treatments—they isn’t snake oil! You don’t believe me? Experiment with it for yourself!

• Aloe Vera: I have two different aloe vera plants that are always suffering from me breaking off bits to treat burns (including sunburn) and mosquito bites. As a succulent, aloe vera does not need very much in the way of creature comforts and I have to be mindful not to over-water it myself. If you’ve planted your aloe vera in a pot, but sure it has well-drained soil and lots of light. You’ll also want to make sure that it stays firmly rooted by packing the dirt around the stem.
• Chamomile: As one of the more popular medicinal herbs, chamomile is good for both mental and physical ailments.. Chamomile comes in two types (German and true or Roman chamomile), both of these herbs will self-sow if you allow it, which can reduce the amount of time you’ll have to spend replanting these perennial herb plants.
• Horseradish: Just a whiff of this will clean you out, and quickly. As a member of the mustard family, horseradish has a peppery flavor that does not attract horses at all. Although the leaves can grow to 2 feet long, it is the root that is important for the herb gardener.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Herb Garden Kits. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

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Every cook wishes that his kitchen has a variety of herbs and spices. These are used to add that extra zest and flare in everyday dishes and make our food healthier for us. Extensive research is being done on herbs and spices’ therapeutic effects and thyme garden herb.

We don’t often think about the additional benefits of commonly used herbs and spices. Take cinnamon for example, the first things that pop up in our minds are breakfast buns and apple pies, but cinnamon has anti inflammatory properties and is used widely to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. One can soak cinnamon sticks in water to make a healthy tea and enhance its flavor by adding a bit of honey and lemon.

Adding More Flavor and Health

Another herb that has anti-inflammatory benefits is Rosemary; it also has high level of antioxidants that can possibly help in improving memory. Rosemary’s flavor is said to be close to lemons. It is usually used in stews and lamb dishes and makes an excellent addition to eggs.

In our list of herbs and spices, another cherished ingredient is garlic. It is thought to have anti-microbial properties and thus helps build immunity against numerous cancers. Garlic also helps in lowering blood pressure and in preventing cardiovascular diseases. It is also used in various everyday dishes including stews, soups, sauces, salad dressings and also in marinades.

Fennel is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties but is well known for its influence as an anti oxidant. Seeds of Fennel are used in Italian sausages and as a rub on pork and chicken. Its flavor is similar to that of Anise. Fennel stalk is eaten as a vegetable and thus doubted being part of or belonging to the family of herbs and spices. The stalk can be used as a side dish with meat or eaten either roasted or raw.

Peppermint brings in mind sweets and candy canes, but what we don’t know is that it has high level of anti-oxidants and is also believed to contain antiviral and anti-microbial substances. An upset stomach can be soothed by peppermint and it may also help in relieving pain. Fresh peppermint is used with vegetable dishes containing carrots or peas or with various fruits such as strawberries. It adds a refreshing taste to salads as well.

Herbs and spices not only enhance the flavor of plethora of foods and dishes but provide an added benefit with its therapeutic effects. This diversity of herbs and spices is a great factor.

Ms. Reynolds, shows you how to dazzle and protect your friends and family with ease. Get the facts about Herb Garden Plants inside this free 2,506 word special report.  Available for a limited time at www.herbgardenacademy.com.

It’s years later now and we have a property we are proud to own. It has lots of space for flowers, trees, shrubs and veggies. Plenty of room for birds and butterflies.

We do have a few birdhouses that were here when we purchased our home but they look like they have been through a war and are falling apart. What respectable bird would want to move in there?

We enjoy home gardening and like to grow things birds will enjoy, plus the shrubs and bushes we have along our property fence keep a lot of bird fed during the winter months.

I am going to try my hand at making a couple of birdhouses this year to see how I do.

I love the bird house on the right, it’s just one of the many bird houses availabe at Dobbies but it’s the one I think I will be getting first.

It will be the first bird house we have the is large enough for the robins we see in the early spring. Up until this year they would visit our yard to eat but then have to go somewhere else to find a home. Not any more.

Brrrr, it’s winter, it’s cold and I don’t want to go outside if I don’t have to. Instead I’ve been browsing online and scanning through the gardening magazines I like. I’ve been looking for the garden tools that I should be getting now before planting season starts and I still don’t have them.

I started out looking for a chainsaw, we thought we would maybe buy an electric chainsaw so we can stay as green as we can without having to use a hand saw. But then I started seeing things that we need more than a chainsaw, heck Geoff next door has offered the use of his chainsaw if we need so I think I can put that one on the back burner for now and see what else we need that will make gardening even more fun and less hard work, like a good wheelbarrow would do.

So here is a list, a wish list of garden tools that would come in handy.

I usually just guess when it come to measuring but when it’s all said and done my guessing isn’t very good so when I saw this first garden tool I kinda laughed and told myself I needed this.

My first little garden patch was far from square when I was done digging it up and had to do some fixin’ before my wife got home from work and laughed at me.

Smart Stik

Now my garden rows will be straighter for a change, which makes for better pictures once the veggies start growing.

The guess work is taken out of seed spacing when you use this ingenious garden ruler as your guide.

It’s a 4-foot rule, marked in 1/4″ increments and has planting instructions for 21 different types of vegetables. It makes a great gift for a new vegetable gardener!

The smart stik makes planting rows fast, accurate and easy Includes guide to planting 21 types of vegetables.

Make your planting just that much easier and faster with the Smart Stik

gardener’s Supply Cart, Red

We have been looking at a gardeners cart or wheelbarrow for some time and the only type that we really like are those that are well balanced with big wheels. It really sucks when you hit a divet in the lawn or garden and dump your load.

These garden carts were designed specifically to meet the needs of gardeners young and old.

The big wheels with pneumatic tires roll easily over rough terrain. High sides prevent loose loads like mulch and compost from bouncing out. The axle is positioned to distribute the weight and balance the load. The long handle lets you push or pull with equal ease and has a comfortable neoprene grip.

The Medium Gardener’s Supply Cart carries 400 pounds which would take me a long time to haul by hand not to mention how my back would feel after that.

Yesterday, after so much snow and ice it looked like it was all going to be gone if we had just one more day of favourable weather, but NOooooo!!

Mother Nature decided to give the kids a day off from school so they can play in all this gorgeous light fluffy snow.

I remember back to when I was a kid going to grade school. It was like a hundred years ago but still fresh in my mind, just how much I loved playing in the snow with my brother John.

I can see our little birdhouse from my office window and thought I should go out and snap a few shots before the wind picks up and cleans it all off.

I was looking at a really cute birdhouse today. I think it would go great between two of our big pine trees.

Dura-Craft Birdhouse Bed & Breakfast Feeder

I headed out to the compost bin this morning and of course had to put on all kinds of winter gear just to get out there. It was frozen and covered with snow. Just one more reason I wish we had a kitchen composter for the winter months. Sure would beat hauling my butt out behind the garage.

Okay I shouldn’t complain about going out to the compost bin just because it’s cold out. I suppose I could just put the kitchen waste meant for the composter into a bucket outside the backdoor and just take it out there when it’s a little nicer.

Although if I was just having fun I would be all over the backyard jumping in the snow without complaints so maybe I should just get the job done.

The bushes that give us such great privacy in the summer doesn’t always do so well in the winter but today it’s covered with so much snow it’s like a curtain. Beautiful to look at as well.

I don’t see any birds eating the berries today. I guess they are still sleeping, maybe that’s why they didn’t shovel out yet. Guess they have a snow day as well.

There are lots of challenges to overcome for anyone who tries to create an organic vegetable garden. The process could take several seasons, but when results finally appear, the homegrown veggies will be the tastiest you’ve ever had. Organic gardening in fact makes the oldest form of plant cultivation, it is not at all expensive and it can be undertaken by any one preoccupied with developing a hobby or improving health. Click through here for extra info about vegetable gardening tips .

The size of the organic vegetable garden is not important: it can even range from a few feet on the house roof or balcony to several acres. The first step to take in the organic gardening direction is the purchase of organic seeds that are presently scarce on the market. The problem is that in order to have a real organic vegetable garden, the seeds ought to be free of chemicals or irradiation residues. Therefore, ask around in your town or order them on the Internet.

The benefits of an organic vegetable garden are manifold. Firstly when there are no pesticides or herbicides included in the plant cultivation, the crops remain unaffected by the chemicals, the soil keeps its properties for several years and the creatures living in it will aid to the regeneration of the garden. Furthermore, the organic vegetable garden presents the advantage of dealing with the needs of the family in a very safe, cheap and easy way. In caseone also runs a farm together with the organic vegetable garden, there are even more benefits to it. You should find additional worthwhile info relating to organic vegetable gardening here.

For instance, the profitability and the quality of the crops can be increased by using the manure as a fertilizer. Moreover, everything one needs for an organic vegetable garden should be available from local stores; the costs are definitely not high and the necessary items come for very decent prices. Don’t ignore the tips available in gardening books because lots of the tradition is lost and we need to revive it. Just a relevant example here: think of the fact that corn and beans grown together as very practical; you won’t need any sticks for the beans because they will climb on the corn stalks.

The seeds, the soil and the organic compost will all play an important role in the development of the organic vegetable garden. Do not overlook any of these aspects and your home enterprise will be both successful and rewarding on the long run. You will acquire stacks of extra worthwhile info on vegetable gardening for beginners here.

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Solar lights will transform your garden, for outdoor use solar lights have many advantages it’s obvious why solar lighting is becoming so popular. Solar lights have so many uses, landscape lights, path lighting, security lighting, decking lights, highlight plants and trees. Because solar lighting is so versatile and easy to move, it is simple to alter lighting effects. wiring is not needed for solar lighting, they are  very versatile and simple to change around, it is simple to vary lighting effects.

Solar lights require no maintenance.

Solar lighting is maintenance free, an occasional wipe to clear dirt covering the solar panel, and can be bought in many styles at very low prices. You do not even have to think about about timers, or turning the lights on. During daylight hours solar lights switch off and then charges the batteries, then when it gets dark, they come on automatically. Most are fitted with an on/off switch so you don’t have to have the lights turned on. Solar lights incur zero running costs, no wiring to purchase and no timers.

Solar lights are very versatile.

As solar powered lighting does not require wiring, it means you can try various effects, highlight different plants at different times of the year.

Solar lighting can be installed in areas where it would be hard to install wired lighting such as on wooden fences or buildings. Because there are no wires, no heat generated, solar lighting is safe and convenient to fit anywhere. The lack of wires also means you do not have to plan where you are going to put your solar lights and lay wires ready. How about a BBQ with a gas grill and solar lights for evening entertainment outdoors with maximum portability. Place solar lights around your patio furniture and enjoy your garden after in the evening after dark

Solar lights are safe.

As solar lights require no electricity, solar lights are absolutely safe. You don’t need to worry about children and pets finding a cable with the insulation bitten away by a rodent. With no wiring, you are able to dig your garden with no worry about slicing a cable.

Solar lights are perfect for bordering paths, especially when there is no ambient light and a path is hard to see and follow. Solar lights will come on as soon as it starts to get dark, lighting the way, making it easy and safe to walk up the path.

Gardening at home is a great way to help cut down on food costs so it’s a rewarding hobby in more ways than one. The only thing is a lot of people think that you need a lot of yard space to grow a garden, well we thought that.

I can definitely say that gardening has changed my life so I would like to share a couple of home gardening tips that will show you that you can have a garden with just a little space.

We started our first garden in containers. Yup, just a few pots and we were on our way to being home gardeners.

The first thing you need to think about is what basic needs do plants have.

1. Light
2. Soil
3. Water
4. Temperature

That’s pretty much it. Give a plant the right amount light, soil and water along with the right temperature and you can grow your own little veggie garden.

So here a few home gardening tips that will help you successfully grow veggies, even indoors if you want.

1. Your Garden Needs Light

You might have just looked at point #1 and said DUH!! but lighting is vital for a healthy plant. Without the proper lighting you could be doing everything else 100% and still fail, so pay close attention to your source of light.

When we first started gardening it was a pretty small garden and I didn’t pay any attention to the path the sun follows through the summer and ended up with a garden that pretty much had to grow in the shade most of the time.

2. The Soil You Plants Live In

Plants have to put down roots to survive. If the soil you use is too hard you need to change that. We had very clay soil so we dug up the little plot we chose for our garden and then mixed it with about the same amount of peatmoss.

Adding the peatmoss did a couple of things. 1. It allowed the soil to become less dense than the clay was so the plants could sink roots easily. 2. The ground didn’t drain well at all before the peatmoss and now it drains just fine.

3. We All Need Water, Even Plants

Your veggie plants are going to need watering on a regular basis so they don’t dry up and die. But at the same time you don’t want to water them so much that you drown them.

The top of the soil can look dry and people will run for the water but it’s better to stick your finger in the dirt about an inch or two and see if it’s dry down there. Lots of times they don’t need watering so you are just wasting water.

I already mentioned the soil needs to drain well, so pay attention to that when you water.

4. Temperature Is Kind Of Important

The temperature usually isn’t that important during the summer but when you are first planting outdoors in the spring you want to keep in mind the most common date for the last threat of frost.

Here where we live I have heard all my life to plant before June 10th at your own risk. You can plant before that most years but I would put a cover sheet over my plants at night until the threat is gone.

Using Containers For Gardening

I would add that you can grow your home garden in containers, even indoors, as long as you meet the needs of your plants.

The really cool thing about container gardening is that you can move them to the best spot, unlike my first garden.

Don’t be afraid to transplant your veggies into a container that’s big enough so they can grow a strong healthy root system.

We used containers to grow strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, so many things but the coolest thing I have grown in containers was potatoes. We got a lot of potatoes for the size of the pot we used. We hung the strawberry container and let the plant grow to the ground.

I planted the potatoes in the container and in our garden on the same day and harvested them at the same time. The potatoes in the ground were bigger but there were about the same amount in the container, they were just a little smaller, but just as good.

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Last year when I dug our first garden, a section 4×16 feet was to remove the sod or turf first. Once I have the top layer removed I take as much dirt from the sod as I can and then put the rest of the sod in my compost bin to use later.

I know, you could just turn the sod into the ground where it will break down but I really do prefer to put it into the compost bin.

I dug my garden down almost 2 feet so that I could work the soil and add to it, as it was clay that was as hard as concrete. But not any more, it’s gorgeous soil now and it only took a bit of elbow grease to do it.

Note: It’s better to dig the dirt and take it right out of the hole you’re digging. I didn’t do that on my first garden and it was a whole lot more work than it needed to be.

On the second garden I dug up I piled the dirt on a big tarp so that I didn’t have to fight to get the dirt out of our lawn later.

Once You Have Your Garden Dug Up

Now is when your compost comes in handy, if you have a compost bin that is. If not, get one started but for now you can buy the quantity you need but be ready for next year with your own compost.

Our soil was such hard clay that it wouldn’t drain like it should so we added the compost but we also added some sand and peatmoss and now our garden drains as it should. NO MORE DROWNED VEGGIES.

Each year we add more compost to the gardens and each year we are producing more and more. This year our garden will grow large enough that we plan to preserve veggies and fruit for the following winter.