Organic Gardening-

Bugs, beetles, borers and caterpillars are bugging gardeners this summer.While it might be tempting to get rid of all of them, a closer look reveals that many insects are beneficial, as natural predators of garden pests or as pollinators and honey producers. Gardeners, then, are seeking ecologically sound ways to control specific pests that threaten to eat, defoliate or discolor their flowers and vegetables. For many people, a goal of keeping pesticides out of waterways and sparing beneficial insects means that they will use more hands-on controls and learn about the effects of organic products they apply...

Your compost garden news

Your compost garden

THE GARDENER WITHIN: Getting to know the enemy: Japanese beetlesSacramento Bee - CA, USA... The adults eat flowers and skeletonize the leaf tissue between the veins, leaving behind ... on the roots of turf-grass and other various plants and organic matter ... Farmers' market provides its customers with varietySouthCoastToday.com - New Bedford,MA,USA... might not associate with a farmers' market, such as organic insect repellent ... a wide selection of organically grown products, as well as flowers and plants. ...

Formula for Powdery Mildew

Formula for Powdery Mildew

Milk works in two ways: It has a germicidal effect--it kills the fungal spores-- and it also appears to stimulate plants in such a way that they become more resistant to the disease. In recent university tests, the milk and water spray was found to be more effective than the two most popular synthetic fungicides on the market today. Using milk as a fungicide is not new.

Here's the recipe:

1. Mix 1 cup of milk with 9 cups of water.
2. Put the solution in a sprayer and spray the entire plant including the undersides of the leaves.
3. Do this twice a week and your powdery mildew problem should disappear.

Sprinkle powder milk around your tomato plants every other week and watch your plants grow. Formula for Powdery Mildew

Composting news

Composting news -

Composting easy to beginRocky Mountain News - Denver,CO,USA... Effective composting requires a temperature range of 70 to 140 degrees, with breakdown occurring more rapidly at higher temperatures. ... Public Comments Requested on Proposed Livestock Composting ...Kansas City infoZine - Kansas City,MO,USA- infoZine - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is requesting public comments on a proposed livestock composting facility, Midzell Farms ... Composting News

The good, the bad and the weedy

The good, the bad and the Weedy

A weed is defined as a plant that's out of place. But the distinction between a weed and a flower isn't as clear-cut as you might think. In fact, some of the weeds we try to banish can benefit our yards and gardens, while some that look as pretty as flowers can wreak havoc. We take a closer look at five common weeds, what they do, and what you can do about them...