Answers To Your Questions About Organic Gardening Supplies
Susan asks…
Organic garden checklist?
I need a checklist of basic tools and supplies and if you know the easiest vegetables to grow in an organic garden…thanks iin adavence
Green Thumb answers:
Hopi Indians used a stick but I think you’ll need more than that.
Shovel or spade for turning the soil. A steed rake for breaking up soil clods and leveling the soil. A trowel for digging holes for planting already established plants. Seeds can usually be hand set. Gloves to protect your hands. Markers to show where and what you have planted. Watering method(s) your choice: hose, watering cans, sprinkler head or drip system. Hoe of some type to manage the weeds. Then plant specific support systems such as for pole peas and beans, tomato supports.
Easiest: radishes, bush beans, pole beans, summer squash unless the squash bugs find you. Carrot seed is pretty fine and tricky to plant. Beets are better. Turnips if you eat them. Corn is easy but you need multiple rows …….plant in blocks of plants, for pollination.
What are you using for fertilizer or soil ammendment. You need to prepare the soil first with compost before planting. Since you are going organic, then you’ll need to supplement with organic fertilizers such as seaweed meal, blood mean, bone meal, cottonseed meal or whatever is available in your area.
Mainly you need more research than what you will get here. Find some info from Rodale Press………they are the grandparents of organic gardening. Check your library.
John asks…
I want to go organic… but my parents don’t?
Basically, I’m 15 so obviously living with, and paid for by, my parents. I’ve been mulling over organic/vegetarian/free-range eating for a while now, doing tons of research. I’ve decided that I want to go semi-vegetarian, eating meat 1-3x per week. The reason I want to do this is because I don’t think it’s healthy to not eat meat at all, because humans are made to be omnivores (meat and vegetable eaters). I’ve also decided that the meat I do eat should be organic and free range, because of animal welfare. I also only want to eat organic fruits & veggies, locally-grown if possible. When the snow clears up, I am going to buy garden supplies (with money I’ve earned from baby-sitting) and start my own garden with berries, carrots, peppers, lettuce, and potatoes (all things that can be grown easily in my region).
I haven’t said anything to my parents, because I know they don’t believe in organic, free-range, or vegetarian eating styles. I know this because the topic came up at a family party (I was in a separate room, not allowed in the adult room so I unfortunately couldn’t comment) and I heard my mom say “I don’t care if the chicken is happy when it’s alive, it’s just going to be killed and eaten.” Then I heard my dad say “People have been eating non-organic my whole life, and no one’s died from it. It’s about two times as expensive, too.” Also, my family definitely eats a lot of meat (at lunch and dinner, every day). But my mom also makes some great vegetarian dishes (not because she believes in vegetarianism, but because she likes the taste. They’re usually served with a hunk of chicken on the side).
Anyways, if I had a way of getting a job that paid more than $20-$30 every other week, I’d offer to pay the extra for the organic food. I’m not going to demand that my parents buy me more expensive food, because I’m just not that kind of person. At the same time, though, I don’t want to eat non-organic/free-range food. Please don’t go calling me “selfish” or tell me that I can do what I want when I move out. I’m looking for tips for the here-and-now.
I’m looking for people to help me figure this out, so that I can eat organic without putting out my parents. Also, if anyone has any ideas on how to get the conversation going with my parents, that would be great.
Thank you all!
Green Thumb answers:
I love your approach to this. Very well thought-out and mature. Your idea with gardening is especially heart-warming to me.
Basically, the bottom line is, you need to talk to your parents. Right now, you are just making assumptions about them. Some of them may be true, some of them may not be. But if they see how much thought you have given it, they may be more willing than you think. Even if they personally have no problem with eating non-organic produce and factory-farm chicken doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be willing to give it a try for their child. You don’t have to demand food out of them, but there is nothing wrong with asking and explaining your opinion. Approach them calmly and rationally as you have on here. Present the research you have done to them so they can see where you are getting this from. Tell them your garden idea so they can see you are serious.
If you are cutting back on your meat intact, does this mean you will be helping out with the cooking? You said your mom cooks some vegetarian dishes, but I didn’t know how often this was. I know when I first started messing with raw vegan foods, my mom was willing to buy foods in order for me to experiment. She wasn’t personally willing to make raw food for me, but she viewed my interest in the kitchen as a good thing. If you ARE cooking any of your own food, I think that gives you a little more leeway in asking for the foods you want. After all, the cook is who is using the ingredients.
For all of your organic produce, if you haven’t yet, see if you can do a cost comparison. You may also want to decide which foods are most important to be organic. Apples where you eat the skin may be more important to be organic over an orange where you do not. Be willing to make compromises, but at the same time stand up for what you believe is right (be convicted or else you can be pushed aside).
I wish you the best.
James asks…
Barack’s Classic DVD Movies, Hillary’s “Easy Button” where will Michelle’s Organic Garden Fit?
Watch this:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/20/white.house.garden/?iref=mpstoryview#cnnSTCVideo
Farm Girl / health advocate (Getting Fatter by the Day) Michelle is educating children and providing for the masses. The veggies will supply the White House kitchen (Routinely Serves 1000+ Five Course Dinners) Shouldn’t someone have told her it’s NOT a Pitchfork (she tells kids repeatedly it is) – it’s a POTATO RAKE used for harvesting ripe potatoes – and possibly shown her how to use some of the tools. Even though she is married to “Mr. Potato-head” – who’s in charge of putting things into the hands of this administration?
My family, like hundreds of thousands nationwide, have had family gardens our entire life. A few of you and Michelle Obama seem to be the only one’s in the dark. Go to Burpee.com and you can catch up with a company which began in the 19th century.
Green Thumb answers:
It fits into showing Americans can be self reliant
This allowed us to win 2 world wars against enemies equally and better equipped than us
Jenny asks…
Where can I get a lead-free and non-chemical leaching garden soaker hose?
Some background info 1st. I’ve bought most of the supplies for an upcoming organic garden late this spring. A soaker hose seemed like a good idea since I read that they insure less water is wasted (up to 70% less) and they simplify watering since you only have to turn on the hose for a while and everything gets watered (with hose/s set in place around plants).
Well, now to my dilemma. I indeed bought a “Garden Shop” 50ft soaker hose. Front label says it saves up to 70% water and is made from 65% recycled rubber (tires I’d imagine) Only when I got home and read the underside of the label (which can’t be clearly read while in store display) did I notice it says, quote un quote:
“This hose contains chemicals, including lead, known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Do not drink water from this hose. Wash hands after use.”
Sounds scary to me. Ok, I looked around on this (web) and a couple people say most plants don’t take up lead well, etc… but I’d rather side on caution instead of contaminating my soil and hoping for the best.
Via web search (google), I haven’t been able to find a good non-toxic “soaker” hose. Perhaps they aren’t made or maybe they’re just buried too far in the google search engine for me to find them? Where can I get a lead-free and non chemical leaching garden soaker hose?
Found out that common regular hoses are lead contaminated also and that there are special “drink-safe” rubber hoses available. So I may consider trying to make my own non-toxin leaching soaker hose by poking holes in one of these “drink-safe” hoses. You can read some about this at -> http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/organic/msg061240517127.html
Ideally though I’d rather buy a non-toxin leaching soaker hose premade.
Green Thumb answers:
Hi, I found one by mistake at Big lots. I wanted just a regular ole’ 50 ft water hose, and when I hooked it up to use it, it’s a soaker hose. I bought if $ 14.00 i think. I haven’t used it really only when I really need to do some quick watering and it’s Brand new. It’s a soaker hose, the one that small droplets of water come out from all around the hose right !!! If this is it, I have one…
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