Rainy River Organic Gardening

Keeping Your Garden Green

October 30th, 2007

There are many things we do to add a little splash of color to our summer gardens but we often fail to focus on keeping our summer gardens looking lush and green just a little bit longer even though we know that by doing so we are essentially prolonging the life and therefore our enjoyment of our summer gardens. The focus of this article is to keep your summer garden looking crisp and green as long as possible by taking a few extra steps a little earlier in the summer months to prepare for the inevitable beginning of the end.

One thing to keep in mind is that once your summer garden begins to take on that yellowish brown hue that indicates the end of summer it always seems to be a downhill ride into the fall. That ride, more often than not is over far too quickly and your summer garden is but a dim reminder of its formerly glorious summer greenery.

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An Organic Summer Garden Experience

October 23rd, 2007

If you have the time and the inclination to create an organic summer garden there are few better ways to go when it comes to the potential impact on the planet. A summer garden is a thing of beauty to be enjoyed by all you invite into your garden. That being said, there are certain pests we’d all like to keep out of our gardens as well. The problem is that the pesticides of the past have undetermined side effects that have the potential to cause lasting harm. If we can avoid introducing those chemicals to our own gardens we are protecting our kids from dangers we may not even be aware of yet and protecting the other animals that may innocently come in contact with our gardens such as birds and butterflies from being harmed by the chemicals present in most common pesticides.

What does this mean to gardeners when it comes to efforts directed towards keeping out potential pests? Quite honestly, it means we are going to have to get a little bit creative in those efforts turning to natural solutions rather than chemicals. One way in which this can quite easily be accomplished is by encouraging animals that prey upon the pests to make your garden their home. Of course, this could potentially bring about its own set of problems but from a gardening perspective it is often very sound reasoning.

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Colorful Summer Garden Flowers

October 16th, 2007

If flowers are your thing or if you plan to include some flowers in your summer garden then you should take a moment to learn about those flowers or flowering plants that are best suited to summer months and what those plants like by way of sunlight and shade. Not all flowers are created equal when it comes to withstanding the heat of the summer sun and some require a little more care than others. Keep all of these things in mind when planning your summer garden and choose wisely according to the type of care you wish to provide.

This is a general guide to the various types of plants that are well suited for a summer garden and not necessarily those that are well suited to rest side by side. Study the flowers you decide you would like to include in your summer garden in order to insure you keep those that love water and dislike sun away from those that thrive with little water and copious amounts of sun. In other words you will need to conduct a more thorough study of the flowers you decide to include in your summer garden in order to determine the proper placement of these flowers for the most color, effect, and the best possible life for the flowers you choose.

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The Future of Natural Insecticide

September 25th, 2007

Natural insecticide has gone in and out of favor in the past. At first, of course, that was all there was. Then, when chemical insecticides came around, people saw them as the wave of the future. They were all too anxious to try them. However, it may be that natural insecticide still has a place in agriculture and homes now and in the future.

Bacillus thurengiensis, Bt, has been developed as for use as a natural insecticide. It is made from a bacterium that works with the bacteria in an insects gut to poison the insect. It will need to be used in new ways.

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Problems with Natural Insecticide

September 18th, 2007

Natural insecticide has long been lauded by environmental groups as a safe alternative to synthetics. They kill a variety of pests found in gardens, yards, and homes. However, there are problems with natural insecticide.

Although natural insecticide has been around longer, there is less information on the efficacy of it as opposed to synthetic insecticide. The most information of all of them can be found on Bt and on oils. One problem with Bt is that it is only effective against a limited variety of insects. It makes a good natural insecticide for crops such as corn, but for some other crops, it is useless. Another problem with Bt is that insects become resistant to it over time.

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Precautions Should You Take When Using Natural Insecticide

September 11th, 2007

A natural insecticide is the safest kind you can use. The half-life, or the amount of time the substance stays active in the environment, is much shorter than for synthetic chemicals. However, there are some precautions you should take to use natural insecticide safely.

One use of natural insecticide is for keeping chiggers off of humans. Oil of pennyroyal or mountain mint can be rubbed on as a preventative. If you are pregnant, though, you will not want to be in contact with these substances. They can cause you to start having contractions. Sabadillia is a natural insecticide that is a stomach poison for insects. It is not toxic to humans. It does cause irritation to the eyes and to the lungs. If you put it on your garden, be sure to wear a mask. You should also wear a mask when using another natural insecticide, Diatomaceous Earth.

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Natural Insecticide for the Home

September 4th, 2007

Having bugs in your home is just plain disgusting. When you do, your first thought is often to run to the store and get the most powerful chemicals they have available to get rid of the pests. You actually don’t have to go so far. There is natural insecticide you can use in your home.

You can use natural insecticide recipes that will be much safer for your family and your pets. For example, you can use boric acid as a safe alternative in many cases. For ants, you can mix the boric acid with sugar; then add water. Next, you soak cotton balls in it and put them in bottle caps. Place them where ants have been seen. Boric powder has often been called “roach powder.” Get a squeeze bottle of it, or make up your own. Squirt the stuff along floor boards and behind appliances. Put it anywhere you have seen roaches coming from. It is a great natural insecticide for roaches.

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Natural Insecticide for People and Pets

August 28th, 2007

Sometimes you don’t just need natural insecticide for your yard, garden, and home. You also need it for yourself and your pets. You want to avoid the aggravation and even the disease that can come from bug bites. You just don’t want to put unnatural chemicals on your body that might cause another kind of harm.

Luckily, there is a natural insecticide for your every personal insect killing need. Many people don’t like to use the mosquito repellent with DEET in it. They fear that it is unsafe for their skin.

Fortunately, there are all kinds of natural insecticide on the market to replace DEET. One mosquito repellent has only water, natural oils, and vanillin. One kind of natural insecticide for mosquitoes is a patch that you wear for 24 hour. After this time, you will be protected for 36 hours. One natural insecticide recipe for insect repellent works for fleas, ticks, and chiggers. It uses lavender, sage, mint, rosemary and wormwood. You mix these ingredients together and cover them with vinegar of the four thieves. Let it set for a week and then apply it with a cloth.

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Natural Insecticide and the Third World

August 21st, 2007

People in the US have been using natural insecticide for years. Some are becoming more concerned about the environment and the safety of the food supply. Many of these have switched back to natural insecticide. So, how much is natural insecticide being used around the world?

Growers in the Philippines have been troubled by the health hazards caused by using synthetic chemical insecticides. Their producers are becoming ill with chronic health problems. Their consumers end up with produce that contains chemical residues. They are interested in natural insecticide. Thailand is another country whose government and citizens are concerned with the chemical residues on agricultural produce. Many in Asian countries feel the same way. Their middle-class is growing. This gives them more options, one of which is choosing natural insecticide.

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Making Your Own Natural Insecticides

August 14th, 2007

Have you decided to go all natural? All natural diet, all natural pet food, all natural medicines, natural insect control, and all natural gardening have become the wave of the present and future. Many people think something is new just because it hasn’t been in the spotlight. But natural alternatives have been around for years. They just didn’t receive their kudos because of the convenience people prefer from leading busy lives. Most have found, though, that convenience can be damaging to our environment.

Convenience has hurt our rivers and roadsides because of packaging being tossed away carelessly. Convenience has hurt our family time because of lost time preparing food, eating at the family dinner table, and gardening together. Convenience has hurt our ozone layer. This doesn’t mean convenience is bad; it is what you make it. If you allow anything to take over your life it can turn into a negative.

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