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Julie Williams - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
Julie is an avid organic gardener and often referred to as the recycling queen. She lives on a small country property in South Australia.
Julie was co-owner of a small nursery propagating ‘edible’ plants for several years and holds a T.A.F.E. Certificate III in horticulture.
Her mission is to encourage as many people as possible to start organic gardening. This will improve both our individual lives and the wellbeing of our personal and global environments. ... [More]
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- How to Grow Parsley Organically
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Parsley is a very easy herb to grow. It's a great plant to start your herb garden with. Another hardy and frost tolerant herb, parsley thrives in hot summers and wet, cool winters.
- Top 7 Benefits of Organic Gardening
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] We tend to think of organic gardening as something the hippies or greenies would be doing, but have you thought about how doing a little organic gardening might really benefit you? Not to mention your family and the environment.
- What is Lebanese Cress?
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Lebanese Cress is an attractive, fern-like perennial herb which is very easy to grow. This plant enjoys moist conditions and semi-shade, especially through the summer season. It can grow to about 15cm (6 inches) tall in really good conditions and will quickly spread along the ground, putting down roots where it's nodes touch the ground. It makes an attractive ground cover and is delicious in a toss salad, sandwiches or as a garnish.
- 3 Simple Ways to Prepare Your Organic Garden For the Summer
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Spring is a great time to get organized to make things easier for me and better for my vegetable garden through summer. The best way I know to make things easier on myself without letting all my veggies die during a summer hot spell is to implement these 3 simple things to my vegetable garden.
- Is Organic Gardening For You?
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Are you a beginner to organic gardening? Maybe you've grown a few veggies before, but not with organic methods. Or maybe all you've managed to grow in the past has been "weeds". But if you're interested in growing an organic vegetable garden... keep reading. So just what does organic gardening mean? Basically it means growing in harmony with the environment - using simple systems and techniques that benefit your garden without resorting to the use of any chemicals.
- Successfully Create Your Own Free Plants By Taking Cuttings
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] If you want to get more plants for free (and who doesn't?), taking cuttings is a great way to get a lot more plants - fairly quickly. It's not that hard - even if you're a beginner, providing you follow these simple steps.
- 10 Easiest Vegetables To Grow In Your Organic Garden
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] When you're just starting out as a newcomer to organic gardening, it's great to get some successes on the board as soon as possible. I've put this list together of my top 10 easiest veggies to grow to encourage you to give it a go. Once you discover how easy it is to grow your own delicious, healthy veggies, you'll be scratching your head wondering why you didn't try it sooner.
- How To Have More Vegetables In Your Organic Garden For More Of The Year
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Succession Planting is the practice of planting the same type of plant, but at timed intervals - for example a month apart. By doing this with vegetables that you use a lot, you will be able to create a much longer supply for your family.
- Tips To Quickly Create A Productive, Low Cost Food Garden While Renting
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Now I don't function very well without getting my hands just a little dirty on a daily basis, so I had to come to terms with this unloved yard and see what I could create, without spending a fortune or wasting too much of my time. It was early spring when I moved in, so an organic vegetable garden was my first priority.
- Don't Have A Garden To Grow Organic Vegetables? Try Hydroponics
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] For those of us who don't have access to the wondrous mother earth, we can still grow some (or most) of our own vegetables using an organic hydroponic system. Now this may sound like a contradiction in terms, but it is possible to provide all the organic nutrients that our vegetables need via their water/food uptake, without having to resort to harsh chemicals.
- Using Crop Rotation In Your Organic Garden - For Healthy Plants & Higher Yields
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Crop rotation is the age old practice of rotating plants to different growing areas in your vegetable garden. Plants that belong to the same family are rotated or moved each season. This aids plants with their nutrient needs and helps avoid pest and disease problems.
- How To Grow Organic Olives - One Of The Top 10 Super-Foods
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Olives (Olea europaea) are long-lived evergreen trees with leathery, narrow leaves and tiny, off-white flowers that are followed by the fruit. Some of the benefits you can expect from including olives in your daily diet include - protection from heart disease, cellular protection from free radicals, anti-inflammatory benefits, improved gastrointestinal health.
- How To Grow Organic Tomatoes - One Of The Top 10 Super-Foods
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is a soft stemmed, spreading plant which can reach 1.8 metres (6 foot) in height when staked. Tomatoes - especially when cooked - have cancer-fighting lycopene (an anti oxidant which gives tomatoes their gorgeous, rich red colour), that helps remove free radicals from the body.
- How To Grow Organic Kiwi Fruit - One Of The Top 10 Super-Foods
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Kiwi Fruit (Actinidia deliciousa) is a fruiting vine that was introduced from the Yangtze Valley in China around 1900 and was originally known as the Chinese gooseberry. This deciduous vine can grow as big as 9 metres (30 feet), so training and pruning is a must. They are brimming with vitamin C and potassium.
- How To Grow Organic Brassicas - One Of The Top 10 Super-Foods
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Brassicas - contain lots of vitamin C and some other useful phyto-nutrients. They are also high in calcium, folate, carotenoids, potassium and fibre. Brassicas include many commonly grown vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. But did you know that mustard, swedes, kale, kohlrabi, pak-choi, Chinese cabbage and turnip all belong to the same genus?
- How To Grow Organic Avocados - One Of The Top 10 Super-Foods
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] The avocado tree (Persea americana) is an evergreen tree originating from Central America and the West Indies. Their growth habit varies - depending on the variety - from tall and upright to well-shaped and spreading. Avocados - contain healthy mono-unsaturated fatty acids, helping to lower bad cholesterol. They also contain antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, folate and fibre.
- How To Grow Organic Beans - One Of The Top 10 Super-Foods
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Beans - both fresh and dried green beans are rich in the B vitamins and potassium. They may have even more antioxidants than blueberries and as much cholesterol-lowering fibre as oats (another super-food). They also are an excellent source of lean protein. Beans will do best with a long, warm to hot growing season. They should be grown in full sun and need ample amounts of water to grow vigorously.
- How To Grow Organic Pumpkins - One Of The Top 10 Super-Foods
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Pumpkin - provides fibre, contains potassium and carotenoids (the antioxidants found in orange, yellow, red and dark green vegetables). It is wonderful as a cooked veggie, makes great soup and delicious pumpkin pie. Pumpkins are so easy to grow that you most likely know the basics, but here's a few tips for you anyway.
- How To Grow Organic Citrus Fruits - One Of The Top 10 Super-Foods
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Citrus Fruits - are rich in vitamin C, high in fibre and potassium and contain folic acid. Both oranges and grapefruit have been found to be high in potent antioxidants. The pain of a bee sting can be relieved with lemon juice. Most citrus are sweet and are excellent for juicing, making cordials, marmalade, cooking and baking. The most popular varieties of citrus used by the home gardener include lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange, mandarin and tangelo.
- How To Grow Organic BlueBerries - One Of The Top 10 Super-Foods
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] The cultivated blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) would make a great plant for home gardeners as it requires little space, but as it is a woodland plant it needs highly acidic soil conditions to grow well. BlueBerries are high in antioxidants, low in calories and sodium, contains no cholesterol and is high in fibre, folic acid, carotenoids, as well as vitamins C ( about 25mg/100g), A and B. A major component of the fibre is pectin, which is known for its ability to lower blood cholesterol.
- How To Grow Organic Walnuts - One Of The Top10 Super-Foods
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Walnuts - are an excellent source of plant based omega 3 fatty acids, known for fighting heart disease. They are also packed with micronutrients, antioxidants and plant sterol, which lower cholesterol. Walnut trees prefer deep, rich, well drained soils with regular watering through summer and plenty of light.
- 10 Super Foods You Must Include In Your Organic Garden
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] When planning your organic garden most people think about the obvious. That is the vegetable plot, or number of plots. That is where we grow most of our organic food requirements. If we think a little outside the box (or plot for us gardeners) we can include many more foods that are extremely beneficial to our long term health and quality of life.
- How To Grow Healthy Organic Herbs
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Herbs are such a wonderful gift from mother nature in so many ways. There uses are many, including culinary- medicinal- household; cosmetic and craft. Not to mention their uses in the garden as companion plants and many can be used as activators in the compost heap.
- 4 Great Reasons To Interplant Herbs & Flowers With Your Vegetable Crops
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Interplanting just means growing several different plants amongst each other. There are many benefits to growing herbs and flowers throughout your vegetable crops - one is that they look great, combining beauty and purpose.
- 3 Simple Ways To Extend Your Organic Gardening Growing Season
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Many vegetable gardeners are keen to get started for the season well before spring is here, but tend to wait until the last frost has passed. But there are many ways to add weeks or more to both ends of the growing season, giving you earlier produce and higher yields.
- Successful Organic Gardening In Containers
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Space can be at a premium, especially these days when apartments and condos are so popular. A simple solution for those wanting to grow at least a few basic herbs and vegetables is to grow in containers. Maybe you don't have the time to maintain a large vegetable garden, or you have a physical condition that prevents you bending down or using the usual gardening tools. Whatever the reason, container gardening can be a great way to produce some of your organic food needs.
- Organic Gardening with Perennial Vegetables
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] All organic gardeners love the time of year when the last frost have been, the soil is warming up and the daffodils alert us to the fact that spring is here. It's time to start planting your annual vegetable garden. But what a fantastic supplement to the garden would it be if there were vegetables available that don't need to be replanted each year? You plant them once, then feed and water them, then you can just keep picking them year after year.
- How To Create Healthy, Fertile Soil
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] In your organic garden it is very important to have fertile soil to create the best possible growing conditions for healthy, tasty vegetables and great yields. Soil fertility is best when essential nutrients are available to your plants and when the humus levels are at 5% or more.
- Easily Create New Herb Plants By Division
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] How many herbs is too many? Really, we can all use extra herbs in the garden, the kitchen and the medicine cabinet. I just love them because they are so multi-functional. And on top of their many virtues, most are quite easy to divide - giving you many more plants. Many herbs have fibrous roots, so they can be lifted and divided quite easily.
- Organic Gardening by the Phases of the Moon
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Every early culture known throughout the world knew and implemented the benefits of planting with the phases of the moon. Planting according to the phase of the moon is now looked upon by some as lunacy (if you'll pardon the pun) and by others as an integral part of their organic gardening strategy. Personally I believe in giving every plant the best possible chance of growing into a strong and healthy specimen.
- Growing Herbs For Companion Plants
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Herbs are such an asset to the garden, the household and the medicine cabinet that I just don't understand why gardens everywhere aren't bursting with them. Most herbs have multiple uses. Many are excellent companion plants, that are just as gorgeous in your vegetable patch as your flower beds. Most herbs are very pretty, are easy to grow and demand little attention.
- Using Human Urine As A Liquid Fertilizer
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Did you know that human urine is the fastest acting, most excellent source of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium and some trace elements? Not only that, but we all have a constant, year round supply of it – and it's free! There's not a lot of effort involved in creating this wonderful organic liquid fertilizer.
- Why Mulching Needs To Be Part Of Your Organic Gardening System
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] The word "mulch" comes from the old English word "melsc" - meaning rotten hay. In today's language it has come to mean any material that covers the soil to preserve moisture content, prevent soil erosion and inhibit weed growth. For organic gardening I choose materials that will break down over time, feeding my plants and contributing to the amount of humus in the soil.
- Tips To Use Less Water In Your Thriving Organic Food Garden
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Water is arguably our most precious resource. All living things need water to survive. But we don't just want our productive organic food gardens to survive, we want them to thrive! And a growing plant uses a lot more water than one that is just surviving. Every part of the plant growing process uses water.
- Grow Herbs For Cooking, Companion Plants And Flowers
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Herbs are such versatile plants. Their uses include medicinal, cosmetic, as essential oils for aromatherapy, as great companion plants, craft-work and of course to add mouth-watering flavours and aromas in our cooking.
- How To Build A Fast-Burning Compost Heap With Straw Bale
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] If your attempts at composting seem to take forever to break down to a useable product, try building your next compost heap with straw bale. Remember to get organic straw bales if you have an organic garden. The idea is to use bales of (organic) straw as the external structure of your compost heap - it will hold your composting ingredients.
- How To Grow Garlic In Your Organic Garden - Step by Step - Part 1
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] What an amazing plant! Garlic (Allium sativum) has been around for more than 3,000 years. It's not that surprising really when you look at the culinary and medicinal purposes it boasts. Garlic is not only a staple in the kitchen, but its health benefits are outstanding as it is a natural antibiotic and has antiseptic properties. In the organic garden it is often used as the base for various insect deterrents and it also has antifungal properties. Garlic is also a very useful companion plant.
- How To Grow Garlic In Your Organic Garden - Step by Step, Part 2
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Maintenance. Garlic needs very little attention. Through winter you will need to water only if conditions are extremely dry. Pull any weeds as they come through.
- 10 Organic Gardening Uses For Comfrey
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is just one of those plants that every organic garden must have growing. It also has great merit as a medicinal plant. This plant serves us so well. Propagation is by root division. But be careful with this plant as it will grow from the tiniest piece of root. OK, on to some of it's best uses (and some lesser known ones)!
- Simple Organic Methods To Combat Pests In Your Veggie Garden
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Organic gardeners always prefer to use methods that have the least negative effect on the environment. By growing strong healthy plants we eliminate the threat of having large scale pest invasions. But when some pest populations do build up in our garden we should be asking "how can I encourage more predators?", rather than "what should I do about all these pests?"
- Make Your Own Organic Liquid Fertilizers
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] We all need a bit of a "pick-me-up" from time to time and your vegetables, herbs, fruits and soil will also benefit from a boost of liquid tonic every now and then. It's not a good idea to force your plants to feed when they drink, so I don't recommend regular weekly feeding, but just as a boost.
- Tips To Really Get Your Compost Heap Cooking
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] It seems that most organic gardeners love the idea of making their own compost, but some gardeners have trouble making it really happen. Don't give up! There are ways to give your compost heap a boost and get it heating up again - creating beautiful, nutritious humus for your veggie garden.
- Ways To Get Your Kids Into Organic Gardening
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] What a great legacy it is to teach our children how to garden organically. But how do we encourage them into the garden? By making it fun for them and giving them choice. Organic gardening is a great way to spend time with your kids and to help them understand the value of growing their own healthy, delicious food.
- Tips To Keep Your Organic Garden Healthy While You're On Holidays
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Some gardeners worry how their garden will survive while they are away on holidays. With a little organization and preparation, you can go on holidays without worrying about facing impending doom in your veggie patch when you get home.
- Gardening Hints for Healthy, Happy Plants
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Plants - like all living things - have basic, minimum requirements to sustain them. Generally, they are food, water and a suitable environment, but if you want them to thrive you need to get more specific.
- Tips For Creating New Plants For Free
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Tips for creating new plants for free includes seed saving, taking cuttings, plant division and more. What better way to add to your garden than by meeting with other gardeners and sharing plants, knowledge and companionship?
- Successful Organic Gardening Systems
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] By having a plan you can work out what the basic steps are to setting up and improving on your organic vegetable garden. By systemizing your plan you can reduce your workload, increase your yields and benefit the environment...
- Increase Your Success When Transplanting Seedlings
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] You want your young seedlings to thrive when planting them out. Have you given consideration to timing, hardening off, the weather, watering, the soil and fertilizers?
- Create a Small 'No - Dig' Plot
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Learn the basics to creating a no-dig organic vegetable plot. There are many benefits to organic gardening, especially without having to turn over the soil. It is far better for your soil structure - and your back...
- Beginner Organic Gardeners -- How to Avoid Common Mistakes
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Starting something new is often a daunting task. This article looks at 5 common mistakes that new organic gardeners make and the ways to avoid them.
- Chooks – The Organic Gardener's All-Rounder
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Keeping chooks is a must for organic gardeners. The gardening benefits are numerous, they can make fun pets and keep you entertained with their antics. You'll find tips in this article to make it easy to have and look after your feathered friends.
- How To Grow Your Own Organic Worms – Your Silent Workforce
[Home-and-Family:Gardening] Growing your own worms will ensure that your garden always has both liquid fertilizer and worm castings, rich in nutrients, to keep your plants thriving. You will learn how to create your own worm farm which will also help the environment by reducing your household waste.
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