Author Archive
Salsa & Sangria: Making Fresh Heirloom Tomatoe Salsa with Local Organic Produce
Posted by: | CommentsIn this video we made some really great heirloom tomato salsa from local organic produce, bought at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market.
Our goal here was to show
1) that is easy and fun to do and
2) to make a point about eating fresh foods that also support local farmers.
3) Plus, that we could play some Spanish opera while making salsa and get away with it 
Read More→
Originally posted 2009-10-13 16:02:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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Ventilation For Indoor Gardens
Posted by: | CommentsVentilation For Indoor Gardens by Susan Slobac
Systems that provide proper ventilation for indoor gardens are key to indoor growing success. Without an abundant supply of fresh air such as your plants would receive in a natural, outdoor environment, your efforts at indoor gardening will soon end in an unpleasant, mini-ecological disaster. In this article, we will discuss some of the reasons why ventilation for indoor gardens is needed, as well as some different options.
Grow Room Ventilation Systems – Overview
As you know, in the natural world, air is virtually always in motion – even on days when the air is “still;” there is almost always a slight breeze due to minor temperature fluctuations over various terrain. When it comes to indoor growing, such grow room ventilation systems are necessary in order to replicated this natural environmental condition. These consists of mechanical devices, such as “squirrel fans” or other air-moving devices, which circulates the air from one side of the indoor growing area to the other.
How Much is Needed?
The amount of ventilation for indoor gardens that you will need is dependent on several factors, including the size of the space in terms of cubic feet, how much of the space is used for indoor gardening, and the time of year. Normally, the rate of air exchange is greater during the summer.
A solitary single-speed fan will usually not be adequate for most indoor growing needs. You can determine this by multiplying the floor area by the height of the room; therefore, an indoor gardening room measuring 10’x 20’ in floor area times 10’ in height will need enough fan and ventilation capacity to completely refresh 2,000 cubic feet of air at least once per minute during the summer, and once every three minutes during the winter.
Fan Options
“Squirrel fans” and “Squirrel cage blowers” are technically known as shaded pole blowers. These are used in many applications in which heat build-up is a potential problem, such as HVAC systems and automotive climate control as well as high-end computers. They are constructed of two large rings, which are connected by as many as fifty diagonal blades; the entire assembly spins on its radius, drawing air in axially and exiting through a side opening. These are some of the most efficient fans available for grow room ventilation systems.
Several companies manufacture what are known as “whisper fans,” which are particularly quiet-running. They tend to cost a bit extra, but if noise is a concern for you, these may provide the best ventilation for indoor gardens.
Susan Slobac covers the basics of hydroponics and indoor gardening including ventilation for growing indoors. Learn about squirrel cage fans, whisper fans and other grow room ventilation systems.
Article Source: http://articlecrux.com
Originally posted 2009-01-07 14:30:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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- Temperature: 29°F;
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The Right Plant in the Right Place
Posted by: | CommentsI always hear people say they don’t have a green thumb. This is of course very silly thinking. When you are building and planning a garden you simply need to do a tiny bit of research. A successful garden is about 80 percent choosing the right plant for the right spot. Frankly some spots are like the surface of the moon, nothing will grow there. Find an alternative: try a rock garden. But research first.
If you have a giant Maple and nothing grows under it. You may need to create a raised bed. But some research would tell you not deeper than two inches, as anything more may kill the tree.
Don’t plant Rododendrums in a sunny spot that is solid clay. They just won’t really grow well. They would be happier under some pine trees in some nice acidic and loamy soil.
Got a spot that is smoking hot and dry? Don’t try to plant a rose garden there…unless you want it to look terrible. Try some Sedum, Cone Flower, Oriental Lillies, Butterfly Weed, Ornamental Grass and maybe a double knock-out rose might be O.K. if you get it some water a few times a week. They kind of thrive on neglect.
A little research goes a long ways to creating a successful and thriving garden.
Visit my other blog GartenGrl for some other ideas I have about gardening.
Originally posted 2009-03-29 17:13:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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7 Plants That Can Poison Pets
Posted by: | CommentsGot this from my sister and thought you might find it helpful
7 Plants That Can Poison Pets
Symptoms of poisoning include severe burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty
Ingesting the plant can cause excessive salivation, vomiting and diarrhea. Large ingestions of tubers can result in heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures and death.
Munching on the plant can result in dilated pupils, abdominal pain, increased heart rate and drooling in cats, and vomiting, depression, loss of appetite, drooling, loss of coordination, and weakness in both cats and dogs.
Ingestion can result in intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty in swallowing.
A perfect reminder that we shouldn’t make assumptions about safety. Though aloe vera juice is marketed as a health tonic for humans, and its gel is used to treat burns, the plant is toxic to pets. Signs of poisoning include vomiting, depression, diarrhea, anorexia, tremors and change in urine color.
Though it inspires kisses around the holidays, the traditional plant causes gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular collapse, erratic behavior and a host of other ills.
Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation and, in cats, dilated pupils.
Originally posted 2009-01-27 16:19:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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Friendly Neighbors-Gardening in Style
Posted by: | Commentsby:
COOPER HILL
Gardeners growing vegetables find that companion planting provides many benefits, one of which is protection from garden pests. A major enemy of the carrot is the carrot fly, whereas the leek suffers from the onion fly and leek moth. Yet when leek and carrot live together in companionship, the strong and strangely different smell of the partner plant repels the insects so much that they do not even attempt to lay their eggs on the neighbor plant. They take off speedily to get away from the smell. This is why mixed plantings give better insect control than mono-culture, where many plants of the same type are planted together in row after row.
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Originally posted 2009-09-30 14:53:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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- Temperature: 47°F;
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Organic Gardening – Improving the Soil in Your Green Garden
Posted by: | Comments
Organic Gardening – Improving the Soil in Your Green Garden
By John Yazo
Green gardening is a method that your plant will grow a healthy and productive life by feeding off natural nutrients in your gardens soil. These nutrients are supplied by organic matter you add to your gardens so that nature can decompose it and turn it into a nutrient rich humus. This final product is what will improve your gardens soil structure and greatly benefit the plants you are growing, like your flowers, fruits, herbs and vegetables.
Composting is a great method of recycling your organic household and yard waste into a nutrient rich humus for your gardening needs. It is also a eco-friendly method of putting the organic household and yard waste that you accumulate to good use. Read More→
Originally posted 2009-06-30 08:18:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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Hydrangeas Can Be A Garden Challenge
Posted by: | Comments
Photo by greenhem
One must have some gardening knowledge when it comes to having abundant blooms with hydrangeas. They can be tricky to prune so they bloom abundantly. They are particular about what kind of soil and fertilizer they receive for bloom color. Hydrangeas are also choosy about what kind of light conditions they will do best in-partial shade is just the beginning.The following notes are meant to help guide you with your different Hydrangea plants so you will get the most out of them.
Hydrangeas come in a few different varieties. One type is called Hydrangea Arborescence which usually have big white snow balls on them-these hydrangeas bloom on “new” wood. Because Hydrangea Arborescence varieties bloom on “new” wood they can be pruned in the fall. They will produce new stalks in the spring which will bloom. The tree form hydrangeas you see which are also usually white are called Paniculata hydrangeas and they too should be pruned in the late Fall. Seems simple: white flowers, prune in fall.
It gets more complicated when you realize that there are other kinds of hydrangeas called Hydrangea Macrophyllas-these are the kind of hydrangeas that have pink or blue flowers. These bloom on “old” wood and can ONLY be pruned before July the year before…did I say this was tricky or what?There is also Oakleaf hydrangea which is also an “old” wood bloomer. So when would you prune it??That’s right-summer before….tell me about it…so confusing. Read More→
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Amazing Hummingbird Encounter
Posted by: | CommentsThis is amazing! Some people have some kind of magic with animals…This little hummingbird clip is astounding!
–GartenGrl
**video owner disabled embedding…you can click on this link and check it out: Cool Hummingbird Video
Extraordinary – After an hour of fly bys around the yard this hummingbird found the confidence to confront the gardener.
Originally posted 2009-06-15 09:11:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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- Temperature: 64°F;
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Interpret Your Garden As a Painting – 3 Artist’s Tools For Developing Contrast and Imagination
By Dorothy Fagan
Contrast is the most important element in designing a painting or a garden. Without contrast ~ everything appears flat and lifeless. Here are three things you can do to see contrast and use it in your garden.
Activate Your Imagination
1. Identify areas of light and shade in your garden. Close your eyes and imagine your Self flying through your garden as if you are a bird. Feel the cool shadiness of the dark areas. Feel the bright sunshine of the light areas. Where will you perch? In the shade? Or in the sun? Where will you eat? In the shade? or in the sun? Where will you sing? Write down your answers and any thoughts which pop to mind along the way.
Originally posted 2009-07-10 09:47:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
-- Weather When Posted --
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