Gardener's Corner

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Comment by Chief Walks on June 12, 2014 at 11:03am

How to prune raspberries, apple trees and grapes:

Comment by Chief Walks on June 2, 2014 at 7:31am

Comment by Chief Walks on May 30, 2014 at 8:08am

Make Strawberry Picking Easier!
Follow this simple plan to build a strawberry picking stool.

By G.R. Osborne

The Strawberry Picker's Delight is easy to build and use.

Few flavors can compete with the succulent sweetness of a fresh strawberry. Then again, few fruits are as backbreakingly difficult to harvest as these low-to-the-ground red edibles. However, berry lovers, take heart: I've designed a contraption that should ease many of the aches and pains so familiar to strawberry picking.

I came upon the design idea for this device by accident when, about a year ago, some friends of mine in Oregon asked me to help them find a way to speed up their strawberry harvest.

Dedicated inventor (and friend) that I am, I couldn't let them down, so I took to the drawing board right away. Even though I tried everything I could think of, nothing looked promising. I was almost ready to give up until, while visiting a farm sale, I spotted an old-fashioned one-legged milking stool with a waist strap. Could the perfect solution to my friends' picking woes, I asked myself, already have been invented? In any case, I bought the strap-on seat and gave it to my friends to let them answer that question for themselves.

Several months later, I visited Oregon during the picking season to see how things were going. Well, the word had gone out that "the inventor" was on the scene, and I was treated like a visiting monarch. As it turned out, that crazy milking stool had worked so well that it had been irreparably broken from overuse.

Now vintage milking seats are mighty hard to come by these days, but—as I said—I'm an inventor. It took me little time to come up with the design for a simulated one-legged milking stool. So, if you're a strawberry grower on a small or large scale (or if you're simply a home gardener with lots of low-down chores to do), you might just profit from my easy-to-follow plans for the Strawberry Picker's Delight.

Comment by Chief Walks on May 11, 2014 at 10:13am

Comment by Chief Walks on May 7, 2014 at 6:03am

Environmental Working Group releases an updated list of the dirtiest—and cleanest—produce on the market.

2014 dirty dozen

Environmental Working Group (EWG) just released its 2014 Dirty Dozen list identifying the most pesticide-laden produce on the market. This doesn't mean you should stop eating produce in exchange for processed foods, but it does suggest that eating organic as often as possible is a top-notch way to keep chemical pesticides out of your body.

In fact, a 2012 report by the American Academy of Pediatrics said children are particularly susceptible to the impacts of pesticide exposure, including an increased risk of pediatric cancers and behavioral problems, along with trouble learning. Pesticide exposure has also been linked to all sorts of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer, among others.

To come up with the "Clean 15" and "Dirty Dozen Plus" lists, EWG scientists focused on 48 popular fruits and vegetables and based their rankings on an analysis of 32,000 samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

To rank produce, EWG analysts use six metrics, including the total number of pesticides detected on a crop and the percent of samples tested with detectable pesticides. In the latest report, 65 percent of the samples analyzed tested positive for pesticide residues.

But the report goes beyond listing foods with the most pesticide residues and charges the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) with failing to comply with the Congressionally mandated Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, legislation designed to to warn Americans of the risk of eating foods containing chemical pesticides.

"EWG's Shopper's Guide helps people find conventional fruits and vegetables with low concentrations of pesticide residues," says Sonya Lunder, EWG's senior analyst and principle author of the report. "If a particular item is likely to be high in pesticides, people can go for organic."

2014 Dirty Dozen Plus
Nonorganic apples once again topped The EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce report, making it the fourth year in a row the beloved fruit earned the unfavorable spot.

Kale, collard greens, and hot peppers were frequently contaminated with insecticides that are particularly toxic to human health, prompting their "Dirty Dozen Plus" status.

1. Apples
2. Strawberries
3. Grapes
4. Celery
5. Peaches
6. Spinach
7. Sweet Bell Peppers
8. Nectarines (Imported)
9. Cucumbers
10. Cherry Tomatoes
11. Snap Peas (Imported)
12. Potatoes
+ Hot Peppers
+ Kale/Collard Greens

2014 Clean 15
It's not all bad news! These produce picks contained the lowest pesticide levels.

1. Avocados
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Sweet Peas (Frozen)
6. Onions
7. Asparagus
8. Mangoes
9. Papayas
10. Kiwi
11. Eggplant
12. Grapefruit
13. Cantaloupe
14. Cauliflower
15. Sweet Potatoes

Comment by Chief Walks on May 7, 2014 at 6:02am

How To Test pH Levels In Soil

A test is done when you want to know whether your soil is acidic, neutral or alkaline. Why does it matter? Most plants need a fairly neutral soil so they can retrieve all the nutrients from it that they require, but some are more fussy and may want it more acidic or alkaline.

Garden GearBy testing, you can determine if a garden location will be ideal for a new plant or if it should be amended first (to adjust the pH level as needed).

Many plants thrive in neutral (a pH reading of approximately 6.5 to 7.5) but there are some that require more acidic (below 7) or alkaline (above 7). The scale is from 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most alkaline).

For Accurate Results: Use clean tools and remove any debris from the garden surface then dig down about four inches to retrieve a sample. For potted plants, a couple of inches below the surface is fine.

Three Ways You Can Do It:

Use a meter, probe or kit: These vary in price and quality but one that’s around the $10 or $20 range is likely sufficient for the average gardener’s needs.
Quick & dirty DIY test: Not very specific but can give you an idea of what you’re working with and the supplies needed are likely in your pantry already.
Send out samples: This can be done free or at low cost using local government or horticultural facilities (universities, greenhouses, etc.).

Kits, Probes & Meters:

There are a few different types you can buy and the kits will come with instructions for using their particular product. Generally a test kit is used by pouring a bit of dirt in the supplied tube or container, add the provided tablet or powder, fill container with water and shake until powder or tablet is dissolved. After a few minutes the test will display a color that you will compare against the kit’s color chart to see the result.

Another option is a meter or probe that is either inserted directly into the ground or in a water & dirt slurry mix, these can provide near instant readings and display either a color code or number to indicate the content.

Quick & Dirty Method:

This won’t give you a specific reading, but it can give you an idea whether or not it’s acidic or alkaline.

Vinegar: Take a sample of dry dirt (about 1/4 cup), mix with distilled water to make a liquid “mud” and then start pouring household vinegar over top. If the mixture fizzes, it’s alkaline.
Baking soda: Mix dry dirt and distilled water as above then start sprinkling baking soda over top. If the mixture bubbles, it’s acidic.

If neither test produces a reaction, you have fairly neutral soil.

Do you remember way back in the day when grandpa would grab a handful of dirt on the farm and smell or taste it? It was the oldtimer’s method of determining the pH level…if it tasted or smelled sour, it was acidic and he knew then that it was time to add lime to increase the pH. Tasted or smelled sweet? That told him it was more alkaline.

Send Out Samples:

If it’s imperative that you know precisely what you’re dealing with, your best bet is to check with your local government agricultural office or university’s horticultural department, they’ll do the analysis or advise you where local gardeners can get their samples tested.

Quick Tips For Amending:

For more acidity (sourness), try adding sulfur, pine needles, cottonseed meal to low

Comment by Chief Walks on April 28, 2014 at 9:54am

Comment by Chief Walks on April 14, 2014 at 1:14pm

PEACE LILLY TIPS

Comment by Chief Walks on April 5, 2014 at 7:24am

Gardening with Epsom Salt
Seedling and garden spade tool
Epsom salt is a popular and well-reputed supplement in organic gardening. With the recent push towards “green” living, Epsom salt is an ideal answer to a variety of organic gardening needs. Both cost effective and gentle on your greenery, Epsom salt is an affordable and green treatment for your well-tended plants—both indoors and out.

Completely one-of-a-kind with a chemical structure unlike any other, Epsom salt (or Magnesium Sulfate) is one of the most economic and versatile salt-like substances in the world. Throughout time, Epsom salt has been known as a wonderful garden supplement, helping to create lush grass, full roses, and healthy, vibrant greenery. It has long been considered a planter’s “secret” ingredient to a lovely, lush garden, and is such a simple, affordable way to have a dramatic impact. Just as gourmet salt works with the ingredients in food to enhance and bring a meal to its full potential, Epsom salt enhances fertilizer and soil’s capabilities to bring a deeper level of vitality to your garden’s composition. Ultra Epsom Salt is the highest quality Epsom salt available, and is widely celebrated for its powerful benefits on natural life, ranging from household plants to shrubs, lawns and even trees.

Comment by Chief Walks on March 27, 2014 at 3:18pm

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