What is GE? What is it Used For The Dangers! Organic Foods GE and You About This Site Contact Why You Should Buy and Support Organic Foods What You Should Know Before Going Shopping Organic Gardening			Organic Gardening As you can probably guess, organic gardening is a lot of work. Unfortunately that is something we can't help you with. But, if you do have enough time and energy, and want GE free and orgainc foods, we can give you some tips on how to have a successful, truly organic garden. Principles of Organic Gardening Stop Using Poisons - Artificial fertilizers feed the plants in an unnatural way and pesticides don't control pests effectively on a long term basis, not to mention, they pollute the environment Aeration - Increase the air in the soil through mechanical aeration. Punch holes in the ground manually, or using an aerator. Deep holes are the best. Compost - Compost increases the organic matter in the soil. Use compost and 100% organic fertilizers to feed the soil. Let the soil feed the plants, not chemical fertilizers. Rock Powder - Add rock powders to increase trace minerals and energy of the soil. Volcanic material such as granite, lava sand and zeolite are best. Also effective are greensand, colloidal phosphate and glacial rock powder. Using rock powder is one of the most looked over parts of successful organic gardening. Mulch - Cover all bare soil around plants with natural mulch such as shredded tree trimmings, shredded hardwood bark, pine needles, etc. Don't use artificial mulches, or plastic materials. Try not to use a heavy mulch when growing plants from seed. Biodiversity - While biodiversity is the enemy of conventional crop growing, it is essential in organic gardening. To encourage biodiversity introduce beneficial insects and protect those that exist. Purchase and release ladybugs, green lacewings, and trichogramma wasps. You'll need to buy less every year because natural populations will establish. Adapted Plants - Select native or adapted plants, otherwise the first six points don't matter. Good soil and perfect fertility will never make palms grow well in Iowa, or most states for that matter. But if wise plant choices are made, the organic program will work beautifully.  Tips and Information Soil Testing Have soil tested, if possible, by a lab that gives organic recommendations, to learn the total and available levels of organic matter, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, phosphate, potassium, sodium, chloride, boron, iron, manganese, copper and zinc. Also check for life by counting the earthworms in a square foot of soil - should be at least ten. Planting Prepare new planting beds by scraping away existing grass and weeds, adding 4-6" of compost and tilling the mix 3" into the native soil. Good additional ingredients include rock powders and organic fertilizer at 20 lbs/1,000 sq. ft. Do not use artificial fertilizers, or artificial weed block fabrics. Fertilizing Apply a 100% organic fertilizer to your lawn and planting beds in early spring at 20 lbs/1000 sq. ft. Repeat every 2-3 months days during the growing season if needed. Three applications per year is normal. Apply rock powders annually at about 60 lbs/1,000 sq. ft. If you're up to it add bat guano, fish meal, kelp meal or earthworm castings at 15 lbs/1,000 sq. ft. to annuals and perennials in the spring and every 2-3 months if needed during the growing season. This can also be added to each hole when planting bulbs or small transplants. Mist or soak bulbs or seeds before planting in a 1%-5% solution of seaweed or some other biostimulant. Mulching For shrubs, trees and ground covers use at least 1" of compost and 3" of shredded tree trimmings or shredded hardwood bark. Mulch vegetable gardens with 8" of partially completed compost or alfalfa hay. Mulch preserves moisture, eliminates weeds and keeps the soil surface cooler which help biodiversity and plant roots. Mowing/Trimming Mow your lawn higher than you think. Start the season at no lower than 2" and raise to at least 3" by mid summer. Mow weekly or more often if necessary, leaving the clippings on the lawn - a recycling mower is great for this. Put occasional excess clippings in the compost pile. Do not scalp the lawn in the spring. Scalping is hard on equipment, exposes the soil to sunlight and weed germination, and wastes organic matter. Watering Adjust schedule seasonally to maintain an even moisture level. About 1" of water per week in the summer is a good amount. When possible add 1 tablespoon of natural apple cider vinegar per gallon of water. Use a siphon attachment and include a light application of seaweed, molasses, and compost tea when possible also. Don't use vinegar with acidic water or soil. Weeding Hand pull large weeds, mulch all bare soil and work on soil health for overall control. Use 10% (100 grain) vinegar or stronger at full strength and/or citrus oil as effective organic herbicides on hot days. Be sure to clean vinegar thoroughly out of metal spray parts, it is very corrosive. Use "The Weeder" or "Lawn Claw" for mechanical weed removal. Apply corn gluten meal in the Spring and Fall to control annual weeds such as grass burrs. Pruning Remove dead, diseased and conflicting limbs. Don't overprune. Tree pruning is mostly for your benefit, not the tree's. Don't make flush cuts and don't paint cuts. Pruning paint actually slows the natural healing process. If you must paint cuts to be able to sleep nights use natural shellac or better still, Lac Balsam. Stump Removal For large stumps the best way is to hire an arborist to use a stump grinder. The second best choice is to cut the stump flush with the ground, drill large holes, more the better. Fill holes with sugar, fertilizer or buttermilk. Moisten thoroughly and cover with a thick blanket of mulch such as shredded tree trimmings.  Please send all feedback to ge_is_evil@hotmail.com © 1999 ThinkQuest Team 25365.