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Category: Gardening And Outdoors

There Is Nothing Like Gardening And Outdoor Life For That Free Nature Feel.

Published on

ABC Everyday / By Zoe Kean

Longer, warmer days are causing plants all over Australia to spring into new growth. But with this welcome growth comes every gardener's nemesis — weeds.

Amanda Sigler, 38, grew their "first ever garden" last summer and has been gaining new skills to keep weeds at bay.

Here are their tips, along with advice from a horticulturalist. 

Prevention is key and cardboard can help

The strongest advice Amanda has for new gardeners is to stop the problem before it starts through weed-wise planning.

"Lay a good foundation," they say.

When Amanda moved into a rental in Moonah, a Hobart suburb, they were faced with an expanse of lawn. After getting the go-ahead from their landlord, they decided to replace the lawn with veggie beds.

They dug up their lawn then lay flattened cardboard over the dirt to stop the grass regrowing. They topped it all off with fresh, premium, weed-free soil.

This strategy gave their new veggies the best chance of growing without competition.

Louise Sales, horticulturalist at the Botanical Institute, a garden run by the Museum of Old and New Art's (MONA) 24 Carrot Garden Program, endorses this method. 

"If you've got lots of weeds [laying cardboard down] is a really good way of suppressing them," she says.…

Published on

By Janet Vargas - Owner Of This Website

DID YOU KNOW THAT 75% OF FOOD WORLDWIDE IS LIMITED TO 12 PLANT CROPS (and 5 animal foods) AND THAT WESTERN COUNTRIES......... MORE INTERESTING FACTS IN THIS POST, PLUS WHICH FRUITS AND VEGGIES THE AFORE MENTIONED ARE AND SOME INSIGHTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ENCOURAGING BIODIVERSITY HERE IN AUSTRALIA. ON A LIGHTER NOTE, I WILL ALSO MENTION SOME IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE HAD IN OUR FOOD CULTURE IN RECENT DECADES AND RECENT TIMES, TO WHAT WE HAD YEARS AGO. I HOPE YOU READ THIS POST.

According to TheFutureMarket.Com  we only grow a small percentage of Plant Food Crops in Western Countries that does not allow for much Food Diversity in our Diet or our Health. As mentioned, they state that 75% of the World’s Food comes from 12 Plants (and 5 Animals).

In this order, the highest turnover of Plant Foods produced are 1. Sugar, 2. Corn, 3. Rice, 4. Wheat, 5. Potatoes,  6. Soya Beans, 7. Cassava, 8.Tomatoes, 9. Bananas, 10. Onions, 11. Apples and 12. Grapes. We eat only 150 out of 30,000 edible plant species (worldwide). For example, the USA has lost 90% of it’s Fruit and Veg varieties since 1900.…

Published on Leave a comment on The Best Ways To Take Childrens Learning Outside, According To An Outdoor Play Expert

Bountyteam  MSN

I LOVE THIS ARTICLE BECAUSE I THINK CHILDREN TODAY SPEND FAR TOO MUCH TIME INDOORS. EVEN LITTLE KIDDIES AND TODDLERS GROW UP BEFORE THEIR TIME WITH SOME OF THE TV PROGRAMS THEY WATCH AND SO MUCH PLAY WITH TECH DEVICES. SOME OUTDOOR LIVING IS HEALTHY FOR KIDS - AND PARENTS TOO. LET'S TAKE SOME GOOD TIPS FROM SOMEONE WHO RELATES WELL WITH CHILDREN, HEY?

While we all know homework is necessary for a child’s valuable education, spending time outside is just as essential to children’s physical and mental wellbeing.

But the majority of Aussie kids prefer indoor play despite the many benefits of playing outside on their mood, feelings of satisfaction, creativity and development.

With the school holidays right around the corner and the challenges of lockdowns and restrictions continuing to impact many Australians, Penny Whitehouse, educator and outdoor play expert, shares her tips to take learning outside.

As a working mum, I know it’s easy to slip into an indoor routine and let the kids stay glued to the screen. However, the published research – and my professional experience through 12 years as a wildlife and environmental education officer working to cultivate joy from outdoor play – confirm there are major benefits to kids learning and playing outside during their development years.…

Published on Leave a comment on Spring Has Sprung: It’s Time To Build Your Organic Veggie Garden And Reap The Rewards

By Becky Searles, Family Garden Life

If you want to turn a house into a home then a garden is going to be your best move. And if you want to really improve the value of your home, it’s a productive garden where you can harvest nutrient-dense food that’s going to make the biggest impact.

When you think about a family’s basic needs, food and shelter at at the top of the list, and if your food garden is operating well, it can provide a family with food for most of the year.

Even better, if your family adopts organic gardening principles, you’ll have home-grown organic food that will leave money in your back pocket.

Some advantages to growing your own organic food include:

  • Saving serious money
  • Your family will enjoy freshly harvested food
  • Reducing your family’s carbon footprint
  • Your food will be packed full of nutrients
  • Your harvest will be free of the baddies like synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and chemicals
  • You’ll be helping the environment on so many levels
  • Mindfulness, connecting with nature and family at the same time

Planting the right foods at the right time will yield you delicious results all year round.…

Published on Leave a comment on No More Weeds!!! Heres My Secret To Weed-Free Gardening!

By Candi from FarmFreshForLife.com

Weed-Free Gardening. Is It Just A Dream?

I have some serious experience in gardening.  I’m not your average “salad” gardener.  I grow most of what I eat…. all year…   For the 101 days I was on The Homesteaders Food Challenge I grew everything I ate.   Which is tricky.  When you decide to grow your entire diet you need to know how to grow things.  Or you’ll starve.

Mulch Is A Must If You Want No Weeds - Plus Advantages

I didn’t starve and I had a massive garden.  Last year I had 3 massive gardens actually.  When you have several gardens you learn a thing or two about weeding.

Like how much you hate it.

So, I became an expert at preventing weeds because I wanted to go to the pool and not weed my garden every day of my life.

If you want to ditch weeding and don’t know how – this is for you!!!!!

Of all the tricks, systems and methods I tried – this one is my favorite.

MULCH

My mulch of choice is:  STRAW

  1. Straw is easy to find.
  2. Straw is cheap.
…

Published on Leave a comment on Whats The Verdict? Kids Playing Outside Like They Did Years Ago Is In. Its OK!

By Janet Vargas - Natural Health Researcher

So don't be frightened of germs because there are Good Germs as well, kids are missing out on that benefit their Immune System. It’s much Safer than text books say – just one of many practices grandparents and their grandparents encouraged, and their kids were healthier than children Today. No they weren’t mistaken – less educated but not silly. We have been, to take so much notice of information we have been brought up with medical influence. TV and TEC are not Baby Sitter, but we have substituted them for Good Healthy Outdoor Play, Aye?

Encourage Your Kids To Get Their Hands Muddy Or Sandy - Its Good For Them!

And today’s Medical System always scaring us into Antibiotics and Vaccines  - half of which are not appropriate for or country here in Australia. We are not in a Third World Country, and people who live in the Islands are healthier than we are without a Medical Establishment, who are always finding more ways to rake in more profits.

I don’t think there are many of us who remain ignorant to the likes of Big Pharma after 2020 – what a boost to the Industry.…

Published on Leave a comment on Ridding Ants From Yards And Garden Beds – Some Things You Can Try!

ANTS, ANTS, ANTS! THEY WANTED TO TAKE OVER MY TWO NEW GARDEN BEDS I PAID ABOUT $300-400 FOR AND I'VE TOLD THOSE ANTS "THESE GARDEN BEDS ARE FOR MY VEGGIES TO LODGE IN, NOT FOR YOU TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE. THEY'RE NOT FOR YOU, AWAY WITH YOU!" BECAUSE THEY'RE TERRITORIAL CREATURES, I THINK BUT I PAY FOR EXPENSES, SO MY WISHES COME FIRST! MANY PEOPLE ARE FINDING THEM A REAL PROBLEM ON THEIR PATHS AND IN THEIR YARDS AND ARE AFTER NON-TOXIC WAYS OF DEALING WITH THE SITUATION. MOST COMMERCIAL REMEDIES ARE VERY TOXIC BUT I HAVE ADDED TWO REALLY GOOD PRODUCTS THAT WORKED FOR ME, AT THE END OF THIS PAGE. ALL THE BEST TO YOU.

Some Remedies I Just Found, You Can Try Are:

Citrus Peels – Cucumber Peels – Vinegar – Mint – Cloves – Cinnamon

Herbs/Spices and Essential Oils

Sprinkle cinnamon, mint, chili pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves or garlic in the area where you've seen the ants. Then, treat your home's foundation in the same manner. Placing bay leaves in cabinets, drawers, and containers can also help to deter ants.

Certain essential oils have also proven to be effective against ants.…

Published on Leave a comment on Did You Know The Truth About Veggies – That You Can Regrow Some Of Them From Scraps?

YES IT'S TRUE! I HAVE WITNESSED THIS PHENOMENA SEVERAL TIMES ON YouTube VIDEOS AND CERTAIN WEBPAGES IN RECENT YEARS......YOU CAN FIND LOTS OF THESE THROUGH GOOGLE IMAGES. IT'S FUN, IT REALLY IS! YOU SHOULD TRY IT SOME TIME. I JUST POSTED AN ARTICLE ON USING OUR OWN SEED FOR GROWING SOME VEGGIES AT HOME AND THOUGHT I WOULD ADD THIS POST FOR GOOD MEASURE AS WELL FOR YOU.

Some Kitchen Scraps Can Be Regrown

SHOULD BE GOOD FOR YOU SAVVY ECONOMISTS, GARDEN AND NATURE LOVERS OUT THERE AND YOU CAN HAVE SOME FUN WITH THE KIDS AS WELL. YOU MAY LIKE TO TRY SOME EXPERIMENT FOR THE NOVELTY:)

TRACY MORIN has an article with a similar title on Mashed.Com She writes:

Whether you can't get to the store, are looking to pinch pennies, or just want to enjoy the process of growing your own produce, why not repurpose whatever vegetables and herbs you can find in the kitchen, encouraging regrowth through scraps you'd otherwise throw away?

For example, green onions and other vegetables, like romaine lettuce, bok choy, cabbage, leeks, and carrot-top greens, are renowned for their powers of regeneration — just add to a container of water and watch 'em come alive.…

Published on Leave a comment on Veggies You Can Grow In Your Garden Easily Without Buying Seeds Or Seedlings

WE HAVE TO BUY ALL OUR VEGGIES FROM THE STORE OR SEEDLINGS FROM THE NURSERY TO GROW........OR WAIT A MINUTE, DO WE? HAVE YOU SEEN SOME OF THE WEBPAGES OR YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON GROWING SOME VEGGIES FROM VEGGIE SCRAPS? I'VE SEEN THEM MANY TIMES - GREAT FUN FOR KIDS - AND I FOUND SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT TODAY. A GIRL CALLED AMARA SHOWS US 6 VEGGIES WE CAN SIMPLY GROW WITH SEEDS FROM PRODUCE WE'VE BOUGHT OR GROWN. AND MAYBE IT'S A BLUFF THAT SEEDS HAVE TO BE TREATED (For Commercial Enterprise) YOU KNOW? IF THAT WERE REALLY SO, HOW ABOUT ALL THE ORGANIC HEIRLOOM SEEDS ETC SOLD BY DIGGERS GARDEN CLUB, EDEN SEEDS AND OTHERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR MANY YEARS NOW? AND WHAT DID PEOPLE DO BEFORE THERE WERE SEED COMPANIES? NOT TO MENTION, HAVE YOU HEARD OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE CALLED SEED SAVERS? INTERESTING, ISN'T IT? SHALL WE SEE SOME OF AMARA'S HANDIWORK?

Amara is a writer, and writing is her passion. She loves gardening and enjoys it as her hobby.

Many people love gardening and enjoy it as their hobby. Well, this hobby can be even more worthwhile when it also yields fresh organic vegetables from a home garden.…

Published on Leave a comment on Sun-Mapping And Positioning Our Veggie Garden-Beds For Success

Here You Have It Gardeners, Another Way To Improve On Your Veggie Gardening!

Last Week I Made A Companion Planting Guide For Gardeners And Beginner Gardeners. Now To Address The Light And Shade Aspect. Lets Work With Nature. Most Of Us Have Some Shade And Part-Shade In Our Yard (Or Space) When Thinking Of Growing A Veggie Garden (Big Or Small) And Some Of Us Are A Little Confused How To Work Things Out.

Happy Sun-Mapping For Your Veggie Garden

This Post Will Help Bring Some Clarity Into The Situation, So You Have An Idea Where To Grow Your Herbs And Veggies And How To Go About It. The Following Articles Should See You On Your Way To Good Results And Maybe Better Than You Have Had Previously.

How Sun Mapping Can Help Homegrown Veggies Thrive

ABC Everyday  By Koren Helbig

In hindsight, figuring out where the sun falls in our backyard would have been handy to do before we started planting any veggies.

Because edible plants need sunlight to grow — the more of it, the better — yet the sun changes position across the seasons, dropping lower in winter and throwing longer shadows across the earth.

My partner and I didn't even think to consider this when we moved into our Adelaide rental four years ago.…