Organic Garden Works

Newest Gardening Trend: Vertical Gardens

Digger Jones — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:26:45 GMT

Digger Jones
a blog by a dog

Vertical Gardening: A.K.A. Green Wall, Living Wall

The latest trend in gardening these days is Vertical Gardens. Why? Here are a few good reasons:

Plants grow up, thereby taking up less space
Less labor due to less soil preparation and digging (so what's wrong with digging?).
More varieties of plants possible in much less space.
Can grow "bottom-up" and "bottom-down".
Less weeding
Reduced chores (yeah!)
Increased air circulation
Lower risk of plant diseases and pests
Easier to tend and harvest
Less bending, stooping, and breaking of backs.
Increased yields in a smaller space.
Vineing types of plants are well suited to vertical gardens. They perform better than bush types.

So, we're jumping on the Vertical Gardening trend. We're also going to do it mostly hydroponicly, using perlite as our soil-less medium and VermaPlex ® added to the water supply for the fertilizer. Occasionally, we'll add some liquid VermaMax ® as a nitrogen booster (liquid VermaMax® will be available soon). For our non-hydroponic plants (like beefsteak tomatoes) we'll still use organic worm castings Pure Black Castings™ in the potting soil mix.

Our vertical garden will also be self-watering. Self-watering worked wonders for us and we feel vertical gardening takes the self-watering gardening system to the next level of efficiency. Less, space, less labor, increased yields, fewer problems means more time for other activities (like digging holes for no apparent reason.)

Next: Now that the shade yurt is completed, we'll be building our plant towers and watering system.

Vertical Gardening Supplies:

Pure Black Castings™: Certified Organic Worm Castings created using only organic materials.
VermaMax®: Chicken Litter organically composted using VermaPlex®. Add to potting soil mix.
VermaPlex®: Created from Certified Organic Pure Black Castings™. Add to your hydroponic water supply for continuous feeding.
Organic Fertilizer Information: Find use/application guides at Monroe Works.

Still More Vertical Garden Updates

Digger Jones — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:26:06 GMT

Pure Black Castings VermaPlex VermaMax

a blog by a dog

The shade yurt for our vertical garden is coming along. We're using Derek Fell's "Vertical Gardening, Grow Up Not Out" as our vertical garden guide and Hal Jackson's Laurel Nest Yurts as our yurt building guide.

After getting the edgers in place underneath the yurt supports, Ol' Bill put down ground cloth and then added mulch:

After which I promptly took up residence.

A nice big water bowl is all that's needed. Oh yeah, and the vertical garden.

Vertical Gardening Supplies:

More Vertical Garden Updates

Digger Jones — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:09:45 GMT

Pure Black Castings VermaPlex VermaMax

a blog by a dog

Despite the unusual heat we're having for January, ol' Bill's been hard at work on his shade yurt for our vertical garden. After putting up the yurt, we decided we should add landscape edgers under the wooden legs to prevent them from rotting.

This is another project that could have been done before setting up the yurt, but we would have missed out on all that huffing and puffing to shove those babies underneath. I observed it all from the shady side.

After loosening the tie-downs, Ol' Bill pried up the supports while Kayce shoved under the blocks. I, as stated above, watched intently from the shade.

The flexiblity of the yurt allowed each section to be lifted without harming the structure. Once the blocks were in place and the supports adjusted until all were settled, the tie-downs were... well... tied down.

And, behold, all is supported, not a board out of whack. Can't say the same for ol' Bill's back.
(No rhyme intended).

Next: Ground cloth and mulch.

Vertical Gardening Supplies:

Vertical Vegetable Garden Shade Yurt

Digger Jones — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:01:55 GMT

Pure Black Castings VermaPlex VermaMax

a blog by a dog

Ol' Bill added the shade cloth to the yurt and figured out how to tie it down. And just in the nick of time. It's mid January, but we've been in the 80's for the past week. I think we're going to need the shade, and soon.

Vertical Garden Shade Yurt Update

It took some doing, but here it is:

After the yurt was put up, we discovered the roof ring separated and needed some screws. Would have been much easier before it was put up, but then ol' Bill would have missed out on hanging onto the ladder with his toes.

The clamps come out when the glue dries.

See that nice shaded corner? That's where I'm headed right now....

Next: Putting landscape edgers under the legs....another thing that would have been easier before putting it up.

Vertical Gardening Supplies:

New Vertical Garden

Digger Jones — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:24:20 GMT

Pure Black Castings VermaPlex VermaMax

a blog by a dog

We've been quite for a while, and with good reason. More on that later.

Vertical Garden Yurt

Here's what ol' Bill's been up to: building a Yurt to house our vegetable garden... Vertical Vegetable Garden to be exact. We' ll be able to add shade cloth for our intense Florida sun and frost cloth for our untimely Florida frosts. This protection should extend our growing season considerably. Besides, ol' Bill just wanted to build a yurt.

Hydroponic Vertical Garden

What's more, we're going to make it hydroponic, using organic VermaPlex® as the liquid fertilizer and perlite as the soilless growing medium. Check back for our progress often. Ol' Bill is chomping at the bit.

Vertical Gardening Supplies:

July Bulbs: Start Daylilies

Digger Jones — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:15:27 GMT

Pure Black Castings VermaPlex VermaMax

a blog by a dog

Start New Plants With Daylily Offshoots

See those little daylilies growing off from the sides of your plants? Snap them off and transplant to expand your garden for free. Here's how.

Fill 5 inch containers with potting soil mix.
Break offshoots off when several leaves develop and there are some rudimentary roots forming.
Plant deep enough to keep the plants upright.
Moisten with VermaPlex ®mix (1 part VermaPlex® to 20 parts water) to stimulate root growth.
Place transplants into full-sun.
Check daily and water if needed.
Roots will begin growing rapidly.
Apply VermaPlex®/water mixture in two weeks.
Transplant into your garden in the fall or early spring.

And there you go - expand your daylily garden for free.

Certified Organic Bulbs Fertilizer:

Pure Black Castings™: Certified Organic Worm Castings created using only organic materials.
VermaMax®: Chicken Litter organically composted using VermaPlex®.
VermaPlex®: Created from Certified Organic Pure Black Castings™. Innoculate your garden soil and your compost heap.
Organic Fertilizer Information: Find use/application guides and Monroe Works.

EarthWorms in Your Garden

Digger Jones — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:05:54 GMT

a blog by a dog

If you want to improve your gardens aeration and create compost right in your garden, add earthworms. Earthworms not only breakdown mulch and manures, they also leave behind nutrient rich castings .

Here is how:

Cover your garden area with organic material and mulch. Worms need the cover and they need the food. If they are exposed to the sun and there nothing to feed on, they will simply crawl away. Wouldn't you?
Keep the garden soil and mulch moist. The worms can't survive in dry conditions.
Keep the garden from being soggy. Worms can't survive in overly wet conditions. Get it? They need in JUST RIGHT.
To calculate how many worms you will need, add 8-10 worms per square foot.
Don't add the worms when it's excessively hot.
Use a mix of European Nightcrawlers and Red Worms. European nightcrawlers are burrower and will aerate the soil. Red worms stay in the upper area beneath the organic material, but are slightly better composters. You can use either one or the other as well.
Avoid chemicals and pesticides (which you do already, right?). Worms are highly susceptible to toxins in the environment.

So there you are, nothing to it really. Add worms to your garden and create compost without any distribution work on your part. That's the part I like.

Earthworm Resources:

Red Worms
European Nightcrawlers
Combo Earthworms

Florida Gardening July Annuals

Digger Jones — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:21:50 GMT

a blog by a dog

It's hot. It's sticky, It's wet. Welcome to Florida in July. Florida gardening in July can be a challenge, but I'm here to help.

Annuals for Your July Florida Garden

First, the dry heat, now the rains. Have you noticed any problems in your garden? If your annuals survived the heat, their probably suffering "wet feet" from all the rain that's come our way. Now, I'm not complaining. We certainly needed the rain, with the drought and all. But, you know, come on.... gemme a break.

Here are some common problem and concerns you may encounter now that we're in the mean season of July:

Fertilizing.
Plants need a constant source of nutrients. A slow release, organic fertilizer is best and you may need to add more after the excess rain. Our sandy soils let a lot of good stuff wash away, although worm castings are best for preventing leaching. Yellow foliage is a symptom of nutritional deficiencies. Add side dressings of Pure Black Castings™ and drench or foliar spray with VermaPlex® every 7-14 days.
Rot.
"Wet feet" as mentioned can be a problem if you have poor drainage. Annuals don't like it. Some varieties, like periwinkles and wax begonias, are especially sensitive. See a list below of rain-tolerant annuals.
Pests.
Garden fleas, grasshoppers, whiteflies, nematodes, slugs, and snails are showing up now and will do a number on your annuals. Look for organic methods for eradication. VermaPlex® as a foliar spray will go a long way in keeping these suckers (literally, some suck the juices from your lovely annuals while the rest devour them at an alarming rate) at bay. Spray the underside of leaves as well as the tops.
Periods of drought between heavy downpours.
It's either too wet or too dry. Turn off your sprinklers during rain spells. Check your annuals when rains stops for a couple of days to prevent them from drying out. Plants in containers are especially vulnerable to drying out, so check them daily.

Rain and Heat Tolerant Annuals for Florida

Below is a list of annuals you can plant now for our rainy season:

Coleus
Creeping Zinnia
Globe Amaranth
Impatiens
Melampodium
Periwinkle
Purslane
Rose Moss
Torenia
Wax Begonias

Garden stores will clear out their seeds this time of year, so get them a.s.a.p. or order online.

Keep cool.

Certified Organic Annuals Fertilizer:

Are Your Composting Materials Safe?

Digger Jones — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:42:18 GMT

Pure Black Castings™                VermaPlex®                  VermaMax®

          a blog by a dog

    Digger's Composting

Careful About Materials You Add To Your Compost Pile

You may be like us and are gathering up materials for your compost heap and mulch for winter plant protection. Did you know that herbicides used on turf grass, hay fields, and other common compost/mulching materials can retain pesticide/herbicide residues that can harm your plants and trees?

And these herbicides can be found in horse and cow manures, too. As if we didn't have enough to worry about these days....

Some Herbicides Don't Break Down

There has been a serious problem for gardeners since 1999 with herbicides that don't break down during the composting process. These herbicides, used to kill weeds in hay and grass can be deposited onto your garden soil and lawns, causing damage to plants, trees and vegetables.

The active ingredients, proved to not cause harm to animals but not proven safe for plants, include:

Clopyralid
Aninopyralid,
Aminocyclopyrachlor

The last one is the active ingredient in the brand-name herbicide Imprelis and is attracting attention.

The above herbicides are in the pyridine family which kill plants by altering plant hormone levels. The reason they do not harm animals is that plants have different hormones than animals and it's safe for the animals to ingest it.

But, what about the manure from these animals? And what about using the treated grass clippings, hay and straw in our gardens and compost piles?

The problem is that these herbicides is, because they remain in the environment for long periods of time , they are causing problems with plants that we all want to keep alive, like our tomato plants, for crying out loud.

The bottom line: Be careful where your compost materials come from. You may inadvertently cause damage or kill your plants, trees and vegetables.

Steps Organic Gardeners Can Take

Compost your own materials.
Only bring in composting materials from sources that you know what maintenance practices are used.
Know your composting sources.
If you use a commercial composting, find out if they accept municipal organic waste material. And, if they do, is it tested for herbicide residue.
Be an activist.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is so named because it is supposed to, get this, "protect the environment". Write them and let them know you want protection from harmful herbicide residues. Herbicides need to be tested for potential harmfulness to plants before approval. Contact manufacturers of herbicides that you want herbicides thoroughly tested before they are put on the market, and not just for animal safety.

Use Only Organic Composting Materials

The only real way to prevent these products from getting into the environment is to not use them in the first place. Avoid using herbicides yourself and don't import compost materials onto your property from outside sources who do.

Certified Organic:

Vegetable Garden Project

Digger Jones — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:02:47 GMT

Pure Black Castings™ VermaPlex® VermaMax®

a blog by a dog

Digger's Fall Garden Project

New Strategy for Our Fall Garden

Ol' Bill's been's working feverishly on his new garden project. If you've been following my blog (you have been following faithfully, haven't you?) we've struggled with our garden due to the area's weird weather patterns.

The "shade yurt" is just about ready to set up, just in time for unpredictable October.

Shade Gardening

Our Central Florida weather similar to Louisiana and Texas: Relatively mild winters with occasional freezes; early/late frosts and early/late heat. The summers can get hot early and do the tomatoes in before the fruit ripens. An early frost can wipe out young plants in the fall garden; a late frost can wipe out young plants in the spring. A mild winter can be a blessing, providing fresh vegetables year long. A harsh winter can freeze out the hardiest of plants. Whatever weather we get in any given winter is a crap shoot. We won't even get into the drought/flooding issues.

Well, ol' Bill has come up with a possible solution. To protect the plants from sun, frost and freezes, he's building a yurt - a Mongolian portable house. It's fast,easy and inexpensive to build, so we did. Or rather, ol' Bill did. I supervised as usual.

After the yurt is erected, we'll set up a self-watering container garden system in it, cover the yurt with shade cloth and have frost cloth covers at the ready. Oh Tricky Central Florida Weather, bring it on.

Shade Garden

After construction, we set up the yurt to see how it went together. Then, we dismantled it and are just finishing up the protective finish. More to come....

Garden Fertilizer Resources:

About Worm Castings : Articles and use/application guides.
Pure Black Castings ™: Certified organic, OMRI listed 99.9% pure worm castings
VermaPlex ®: Liquid soil inoculant made from these organic worm castings
VermaMax®: Organically composted chicken litter. For extra nitrogen and 6% Calcium.

Other Resources

Fall Lawn Fertilizing

Digger Jones — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:31:41 GMT

Pure Black Castings™ VermaPlex® VermaMax®

a blog by a dog

Digger Fertilizes Lawns.

It's fall and you know what that means...time to fertilize and re-seed the lawn. Why? Because fall and winter is the time for roots to build and fragile seedlings to get a start before next summer's heat.
Of course, I work none-stop all year long on adding my contribution to the grass and pasture, but I can only do-do so much. I need some help.

Fall Lawn Fertilizer Check List

Things to consider in the fall:

Soil Test.
Now's a great time to send a soil sample to your state's agricultural extension office for testing. You'll see what your soil is lacking and fix it.
Apply organic compost or worm castings.
They will slow release throughout the fall and winter, strengthening your grass's root system for a great start come Spring.
Add microbes.
Microbes will work on this organic content (compost and/or castings), releasing nutrients for your grass.
Aerate.
If you have heavy or clayey soils, aerate before adding the compost/castings.
Over-seed or re-seed now.
The young grass seedlings have time to establish themselves before the drying, hot sun of late spring and summer arrive.

Healthy well-fed grass out competes weeds and eliminates the need for herbicides. Pests are reduced, which eliminates the need for pesticides. Your lawn grass will thrive as you contribute to a safer planet.

Uh...will you excuse me for just a second? I really must do my part in this grass fertilizing project now....like, pronto....

Fall Lawn Fertilizer Resources:

How To Your Lawn : Guides and Application Instructions.
Pure Black Castings ™: Certified organic, OMRI listed 99.9% pure worm castings
VermaPlex ®: Add microbes with this liquid soil inoculant made from these organic worm castings
Lawn Fertilizer Combination: Convenient and saves on shipping.

Other Resources

Organic Farmers Needed

Digger Jones — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:02:03 GMT

Pure Black Castings™ VermaPlex® VermaMax®

a blog by a dog

Digger Is Certified Organic!

Organic Farming Research Foundation Report

(huff...puff...pant...) News hot off the ticker. Left a perfectly delicious chew bone to do a quick news post: A report released today by OFRF gives evidence of the benefits of organic farming. It also reveals a bright possibility for those of you looking for a lucrative career choice in our struggling economy and shrinking job market. Read on while I rest..... (and chew)...

Increased Demand For Organic Products

Because of increased demand for organic products, the report urges more public resources be directed towards programs supporting organic farming. That current support can only be described as "modest" and does not reflect the reality of the growing demand for organic products.

Organic Farming Is Beneficial

Further, the report reveals what we've suspected all along: Organic farming practices are tremendously beneficial to consumers, farmers, the economy, and the environment. It also urges more research be done on this growing market.

Did you know that for this ever increasing clamor for organically grown products, there are currently only 14,500 certified organic farmers who are struggling to supply the demand?

So what does the increasing demand for organic products, the limited number of certified organic growers, and the call for more Congressional initiciatives in the upcoming Farm Bill mean? Organic farming is becoming an increasingly attractive option for struggling entrepreneurs looking for a viable business with tremendous demand.

Certified Organic Fertilizers

In order to be produce certified organic products, certified organic fertilizers are required. For farmers seeking organic certification, the following worm-based fertilizers are accepted.:

Pure Black Castings ™: Certified organic, OMRI listed 99.9% pure worm castings
VermaPlex ®: Liquid soil inoculant made from these organic worm castings
VermaMax®: Organically composted chicken litter. For extra nitrogen and 6% Calcium.

Bamboo Growing Progress

Digger Jones — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:42:25 GMT

Pure Black Castings™ VermaPlex® VermaMax®

a blog by a dog

Digger's Bamboo Lives!

I fertilize the bamboo every chance I get. The rest is up to Ol' Bill.

Quick Update on Bamboo

This bamboo died back entirely last winter. But, it came back with the spring and we've been fertilizing, watering and mulching it to get some hardened off growth before the freezes (if we have any) get here. Good culm growth shows the root system is fully established now. Should help with surviving the winter.

There's time for a dose of VermaPlex® to finish out the growing season.

Bamboo Fertilizer Resources:

Other Resources

Fertilizing Container Garden

Digger Jones — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:23:01 GMT

Pure Black Castings™ VermaPlex® VermaMax®

a blog by a dog

Digger Digs Holes On Command.

Preparing Fall Container Garden

I volunteered to make narrow holes in the potting soil of our self-watering containers, but I was turned down flat. It’s frustrating for one as talented as me in hole-digging to be passed over. Ol’ Bill opted instead for an old sailing tool to do the job. O.K., O.K. I know my holes can’t be classified as “narrow”, but what I lack in precision I make up for in enthusiasm.

Preparing Fall Container Garden

This is a cool way to add worm castings fertilizer to the potting soil of our self-watering containers without having to dump out the whole she-bang. Drill several narrow holes into the mix, much like you would for tree/shrub fertilizing, and then fill with organic fertilizer. Ol’ Bill pulled out this sailing tool from his bottomless trunk that did the trick.

If you don't possess one of these uncommon tools, you can make one by cutting off a baseball bat up from the narrow end. Round off the end. It should reach down 2/3 of the container depth.

Adding Organic Fertilizer to Containers

After drilling the holes, Ol’ Bill filled them with 50/50 mixture of Pure Black Castings™ and VermaMax®. He added VermaPlex® to the water reservoir and let it perk. Our containers are now ready for planting those heirloom tomato seedlings we picked up from the old-timers.

Next, our heirloom tomatoes and the yurt pics as promised. For now, I think I’ll go practice “precision hole digging”.

Container Garden Fertilizer Resources:

Planting Our Fall Garden

Digger Jones — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:00:50 GMT

Pure Black Castings™    VermaPlex®             VermaMax®

a blog by a dog

    Digger Loves Fall

Is that a slight nip in the air? An imperceivable drop in the humidity? Are we actually below ninety for a change? No doubt about it, this summer has been a hot one, but, as usual, times they are a'changing. It's time (probably past time) to start thinking about the fall garden.

What To Plant In The Fall Garden

Generally, you should plant only cool weather plants. But, in our area, we can afford to plant some fast maturing warm weather plants like tomatoes and peppers. Most of you guys should only consider cool weather varieties like broccoli, peas, spinach, kale lettuce, onions and radishes.

We happen to have a jump start on our fall garden. Amazingly, when we trimmed back our peppers in the green house, they came back and are producing new blooms and fruit even as we speak. Since they are in the green house, we can probably keep these babies going throughout the winter. Want that be nice.

Ready For Fall Garden

Bonus Fall Peppers

Fertilizing Our Self-Watering Containers

To add fertizer to our self-watering containers without having to dump out the potting soil mix, ol' Bill poked a couple of holes down into the soil of each buckey with a sail making tool (can't think of the name, it's a tapered stick) much like fertilizing around a tree or shurb. He filled these holes with worm castings, then drenched with VermaPlex®.

Other Fall Garden Plantings

The other self container garden (which ol' Bill fertilized the same as above) is going to be moved into our newly constructed (almost finished) "yurt". This structure, meant for our summer garden, will make it easy for us to cover with frost cloth should we get one of those early October frosts like last year. And, because of our schizophrenic weather, we can put on the shade cloth for a late October heat wave. I told you our weather here in Central Florida was a challenge for gardening.

Yurt pics next.

Fall Garden Resources:

Fertilizers: Pure Black Castings™, VermaPlex®, VermaMax®
Vermicomposting: Make your own worm castings fertilizers with earthworms.

Fertilizing Shrubs

Digger Jones — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:41:59 GMT

Pure Black Castings™ VermaPlex® VermaMax®

     a blog by a dog

  Digger Sometimes Digs

Problem Shrub

Our attention has turned to these poor, neglected shrubs. Actually, there's a good reason they've been neglected. You know, they call me "Digger" for a reason. Amongst these once lovely shrubs is where I gained my reputation as an accomplished digger.

I dug up the landscaping cloth, buried the mulch, made semi-permanent holes - basically creating a big mess. When I saw Kayce walk away in disgust last year, I had a feeling these shrubs were going to the back burner.

But, I've turned over a new leaf (metaphorically speaking) and no longer dig holes. Well, for the most part. Occasionally, when it's hot and I've been banished to the yard for some indoor rules infraction, I have relapses. All in all, though, I'm leaving stuff alone. So it's not going to be wasted effort to bring these shrubs back to life.

A Shrub in Need

First, we (Kayce) pulled out the vines that had overtaken the shrubs this rainy, hot summer. Then we (Kayce) sprinkled some Pure Black Castings™ and VermaMax® around the shrubs and washed it in. After a few days, we'll add a VermaPlex® drench.

Does This Shrub Have Time?

Although it's getting late in the season, there should be time for the shrubs to put out some growth. Then, in the spring we'll add the castings/VermaMax®/VermaPlex® treatment. I've promised to leave the shrubs alone from now on. When the urge to dig comes over me, there's always the planter in the front yard.

Shrub Fertilizer Resources:

Organic Shrub Fertilizer: Combo Pure Black Castings™ and VermaPlex® for shrubs, lawns and gardens.

Extra Nitrogen For Shrubs: VermaMax® also provides an amazing 6% calcium.

How To Fertilize and Grow Bamboo

Digger Jones — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:10:53 GMT

Pure Black Castings™     VermaPlex®         VermaMax®

         a blog by a dog


Digger often fertilizes bamboo plants.

Growing Bamboo

I don't know about you, but growing bamboo in our area (North Central Florida) is challenging. Come to think of it, growing anything here is a challenge. Florida has 4 distinct growing zones: North Florida, Central Florida, South Florida, and Tropical Florida. As luck would have it, we're at the bottom of North Florida, and at the top of Central Florida.

What does this mean? To you, absolutely nothing. To us, it means we get more freezes than Central Florida, more heat than North Florida. We get them early and late, coming and going. No wonder ol' Bill doesn't know if he's.....well, you know.

Although winter's tend to be mild here, for the last 2 years, that has not been the case. Oh.... no, no, no. We've had temps down into the low teens both years, and for several days at a time, and for several instances. So, guess what's been happening to our bamboo?

You guessed it. They grow and grow during the summer, then winter comes and, BAM!, the freeze kills back all the lovely canes that were so promising.

Even the established bamboo gardens at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens suffered major losses. Bamboo's that have been standing for years were lost. And the property were we dug up some of our bamboo sprouts lost the big clumper.

But, our bamboo plants themselves survived and there are things we can to get some canes established this year. Pray for a milder winter and fertilize really, really good.

Here's what we did:

Piled on the composted horse manure behind the barn.

Added worm castings to that.

Drenched with VermaPlex®.

Applied heavy mulch.

Two week later, we add VermaMax® (composted chicken doo).

Watered during the dry season

As luck would have it, after a very dry spring, the rain has really kicked in and the bamboo is going wild:

This particular species of bamboo is meant for Zone 9. We are Zone 8. I'm afraid, very afraid.

Bamboo Plant Fertilizer Resources:

Find information about VermaMax® at Monroe Works.

Pure Black Castings™: Certified organic worm castings (poop).
VermaPlex®: Liquid microbial soil inoculant (a real mouth full) made from the above.
VermaMax:® Organic chicken litter (again, poop) composted with the above.

Organic Gardening - Saving the Planet

Kayce — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:23:47 GMT

One Garden At A Time

Think that "going green" is revolutionary? Did you know there was a time, not so long ago, when all farming and gardening was done organically?

Gradually, chemical fertilizers became the accepted way of farming and gardening. It was quick and easy. And, once upon a time, cheap.

The fact is, chemical fertilizer exhausts the soil, destroys the microbes, depletes the micro-nutrients, and diminishes the "tilth". The result? Dead soil.

And now, with the new "peak oil" reality, chemical fertilizers are no longer cheap. Isn't it time to stop the madness? Isn't it time to change the same-old-ways of doing things? Isn't it time to get "back to the future"?

Imagine, as you're gardening, using organic methods and applying organic fertilizers like compost, manures, and worm castings, what is actually happening. You're replenishing the soil, restoring the microbes, returning the micro-nutrients, increasing the "tilth", and, yes,...... saving the planet. So go ahead, be a revolutionary, "go green".

Organic Fertilizer Resources:

Find use/application guides for these certified organic worm fertilizers at Monroe Works

Worm Castings Nature's most perfect fertilizer, Pure Black Castings™.
Liquid Soil Inoculant Restore your soil's microbe with VermaPlex®.
Composting Worms Make your own vermicompost with red worms.

Patio Self-Watering Container Garden

Digger Jones — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:16:55 GMT

Pure Black Castings™     VermaPlex®         VermaMax®

      a blog by a dog

            Digger

The self-watering containers under roof (for shade) are doing much better than the greenhouse containers. The very early heat did a number on the greenhouse plants. Although we are harvesting some nice banana peppers, green peppers, and cherry tomatoes, the regular tomatoes are rupturing (no, make that exploding) from the heat.

Self-Watering Containers on the Patio

As you can see, we've planted tomatoes, squash, corn and beans in the self-watering container system under the carport:





These pics were taken in May. It's now the end of June. We've decided the corn should be on a separate line than tomatoes, corn and squash because of it's extra nitrogen needs. Duh! These plants get the morning sun up until 12:00 or so, then the hot (I should say un-godly hot) afternoon sun is shaded by the roof. There seems to be enough reflected light from then on to provide adequate photosynthesis.

Our fertilizers: Pure Black Castings™ mixed into the potting soil;  VermaPlex® added to the water reservoir.

For extra nitrogen, we added a cloth bag of VermaMax® to the water reservoir and let it leach into the water. The corn benefits from this added nitrogen,although the beans don't need it. That's why we've decided to put corn onto a separate system. Live and learn.

Current pics next.

Organic Garden Resources

VermaMax®: New certified organic source for extra nitrogen and calcium. Organic chicken litter composted with VermaPlex®.
Pure Black Castings™: Certified organic worm castings
VermPlex®: Liquid soil inoculant made from Pure Black Castings™
Combo Specials: Saves on shipping.

Self-Watering Container Garden in Greenhouse

Digger Jones — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:50:00 GMT

Pure Black Castings™      VermaPlex®          VermaMax®

            a blog by a dog

                Digger

As promised, here's another update on our self-watering container garden, in particular the one Bill set up in the greenhouse. There are actually two separate systems, one the floor and one on the shelf. We planted tomatoes in the floor containers and peppers in the shelf containers.

Greenhouse Self-Watering Container Gardening System

It's important the pots are level. This way, the water moistens each container equally. The larger water reservoir contains the water with VermaPlex® added. This enriched water feeds into the smaller "control" reservoir, maintaing the exact amount of water that feeds into each container. These reservoirs are covered with reflective bubble insulation, keeping the water nice and cool. Nifty.

The potting soil in each pot is continuously supplied with moisture and liquid fertilizer. This constant moisture is especially important for tomatoes since damage occurs the instant tomates wilt. With this system, these tomatoes never wilt (although the same cannot be said for ol' Bill).

Related Information And Resources:

Improvements to Self-Watering Container Garden : See the beginning of our new project.
Organic Fertilizers : These are the fertilizers we add to our potting soil mix.
Composting Red Worms : Join the revolution, start your own vermi-composting project. Convert your kitchen and garden waste to rich compost and fertilizer.