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"Pesticide Safety for Home Gardening"
Gardeners with children should pay particular attention to proper use of pesticides. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports that in 2002, poison centers received more than 96,000 calls regarding exposure to pesticides—-more than half involving children under age six.
Pesticides are, of course, designed to eliminate insects and rodents. The chemicals used to accomplish this are dangerous to humans and pets as well if used incorrectly. The rules of thumb for safe handling of pesticides include:
When Buying Pesticides:
• Choose the right pesticide for the job.
• Buy and use only legally sold, EPA-registered pesticides.
When Using Pesticides:
• Carefully follow all instructions on the container.
• Wear protective clothing, mask, and eye protection when spraying.
• Choose a calm, wind-free day.
• Do not spray near children and pets, and keep them away from treated areas.
• Follow the restricted time for reentering an area after a pesticide has been applied.
After Using Pesticides:
• Wash hands and face thoroughly after applying pesticides. Launder clothing.
• Keep pesticides locked up, out of sight and reach of children and pets.
• Keep the pesticide stored in its original container—do not transfer a pesticide to a food or drink container.
• Store pesticides away from food, including pet food.
• Dispose of empty pesticide containers and unused pesticides properly.
In Case of Poisoning:
• Call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately if a pesticide comes in contact with skin, is inhaled, or is swallowed.
• If possible, have the container with you when calling.
The American Association of Poison Control Centers urges gardeners to be safe and to keep the poison emergency hotline number, 1-800-222-1222, near all telephones. Safe practices are what make gardening a relaxing and rewarding hobby.
Pharmacists, nurses, and physicians at local poison centers (1-800-222-1222) are also available to answer questions about pesticides and pesticide safety, and to provide poison education materials like brochures and stickers. Poison experts are available round-the-clock, seven days a week.
Poison information is also available at the AAPCC Web site, www.1-800-222-1222.info .
Guilt-Free Gardening: Or How I Learned to Trust the Master Gardener
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Written by: Gail Sanders
Web Site: Gail's Books
Date Submitted: 07/25/2003 |
God has been trying to teach me the lesson of trust and surrender. For some of you reading this, this article may seem trivial compared to the struggles and sorrows you are currently enduring, but for me the divine teaching device has been my yard.
I purchased the family home from my father five years ago. In the years that followed I’ve managed to murder a quaking aspen, half-kill two maples and a Douglas fir, and returned several junipers and numerous other small plants back to their Maker. My backyard is a weed pit (if at least green at the moment) and the front yard is half dead. I managed this by the simple fact that I have not put in the necessary time in my yard and have not been consistent about watering. (It doesn’t help that I live in Eastern Washington, known for its long, hot summers.) I don’t have underground sprinklers (nor can afford them) so everything has to be watered either by hand or by systematically moving the above ground sprinklers every few hours.
When spring came around, while most of my neighbors and friends oohed and aahed at the beauty and promise of spring, I would just feel horribly guilty and burdened, a burden that got heavier and heavier as the seasons progressed and I managed to kill off more of God’s creation by my neglect. It sounds funny, I know, but believe me, it didn’t FEEL funny! I simply did not like doing yard work, of any kind. It was, well, WORK! And when I made myself do it, it was still work and not enjoyable.
A few weeks into spring this year, I was out in my front yard and had a talk with God. A few days previous to this I had shared my burden about my yard with a close friend. She told me how much she WISHED she had more time to spend in the yard, she enjoyed it so much! I was quite envious, as you can imagine, and somewhat peeved. Why didn’t I have the gardening gene, like she did? My mother had enjoyed working in the yard, why didn’t I? So when I spoke to God, out there in my yard, I said, “Could you, please, please, give me a love for the land? If I only had a love for the land I wouldn’t MIND doing the yard work, and it could be a joy, rather than a chore!”
I tell you, I didn’t hear any audible voice, but I know what God told me. He said, in so many words: “Why don’t you simply take a step of trust and ACT like you love the land, believing that I have fulfilled your request? Surrender it to me and ask me what you should be doing in your yard!”
Was that ever an eye-opening experience! I looked around my yard and said to myself, well, if I really loved the land, what would I do? And there was such an obvious thing to do: I cleaned up some leaves piled up around the house. The next day I came out, looked around and said to myself, well, if I loved the land what would I do? And there was a weedy, overgrown bed that needed to be cleaned out, so I cleaned it out. Next day, again, “if I loved the land, what would I do?” Well, I’d probably make sure all the trees has a good watering and would start trimming those juniper bushes…
I did this for almost a month and my attitude has completely changed! We had a rainstorm that other day, and you’ll laugh! I was bummed because I couldn’t work in my yard! I have the habit now of asking God, partly through direct requests, partly through allowing Him to use my common sense to let me know what I should do in the yard and when I finish that task, I stop. My stepmother calls it “guilt-free gardening.” I have so much, much more that needs to be done to my yard before it will be what I want it to be, but I’m not anxious or burdened any more, because now I work on it a little bit at a time, and allow the Master Gardener to impress on me on what needs to be done. He is teaching me the art of trust and surrender, at least in this area of my life.
Now I wonder if I dare ask Him about working INSIDE the house…
Copyright 2003 Gail Sanders. Gail is the owner of Gail’s Books ( http://www.gailsbooks.com ), a mail order used bookstore with a wide range of catalogs from Christian to technical. Her Christian catalog of out-of-print titles, in particular, is quite extensive and updated regularly. To browse her Christian catalog, please visit http://www.gailsbooks.com/chcat.htm.
Toward the end of winter, when the days start to
get a little longer and there's just a hint of
spring in the air, don't your thoughts always
turn to gardening?
This year, why not think about starting an herb
garden? Growing herbs is an ancient art--for
centuries herbs have been grown and used to heal
the sick, flavor food and dye clothing.
Herbs are easily grown, and even a novice gardener
can harvest enough for tea or spicing up a few
pots of pasta sauce.
Herbs don't really require their own special
garden. They can make quite nice additions to
flower beds anywhere around your yard where they
can be enjoyed and admired.
Some of the most well-known herbs are also among
the easiest to grow:
Rosemary is my favorite herb because it is evergreen
and it smells so good! It is good in soups and stews.
Oregano is a very fast grower. During very cold
winters it dies back, but it comes back out at the
first sign of warm weather. It will also attract
butterflies to your garden.
Parsley is an herb everyone is familiar with. It is
a very hardy, fast-growing plant. Parsley can easily
be grown from seeds.
Mint for tea is very easy to grow. In fact, it is a
good idea to plant mint in a pot and then "plant" the
pot in your garden, in order to keep the mint from
taking over the whole garden!
Lavender is another herb I have had very good luck with.
It stays green all winter here in Central Texas. It
adds a pretty texture to the garden and the dried
flowers are a fragrant addition to potpourri.
Chives are also easy to grow and can be used in many
recipes. They can be grown indoors on your kitchen
windowsill. You might try substituting chives for green
onions in some of your favorite recipes.
Most herbs do seem to enjoy a well-drained soil.
For this reason, raised beds are a perfect choice for
planting herbs. Most herbs will thrive if you choose
a spot that receives six or more hours of sun a day.
Herbs don't require a lot of constant care, but
they do require some tending. Remember to have patience,
especially when you're planting from seed.
Be careful not to overfeed your herbs and only water
when dry. Once you have your herbs established and
they are flourishing, don't forget to harvest. Herbs
can and should be cut back by about 1/3 any time of year,
except for late in the fall. They will soon grow
back and be ready for another cutting.
The wonderful thing about herb gardening is that you
don't have to be an expert to be successful.
So go out and visit the garden center and see what you
can find to go in your first herb garden!
* * * * * * * * * * *
Cares melt when you kneel in your garden.
Cyndi Roberts is the editor of "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another"
bi-weekly newsletter, bringing you creative, practical tips
to help you with budgeting, cooking, shopping, parenting
and much more as you strive to "live the Good Life...
on a budget". To subscribe visit
the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" website at
http://www.cynroberts.com
If you love herbal teas, as I do, you know they are just
a little bit pricey. However, growing your own herbs is
easy and so much fun!
Here are just a few of the herbs you might want to
consider for a tea garden:
Chamomile: Remember the favorite tea of Peter Rabbit?
Only the flowers of this fragrant herb are used when
making tea. Chamomile tea can be enjoyed by itself or
you might enjoy adding mint or lemon verbena.
Lemon Balm: This herb is lemony with a touch of mint
and makes a soothing cup ot tea.
It's easy to grow (almost too easy) so remember to
keep it clipped back.
Lemon Verbena: An excellent herb to grow in a sunny
spot, it makes a delicious tea. You might try combining
it with orange mint or spearmint.
Mints: There are many mints available. Generally, they
are aromatic plants and they are aggressive. It may be a
good idea to plant mint in a pot and then put the pot in
the ground so it doesn't take over your herb garden.
Spearmint, peppermint, orange mint all make wonderful
teas, alone or along with chamomile or any of the lemon
herbs.
Herb teas can be made with fresh or dried herbs and can
be enjoyed either hot or cold.
For one cup of hot tea, use one teaspoon of dry herbs or
up to 3 teaspoons of fresh herbs. Bruising the leaves
of fresh herbs will help release the flavor. Pour boiling
water over the herbs in a glass or china pot. Metal pots
can sometimes leave a metallic taste. Let steep for 5 or
so minutes. Strain and enjoy with a little honey to
sweeten.
Sun tea can be made simply by filling a jar with water,
throw in a handful of crushed fresh herbs, and set in the
sun for 3 or 4 hours. Stir in a little honey to sweeten,
pour over ice and enjoy.
Trying different combinations of herbs is fun. Remember
you can also add spices you have on hand, such as cinnamon,
cloves, etc.
There are many benefits to growing and making your own
herbal teas. Gardening itself is very relaxing and
rewarding. With herbs from your garden you can soothe
away your troubles with a cup of chamomile tea or make
yourself a refreshing cup of peppermint tea after a
hard day at work.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Look in the perfumes of flowers and nature for peace of
mind and joy of life.
--Wang Wei
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Cyndi Roberts is the editor of "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" bi-weekly newsletter, bringing you creative, practical tips to help you with budgeting, cooking, shopping, parenting and much more as you strive to "live the Good Life... on a budget". To subscribe visit the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" website at http://www.cynroberts.com
Gardening with Kids: a Perfect Recipe for Success
by Jackie Perrin
The Perfect Recipe
Take one energy-filled youngster. Provide subject with a cup of seeds and a shovel. Infuse with dirt and sprinkle on healthy dollops of fresh air and sunshine. Mix with a shovel. Yield: One happy kid and the beginnings of a summer long project for the domestic unit, otherwise known as THE FAMILY GARDEN.
Sharing Traditions
I had fond memories of gardening as a child- my family shared a large backyard garden with a neighbor. Each spring, every willing youngster old enough to hold a spade was assigned a vegetable. Through the spring, summer and early fall, she was responsible for the weeding, watering, sowing and distribution of her yield. Over the years, we had a variety of crops: summer squash, horseradish, leaf lettuce, corn, beans, eggplant, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, chives and rhubarb. As a result, I grew up with an appreciation for the process and consumption of fresh produce. For me, gardening is a relaxing escape from the pressures of an urban environment, and I wanted to pass that tradition on to my children.
Cooperative Extension : The Mother Lode of Gardening Guidance
After poring over books on design, composting, and organic gardening, we consulted local experts. Our first stop was Cornell Cooperative Extension, which proved to be the mother lode of gardening guidance. Cooperative extension programs are located throughout the U.S., and in each state are affiliated with land grant universities. They provide research-based educational resources through a network of educators and extension offices.
Our local office provides soil analysis and maintains a hotline staffed by Master Gardeners who answer consumer questions. New this year is an online home gardening database that provides user-friendly instruction and information, including vegetable growing guides, fact sheets, and a virtual visit to a family garden.
According to Cornell Master Gardener Bob Eller, a soil pH of 6.8-7.0 is ideal for growing vegetables. “Choose a sunny spot, with well-drained soil that is compatible with want you want to grow. Almost anything can be grown if the soil is right” he said. In order to reap the benefits of the analysis, you must plan in advance! “Don’t wait until May to get it tested,” Eller advises.
Since we began planning the garden in early May, we did not have time to send in soil for analysis. Not knowing what areas of the backyard were most fertile, we opted for a raised bed garden. Raised bed gardens are an ideal option for both new gardeners and city dwellers without a lot of space.
Local Garden Centers
Our next stop was local garden centers, where we received advice on starting a vegetable garden and kid-friendly vegetable varieties. Upstate New York has an abundance of garden centers, and each has unique offerings for families. Stores in our area offer everything from free gardening classes for kids and adults to play areas with jungle gyms and sandboxes full of oats. Chances are, you will find similar offerings in your hometown.
Community Supported Agriculture Projects
Families whom desire a growing experience but lack space, time or other resources should check out community supported agriculture projects. Besides being a great place for families to get hands-on gardening experience, the fruits of your labor are rewarded! Here’s how it works: community members sign up and purchase their shares, either in one lump sum before the seeds are sown in early spring, or in several installments through-out the growing season. Production expenses are thereby guaranteed and the farmer or grower starts receiving income as soon as work begins.In return for their investment, CSA members receive a bag of fresh, locally-grown, typically organic produce once a week from late spring through early fall, and occasionally throughout the winter in northern climates.
At Peaceworks Organic Farm in Newark, NY, a typical week’s bounty for a full shareholder, is 7-11 fresh vegetables which might include the following: one head of lettuce or 2 of leaf lettuce, 1 lb. spinach, 1 lb. carrots, a bunch of greens or herbs, 2 lbs. potatoes, 1 head of broccoli, 6-8 ears of corn, 1 lb of shelling peas. “Exotic vegetables, such as bok choi, mizuna and komatsuna are grown for variety, but we emphasize popular ones – tomatoes, peppers, peas, beans, onions, broccoli and lettuce,” Farm Director Elizabeth Henderson explains.
Tips on Gardening with Kids
Following are some tips from local experts on gardening with your kids from Carol Sorbello, a 20 year employee of Wayside Garden Center in Macedon, NY, Bob Eller, a Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Sarah VanEnwyck of Grandpa’s Nursery and Gardens in Sodus, NY:
1. Pick a spot for your garden where you know things grow. If you don’t know about the soil, have it tested.
2. Pick a spot that receives 6 hours of filtered light (sun) per day (necessary for crops such as tomatoes, lettuce, beans, carrots, beets, etc.
3. Plant a few things in the garden that germinate quickly, such as lettuce and sunflowers.
4. Give the kids an area of their own in the garden and make it fun. For instance, construct a teepee for pole beans.
5. If you can’t wait until after the last frost (predicted date is May 3 for Rochester, NY), you can start seeds indoors. Sorbello recommends using a mini greenhouse, priced at about $5.
6. Suggested seed-starters for eager growers: beans, peas, lettuce, radishes, marigolds and zinnias
7. Vegetables that are especially popular with junior gardeners: corn, beans, peas, tomatoes
8. Flowers that are easy to grow: marigolds, impatiens, and petunias.
Make your Hometown a Great Place to Live and Grow!
This spring, with a lot of enthusiasm, we will prepare and plant our crops. Then, we’ll hope for the best. With a fresh dose of sunshine and a few sprinklings, we’ll have the makings of cost-effective meals all year long and some happy kids (one in a 40 year old body). Whatever you decide to grow this year, and wherever you decide to do it, enjoy! Make your hometown a great place to live and grow!
* according to information provided by UMass Extension service
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Resources
For assistance with your backyard garden, including soil analysis, contact the cooperative extension office nearest you. Consult the USDA Cooperative State Research and Education directory at http://www.reeusda.gov/
For information on home gardening in general:
Cornell University Home Gardening Database: http://www.explore.cornell.edu/homegardening/
Print publications available:
Garden in the City
Designed for youth and adults who have had little experience with gardening and limited space. Covers the garden box, starting seeds, planning the garden, cleaning the site, breaking ground, planting, weeding, thinning, and harvesting. Lists supplies and tools you'll need; suggests activities for groups. 40 pp.
141L78 $4.45
The Home Vegetable Garden
A popular how-to reference. Planting schedules, recommended varieties, pest control, and more. 31 pp.
161IB101 $4.45
To find the predicted last frost in your geographic area, consult the Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardener’s Companion Frost Chart at http://www.almanac.com/garden/garden.frostchart.html.
To find a garden center near you, consult the American Landscape and Nursery Association at http://www.anla.org/
For more information on Community Supported Agriculture Projects in your area, visit the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center CSA Farm Directory at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa/.
Join today and we will send you your own badge with your sister name on it . The sisterhood is a free group for women that all share a love for romance.
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