Organic Farming

Anything you need?

2009-03-10T18:09:00.000-07:00

If any of my viewers out there need some info on gardening or organics, please be sure to comment me and i will do my best to get the info posted. I have learned a lot in the field, but if i am unsure of your question, i will find the info and get it to you.

hope i can help
thanks Kyle

Using Raised Bed Frames

2009-02-23T15:39:00.000-08:00

The raised bed frame sits atop the ground. You then fill it with virgin soil and soil amendments. You control what goes into it..... natural organic soil and materials. Gardeners with raised bed frames, will often empty the soil each fall and replenish it with fresh, rich, natural ingredients for great gardens every year. They are a simple and clean way to garden. Raised beds are easy to work with and are great for small herb gardens and such.

"Where can i buy organic seeds?"

2009-02-23T15:32:00.000-08:00

Organic seeds are actually more common than you might think. Although you won't find them in many large stores, they can be easily found online. I found a great website that sells many organic seeds and fertilizers through www.gardenersnet.com. You can find many seeds online for a very reasonable price. Google organic seeds and you will surely find what you need!

How Organic Produce Gets to Your Table

2009-02-23T15:26:00.000-08:00

It begins with seeds used in organic gardening. The seeds must be certified organic. Genetic defects can be carried in the seeds. Only certified organic seeds are allowed for use in growing organic produce destined for the marketplace.

Farmers must comply with all rules and regulations. There is a National List of what can be used and not used in growing organic produce. Farmers must strictly follow all rules and regulations.

Even shippers, handlers and grocery stores must follow rules and regulations established by the USDA, to assure that the organic vegetables and herbs you purchase are indeed organic in every way.

The effort by all involved, is more intensive and tedious. It results in a somewhat higher price at the grocery store or market. But, the comfort and safety of eating organically, is well worth the extra cost.

Organic Fertilizers

2009-01-10T17:06:00.000-08:00

Anyone out there wanting to start an organic garden (great idea!) but you will need to consider what you will be using for fertilizer. It is very common for organic gardens to use manure for fertilizing, but there are many other options for those who dont want to play with a bunch of crap!
but if you wanna use manure b/c it does work great here are ideas:

1) manure tea (Please dont drink this tea) is very common and a great way to water your plants! simply soak manure in water and use the water for plants. I would recommend rabbit manure. Soak it in a bucket over night and use the water to water your plants the next day.

2)make a compost! composting is a great way to fertilize and its cheap. you can either make a pile or buy a tumbler from a nursery or other manufacturer. If you do a pile it should be contained in bricks and covered to keep heat in and rain out. Composting involves mixing manure along with kitchen scraps (eggshells are great) and grass clippings, or any other organic material. Mix them all together and they will breakdown to form great fertilizer. The mix will get really hot while breaking down so be careful, it can start fires. If you do a pile it also helps to cover it with a layer of soil and add some water, this speeds the process. If you want to stay clean a bin is great and keeps the process very clean and easy.

and if you dont want the crap......

check out local nurseries for organic fertilizers or look at sites like: http://www.planetnatural.com/
they have many options and great deals on the best organic fertilizers!
comment me if u have any questions!

Organic vs Conventional

2009-01-10T11:51:00.000-08:00

What are the differences between the two?

Conventional farmers

Apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth.

Spray insecticides to reduce pests and disease.

Use chemical herbicides to manage weeds.

Give animals antibiotics, growth hormones and medications to prevent disease and spur growth.

Organic farmers

Apply natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, to feed soil and plants.

Use beneficial insects and birds, mating disruption or traps to reduce pests and disease.

Rotate crops, till, hand weed or mulch to manage weeds.

Give animals organic feed and allow them access to the outdoors.

Use preventive measures — such as rotational grazing, a balanced diet and clean housing — to help minimize disease.

Products that are organic commonly have a USDA Organic label. The product must be at least 95% organic for this. These products do tend to be more expensive, but they are healthier and taste better. They are deffinately worth it and an organic garden is a way to save money if they arent affordable. Try them though, you'll be glad you did!

Get your organic garden!

2009-01-10T07:08:00.000-08:00

Gardening is work, but doing it organically, even harder. Organic gardening is becoming more and more common as the knowledge of organics grows. More and more people are learning how healthy organic foods are and they cant afford to buy all of them. Organic food is EXPENSIVE, many times its twice the price of conventional foods. So starting your own small organic garden is a GREAT idea. If you need to learn more about organics to get your garden started or you need the tools to do it, check out http://www.groworganic.com/ or click on a advertisement that interests you. Good Luck!

Organic Milk Nutrition news

2009-01-08T18:45:00.000-08:00

New studys recently found that organic milk is much more nutritious than conventional milk. The study conducted by Newcastle University has proven that cows that graze as nature intended are producing much higher quality milk. This all makes sense though. Most large dairy farms crowd the cattle on a concrete lot all day and push chemicals into their systems to make them produce more. They do produce more, but that simply dilutes the nutrients that are put into the milk. Also, since the cattle dont have pasture they are unable to get many nutrients from the forage to put into the milk. The National Dairy Council has told consumers that "there is no difference between organic and conventional milk." The National Dairy Council is also led by people involved in conventional dairies. So dont listen to them, its a bunch of BS! :)

CRAP! Don't Overuse it.

2009-01-08T15:08:00.000-08:00

A new study done by the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) found that the overuse of organic fertilizers such as manure may be poisoning the soil! It could actually kill plants, invertabrates, and micro-organisms living in the soil.
So be sure to have your soil tested to make sure your not over using any organic fertilizer.

Organic Dairy

2009-01-08T13:11:00.001-08:00

Organic foods are becoming huge nowadays! The sales have increased and the demand for products such as milk is great. Organic milk made up for about 4% of dairy sales in 2006, but it continues to rise every year!

The process to convert a dairy to organic is a long and tedious project that usually takes 3 years. The Farm must communicate with a USDA accredited organic certifier during this time so that the farm can eventually be certified. The dairy has to go through a period of time feeding organic feeds and pasturing on organic pasture only. Once this period is up the dairy can apply for organic certification and wait to see if they meet the standards.

Standards:

pesticides- the use of pesticides is extremely limited. Some would like to stop using them completely, but it is very difficult today.

grazing- pasture must be available to the cattle and they must be out on pasture for a certain amount of time during a day. The foliage must be organically grown. No pesticides or artificial fertilizers can be put on the pasture.

feeds- all grains, hay, and minerals fed to the cattle must be organically produced. This is the largest expense to the farmer since organic crops are much more expensive.

there are many other standards the farm must pass including cleanliness before the dairy can be certified organic.

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2008-12-30T18:57:00.000-08:00

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