Are Insects Taking the Fun Out of Gardening?

Johnny's Select Seeds is a terrific gardeners resource for outstanding tools and organic seed.

Crawling, flying, stinging insects can really make it miserable to be out in the garden, particularly in the part of the day when it's cooler and more comfortable to be out there working. Even just sitting out and enjoying your garden after a hard days work can be made unbearable. Yet, poisoning our skin in order to poison the bugs is not a viable alternative. So...

Try Johnny's all natural, herb and water-based insect repellent!
This formula contains witch hazel, lemongrass, and lavender in a water base and is non-greasy. While it must be applied more often than DEET-based repellents, the refreshing qualities make it worth it!
This formula has been tested and found effective by Johnny's employees. The non-breakable, 8 Oz. spray bottle makes it easy to use. It is safe for children and animals. Made in Maine.



8 Oz. - $7.95 item #9632

Click Here to go to Johnny's catalog.

Spring is a Good Time For Organic Success

Spring is a time of renewal. It can be a time of renewal for ourselves as well. A time to renew our commitment to our children, the Earth and to let Nature take care of itself without the use of our man-made chemicals.

I recommend growing your own pesticide and chemical free food for your family, but not all of us are lucky enough to have a piece of earth in which to garden. So if you must buy your fruits and veggies here's a list you might be interested in.

The following foods have been found to contain the highest levels of pesticides and are healthiest for you when purchased organic: spinach, pear, winter squash, green beans, grapes, celery, strawberries, peaches, apples, and wheat products.

Industrial corn farming consumes 44% of all chemical fertilizers and ½ to ¼ of all farm pesticides and herbicides used in the United States.

I would also encourage you to support the Organic Farming Industry by buying organic foods, both at your local Farmers Market and your local grocery store. By supporting organic farming we are playing a part in keeping our Earth healthy.

Look for the "USDA Organic" label to be sure that your favorite is pesticide-free.

To your Organic Success in your garden and at your dinner table!

Christy

Early Arrival

Organic success immediately...

This is one of the first bits of color each year in my garden. One of the keys to organic gardening success is choosing the right plants for your yard. Everything should be considered from sun, to moisture, to soil condition and traffic. Don't set yourself and your plant up for failure by trying to make a plant grow where the conditions do not favor its needs.

This particular plant is one of my personal favorites. It is tough as nails, has a delightful leaf of extraordinary texture and the bloom as you can see has the beauty of simplicity. It is called "Brunnera Macrophylla" and it is a hardy perennial which means it comes back every year, requires no special treatment from me to do so and reseeds itself, popping up in the most surprising spots to delight the senses.

Welcome to My Garden!

Welcome to my organic garden. It's the end of April here and a bit of color is showing up here and there. The grass has begun to grow and the remnant of the winter kill is begging to be removed. The evidence of life lies beneath.