Alternative Community Farmer/WPB.FL

In exploring and researching the roots of growing herbs in the tropical zone of Florida I stumbled on the mystical meanings as revealed throyghthe ancient healing arts of Ayuervida and TCM(TraditionalChinese Medicine).

It is so funny that we are witnessing a revival of this forgoton healing art that was buried in history and mystic philosophies.

In our times we are now hearing stoies about the pain killer pills and the narcotics blended in them in the name of medications to heal..Lot of patients have experienced the morbid side effects of those so called legal drugs.There are victims who fall everyday and we read about them when they happen to be celebrities and we dont hear about them if they are not.

For those of us who are suffering and have no access for medical professional help because they have no insurance or a job to sustain their living who is goping to turn a helping hand when they fall ill?

Man and women have learned from experience to trust their guts .Just like aniumals when they get sick , they trust their instinct to survive and go to the woods fetching digging(bears)and sniffing(cats and dogs)for the  plants that could give them help .

We humans have forgotten about how to relate to Mother Earth as we retired to our shelters in cement boxes and wrapped our selves recently with toxic dry wals to mention the least.

Time out.

As I went searching the the woods of books I dug out some roots about TCM .The Chinese knew the benefits of herbs as well as the ancient Greeks and Indians.The Greeks gave us Hippocretes the father of Medicine who preached about using food as our medicine and "let your medicine be your food".The Indians gave us Ayuevedic medicine.Now the East and West are meeting not in the battle field like once Rudyard kippling mentioned.They are meeting in the civilized study and application of herbs as food and medicine.

Most of us when we get sick swallow a pill.Not any more.It took us FIVE THOUSAND YEARS to be educated here where we stand now in the 21st century.Time is the best teacher.Time tested...Yes, herbs have been time tested for more than five thousand years.The rest is for us to open our hearts and minds to apprehend and comprehend .Understanding is the key for LEARNING.The mind is like a PARACHUTE.If you do not open the parachute then you are doomed as you jump into the world.The same thing applies for the heart .

There are four elements of creation as the Native Americans teach us:Air,Fire,Earthand water.There are Four vital fluids :Blood,Phelgm,Choler,andMelancholy as the Chinese TCM and Indian Ayeurvida teach us.Understanding how herbs can help us we need to go through the mystic journey of learning those ancient doctrines.

Happy Herb Gardening in Florida.

Number ONE : June is the official starting month of the HURRICANE season in Florida.Gardening in containers is Hurricane resistant.How? It is easier to move a container to a safe shelter indoors out of STORMS way .

Number TWO: Containers can be a better home for a productive plants in the sizzling  Florida summer heat .How? If you choose to build a a container soil rich in moisture retaining texture like :sphagnum,saw dust and vermiculite .Then you win the challenge to garden even in the summer!Remember to keep on adding mulch and choose ceramic containers rather than plastic ones.

Number THREE:If you are  senior citzen who tends to be less mobile,a person with a disability or with no tolerance to the outdoors Florida heat and summer bugs or just a new comer to Tropical and sub-tropical vegetable ORGANIC gardening and would like to experiment,then it is easier to do so in containers .

Number FOUR: Container Organic is more affordable ,saves on the water bill, and complies with water restrictions .Also , it is water thrifty!

Number FIVE: If you live in an apartment with a PATIO or PRIVATE ENTRANCE- without any access to a front/backyard -then , it is your best bet to go Container Gardening!

Number SIX:Your Container  steril soil -when self prepared-will   contain  a healthier growing medium ,nematodes  free , the least.

Number SEVEN:You may choose to control the climate by moving a container to less  challenging inclement weather.Example: Move  to a shady area or to a sunny area in the patio or even indoors when windy or too hot! 

Number EIGHT:Container gardening is instant and EASY..No sweat!

Number NINE:Container gardening is weed FREE , in general.It all depends on the soil you choose , I recommend you make your own .

Number TEN:In this kind of economy it is good to save on the grocery bill by growing your own.When hit by foreclosures ,your container garden could be salvaged and saved.Simply carry away with you when evicted ,if you rent! 

Tony,

Alternative Community Farmer

Gardening in the tropics...are you going bananas!

Lots of Snow birds(South migrating Up North folks) flock to  warm Florida every year .I meet a lot of them at  local community gardens who approach me with this question: How come your VEGIE garden is so BEAUTIFUL and BOUNTIFUL?

I ask them to sign up for my next FREE GARDEN WORKSHOP and they disappear. THEY WANT ANSWERS RIGHT NOW!

Gardening first of all is a PROCESS!You learn as you go and grow.

 Gardening in the Tropics is not the same as  in New York, for example.

I try to explain to them that they need to LEARN THE FLORIDA WAY which is different, but not difficult.Best way to learn is HANDS ON! Most prefer to ask questions and read books.Ok ,it is good to know , but practice makes perfect.JUST DO IT.

You need to start somewhere ,anyhow.. a container will do!

In order to spread the awareness ,I self published a garden manual .I give  copies of it  for free for those braves  who dare to invite me to help them set up a fruit and vegetable garden and replace the inefficient lawn  in their front or back yards.

Gardening books , college courses ,most advertized garden WORKSHOPS are so easy to get access into .True ,they all cost MONEY.Mine are for FREE!

It is not BUSINESS AS USUAL for me to sell gardening /farming EDUCATION.I do not go to those workshops and classes that ask for money, just to give you information that is FREE to get at your local library,internet  sites:like localharvest.com ,for instance.

Here are some FREE tips from my  garden manual in case you fall into the SNOW BIRD category, and love to ask questions :

1- Find a good location for your plot.Florida has  mostly SANDY soil..Let us say you want to grow a garden in South Florida  .First thing you need to do is check out the PH of the soi,to find the scale of alkaline /acidic level .

2-Next step build your own top soil and ammend accordingly.Best PH for you Florida 9-10 zone region is the one above 5 and less than 7..Remember that the Ph is the most important indicator for a healthy absorption and assimilation of ingredients by the plant.

3- Soil texture:I use mostly compost and manure in building my top soil.There are ingredients that you may want to add to enrich the soil like bone neal,blood meal,seaweed,sawdust etc..

4-Check out what native plants grow well in the region.From my experience, I start with :Native plants which are draught tolerant, like the KALALO , caribean spinach,wild cherry tomato,papaya etc.

5-Wear and carry a safety garden gear:Sun glasses,hat,gloves etc.

6-Drink your water ,learn about the garden ERGONOMICS, and get the right tools.

In the times of economic crunch , best refuge is the farm/garden.

I have accumulated enough COMMUNITY FARMING EXPERIENCE during my last twenty years and I want to share it with you : FREE.

Sign up in my Free Workshops or invite me to your events /network/school/wellness center/meet-up group-If you LIVE in FLORIDA , close by  ...I will stop by.

Bye for now.

Tony  :)Florida