Alternative Community Farmer/WPB.FL

It is GOOD TO KNOW and be AWARE!

There are so many books and web sites out there to teach you how to start an Organic Productive Garden.ALSO: A new wave of self proclaimed GREEN BUCK THUMBS/"FARMERS" , are out there vying for your buck!

Here are some suggestions to help you sifting the real from the fake "Farmers/ Organic Gardeners/Teachers":

1-BEWARE :There are claims that they have experience and education BLABLA.Ask for proof like a Master Gardener ID for example!

2-BEWARE:There are  salesmen who try to sell you their products like soil,organic fertilizers etc.Simply ask for their price lists and compare with garden outlets/local farmers .The "Fake" Farmers/Salesmen prices are usually way HIGH!

3-BE AWARE:Starting a vegetable garden in your backyard does not need a MEGA BUDGET .You need to start small and in containers to learn the process without breaking your back or bank!Be patient and be prepared!

4-BE AWARE:Ask questions and try to take as many Organic Gardening Classes that are compatable with your HARDINESS ZONE .Example: If you live in a TROPICAL ZONE, try to engage the learning process at a local garden hwere you may check out what grows best and what not  in that particular location.

5-BEWARE:Computer / ELECTRONIC /Distance classes are not a match for a HANDS ON LEARNING! 

6-BE AWARE:There are Urban Farmers who like to share their knowledge for FREE.Check out for FREE classes that are offered by independent local  farmers .

7-BE AWARE:Gardening is a PROCESS! Take your time to learn and implement what you have learned.Nothing grows overnight at the garden!

Check out my FREE Composting class this coming October 8th 2011.For more info, please visit:

localharvest.org/farms/M20618

Organically speaking , in order to learn HOW to grow your own food NATURALLY, you must first shift your mind ,body and spirit into the ORGANIC gear mode!

Nature grows fruits and vegetables in a PROCESS.So , you need to slow down and be patient while working with  the elements and tackling the garden challenges.

Next step is to hook up to a local organic gardening network ,community garden,local urban farmer  to learn from their experience.

Taking a series of Organic Gardening Classes from certified and experienced HORTICULTURIST is  HIGHLY recommended!

From my experience teaching Organic Gardening classes ,here in the TROPICS, I found out that people have a WISHFUL THINKING  DESIRE to grow their own food and $ave, but they take their time and procrastinate before DOING IT!

The prices of organic produce have been sky rocketing lately due to inclement weather ,like flooding,draught etc..

Remember that spending big money on expensive classes that teach you THEORIES and overwhelm you with BLA BLA BLA ,is not enough.

Hands on and practicing what you learn in class is of the ESSENCE, especially  on one on one!

Small group classes give you an opportunity to interact and ask questions in addition to practicng  what you learn right in the GARDEN!

Planning ahead of time for a garden budget,classes,garden work schedule and a small area to start with your experimentation , is of extreme importance.

Practice makes perfect as they say.This is your chance to apply what you have learned.I prefer that you hire a gardening coach to walk you through the gardening process.Learning garden ergonimcs helps you keep your back on track and..your farm firm body out of harm way!

Start small with baby steps .Rekindle  your  zest by reconnecting with MOTHER EARTH!Go grow a productive  garden!Go GREEN and SAVE on GREEN BUCKS before too late.Produce prices are set to SOAR as per study:

http://www.produceretailer.com/produce-retailer-research/organics_set_to_soar_123000273.html

 Stay tuned and learn MORE @:

localharvest.org/farms/M20618!

I have some ideas that will balance the budget default on who is at fault for the debt crisis and save a lot of tax payers mony on Medicaid and Medicare.Here is one of the most briliant one:

Let the farmers convert their farms and gardens into make shift clinics and hospitals where PHARM products like  carrots and greens will replace the expensive PHARMACEUTICAL priducts like drugs .

Hwere is a study published recently that just supports gardening as a THERAPY.No Kidding!JUst click on the LINK:

http://www.naturalnews.com/033121_gardening_lung_cancer.html

There are a lot to learn in the gardening process.Here are some tips to consider in case you are considering taking some organic gardening classes;

From my experience teaching organic gardening in South Florida for the last ten years, I have gathered a fortune of advice to the new garden comers.Here are the top ten tips:

1-The head .The Heart.The Hands are your virtual garden tools.Eventually!USE THEM!Protect Them!

A)Clear your head from misconceptions-preconceived ideas-judgements apriori .Empty the excess baggage.

B)Open your heart to new dimensions of exploration and observations.Animals trust their instincts .Humans are more skeptical when they rely only on their heads.Try the heart and guts instincts .You will get connected to the earth vibration through the third eye and heart chakra.Garden is a Therapy and a Spiritual experience not just physical chore!

State a purpose like:You are going to LEARN  HOW to grow and PROVIDE for Your Family and Save on the Grocery Bill ,for example!.You are not going to fight and chastise the messenger -in this case the garden teacher or mentor-You need time to digest what you learned .

C)Doing what you have learned will be the best.hands on classes fair better than the theory only classes.Your hands will be the tools to implement.Your body will be the vehicle to take you to the garden chores.So take care of both your hands and body and learn ERGONOMICS!

2-BE PATIENT.Gardening is a process.You have to learn how to get grounded and do nothing other than immersing your hands in the soil .Take a silence vow to be able to observe and meditate while in the garden.LISTEN!

Some  of my students have the habit of a non stop chatting.They keep their cellphones handy.Their tongue muscle is  always flexed while their hands and body muscles are fluffy and not trained to garden.Train and flex your whole body muscles not just your tongue!

3-Take more than one class in gardening.Try didderent and diverse teachers/mentors and benefit from the knowledge USING IT!

Give yourself the time when you are at the class to learn,observe,ask questions and please do not bring along your cell phone,dog,cat.

4-Respect other students  and  the place where you are invited to learn .Respect the mentor or garden teacher.Some people bring in their negative attitudes to the class.That is not the best thing to do.Instead:turn on the positive attitude with a smile on your face ,a peace in your heart and an open window in your brain.

Do not arrive late to the class.Do not leave early , especially sneaking without paying the class fee.Do not haggle the class fee.Do not ask  racial profiling questions like:Where do you come from?You have an accent, I am curious?Etc.Respect all class associates regardless of their color,ethnic background,religion,race etc..

5-Do your home work :read the information posted at the Web sites of the school or garden teacher:Show that you are a partner in learning and doing what you learn!Bring on your garden questions.Follow class protocol.Avoid chatting in class.Silence your scell phone in class.If you disrupt you might be asked to leave.

6--Be prepared:Put on garden gear , that means no tank tops,no shorts and no flip flops.Pests may be present and garden bugs etc.. .Drink plenty of water .Use the restroom before you enter into the garden class.Take notes.Bring along a pad and pen.

7-Take deep breaths before ,during and after the class.Oxygen helps your brain and your muscles and circulation .Relax .Smell the roses or the herbs of the garden without mutilating or cutting them from their mother.Employ the faculty of TOUCH.It is OK .to touch the soil.the plant .Discard all fear from connecting to other form of life .gardening is the art of growing your living food.Be a live gardener.Beleive in what you are doing!

8-Start small :When you are not sure about the garden budget,the time commitment ,the space limit.

9-Check with your Doctor before you do any physical activity, if it is OK.Especially when you are on medication or disabilty.Learn Ergonomics .Follow safety procedures when in the garden.Florida weather is Extremely hot,humid.Pay attention and listen to your body.

10:Take rest often.Enjoy gardening .It is a THERAPY after all for Body Mind and Spirit..It is not a hard work ,if you work smart.Choose times when the weather is suitable to garden for you.Avoid alchohol , it dehidrates your body.Drink plenty of water.Breathe deeply and have fun.

What motivated me to write this article is the continuous and never ending complaints I hear , about keeping up with the challenges of growing and MAINTAINING an organic productive garden in S.Florida , from  garden enthusiasts who come to my gardening classes.

Here are some tips and suggestions to tackle this subject.

First it is important to address the nature of the special climate here in South Florida.There are considerations to acknowledge that we fall in the Sub-Tropical agricultural zone 10-11.It means we have to partner with the LOCAL Environment CHALLENGES of: Excessive Heat,Humidity,Sandy Soil and occasional Severe Stormy Weather,to be able to successfuly do gardening.

Maintenance of a garden is the KEY , in my personal opinion.Gardening is a process and it takes awareness,time, patience and offcourse MAINTENANCE!

I-Fruit Trees Maintenance Tips:

1-Upon planting new fruit trees in the backyard , reinforce with scaffolds and stakes .

2-Do not plant trees ,in general ,under or near power lines or structures like a house.

Hurricanes and storms might topple and uproot the trees causing damages to property and lives .

3-Dig a BRIM around the fruit trees ,especially, and cover with mulch to capture and retain moisture.Nourish with Organic ammendments and accepatble composted manure.

4-Prune-Cut-Trim dead branches,excessive growth and folliage according to your local area guidlines .Be careful not to do that during fruitation or blossoming season.Follow specific suggestions according to the different kinds of trees involved.

5)Do not HATRACKING.Follow proper pruning procedures and guidlines of local city /county and state laws.Ask for professional help when in doubt.It is illegal to do HATRACKING in some communities!

6)Recycle yard wastes from trees by using as mulch and composting to reduce the carbon foot print and costs of recycling.

II-Vegetable/Herb/Edible Scaping Maintenance Tips:

Plant heirloum/organic seed varities that are in favor of the climate zone you live .Here are some samples of plants that do well , generally speaking,during the Winter/Spring Seasons :

1)Vegetables:

Tomato(usually classified  under fruit, but commonly misunderstood as a vegetable),collards,cabbage,calaloo(Carribean spinache),beets,carrots,common potato,lettuce,radishes,Winter /Spring beans,peas,green peppers.

2)Herbs:

Parsley,mint,dandelion,onion,garlic,purple/thai basil,rose mary,cayenne pepper,Neem tree,Kam-Sutra mentha.

3)Edible flowers:

Sunflower,nasturtium,marigold.

I personally prefer container gardening as an  option .Because:

It  Better controls weeds,saves on water bill and adheres to the water restrictions to conserve on water ,especially when using hose controls while hand watering, rain barrels and drip irrigation .

Contrary to common beleif , container gardening when following the proper procedures like using the above and self watering  containers , is a low maintenance practice.

III-General ,Green Thumb Rules on Organic Gardening Low Maintenance,Top Ten  Tips:

1-Follow water restrictions according to your local area laws.Best time to water is at DEW HOURS (4-6AM) ,depending on the restrictions.When in doubt call  your local authorities for advice.

2-Use mulch as appropriate to retain moisture, control weeds  and counter heat stressing effect on plants.

3-Do not mow lawns at peak heat temperatures and sunny skies.

4- Recycle-Re use-Reduce.

5-Garden wearing garden gear and hydrate by drinking  non-alcoholic fluids to use peak body energy.

6-Conserve on water by using rain barrels and drip irrigation systems.

7-Choose draught tolerant and native plants and grow according to season.

8-Prune-Clip-Trim the proper and professional way.

9-Use plants as shade providers and companion herbs to reduce stress and combat pests.

10-Enrich the soil environment ,periodically after/during growing season, with organic matter,mulch,organic ammendments and compost.Use crop covers.Enrich the community spirit connection ,by sharing harvest with neighbors,soup kitchens and the needy.Give back to the community.

Happy Organic Gardening Maintenance!

The christmass trees are lying at the curb waiting for the trash truck.I could not resist the natural gardener instinct , so I grabbed them and now they are being used as mulch in my new backyard garden.The plastic containers ,the bed wood frames,the discarded poinseta christmass trees ,the kitchen metalic shelves and much more that I picked from the trash bins and curbs follow suit.

I do recycle , reuse ,reduce and lately I added RESTORE to the universal composting formula.

Yesterday , I attended a neighborhood association meeting .I was so much impressed by the spirit of community .City officials ,business owners and common residents came together to work  to restore and beautify our neighborhood.

Personally , I was involved with community gardens that were transformed from neglected and crime infested grounds into beautiful gardens that are PRODUCtIVE.I used to donate the extra organic produce to a soup kitchen when I was a community Garden Co-ordinator for eight years .Not any more when that garden was re assigned as a dumping sight for land fills.

Now I have a vision to convert the challenges we face at our neighborhoods, especially with abondoned and neglected lands , into productive Organic Gardens.With no money or any financial support I started collecting materials from the curb and building a backyard garden that grows vegetables and flowers.

My new restored garden is located at the corner of NE 9th street and federal Highway in LW.An example set to prove that we do not need mega money to restore our neglected lands.My neighbor came and asked me for help and I gave him a hand and ideas to create an edible flower landscape  and a Zen garden .

A business owner of Studio 205 stepped in to donate some flowers to my garden and recycled compost from his juice bar.Thank you Mr.Andy Amoroso.

Now imagine that we create a center for FREE mulch and garden  supply materials recycled from the christmas trees , wood frames,vegetation  and plastic containers from restaurants /juice bars refuse to build more productive vegetable gardens!

The ecconomic crunch has forced so many of us to lose homes,jobs,cars etc..I took that challenge to CREATE a JOB instead of the usual attitude of looking to FIND  a job.

Creating food for our community is in fact a GREEN JOB.Productive Vegetable gardens can be added to the menu of REBATES to encourage residents to convert their inefficient water consuming grass lawns into vegetable gardens is an ecconomically lucrative GREEN idea to be taken seriously.Thats why I jumped in to help last June at the composting pilot program by the city of Lake Worth.

I applaud the GREEN efforts of Mr.Joseph Kroll the director of the Utility Department in KIND by just lending him a helping hand.

I can feel the appreciation and the community spirit through the acts the city are demonstrating as a LEADING EXAMPLE to transform our community into a leading GREEN CITY!

Working together and applying the universal composting formula can prove that we can transform our environment into a better place to work and live.Leadership makes a difference.Thank you for bringing us together Mango Grove Neighborhood Association.

As a reminder: Please visit my web link below to find out about my Ongoing Gardening Classes and read my blog @:

localharvest.org/farms/M20618

Another example of my community gardening work: watch SCG at You Tube:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I01Qd9b7YT4

Happy Community Gardening

A local community garden that does not allow its members to use synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers , gets an INVOLANTARY pesticide spray and is asked to remove  fruits and vegetables from the garden.

Thus,raising questions about the "who" has the right to grow and harvest and spray on a private property and stirring disgruntled emotions among some of the community garden  members, who grow their own organic food to survive after they  lost jobs  and you name it.. Now some of them  are losing their own grown FOOD , after they have been denied FOOD STAMPS previously  and now offered FREE PESTICIDES on their organically grown food! Imagine this happens to you.What would you do?

This is being done while the Safety S 510 is still  -not approved as LAW yet- but waiting on the floors of the House and the Senate .Imagine what will happen when it is APPROVED becomes LAW?Where have you been all this time ?Just chit chatting about the weather and which chicken is laying eggs and which one is not?Have you had a chance to check it out?Do you know who are sponsoring and who are opposing it?

Is the S 510 Food Safety Bill going to make you -your food/ farm/garden/farmersmarket- more safe at growing or marketing your own produce ?Here is a chance for you to get all the answers and post all the questions that are in your mind.Check out the below web link.Be proactive and do not procrastinate about your rights. You know what to do!

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-510

Small farmers :Wake up NOW and speak up for your rights .Make your voice COUNT this coming NOVEMBER!

A lot of people come to my class and want to learn about gardening and growing their own organic fruits and vegetables and most miss on the first lessons of garden ergonomics and garden safety gear .By the way I am not in the business of selling either. So, keep on reading and learning how to protect yourself and prevent potential accidents or injuries while in the garden or the farm.

 Safety garden gear is not taken seriously until something serious happens like an injury or an accident.

 As a certified massage therapist, I have learned my lesson about the importance of body posture .The way we use our body determines how long we live our life free of self inflicted injuries to our muscular and skeletal system and ultimately averting unnecessary pains and aches and the accompanying medical bills!

Here are some advices to the wise who want to eat fruits and vegetables without inflicting harm to the inner gardener in us:

 When you are in the sizzling summer  sun and mosquito infested S. Florida outdoor garden.

A)-WEAR:

1-     A long sleeve shirt and pants to discourage the sun burns and mosquito bites .

2-     You may also wear natural organic repellents oil like citronella essential oil blended with olive or coconut oil. I personally do not use sun screens after reading about the humongous chemicals added.

3-     A hat for the head and a sun glass for the eyes , will keep you from the hospital bed, not to say from the sunstroke if otherwise   .

4-     Boots or a shoe, but never a sandal or a flip flop or a bare foot. Snakes might be present for example , beside other  uninvited or unexpected garden visitors from the animal kingdom !

B) DRINK FLUIDS from NATURE: I prefer spring water over distilled one.Our body needs minerals especially after a garden round of sweating at the garden.So replenish the lost electrolytes from the natural source:Spring water.Do not  garden under the influence DRINK NO ALCHOHOL.Hydrate not dehydrate.Alchohol dehydrates fluids out of your body!

C)BE SAFE not sorry using your BODY as a tool in gardening:Use ergonomic garden functional movements .That incudes using your body weight and training your hand  muscles(flexers and extensers).

      Uuse ergonomic tools .Carpal tunnels and tennis elbows render your hands vulnerable to doing garden choirs.Rheumatoid arthritis ,back aches,wrist and hands injuries are commom among gardeners who have such a passion that they forget to take care about their body while gardening.There are plenty of  dirt cheap  herbal  remedies to buid your strengthes right from your garden.The following herbs were used since ancient times in fortifying the body against arthritis, for example:Tumeric,sage,ginger,cayenne,stinging nettles and more.. 

D) Use organic a) fertilizers and b) pesticides c)compnion herbs ,instead of  synthetic chemicals: 

     a): Bone meal,blood meal.sea weed,alfalfa meal,coffee ground etc..

     b) Neem oil,garlic oil etc..

     c) Cuban oregano, basil, marie gold,nasteurtium etc...

E)  Prevent presence of ground pests by using natural organic methods.Example:Top get rid of ants ,use corn grits,baking soda .To discourage snakes sprinkle garden boundaries with cats poop litter .

Have a happy and safe gardening!

The Japanese and the Scandinavian countries have pioneered in bringing the garden to the hospital to treat patients thhrough Garden Therapy.

Here in the US farmers are paid incentives so as not to farm and Organic Urban farmers are discouraged to market their produce by making their visibility  more difficult through imposing high  stands  and insurance fees at the farmers/green market.

The growing demand for organically grown organic produce is now changing the rules of engagement and alternatves to the green markets that are run for profiteering and tourist attractions purposes.

Churches and colleges and community gardens are now having their own organic produce markets.They are inviting local urban farmers to market their harvest without imposing any of the green and farmer markets ultra fees.same with Garage sales .

The trend of popular markets were initiated in Europe during the first and second World Wars as a cheap outlet for farmers to sell directly to the urban and city residents at affordable prices that eliminate the extra expenses paid to middleman and merchants.

So what is the link between garden therapy and popular markets?

Therapy comes when patients immerse their hands in the organic soil and plant and harvest organic produce,fruits and flowers.They will absorb the healing energy that emerges for the Cosmic Universe and the interact with four elements of creation:EARTH(SOIL/MUD THERAPY)-AIR(OXYGEN THERAPY )-WATER(HYDROTHERAPY)-FIRE(SUN-THERMOTHERAPY).

Stress the root of all dis-ease.People in our times are lacking food,pure water and steady jobs .The  faltering economy is stripping them from their basic needs of housing,transport,health insurance,health foods stc..

So , now we are in similar situation to the WW-I and II .There was the Victory garden solution back then and now the Backyard /Frontyard and community organic gardens are immerging to be same .What is missing is the Farmer Factor.Now we use migrant farmers who soon will be deported so sho will fill in the blank? You and me mon amie!So start digging and flexing your muscles in the backyard and forget about the expensive inefficient GYM.

The garden will make you:Fit and healthy .

The temperature outside the air conditioned room is now climbing into the sizzling zone.It is getting hot out there and boy , still do you want to garden?

Well, I consider gardening as a THERAPY, so it is OK to sweat out the toxins and get extra vitamin D from some sunny outdoors productive active gardening.Also , do not forget the bonus:Eat from your own backyard fruits and vegetables and save on the grocery bill.

Most people who come to my classes ask me if it is possible to grow a vegetable garden in the summer here in S.Florida.My answer is YES.Vegetables are not confined to what you only know or eat.There are Tropical and sub tropical vegetables that thrive in the summer heat.For example ,take OKRA.

Okra is one of my favorite vegetables.My mother Sarah eats the Okra pod raw wrapped in a pita bread.She is now 92 years old and counting thanks to OKRA!

If you know waht OKRA does to your body then you will start right away growing it.Do not jump conclusions about  any hallucination ideas or ehem ehem you know what I mean!.That is not what I mean, what you are thinking!.Okra is a southern favorite dish and it is known for the locals how great it is to the Colon health.It is slimy though, but there is a way to take away the slime if you just steam it first!Voila.

Wil talk more about what grows in the sizzling summer of Florida.Stay tuned.

Happy Summer Gardening

Alternative Community Farmer

http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M20618

Every year I start my summer garden early by preparing seedlings during the spring growing season.Most folks who are new to the tropical climate of S.Florida take it for granted and groal that nothing grows in the summer here in Florida.Wrong!

Here are a quick pick list of my favorite fruits,vegetable and herbs ,that I usually grow in my summer CONTAINER garden.(Please note that we have the HURRICANE season during the summer, so my best chance is to grow in containers to keep my plants from harms way once the hurricane hits ,by just moving them to a safe indoor shelter1):

Fruits of the summer:Water melon,papaya,pineapple,mango, coconut,pumpkin and Cherry Tomato..there are more  offcourse but always start small!

Vegetables:Kalaloo,laloo,okra,beans,cucumber,sweat potatoand radishes.

Herbs and flowers:Italian basil,parsley.mint,melissa or lemon balm,aloe vera,la ruda,rose mary,chives,onion ,sunflower,margols and more..

Organic summer garden in S.Florida is a possible mission.Eat fresh this summer from your own back yard FRESH food not from a can.Yes, we can!

Happy summer gardening a"La Tropics!"

Alternative Community farmer

Http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M20618

The temperature outside the air conditioned room is now climbing into the sizzling zone.It is getting hot out there and boy , still do you want to garden?

Well, I consider gardening  a THERAPY, so it is OK to sweat out the toxins and get extra vitamin D from some sunny outdoors productive active gardening .

This time of the year we will be harvesting the spring and winter crops of cucumber , lettuce and cabbage .Also I have a special harvest of seeds from a local community garden plot down town   .Most folks I know  buy their own seeds , I do not.Harvesting seeds in S.Florida is essential for keeping local farming LOCAL.The DNA of the local seeds confirm and adapt better  to the tropical climate here  and tends to provide a crop that is more immune to plant disease ,if other things were kept constant like using your own grown organic soil for example.

I will be planting my cherry tomatoes that were raised in containers and start okra ,kalaloo seeds for the summer crop.Also I will be planting summer herbs like basil,rose mary,lemon grass and more of the heat loving herbs..Threre are a few more herbs and you need to come to my workshops to learn more about the summer garden here in S.Florida.

Happy summer gardening!

Alternative community farmer

http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M20618

Most people like to stipulate, speculate and observe .We learned in school and college to use our brains and be smart. So, the smart way is to THINK and SUPERVISE someone to do the DONKEY work of GARDENING for example! Not any more, with an economy that has stripped most of us from, stocks, savings, homes, cars and jobs. So, SMART“STEREOTYPES and LAWS “are no more applicable, because the one who is now going to do the DONKEY or MENIAL WORK (physical digging, pushing, pulling, weeding...etc) is: YOU KNOW WHO! It is easy to hire someone to help us set up the ORGANIC GARDEN and go! What we have to consider now is: HOW TO MAINTAIN the existing garden?

 It is more practical and economical to do this on our own .What we need is a comprehensive awareness on HOW TO! Here are some suggestions to consider if you have not much time, money, gardening experience and PATIENCE:

 I_- It is IMPORTANT TO KEEP ADDING ORGANIC MATTER!

 A major basis for organic gardening is the use of abundant quantities of organic material applied to the soil. Usually, it is in the form of animal manures, plant manures, cover crops, compost, or mixed organic fertilizer. Benefits of Adding Organic Matter 

1.        Improves ability of soil to hold water.

2.        Improves ability of soil to hold nutrients.

 3.        Improves "buffering" capacity of soil; that is, keeps soil from "over-reacting".

 4.        Supports the soil's microbiological activity (or the life of the soil).

 5.        Contributes nutrients, both minor and major.

 6.        Releases nutrients slowly.

 7.        Acids arising from the decomposition of the organic matter help to convert insoluble natural additives such as ground rock into plant-usable forms.

 8.        Helps vegetables survive stress, as from nematodes.

 9.        Helps dispose of organic waste products.

 What Happens to Organic Matter Applied to the Soil or Compost Pile?

 Under suitable conditions, the organic matter is decomposed by micro-organisms such as fungi, algae, bacteria, molds, and earthworms. In the process, insoluble and unavailable (to plants) nutrients, such as nitrogen, are gradually changed into simple usable products.

 For example, nitrogen is converted from the unusable organic forms to a usable inorganic form through the process called nitrification. Thus, nitrification is the breakdown of protein (organic nitrogen) into ammonia and then nitrate. Some of the organic matter becomes part of the soil humus.

 Proper Conditions for Nitrification

 First, materials containing nitrogen must be present. There is a great variation in the amount of nitrogen the different organic materials contain. Then certain soil or compost conditions are necessary:

 1.        Proper soil acidity (pH) --should be about 7.0; in acid situation below 5.5 it ceases.

 2.        Proper temperature of soil -- above 50°F.

 3.        Good aeration -- (does not occur with wet, soggy soil or compost).

 4.        Adequate lime for use by micro-organisms and to keep the soil from being acid.

 II-IT IS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT TO KEEP ON ADDING: ANIMAL COMPOSTED MANURES (Horse manure is my favorite!)

 Where animal manures are available, they are probably the best source of fertilizer and organic matter for the organic gardener. Use manure which has been aged for at least 30 days, or composted.

 Acceptable manure-like organic fertilizer (artificial manure) may be obtained through the process of composting. Simply put, compost is made by alternating layers of organic materials, such as leaves and kitchen table refuse, with manure, topsoil, lime, organic fertilizer, water, and air, in such a manner that it decomposes, combines, and yields artificial manure.

 What Organic Materials Can Be Used in the Compost Pile? Most anything organic, but most popular materials are natural materials such as straw, leaves, pine straw, grass clippings, shrub clippings, fish scraps, etc.

 Phosphorus -- Rock phosphates are natural deposits of phosphate in combination with calcium. The material as dug from the earth is very hard and yields its phosphorus very slowly. When finely ground and with impurities removed, the powdery material is only slightly soluble in water, but may be beneficial to plants in subsequent seasons following application. The reaction of phosphate rock with acids from decaying organic matter in the garden or compost tend to make the phosphorus available to garden plants. Colloidal phosphate is also available and widely used.

 Or, when applying manure or compost, mix at the rate of 2½ pounds phosphate per 25 pounds manure or compost.

 Broadcast the material over the soil surface and work into the topsoil at least three weeks before planting. Manure or other organic fertilizer should be added at this time.

 Since the materials are so slowly decomposed, side dressings are seldom beneficial.

 Potash -- Potassium is widely distributed in nature, occurring in rocks, soils, tissues of plants and animals, and water of seas and lakes.

 In gardening practice, materials such as wood ashes, tobacco stems, wool suint, seaweed, potash salts, greensand, and ground rock potash are used alone, in combinations with other materials yielding other nutrients, mixed with manure, or in compost piles.

 In general, ground rock potash at 5 pounds per 100 square feet may be broadcast over the soil surface three weeks prior to planting and spaded in. Langbeinite (Sul-Po-Mag) is used at 1 lb/100 sq ft.

 Micro-nutrients -- An advantage for using organic materials as fertilizers is that they contain many of the elements also needed by the plants in addition to N, P, and K (for example, manganese in manure).

 Besides the general amounts of micronutrients found in most organic materials, certain ones are concentrated into such naturally occurring materials as gypsum (calcium and sulfur), marl (calcium), dolomite (Calcium and magnesium), limestone (calcium), basic slag (iron, calcium, manganese and magnesium), and finely ground borosilicate.

 Lime -- Reducing the acidity of the soil is the primary purpose for using lime in the garden. However, liming materials also provide nutrients for plant use. Calcium and magnesium are the two elements most commonly provided by lime. Gypsum is used where more calcium is needed without raising the pH.

 Natural deposits of lime which are an organic gardener might use are limestone, dolomite, shell, and marl. All these forms must be finely ground to provide maximum benefit to the soil and plants. Dolomite is preferred due to its content of both calcium and magnesium. Lime to sweeten the soil should be applied only when the needs have been established by a reliable soil test. Under most Florida soil conditions, applications of 2 to 5 pounds of finely ground dolomite limestone per 100 square feet usually will be sufficient except on very acid soils.

MULCHING.. MULCHING... .....MULCHING IS SOOOO ..IMPRTANT !

 Mulch is any material, usually organic, which is placed on the soil surface around the plants. Organic materials most commonly used for mulching are leaves, grass clippings, pine straw, sawdust, and wood shavings. Synthetic materials, mostly plastic sheeting,ARE A NO NO NO NO in ORGANIC GARDENING! ! Among the benefits of a mulch are (a) conserves soil moisture, (b) conserves nutrients, (c) reduces soil erosion, (d) reduces crop loss due to nematodes, (e) reduces weed growth, (f) provides barrier between fruit and soil, thus reducing soil rot on fruit, and (g) moderates the soil temperature.

 Apply mulch before or after seeding or transplanting. Roll back the mulch with a rake in order to wet the soil beneath when irrigating, for best results.

At the end of the garden season, the mulch (except plastic) may be removed and composted, or cut into the garden soil. Most mulch is woody and should have manure or other rich organic fertilizer applied with it when cutting into the soil.

 WEED CONTROL or PREVENTION:What to subtract from the existing soil!

 The primary purpose of cultivation is to AVOID weeds. Weeds are easy to eliminate when they are small and young. Shallow cultivation and hoeing are advised in order to reduce damage to the root system. A garden mulch, such as pine straw, leaves, or other material, will help to keep weeds from growing if the mulch is thick enough to exclude light. Another way is to use a HOE in S. Florida to sweep out the weeds!

 INSECT AND DISEASE CONTROL: In organic gardening the term usually used is PREVENTION rather than CONTROL through the use of the chemical pesticides and sons! So, the secret for disease control lies in the GOOD ORGANIC HOME MADE SOIL.

Find out more details about home made soil in my by previous  article on PEAK SOIL!

Happy gardening!

WHAT DOES REALLY MATTER:THE ECONOMICS OF GARDENING or GARDENING ERGONOMICS?

Gardening is a therapy as per the programs and degrees now available in colleges as :HORTICULTURAL THERAPY.Could it be a CHALLENGING PAIN IN THE BACK AS WELL?It all depends how we use our body to carry on the gardening functional movements.

As a certified Massage Therapist and a Master Gardener , I studied  the anatomy and physiology of both plants and the human body.I have learned how to work my muscles in a way that will not spoil my passion for gardening.

Now I want to share my story with you gardeners and farmers who learned about everything except HOW TO USE YOUR BODY ERGONOMICALLY!

Repetetive motion of the wrist and knee and shoulder and back.Watch out for the OUCHES and ACHES when you abuse your body.There are ERGONOMIC Garden tools in the market , but I am not trying to SELL YOU anything .Beware those sales people who come to you wearing different masks in the name of ORGANIC GARDENING.We all need to make a living but the best way is the DIRECT HONEST WAY where we use no gimmicks or games to make the buck.There are so many so called false prophets so beware !Here are some suggestions to be ERGONOMICALLY fit:

1-Use Ergonomic tools.Look them up at the web and make sure that you buy the least .Check out weights,angles,materials.Try them before you buy them and feel them for their safety ,flexibility and comfort!Remember that the tools must rotate not your wrist .So they must be strong ,safe and reliable not to break or cause you injury.

2-Check out with your health care provider if you are clear to stear free in the garden or the farm and that you have no conditions that might impair your gardening and put you in HARMS WAY!.

3-Get a good GRIP on your tools.Use your wrist ERGONOMICALLY :The wrist is vulnerable, once we abuse it  we might end up straing a muscle,twisting or injuring a tendon by applying  inappropriate  muscle or body movement .

4-Learn more about your body anatomy and physiology.Take responsibility.:The hand for example employs FLEXERS and EXTENSORS that host the nerves and hand muscles  which have been vulnerable for CARPAL TUNNEL and TENNIS ELBOW  syndrome/injuries from employing repetetive hand motions either in Gardening or in Tennis exercises.

5-Study ERGONOMICS :The word originates from the GREEK language.Prefix -ERGO:WORK MOVEMENT,and Suffix- nomix:Study.The study of work movement!Voila! 

6-Ask the experts and the EXPERIENCED:Gardeners or farmers who studied horticulture and anatomy and physiology are to be trusted to advise you.There are self proclaimed teachers who ONLY know how to SELL and EMPLOY their mouth and the muscle of their tongue to twist your dollar out of your pocket for lessons and books they sell without even having a garden or a farm.Check out that they do HANDS ON CLASSES first and do not be distracted by the presenatble paper work or fashion.I will follow the farmer or gardner in rags who has experience in the feld ,knows what he/she  is doing and saying rather that the well dressed ,well versed one just fakes it!You know them by their FRUIT(garden)!If they dioo not have one.You know what to do!

7-Place your body in harmoney with the gravity of the universe and the earth.When pushing,pulling,digging etc..use your  body weight.

8-Keep on learning and applying what you learn in the garden or the farm .Be patient.Be flexible.Be safe!Wear on the garden safety gear:hat,gloves,sun-glasses and DRINK SPRING WATER!

9_Stretch your muscles after a garden work or take a yoga class.

10-Rest your body often.

Have a happy and SAFE Gardening!

LOcalharvest.org/farms/M20618

WELCOME  TO MY GARDEN> NOW PUT ON SAFETY GEAR AND FOLLOW GARDEN ERGONOMICS PROCEDURES.WHAT?

Ever heard of the MSDS? Ever EXPERIENCED: BACK ACHES-NECK ACHES-MUSCLE ACHES -CARPAL TUNNELS-KNEE INJURIES-HIP INJURIES?There are no safety guidlines for gardening.There are no curriculum that teaches farmers and gardeners how to use their body and garden tools to AVOID BODY INJURIES WHILE WORKING THE LAND,LIFTING,PLANTING,HARVESTING,PUSHING CARTS,PULLING WEEDS ETC..

aLLOW ME TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE ANCIENT ART OF SAFE FARMING .If you do YOGA then you must know WHERE Yoga was INVENTED ? INDIA. NAMASTE !  ATCHA ! SOUNDS GREEK?

Well , the INDIANS INVENTED AYEURVEDA THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.THEIR CULTURE DEPENDED ON AGRICULYURE.THEY USED THEIR BODIES DAILY PLANTING AND FARMING.THEY FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A SOLUTION FOR THE BACK ACHE NATURALLY.IT WAS YOGA.SIMPLY PUT:FARMING CONSTRICTS YOUR MUSCLES AND YOGA STRETCHES THEM.YIN BALANCES THE YANG.SOUNDS CHINESE?ANOTHER ANCIENT THING!

I WANTEDE TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF MY BACK ACHE AFTER TRYING SO MANY PILLS THAT NEVER WORKED..SO I WENT TO SCHOOL AND STUDIED MASSAGE THERAPY .YUP.GOT ANOTHER CERTIFICATION HANGING ON THE WALL!!BUT I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE HUMAN BODY.i LEARNED TO USE BODY WEIGHT INSTEAD OF MUSCULAR POWER.

HERE ARE SOME SAFETY GARDEN ERGONOMICS TIPS  IN A NUT SHELL:

1-WEAR GARDEN SAFETY  GEAR!

2-USE ERGONOMICALLY CERTIFIED GARDEN TOOLS.

3-APPLY GARDEN ERGONOMICS PROCEDURES WHEN FARMING OR GARDENING.TO LEARN MORE USE YOUR LIBRARY AND DO SOME HOMEWORK OR FOLLOW MY BLOG FOR FUTURE ARTICLES ON ERGONOMICS.

4-ALWAYS SEEK MEDICAL HELP/CHECK WITH A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL BEFORE AND AFTER YOU FARM OR GARDEN OR EXPERIENCE ANY INJURY OR PAIN .TO FIND OUT IF IT FITS YOUR ABILITY AND LEARN MORE ABOUT GARDEN SAFETY AND ERGONOMICS,TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBLITY.IT IS YOUR OWN BODY AFTER ALL!

BENEFITS OF GARDEN ERGONOMICS:

1-SAVES YOUR BODY INJURIES WHETHER FUNCTIONAL(MUSCLES) OR STRUCTURAL(BONES).

2-USES BODY WEIGHT INSTEAD OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH GRAVITY AND  MUSCULAR FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT .

3-SAVES ON MEDICAL BILLS.

4-MAKES FARMING A PLEASURE AND MORE ENJOYABLE ...NOT PAINFUL!

IT IS ALL ABOUT BALANCE OR HOMEOSTASSIS.SOUNDS GREEK , EH!

BE  SAFE .