Alternative Community Farmer/WPB.FL

In memory of my mother who passed away on January 30,2013 I write this article .She was 98 when she went to the other side.

I feel how special she was .Thanks to her I am a farmer, a writer ,an educator, a vegetarian personal chef , a massage therapist and last but not least an artist .She was the light that inspired me to endure , seek  and love.

She taught me how to forage for dandelion and other wild crafted  herbs .

This May 11th I am offering a special workshop on herbs to commemorate her one year absence from Earth.

Buy one class get one FREE and bring a friend who is unemployed so they can learn how to grow their own food.

As the Scriptures mention: Better to teach one how to fish rather than give them a fish! Or in other words :Teach them how to grow food rather than hand them FREE food!

Last week we celebrated Earth Day ..Mother Earth is the mother of ALL, that lives forever.

I take those moments to remember what my mother taught me besides gardening and cooking.

She was an inspiration of love, forgiveness and aspiring for a better future through education. She was illiterate herself but wanted all her children to have education.

I fulfilled her dream and got a BA besides another brother who also got a BA and another a PHD..

One hot summer  day a stranger was invited into our home .He was  fed and given refreshments .When he left I questioned how could one such person be invited to eat our food ?She replied : One day my son you could be a stranger in a strange land and you will remember me as you will be  will fed and given shelter , though being a stranger in a strange land.

Life is a circle so what ever goes around comes around!

Mothers are fountains of love and compassion. Make sure that you remember to honor your mother before she goes to the other side.

Giving love and compassion will make us look more HUMAN and will bring us closer to our creator who is LOVE and MERCY!

Happy Mother Day...every day!

Love you mom!!!

Anatomy and Physiology Of Urban Farming in South Florida-Thinking Globally and Acting LOCALLY :One Garden at a Time! By Tony Dagher-BA Certified Florida Master Gardener .

The UN ( United Nations) has declared 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming) , and 2015 as “ The International Year of Soil.What does that mean? The UN declarations ,quotes respectively”: The 2014 International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) aims to raise the profile of family farming and smallholder farming by focusing world attention on its significant role in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas. The goal of the 2014 IYFF is to reposition family farming at the centre of agricultural, environmental and social policies in the national agendas by identifying gaps and opportunities to promote a shift towards a more equal and balanced development. The 2014 IYFF will promote broad discussion and cooperation at the national, regional and global levels to increase awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by smallholders and help identify efficient ways to support family farmers.” International Year of Soils 2015 - IYS 2015 “After two years of intensive work, 2015 has been declared the International Year of Soils by the 68th UN General Assembly (A/RES/68/232). The IYS aims to be a platform for raising awareness of the importance of soils for food security and essential eco-system functions. The objectives of the IYS are: to create full awareness of civil society and decision makers about the fundamental roles of soils for human’s life; to achieve full recognition of the prominent contributions of soils to food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, essential ecosystem services, poverty alleviation and sustainable development; to promote effective policies and actions for the sustainable management and protection of soil resources; to sensitize decision-makers about the need for robust investment in sustainable soil management activities aiming at healthy soils for different land users and population groups; to catalyze initiatives in connection with the SDG process and Post-2015 agenda; to advocate rapid enhancement of capacities and systems for soil information collection and monitoring at all levels (global, regional and national). “Unquote. Bringing all of the above into perspective on the ground will take a lot of work to be accomplished by both private and public sectors. In order to interpret the above on the ground , how can we translate virtual reality of gardening from Paper into the ground ??.What kind of GREEN ACTs in other words can we take to support Family Farming and protect THE EARTH’s SOIL? I would start personally: 1) As a fourth generation Urban Farmer with more than Twenty Years of Hands on experience as a grower in South Florida. 2) As an educator - certified Master gardener involved with more than Eight local Community Gardens and having assisted a significant number of South Florida Home owners /enthusiast gardeners , I would say :Start small from scratch . Learn then Apply ONE STEP AT A TIME! Gardening in the Tropics is different but not difficult. Do your home work first and be aware where to shop, what to shop, and whom to consult!!! A-Anatomy of an Organic Urban Garden in Tropical South Florida: When we talk anatomy we mean STRUCTURE.I like being simple, let’s start with :SOIL When I hear someone calling SOIL Dirt , I wonder what is on their MIND? April is the month we celebrate EARTH DAY.. So,I like to talk “dirt” I mean SOIL first and explain what does it mean ? The Latin word ” HUMUS” will be the best to borrow to explain the real meaning in English. Please do not confuse this word with HOMMOS my favorite dish from the Middle Eastern Cuisine! When people ask me where I come from I answer: From Mother EARTH ! We all come from EARTH and will end up where we came from: EARTH. We are the HUMUS-APIENS or in other words : INHABITANTS(APIENS) OF EARTH(HUMUS)!!! Now we are talking, EARTH not DIRT! Let us give RESPECT to our MOTHER EARTH by keeping the living soil unadulterated with pesticides, chemical fertilizers and other man made pollutants , you name them!. Soil in South Florida is mainly SAND. In order to garden one has to make sure what to plant according to the Tropical Climate Zone of South Florida. NEW and revised USDA Zone Map defines South Florida to be at the zone range from 10a to 11 (temp above 35 Fahrenhite). I personally make my own soil from scratch incorporating the following: Composted organic matter, composted aged and approved manure, spaghnum peat moss, organic amendments as needed, inorganic minerals amendment as needed and MOST of ALL beneficial soil micro-and macro organisms such as MELLIPEDES .A healthy soil makes healthy garden and crop. Rushing to buy ready made soil in bags has its dcons and pros. I prefer to make my own soil from scratch to save on spending money on spraying with organic pesticides /buying soil amendments and spending more on high garden maintenance. Challenges to S. Florida soil are unending besides the climate change we have to guard against: Nematodes , industrial, pharmaceutical chemical and bio- hazards dumped in land fills used as ground structures for home developments ,

USING HERB and FLOWER SUPER POWER in PROTECTING OUR FOOD , BODY and GARDEN!!!

 Mother Earth will be putting on a HAPPY colorful Mantel of wild flowers inviting snow birds, pollinators ,butterflies, and bees .Other garden   visitors will also swarm and invade the PRODUCTIVE garden: Beneficial and NON-Beneficial pests and gritters such as aphids , nematodes, racoons and other bug family members . Already South Florida gardeners and farmers are combating existing challenges such as the climate change the White Fly infestation , to mention the least .They need no more bad news . The good news is :There are Flowers and Herbs that could be summoned to rescue against garden pests and spring flu!! If you are an avid gardener or simply a beginner who invested time and money in growing your own food , then you will be scrambling to the garden center to buy pesticides , herbicides ,fungicides to protect your crop from being harvested by the NON-Beneficial pests. Think twice before you do so! Please: No fungus among us and No Roundup around!! Here are some Organic alternatives to consider.

Amazing LOCAL Non-GMO South Florida Super foods : ( NON POISONOUS) Herbs - Flowers you can Ever EAT , BEAT Garden Pests and never be Under the Weather!!!!: I-TROPICAL HERBS :

  1-Neem TREE (Indica officinalis) : I personally grow NEEM trees , eat and spray with NEEM products , to guard against myriad pests and gritters to name the least: White Fly- Racoons –mosquitos , westnile fly etc.. Neem oil and tea extracts work as Anti-Retro Viral agent that disturbs the incubation and further prevents multiplication of invading pests like the white fly for example. It does NOT KILL .It Prevents. It is safe to use around vegetables ,humans, animals and beneficial pests like the Lady bug. I also add neem leaves into my favorite salads and rice pilafs and soups! The taste is bitter… My mother used to say to me: “Bitter herbs like neem and dandelion are Better for your Liver. Eat and drink bitters during SPRING season to detoxify and purify your body-mind-spirit”. I have added bitters like NEEM to purify my garden from the non-beneficial pests!!!Use Neem Oil to prevent white fly aphids, mealy bugs,mites,scale,

2-Cuban Oregano: There is an old saying:” When in Rome dress like the Romans”. I have added: “When in the TROPICS GROW AND EAT what is TROPICAL LIKE NON-GMO “CA LA LO” or Tropical Spinach! ALSO BEAT THE TROPICAL PESTS WITH TROPICAL HERBS LIKE CUBAN OREGANO! Monsanto has patented GMO veggie/herb/fruit seeds like the conventional non-organic ones you buy from your garden center, and produced pesticides like Agent Orange and Round Up. Look for alternative Tropical and locally grown / harvested veggie/herb/fruit seeds like Everglades tomatos. cuban oregano , calalo and papya for example !

Remember your grandpa advice to eat" local honey and bee pollen.."!! The same applies to all other food you eat. The reason:Your BODY DNA identifies and relates to locally grown FOOD DNA!!!I will add this up:"GROW and Eat local or go LOCO!!!!"

Just say” NO to GMO” by simply using alternatives to chemical pesticides like neem products to combat nematodes .Grow Tropical non-GMO heirloom local super food green veggies like ” CALALO” .Spray with locally grown tropical Cuban Oregano extracts .Where to find them? I give away FREE SAMPLES for those who attend my Organic Gardening Classes and mention my AD at Natural Awakening “Mark Your Calender ”! Most valuable things are FREE like: Love, spring water , Air and wild flowers and herbs .. Born FREE in Nature !Never sold adulterated like in a plastic bottle: Always Hand Picked Fresh LOCALLY GROWN BY MOTHER EARTH!!! Gardeners and farmers posing only as EARTH KEEPERS!!!Be one of them!!

3-Garlic Chives(ALLIUM TUBEROSUM) :

 My ONLY problem with garlic is: IT smells “GARLICKY”. Everything else works GREAT magic to repell garden pests, intestinal parasites, COMPLAINERS/negative folks , spiders , vampires .I spray with garlic oil, tea/ extracts to repell most aphids / winged pests like the WHITE FLY .I discourage nematodes that attack the root system by planting garlic CHIVES around my veggie plants .It attracts beneficial insects and dispels the non beneficial ones! I eat garlic raw .I learned that when I worked at Hippocretes Health Institute! It is definitely a super food , besides being a pest control and an aphrodisiac as well!!! Ehem ..ehemmm! Also, I sprinkle bits of Cuban oregano and neem LEAF herb into my salad ,soups and add it to my spaghetti marinara. I also juice it and use tea /extracts to spray my vegetable garden and chase the garden pests away .My skin loves the oregano oil /neem oil when I use it as bug repellent/antioxidant to guard against aging .I HAVE A GARDEN MOTTO:" IF I CAN EAT IT ,THEN MY PLANTS CAN AS WELL USE IT TO BEAT PESTS!" Experiment . It is the best way to learn , and BELEIVE it WORKS!!

II-UNIVERSAL FLOWER POWER. Cheap Super food: LOCALLY GROWN AND HARVESTED AT YOUR BACKYARD PRODUCTVE GARDEN :

  1-Marigold:

They come in variegated golden colors and shapes. Grow them from organic seed source. Good to combat many aphid pests . I personally sprinkle ORGANIC marigold flowers on salad and brew them as tea.

2-Nasturtium (Tropaelum majus ):

My favorite as appetizer , in salad and pest control/ prevention. Has glucotropaeolin- anti bacterial properties as known to native tribes of Peru who used them for medicinal purposes as well as a pestcontrol .

2-Sunflower(Helianthus annuus):

 Native Americans ( Lacota tribe/North-South Dakota ) grow them for snack food as well as to purify soil from unwanted heavy metals .I grow sunflower at my gardens to attract birds /pollinators .I snack on the seeds myself and buy sun flower butter as an alternative for peanut butter(www.sunflowerbutter.com).It is loaded with minerals such as phosphorous,manganese ,iron .. Another hidden cheap super food !

3-Echineacea (Echinacea purpurea):

 May be you recognize this flower from your Health Food Store Immune System Boosters herbal remedies. Make no mistake: This super food herb is also edible. You can eat it and use its power to beat the garden pests as well. I use the flower in my salads and brew it as tea !I grow it to buffer and protect my garden from garden winged bugs and pests :You name them !!!

Miscellaneous Safe Organic pest control treatments:

1-DIATOMACEOUS EARTH(DE): I have some of my garden students who used the edible food grade version and swear by its anti-pest power .If you have children and animals around at home and garden , this is a safe product to use to battle myriad pests and bugs. You may google it and learn more about how to use it or take it as food to chase away parasites and other pests that attack humans!!! 2-Borax: Safe to use indoors/outdoors to combat roaches and ants. 3-Corn grits: Use it to fight fire ants. Native Americans used it at their Sweat Lodges /INIPI to ward off ants!! 4-Natural PYRETHRUM ( Please ,do not use SYNTHETIC PYRETHIUM); use to fight flea beatles, aphids.. 5-Insecticidal soaps:I personally use diluted mix against amny aphids and oyher plant pests along with neem oil to interrupt the egg layning cycle of pests and therefore prevent them from multiplying.

We can all reduce climate change by doing our part to decrease the emission of heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere. Read below to learn some more facts about climate change!

The Facts About Climate Change

• FACT: Average global temperatures increased by about 1 degree Celsius over the 20th century.
• FACT: The United States contains only 5 percent of the world's population, but contributes 22 percent of the world's carbon emissions.
• FACT: 15 percent of carbon emissions come from deforestation and land use change.
• FACT: The Golden Toad (Bufo periglenes) is thought to be the first species to go extinct because of climate change.
• FACT: Personal cars and trucks in the United States emit 20 percent of the United States' carbon emissions.
• FACT: Air conditioning and heating account for almost half of electricity use in the average American home.
• FACT: Climate change is linked to stronger hurricanes, more drought and increased coral deaths from bleaching.
• FACT: Climate change is linked to an increase in disease-carrying pests that lead to the increased spread of diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, lyme disease and West Nile virus."** Unqoute.

• **Source:http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/urgentissues/global-warming-climate-change/help/facts-about-climate-change.xmlIn the olden days,

Back then farmers used "Farmers Almanach" to predict  and learn more about the weather before they grow their crops. .
Now what do we use ?Computers and gadgets that have predicted fourteen tropical storms including  four major  Hurricanes in Florida, but there was none.

They had to shut down the Weather Prediction Center in Colorado .I wonder why?

DEAR SANTA:

Here I am still waiting for my wishes come true..As an Urban Farmer who lost his land ,his car and still in business only to prove that Santa one day will come with a Christmass Tree and lots of unwrapped gifts for farmers like me:

1-Bring me "A small  farm or land" to grow food for the needy and those who have lost their homes and jobs and now labelled as Homeless!Instead of giving one a fish teach one how to fish or garden and grow their own food.

2-Bring me a truck to haul compost and horse manure and load up garden accessories who wish to transform their lawn grass backyards into bountiful organic gardens that feed them and their families and help save on the grocery bill!

3-Bring me stability so I can get grounded rather than keep moving around rent

4-Bring me students ,volunteers and avid gardeners who wish to  learn how to grow their own food and have a land to experiment on what they have learned at my classes.

5-Bring me job opportunity in Sustainability or at a farm  to work ,grow,teach and spread the awareness of Urban Organic Farming .

6-Let there be peace on earth and let it start with me and my garden or simply you and yours if you have already added your wish to Santa's Christmass list !.

7-Revise and Publish my Urban Gardening Book !

Have a Merry Gardening

Ho Ho Ho

Merry  Christmass

Here are some of my Observations from lately doing a consultation to a Raised Bed Garden both at a community garden and a private backyard .

A Problem vs B solution approach.

I-Private Backyard Previously built by farmer  X:

A-Problem:

1-Raised beds RB were built six inch high on top of plastic cover sheet to deter weeds and roots.

2-Land topography was sliding a downward slope. No action for correction of sloping ground initially.

3-RB Location was surrounded by trees,shrubbs and lawn grass .Underground roots were rampant.

4-Tree branches were blocking sun and covering the sky space above the raised beds .Leaves and debris were falling at the Raised bed garden and disturbing plant growth.

5-Soil ground was not dug to excavate roots and debris.

6-RB added soil mix lacked :nutrients,organic matter,friendly soil worms organisms and loaded with perlites and weeds seeds.

7-Irrigation system used was  decorative/ornamental rather than practical.

B-The solution-Remedial work:

1-New raised beds were introduced by adding extra height to the existing RB structure .This was necessary to protect top soil nutrients from overflooding and secure more room depth for root system .Before RB looked like a BONSAI compartment with plants like ELEPHANT plants dwarfed in a BONSAI way due !

2-Land to topography was corrected to secure and establish RB base and prevent loss of soil nutrients  irrigation deviation  and provide more structural balance.

3-Raised beds were relocated and rearranged to asuitable location.

4-Trees were trimmed,and some RB  raised beds were relocated to sunny and less invassive ground .

5-Ground was dug below the Raised Beds and invassive roots and debris were removed.

6-Organic matter and nutrients were added to enrich the soil. Weeds and debris and roots were dug out.

7-A new irrigation system was put in place .

It was a second hand attempt remedial work to a raised bed designed and executed with so many flaws initially by a professional X who collected a good sum of money and left the homeowner with a raised bed garden with lots of weeds to say the least!

. My consultation advice to new comers to S. Florida: Do a professional background check on whoever you hire to set up an organic garden prior to blindly .Find out about education and experience and ask for samples of previous work !

My Green story. Once upon a time back in 2008 I was interviewed by a local Newspaper that documented my Urban Farming work both in an article and photos : The Sun -Sentinel sent a columnist and a professional photographer to do the reporting. Check it out:

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2008-04-10/news/0804100053_1_community-gardens-soup-kitchen-two-plots

Back then ,from 2001 till 2008 , I was lucky to have my half an acre community garden alive above the ground and breathing life into my livelihood .I was making a living and supporting myself.. Back then,I was among the first  to start a local semi-CSA -like  start up horticultural community venture in S.Florida ,after I lost my 9 year job .My employer decided to shut down the business and move overseas with a consequence loss of more than 3000 local jobs!I decided to create a GREEN JOB.YES..I can do it.. When there is a will there is a way! It happened. Even with:. No funds , no support, no land ..No nothing , except a SKILL , a PASSION , and a strong determination to succeed.. In 2009 that garden was erased and turned into a landfill .All the work to build a fertile soil and a community garden that was transforming a crime infested lot into a haven of organic produce, part of its crop donated to a local soup kitchen ,was cancelled from the face of the earth for ever. When I asked why? I was told I do not exist!!!From one community garden failure I took a lesson and an inspiration to move and contribute in starting more than 8 community gardens .Some of them are pulsating and growing. From that moment on I gained  knowledge and experience ,based upon which I developed a GREEN job :Growing and teaching Tropical Organic Gardening Classes in S.Florida.

Ironically speaking, I was invited once to participate in a Green ENERGY Conference at the Palm Beach Convention Center earlier this year. Lo and behold there I saw the parks and recreation official which initiated the demise of the community garden talking GREEN.I remembered asking then for help :FREE mulch that the was produced from the Hurricane debris of destroyed VEGETATIONS .Instead of donating the mulch to the community garden ,to help build a fertile soil, guess what? Mulch was dumped at a nearby cemetery instead. There are a lot of GREEN wash talk going on.. Too many chiefs but not so many Indians as the say goes. In reality what we need are REAL URBAN FARMERS PEIOPLE who WENT through the LOCAL EXPERIENCE and EDUCATION of FARMING in S.Florida.What we encounter is outsourcing a VIRTUAL job seekers to fill in the popular GREEN vacancies. That is why we fail in the Actual GREEN Reality field when we play politics !!! The dead had more priority than the living for the mulch!!! What hurts is more than that .. As (some) cities in S.Florida rush to pass ordinances and regulations to control and discourage growing food in our backyards and community gardens by introducing strict regulations ,permits and fees etc , while at the same time the mainstream media and local officials say to the contrary in the GREEN WASH PROPAGANDA . This is why those of us who toil the soil and spend their lives promoting a GREEN REALITY -do not exist on the paper grounds- revert to blogs and word of mouth to tell their stories. THANKS TO SUPPORT FROM BENEVOLENT SPIRITS LIKE YOU the march to create more REAL GREEN JOBS like Urban Farmers goes and lives on . WHAT IS YOUR GREEN STORY? There is power in knowledge. But the super power is transforming knowledge into ACTS. When the First Lady established the First Organic Garden in modern times at the White House.I knew that there are hopes for Urban Farmers to make a living growing food . When I knew that there were more than a couple of US presidents(Mention Jefferson and Washington) whose title before being elected for PRESIDENTS ,was FARMER. Then I decided to carry on working on my passion and vision of creating a LOCAL green job that is SUSTAINABLE for keeping urban /small family farmers above the poverty level . Thank you for attending or promoting my Organic Gardening classes. Together we can make a difference by teaching . producing, consuming,promoting and supporting LOCALLY GROWN ORGANIC PRODUCE. This coming new year make a new resolutuion : Go grow a PRODUCTIVE garden.

Have a GREEN HAPPY HOLLIDAY SEASON!

You Tube : Tony Dagher-Urban gardener.

www. localharvest.org/farms/M20618

ORGANIC URBAN FARMING IS NOW THE NEW HIPE.Business is booming as home owners convert their lawn grass backyards and front yards into Productive vegetable and Fruit gardens.Organic produce  are getting more and more UNAFFORDABLE as prices keep moving upwards.The demand is constantly increasing and in no match to supply.Farms in S.Florida are in diminishing as more developers convert the fertile landscapes of farms into cement boxes of developments.

Recently I was asked to help a family grow their own food at their backyard.When I came to assess the location I found number of raised beds covered with grass and weeds  instead of vegetables.Few herbs were struggling at one of the raised beds which were built on top  a plastic sheet .The height of the raised beds barely touched six or seven inches.There were fruit and palm trees surrounding the raised beds.The roots of the trees already penetrated the plastic ground cover and were established inside the raised beds sucking out the soil nutrients .The trees had branches all over ceiling the sunlight and dropping leaves and tree debris into the raised bed.The guy who did the work charged the family big money and took off to do more business .He was busy making big money and presumably trapping more home owners into his garden construction scheme.

Beware such fake schemes of self proclaimed professional urban farmers who lure you into their schemes .Here are some suggestions to avoid falling victims to fake self proclaimed organic gardeners or farmers :

1-Education.Ask for their qualifications:Do they have any education in teaching you how to grow your own food.Master gardeners do go to school and have experience and education.Certified Harborists,Horticulturists in addition to College Agriculture graduates and students qualify as well  .education is of the essence so check that out and ask for a proof like a certificate or professional gardener ID like most Master Gardeners have.

2-Beware The Fraudulant Farmer :He or she are usually selfproclaimed witha a main stream media COLORFUL profile  to cover up for lacking certifications in Florida local agriculture. . They dress to impress.They show colorful garden images ,webs ,graphics of gardens ON PAPER. ASK THEM TO SHOW YOU THEIR WORK  ON THE GROUND NOT ON PAPER!!!detUncover their masks and  colorful PONZY "garden" scheme laiden attached to their EXPENSIVE BILL.,

Know the difference between  Farmers/gardners vand   Sales Pros: They come knocking at your door ,representing agri business , nurseries ,distributors of organic garden soil and garden accessories or products from hydroponics to acquaponics to you name ponic... .Do not panic.Ask questions about their background .LOCAL Horticultural Education and experience do COUNT .

The alternative solution :You can simply prepare your own soil from scratch using compost , spaghnum peat moss and perlite for container gardens.Raised beds is a different story .Do not mix the same container garden soil into the RB raised bed..Come to my classes and ask me why and  how to prep a different soil combo for RB.?GET FREE advice by reading my blog and Check out my FREE gardening classes every on September 11,18 and 25 at West Palm Beach. RSVP /More details at my web:localharvest.org/farms/M20618

It was my first field trip today to offer observations and ideas from the point of view of an urban farmer with educational and experiential background.

My tour guide was a garden enthusiast mom who have a passion to help start productive gardens at schools .To start with she initiated a pilot program a year ago and tried in vain to gather support from local sources and resources .She contacted me and today we were at the school garden .

My observatuion at the first instance was spotting her child of six years old bear foot walking towards a red mulched terrain.I stopped to comment about how dangerous it is to expose children to chemuicals and syntheic dyes .Red dyed mulch has been studied exposing animals to tread on it and the results were a myriad cases of cancers etc..

I was told that there are no support from school districts that struggle with limited resources and cut budgets.Also it is haRD TO GATHER VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE tropical FIELD OF ORGANIC GARDENING IN S.FLORIDA .SCIENCE tEACHERS OR VOLUNTEERS FROM ENVIRONMENT SCHOOL CLUBS OROM SCIENCE usually fill in the vaccant positions and classes tend to focus on indoor and scientific aspects of gardening while the REAL GARDEN is set to look nice with the help of landscaping companies that rush to use fertilizers and dyed mulch and ornamentals and lawns etc..

That garden looked tiny and the only garden  "plants" were  a struggling tomato next to a cactus and papaya tree  .The horticultural laws of XERISCAPING was so obviously violated.Cactus with SPIKES and THORNS planted in an elementary  school garden next to each others !!!!!

Do not ask me more about the raised beds that were at the same level with the lawn grass !!"I H ave tried to grow and nothing comes out" was my tour guide comment."I want your help", she continued.

My heart jumped at the sincere passion expressed.I remembered all those years I have spent tending to a series of community gardens that went dormant one after another due to lack of funds,support from both local public and private entities.Politics ,opportunists ,job seekers who are not experienced enough or educated enough to maintain or manage a school organic garden and many other reasons yet to be discovered  ...usually  take hold of and the result a failed garden and loss of funds and resources.Who is to blame? I beleive those who are at the recruitment posts should be held accountable because their IGNORANCE or LACK of PRODUCTIVE GARDENNING education or experience is the culprit.So we end up with GREEN WASH culture.

Hopefullyh someone there who reads articles of feedback about our school gardens might notice that there must be a different approach to educate our children how to grow food by EXPERIENCED and EDUCATED organic HORTICULTURIST.

There are so much rules and regulations and red tape that will take so long to move on a school productive garden.There so much lack of experiencd LOCAL horticulturists or organic urban farmers to be found.Most quit and give up after so many VOLUNTEERING years while those OFFICE STAFF who hire them remain for years and years reaping high profile salaries and suck out the budget funds on administration overheads while productive school gardens keep on shrinking in size and productivity to say the least...or shall we say desist to exist??

I am positive that there are successful school gardens out there but we need more sources,support and more volunteers with passion like my garden friend who also should be rewarded with pay.

Summer is on in S.Florida.It is the season of tropical storms and Hurricanes.Also it is the season to garden and grow summer crops like native spinach(calalo), Okra,Watermelon,Eggplants,herbs and much more.

S.Florida is a special place especially for the new comers from Up North.

I have noticed that there are so many myriad discrepancies  and miscommunications  among garden enthusiasts who try hard to grow their own food but hardly succeed.Trying to explain that the reason is not the green or brown thumb mystery but rather is the lack of COMMUNICATION and UNDERSTANDING the language of NATURE.

Most of us have forgotten the art of gardening because we have disconnected and got separated from NATURE.We live in the comfort zone of A/C,closed artificial MAN MADE electronic circuit triangle  of TV-Internet-Cell phone.Simply said we have booked ourselves into an INDOOR  CELL  way of life and disconnected from the Natural Father /Mother -God /Spirit -Made: Outdoor Cosmic Energy . 

So , how do we communicate with NATURE.Simply said:Observation.Silence and Meditation.

The Buddha in us prefers to leave the COMFORT of the palace to meditate under a TREE.The Christ in us chooses the silence of the garden to pray not through the lips but rather the heart.

Nature and Earth are one of a kind master communicator/ teacher .Not only it teaches us  how to grow  our own FOOD for Body but also it teaches us how to grow our food for thought and RELATIONSHIPS.How?Touch a plant like MIMOSA for instance and observe what it does? Folds its leaves...

Children are best farmers and gardeners.They know how to appreciate touch and they know best how to grow and love and laugh more than us adults.wATCH CHILDREN WHEN THEY TOUCH THE SOIL.tHEY ENJOY PLAYING IN THE MUD AND EARTH .THEY ARE GOOD COMMUNICATORS BECAUSE THEY USE THEIR HEART AND THEIR HANDS TO GET IN TOUCH.

THE SECRET TO A GOOD COMMUNICATION IS :PROXIMITY.YOU CHECK WHAT PROXIMITY MEANS AND TRY TO EXPERIMENT WITH A PLANT.GHANDI SAID:IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH A HUMAN,FIRST TRY TO LEARN HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH A PLANT.

As a Florida Certified Horticulturist who is currently involved in offering gardening classes ,consultations,and growing my own food locally , I can attest to the following garden  challenges and solutions for the new comer garden enthusiasts  :

 1-LACKING LOCAL EDUCATION-UNDERSTANDING LOCAL ENVIRONMENT:S. East Florida WARMER climate falls under the tropical regional  category  dominated by excessive heat,rain ,pests,tropical storms,humidity and SANDY ACIDIC SOIL .There is no easy way to garden other than a week end warrior- gardener  .Simply said you need to immerse your hands in the soil and sweat . Hands ON learning is the sollution ..This entails taking garden classes offered by LOCAL certified Florida Horticulturists who have studied the Tropical way of gardening at local schools or colleges like for instance :UF -extension Master Gardeners.Other self proclaimed farmers or gardeners who learned and farmed at a COLDER CLIMATE US-REGION like Alaska  for example will be a risk to take .One of my students was a qualified farmer snow bird from" UP NORTH ",who was hired to be a manager of a productive garden by a REPUTABLE world famous Wellness Health Institute "DownSouth" Florida".He confessed to me that he is having difficulty to GROW  healthy vegetables as he was not familiar with the SANDY SOIL of Florida .He asked for my help to teach him how to ammend and create a fertile organic soil.The IRONY is he posted a vaccancy for a gardener position and when I applied he turned my offer down as he felt that I might be a THREAT to take over his position ,as I have more local know how and experience than him.I laugh at such organizations that lack the common sense of hiring LOCALLY.They sense that their PRIORITY is making money LOCALLY  while hiring from OUT of State or GLOBALLY!! Solution:Learn from a locally CERTIFIED -EDUCATED and EXPERIENCED  gardeners -farmers.Learn from a Local.Grow local.Eat Local.HIRE LOCAL...It is all about local...s.....

2-LACKING LOCAL FERTILE SOIL :Sandy soil is infested with nematodes,debris,fertilizers to say the least.It is lacking HUMUS,worms,organic matter,minerals,beneficial bacteria ,compost and much more.Local farms have long been transformed into gated communities and developments .Alternative solution?New comers ,especially snow birds  with swollen wallets ,flood garden centers and spend fortunes on packaged soil that is ENRICHED with SLUDGE(reconstituted human sewage ),cow manure rich in steroids hormones ,antibiotics ,cow vaccine byproducts,sand contaminated with nematodes to mention a few.You figure out the rest?.Solution:Make your own soil.Take garden classes or research the internet /books to learn how .

3-Lacking local time to garden:People have time to work and make money.It makes common sense to find time to garden and grow your own food to EAT LOCALLY GROWN fruits and Veggies that contribute to keeping you HEALTHY in Body-Mind-Spirit.Unhealthy people working two jobs to pay the bills are actually giving more value to their DOLLAR than to their LIFE..Solution:Budget your time to make more time to grow your own healthy food .What is the use of being RICH with accumulated wealth when you have POOR health ?

4-Lacking local and space to garden:Welcome to S.Florida the land of SAND and DEVELOPMENTS!.Sand sand every where but no Land to grow food.Remember :"Water water every where but no water to drink "??Solution:Join a community garden.Grow a vertical garden at your limited space.Grow food in containers.

5-Growing  Local GREEN FOOD means NOT  going "LOCO" or GREEN "brain"WASHED : :That is the most challenging question.HOW TO BE A REAL GROWER not a VIRTUAL ONE.Get involved .Get your hands dirty not your head or heart.If you live in S.Florida sign up for my gardening classes which offer a lot of REAL LOCAL solutions for LAZY gardeners  .Find more reasons why to do so by reading my blog at:localharvest.org/farms/M20618.