Alternative Community Farmer/WPB.FL

"To make and learn from a mistake is HUMAN.To forgive those who err and make a mistake is Divine.Humans who are Earth Keepers and MEEK dwellers of the Garden of Eden are both:Human and Divine"...I think so!!

1-Thou shall : Do your own soil preparation: Florida soil is SANDY and infested with nematodes. Add organic ammendments,compost ,aged manure, peat moss to compacted poorly drained ground.Keep in mind feeding the EARTH to  to improve its structure and encourage root growth by adding ORGANIC MATTERand MINERALS.

2.Thou shall not be : Escaping Xero scaping: The word XERO is of GREEK origin which means:Understand/KNOW. Design with the size of mature plants in mind and the right plant for the right location. Try to avoid overcrowding and check out the soil PH before you plant.Here in S.Florida the soil is more ACIDIC..so choose acid loving plants like tomato for example and always look for native plants like calaloo.

3. Thou shall follow the natural law of Feng-shui and the law of natural attraction.

Take the environment as your partner /friend not your foe .Work in HARMONEY with nature not against it.

4.Thou shall not have:Lack of irrigation AWARENESS: Too much water can be just as damaging as too little. Do a finger-in-the-ground test to ensure that the soil around the roots is moist. Vegetables need about an inch and a half of water per week.Choose drip irrigation sysyem and rain barrel irrigation . Uphold and follow the water restriction laws in place as per your local government ordinances. We are in the DRAUGHT so be considerate in conserving water .

5. Thou shall start not in a:Wrong location/timing/season: Growing conditions follow the hardiness zoning of the USDA.S.Florida falls in the 9-10 zone .It is humid,hot,rainy .Keep that in mind when looking to plant. mature, creating different .Follow local growing table of plants that are draught tolerant,native and non-GMO origin.

6. Thou shall do :Proper Maintenance: Don’t kill the good bugs, like pollinators and lady bug , in an effort to eliminate the bad.. Prevention is best medicine for plants as well. Maintain your garden by being there to observe and prevent. Use mulch .Hand weed.Don’t set your cultivator (or hoe) too deep, damaging plant roots

7-Thou shall apply the correct  body postures of ERGONOMICS while gardening

8. Over-pruning: As a rule, don’t remove more than 30 percent of the foliage from shrubs in one cutting. And don’t “top” trees to control their height. “That reduces their life span rather than improves their health".:My friend/teacher  ,Ryan said so!

9. Thou shall avoid :Botched planting: Choose the right plant depth.Draw a brim around your fruit trees and fill it with water and aged manure.Feed the earth not the plants.

10.Thou shall keep on trying: Failing to start over is not allowed: Gardening is a PROCESS.Planting is a continuous work. Expect crop failiars but do not stop and be discouraged.Experiment and learn from your mistakes.They are common and they are lessons.Be positive and keep busy gardening!Start with a small plot so you can correct mistakes more easily, the experts say. And look to your county extension office for support if you run into trouble. Garden coaches also can diagnose problems and suggest remedies, as can master gardeners and landscape designers.