Garden Supplies News » pesticides

Choosing A Christmas Tree

hughe — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:43:56 +0000

Choosing a Christmas tree can be quite an emotive matter. I found an interesting article the other day which set out to prove that buying a live tree was greener than an artificial alternative which can last for several years, but was distracted by other matters and now can no longer find it. However I have found another piece which makes similar claims pointing out that new trees are planted every year so that there is no net loss of tree cover. Tree growers also point out that their trees can be recycled after the holiday whereas the artificials end up in landfill.

And it’s not just vegetables and chickens that are organic or free range. According to Mother Earth News to be really environmentally friendly you should avoid trees that have been treated with pesticides and herbicides. Read more..

“An Eco-Chic Christmas Tree” is how Lauren Barth describes this eco-friendly tree made from recycled cardboard. All very eco-friendly I’m sure, but despite it being easy to assemble and maintenance free I don’t think it would be my choice. Read more..

If you agree with me that a living tree is the best choice then you have to decide what type of pine or fir to choose for your living room this year. I found this video which was made a few years ago, but the advice appears to be evergreen:

Christmas Tree Guide

Organic Loses Out On Vitamins And Antioxidants

hughe — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:21:16 +0000

I’ve just come across a recent study that claims that vegetables grown using chemical fertilizers contain more vitamins and so may be better for you than organic produce. This is a report by the British consumer magazine Which? and has caused some consternation among organic gardeners. The claims follow a two year study growing potatoes, broccoli and tomatoes. The three vegetables were grown side by side, one using chemical based fertilizer and pesticides, the other organic feed. It seems that the non-organic potatoes contained more vitamin C than their organic counterparts. Similarly the non-organic broccoli contained more antioxidants and, probably most controversially, the non-organic tomatoes were rated higher by a panel of tasters. Read more..

I’m sure that from time to time most of us have tried planting unusual seeds just to see if they would germinate and produce an interesting plant. Writing in the New York Times Michael Tortorello has taken this to the extreme. Emptying out his kitchen cupboards and his fridge he has assembled a huge array of seeds large and small to carry out his botanical experiment. Needless to say most had little chance from the start, but it makes a good story. Read more..

Organic Weedkillers And Chelsea Flower Show

Lawns, Veggies and Gadgets

hughe — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:39:27 +0000

Combine the current enthusiasum for growing your own veggies with the concerns about the use of pesticides and you will see how Tressa Eaton can make such a persuasive case for turning your lawn into an edible garden. “When we put pesticides onto our lawns they run off into sewers, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Consequently, we end up drinking pesticides in our water, breathing them in our air…” and “more water is used on household lawns every year in the US than on corn or wheat crops”. So dig up your lawn and plant potatoes and cabbages instead. And don’t miss the comments below the article including details of some natural pesticide recipes using ingredients from your own garden. Read more..

If you are not too keen on seeing vegetables in front of your house, then why not grow them on the roof? For restaurant owners Mike and Helen Cameron the desire to use produce grown locally in their business was a major concern. A rooftop garden above their restaurant means that their food miles can be measured in feet. Read more..

Like fishing lures which are more often designed to catch the fisherman rather than his quarry, some garden gadgets turn out not to be such a good idea as they first seemed. I’ve found these two selections containing products of varying usefulness. The first list includes the Easy Bloom plant sensor. Plug it into the ground for 24 hours, then plug it into your computer and you will be given plant recommendations. The portable composter sounds interesting, if a little pricey, but Prepara Power Plant Mini seems to be an unecessarily complicated way of growing a few seedlings. Read more..

The second group comes from Shiny Shiny which just about sums up this collection. From fairy lights to a laser fountain by way of Darth Vader speakers and ending with a hot tub, what more could you want in your backyard? Read more..

And finally the July issue of my monthly newsletter Garden Ramblings is now online.