by: Ingrid Justick

Vol. 25, No. 4

This is an excellent time to step back and take a look at how your organic garden did grow this season. Do your plants look as healthy as you expected them to be? Take photographs of your plants each year. This winter, when you are planning next year’s garden, reach for the photos and you will be quite surprised on how much you accomplished.

Most trees, lawns and spring-blooming shrubs grow better if you plant them in the fall in well-prepared organic soil. Top growth is less active, ground water more plentiful and tiny roots become strong, storing energy for the spring show of flowers and foliage. 

Now is an excellent time to plant fall-flowering perennials: graceful Japanese anemones, sweet autumn clematis, along with other cool weather plants such as asters, kale and pansies. Fragrant witch hazel will bloom even when snow is on the ground. Do not forget to plant your bulbs into the ground. They will announce spring’s arrival.

Autumn is the perfect time to prepare your organic spring vegetable garden. Clean your vegetable beds and turn the soil adding plenty of compost. Scatter spinach seeds that will mature and flourish in cool weather. These hardy greens grow throughout the fall, lie dormant under the snow and then start growing again in spring. Plant some Egyptian onions; they are perennial and you can harvest the green tips all winter. 

Herbs are among fall’s most rewarding plants. Cut them back and freeze or dry the clippings for winter enjoyment. Place organic leaf mulch around your perennial herbs, to protect from frost damage. 

Before moving your potted plants indoors, wash them well with an all-purpose natural spray that will eliminate most pests: mix two teaspoons of liquid dishwashing detergent with one cup of vegetable oil. Shake vigorously to emulsify then add one quart of water. Be certain to spray the undersides of leaves, too. Mealybugs and scales grow a tough coat of arms, so use a cotton swab and dab each bug mass with rubbing alcohol. Then once a month scrub leaves gently with soapy water to remove dust particles from the breathing holes. 

It is time to relax from our summer labors while we are anxiously awaiting the end of winter and the first sign of spring to start our organic gardens —  all over again. 

You must heal any wounds you give the Earth
and you must feed her to replace what you take from her. 
Only if you repay your debts will she continue to provide.

For environmentally friendly information: call 732-922-2935.

Printing compliments of The Atlantic Club

by: Ingrid Justick

Vol. 25, No. 2

Please, do make a conscious effort to eliminate or minimize use of toxic pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers in your garden. Choose organic alternatives. If you take good care of your plants, your garden will be healthier and have fewer problems with insects and disease. Invite beneficial insects to your garden by planting a variety of flowers, especially wildflowers. If problems arise, please try the following earth friendly sprays:

All Purpose Insect Spray:
Mix 3 tbsp. baking soda, 2 tbsp. Murphy’s Oil soap, 2 tbsp. canola oil, 2 tbsp. vinegar and 2 gal. warm water. Apply with hand sprayer.

Fungus Spray:
Mix 1/2 cup molasses, 1/2 cup powdered milk, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 gal. water.

Powdery Mildew Spray:
Mix 4 tbsp. baking soda, 2 tbsp. Murphy’s Oil soap, 1 gal. water.

Slug Spray: 
Mix 1 1/2 cups ammonia, 1 tbsp. Murphy’s Oil soap, 1 1/2  cups water. Spray over area where you see signs of slug activity.

White Fly Spray: 
Mix 1 cup sour milk (leave milk at room temperature for 48 hours), 2 tbsp. flour, 1 quart warm water.

Disease Preventing Spray:  
Mix 1 cup chamomile tea, 1 tsp. liquid dish soap, 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil, 1/2 tsp. peppermint oil (or 1 tbsp. Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap), 1 gal water.

Mole Tonic:
Mix 11/2 tbsp. Tabasco sauce, 1 tbsp. liquid dishwashing soap, 1 tsp. chili powder, 1 quart water. Pour small amount of mixture into mole runways. Or, insert sticks of unwrapped Juicy Fruit gum slit lengthwise into the runs.

ROSE CARE:
Rose Spray: 
Mix 1 gal. water, 1 tbsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. oil. For aphids, add 1 tsp. liquid soap.
Mildew Spray for Roses:
Mix 1 tbsp. baby shampoo, 1 tbsp. hydrogen peroxide, 1 tbsp. instant tea granules, 2 cups of water.

Soil Enhancement:
Work banana peels into soil near roses; the potassium will help the plants fend-off pests and diseases, and deliver beautiful blossoms.

Other Tips:
Every time you use eggs, crush the shell, soak in water overnight and pour the water on your plants to provide then with calcium. Sprinkle cayenne pepper around plants to keep cats, dogs, rabbits, squirrels away. Aspirin keeps plants healthy. With regular doses every two months, indoor and outdoor plants will grow more, bloom better and have fewer fungus and pest problems. Dissolve 1 regular strength uncoated aspirin tablets in 1 gallon water.

A message from Helen Caldicott:

Hope for the Earth lies not with leaders but in your own heart and soul.

If you decide to save the Earth, it will be saved. Each person can be as powerful as the most powerful person who ever lived — and that is you, if you love this planet.

For environmentally friendly information: call 732-922-2935

Printing compliments of The Atlantic Club