Garden Culture Magazine AUS 17

AUSTRALIA EDITION · ISSUE 17 · 2020

Kees

Maya

FREE COPY

630 DE - CMH

Medium Defender Reflector DE Lamp Holder (Adjustable) Controllable LF Square Wave E-Ballast 630W DE-CMH 3K Lamp Super Spreader, Reflecter Connecter Power Cords (Remote/On Board Ballast set-up)

FULLY VERSATILE

Use for veg, flower, supplementation or full life cycle

@ADJUSTAWINGS420

WWW.ADJUSTAWINGS.COM

CRI: 94.8

&

Let’s welcome to the CANNA family:

Available now: CANNA CALMAG AGENT Calcium and Magnesium supplement for water conditioning.

www.canna.com.au

CONTENTS

Top 10 DIY Organic Pest Control

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

DON’T START WITH

12

56

50

AC 1 CONTROLLER

78

44

Global Air Supplies

WHO’S GROWING WHAT WHERE

38

GUERILLA GARDENING I N TH IS ISSU E O F GA R D EN C U LT U R E :

HEMP

12 Product Spotlights

56 A Word Of Advice: Don’t Start Growing With Organics

16 Organic Gardening for Healthy Plants

64 Sacrificial Plants

22 Going Beyond Organic

68 Water Conservation for Sealed Hydroponic Environments

28 Plant Steering Mothers and Cuttings

70 Cover Crops:A Cornerstone of Organic Growing

34 Sea Delights

74 Wild Violet Weeds:Tasty Medicinal Gems

38 Hemp: So Much More Than You Think

78 Who’s Growing What Where

44 Guerilla Gardening

80 5 Cool All-Natural Tricks For A Thriving Garden

50 Top 10 DIY Organic Pest Control

82 Cow Farts Are No Joke

7

FOREWORD & CREDITS

FOREWORD

R

ight now, more gardens are growing than at any time in our history. One of the good things to come out of this pandemic is an increased interest

in food self-sufficiency around the world. Sales of seeds and star ter plants are at an all-time high, and progressive “grow” stores are busier than ever. Fur thermore, organic gardening techniques have everyone’s attention.

When it comes to organic growing, there is no easy or single way to do it.

That doesn’t mean it can’t be easy, because it can be. In her article, Organic Gardening For Healthy Soil, Plants, and People, Anne Gibson lays out the basic principles we should follow when growing our food outdoors. You’ll see that working with nature is simpler than you think and that you can achieve excellent results in the garden.

Growing organically indoors is another story. Everest Fernandez has some great advice if you are just starting: he recommends not growing organically; at least not right away. Commercial fertilisers are often balanced and will provide your plant with all they need in each stage of growth. After a couple of successful crops, try organics.

Once you are growing organically, you’ll need to know how to naturally control the inevitable pests that will show up on or around your plants. In this issue, Rich Hamilton provides us with his top ten ways to do that. In Going Beyond Organic, Evan Folds reminds us that eating is an agricultural act and that we can all mobilise to help change a toxic system.

For good measure, we’ve thrown in an article introducing the many benefits of hemp, written by newcomer, Jesse Singer. And in preparation for your beach vacation, Albert Mondor shares a list of some delicious plants you can find by the sea.

It is a subject we are passionate about, and after reading this edition of

CREDITS SPECI A L TH A N KS TO: Albert Mondor, Anne Gibson, Caroline Rivard, Catherine Sherriffs, Doug Jacobs, Evan Folds, Everest Fernandez, Jesse Singer, Martyna Krol, Rich Gellert, and Rich Hamilton.

PRESIDENT Eric Coulombe eric@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-233-1539 E XECU T I V E ED I TO R Celia Sayers celia@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-1539 ED I TO R Catherine Sherriffs cat@gardenculturemagazine.com DESIGN Job Hugenholtz job@gardenculturemagazine.com D I G I TA L & SO CI A L M A R K E T I N G CO O R D I N ATO R Serena Sayers serena@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-0062 ADVERTISING ads@gardenculturemagazine.com PUBLISHER 325 Media INC 44 Hyde Rd., Mille-Isles QC, Canada J0R 1A0 GardenCultureMagazine.com ISSN 2562-3583 (PRINT) ISSN 2562-3591 (ONLINE) Garden Culture is published six times a year, both in print and online.

Garden Culture, we hope that you are crazy about organics too.

Happy growing,

@GardenCulture

@GardenCulture

@GardenCultureMagazine

@Garden_Culture

Eric 3 D I ST R I B U T I O N PA R T N ER S • WHG • Stealth Garden Supplies • Dome Garden Supplies • HY-GEN

© 325 Media

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from 325 Media Inc.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

9

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

I’m a big indoor grower. Growing up in the city, it is natural for me to grow inside; I love that.

Author Spotlight

G

Rich Hamilton

arden Culture Magazine is proud to have a wide variety of knowledgeable writers from many different backgrounds. We’d like to

introduce you to our friend, Rich Hamilton, an industry veteran, indoor growing exper t, author, and host of the podcast, The Hydro Chronicle.

Is there a motto you grow by?

What you give is what you get. Plants need care and attention to get the maximum expression out of them. Put the time in, and they will reward you.

What is your favourite plant to grow?

I’m a big chilli and herb grower. I grow them in my kitchen so I can dress and enhance my food with fresh condiments, dressings, and rubs.

Indoor or outdoor, where do you prefer to grow?

I’m a big indoor grower. Growing up in the city, it is natural for me to grow inside; I love that. I love seeing the relationship between the natural and the modern world together in the same space.

What is your favourite podcast?

Easy! My podcast, The Hydro Chronicle, which is now available on iTunes (shameless plug!). I love Joe Rogan’s podcast. What that man has done for modern media is incredible; he’s a true inspiration.

10

Where in the world would you like to travel to next?

I would love to spend some time travelling in Ecuador and stopping at the Mashpi Lodge. If you haven’t heard of it, check it out. It’s a modern lodge set in the hear t of a rainforest. I would love to take some time out and write a new book there; I’ve had an idea for one rattling away in the back of my head for the last few years now. It’s about time I got it out. 3

Are you interested in writing for Garden Culture Magazine?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us an email introducing yourself with a sample of your work. editor@gardenculturemagazine.com

Pro Grow UFO LEDs 300 & 500 W

PureCrop1 One Organic Solution

The new Pro Grow UFO LEDs blend top bin SMD diodes from both Samsung white and Optimum hyper red for an outstanding efficacy of over 2.1 µmols/s. Pro Grow UFO LEDs emit 4,000 Kelvin full spectrum light with an industry-leading CRI of 90. Coupled with ultra-reliable Optimum drivers, the lightweight and durable die-cast aluminium housings offer cool, fanless, and silent operation. Extended reliability is assured with IP-55 water-resistant housings. Pro Grow UFO LEDs are available in both 300 W and 500 W configurations with outputs of PPF 620 & PPF 1050 µmol/s respectively. Total weight for either unit is under 15 kgs, making installation and mounting easy.

An OMRI listed organic insecticide, fungicide, bio-stimulant and natural surfactant, PureCrop1 interferes with the digestive enzymes of sap-sucking insects without harming beneficial insects, including bees.

PureCrop1 utilises Colloidal Micelle Nano Technology that is entirely unique to this product. PureCrop1 is made entirely from plant-based materials that deliver fatty acids directly to the plant’s sap layer where it is used immediately by the plant. It successfully controls mould and mildew by pulling solid particles away from the leaf surface, sterilising the spores and biodegrades them harmlessly. PureCrop1 has no withholding period and may be applied as a foliar spray or root drench right up until the final day of harvest. Completely non-toxic to humans and mammals, has no run-off toxicity and can be applied without the use of safety equipment. PureCrop1 leaves no residue and does not affect taste, flavours, or terpene profile. Welcome to the future of agriculture.

Check out WHG.net.au for more great products.

Check out WHG.net.au for more information.

®

GROWING PRODUCTS

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS The Grow Vault

DLI 330w LED - TOP LIGHT

Introducing the Grow Vault: enjoy convenience and space conservation for your propagation, vegetation, and flowering area, all in one grow tent.

DLI 330w LED is the ultimate LED option. Use for tremendous results in veg and bloom! Dutch Lighting Innovations is an elite team of the world’s very best illumination engineers. Unlike the many imitators on the market, DLI has revolutionised horticultural lighting with new designs, new technology, and new solutions.The DLI 330w LED is used by commercial facilities and has proven success. Their novel design includes optimal angled vertical light uniformity. This unique lens creates a high consistency in light distribution, giving your grow consistent flowers. These tough fixtures are constructed for the Dutch glasshouses with a slim, water-proof design and easy-hang system. DLI is already used by leading medicinal facilities in Australia, New Zealand, and massive facilities in Russia, Europe, Canada, and the USA. DLI LED are available via Stealth Garden Wholesale and stocked at all leading retailers in Australia and New Zealand.

The Grow Vault is equipped with 600D reflective mylar, 16mm powder-coated steel poles, and steel corners.

Available in 4 sizes: • 900 * 600 * 1350mm • 1200 * 900 * 1800mm • 1500 * 1200 * 2000mm • 2700 * 1200 * 2000mm

Hydro Breeze Smart Wall Fan The ultimate indoor oscillating fan for premium horticulture just got smarter! The V2 Hydro Breeze has landed with new features designed by growers for growers. Unlike other fans, Hydro Breeze V2 includes smart-memory and will retain desired settings, even if there is a power outage. With new LED indicators, remote control, and more user-options than any other fan on the market! Hydro Breeze features a 40cm German standard engineering protective cage with an adjustable bracket for directional airflow.

Easy to operate for the beginner but caters to the needs of the advanced gardener! Hydro Breeze fans are used in leading commercial facilities in Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. Did you know flowering plants need 1m/s airflow? With Hydro Breeze, you can achieve exceptional homogenous air movement to hit these targets in any size room! Hydro Breeze is distributed by Stealth Garden Supplies and currently available at all leading retailers in Australia and New Zealand.

Keeping it easy breezy!

NEW Pro Grow LED Model E 680 W - 8 Bar An industry-leading output of 1,950 µmol/s, the new Pro Grow 680 W - 8 bar blends Samsung white 301H and Osram 660 nm hyper red top bin SMD diodes for an outstanding efficacy of over 2.85 µmol/J. Pro Grow LED 680 W emits 4,000 K full-spectrum light with a CRI of 91.8. Coupled with an ultra-reliable Inventronics 0-10 V Dimming Driver, the lightweight and durable die-cast aluminium housings offer cool, fanless, and silent operation. Extended reliability is assured with IP44 water-resistant housings. Fixtures are dimmable via the dial on the array. The driver is built into the centre frame.

Includes four mounting rope ratchets.

Visit WHG.net.au to learn more.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

13

Gavita Slimline 1000 W Fixture At only 25 cm high, the Gavita Slim Line 1000 W fixture is the lowest Gavita fixture ever. Gavita Slimline 1000 W still offers the highest light output and light maintenance over time of any HID light fixture. It has the HR96 reflector for maximum efficiency and uniformity for high bay applications above 2.7 m.The Slimline 1000 W includes a sealed housing with Gore-TexÂŽ ventilation plug and controllable output up to 1150 Watt.

Equipped with Repeater Bus interface, a double-port connector on the ballast, which allows you to directly daisy chain and control 100 fixtures per string via the Gavita RS1 remote mounted wall switch.

For more information, visit WHG.net.au

ANTI-MATTER

Molecular Enzyme Bioreactor Features a powerful suite of naturally-derived ingredients that enhance your plant’s growth, yield, immunity, and gene expression.

ANTI-MATTER contains a broad range of bio-active enzymes, combined with a unique blend of enzyme-generating fungi and rhizobacteria.Working in tandem, a rapid upcycling of the natural soil processes is achieved, driving plant growth and yields to a much higher level.

Amino acids, carbohydrates, B-vitamins, chitin polysaccharide compounds, and organic minerals bolster the formulation, providing readily available plant and microbe food in addition to ingredients that directly raise systemic plant immunity and reduce plant stress.

For full product details, visit highpoweredorganics. com/anti-matter

sales@whg.net.au www.whg.net.au

GROWING PRODUCTS

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS HarveMax 6” Portable 2 Speed Clip-on Fan Harvemax 150 mm clip-on fans have a reliable 20 W motor with improved bearing quality for longer expected life.

Harvemax clip-on fans feature a strong rubber-lined clamping mechanism, allowing them to clip onto poles, desks, or shelves.

Harvemax 150 mm clip fans are tiltadjustable both up or down and oscillate 90 degrees. Harvemax fans come with a 1-year warranty.

Visit WHG.net.au to learn more.

Gavita RS1 Remote Switch (for Slimline 1000 W) The Gavita RS1 Remote Switch is a manual light intensity controller. It can be used to dim or boost up to one hundred 1000 W Slimline fixtures simultaneously. Easily adjust the light intensity of the lamps by rotating the knob. The RS1 allows you to dim your lamps down to 60% or even boost your lamps up to 115%.

The percentage displayed on the RS1 indicates the power of the fixture. eg. 60% = 600 W for a 1000 W fixture.The RS1 is easily installed and controlled. Just stick the remote switch to a wall and plug the cable in. No additional power supply is required.

Visit WHG.net.au to learn more.

Hortivision HPS 600w E-Ballast Hortivision 600w E-Ballast is THE affordable workhorse for serious growers! Professional grade electronic (digital) ballast built for pure performance! Although the price can’t be beaten, our ballast has all the features. Ultra-high efficiency with soft-start technology, dimmable settings and smart ignition software, the Hortivision 600w ticks all the boxes! Hortivision HPS 600w E-Ballast is designed for use with Hortivision 600w HPS lamps and comfortably covers a 1m x 1m space with full summer sunlight PAR levels.

Hortivision is a trusted brand backed with respectable warranty and customer support; the HPS kits are no exception.

Shops, customers and growers are all enjoying fruitful success with nextgeneration Hortivision kits.

Cost-effective yet stable, Hortivision is built for the conscientious cultivator. Available via Stealth Garden Wholesale, Hortivision are found in leading retailers in Australia and New Zealand.

Sol-Lifters Securely hoist lighting fixtures, carbon filters, and HVAC equipment with Sol-Lifters.

A unique push button release with 8’ braided polypropylene rope, the Sol-Lifters can support 68kg per pair. Rust-resistant gears and carabiner with a heat-resistant resin housing, the Sol-Lifters makes it easy to create the best growing environment.

Dripco Irrigation Fittings With over 50 years of manufacturing experience, Dripco Australian irrigation fittings are made from the highest quality virgin polypropylene plastic complying to ISO 9001.

Dripco do not use any reclaimed plastic in their fittings, giving them durable properties, sharper barbs, and higher tolerances to heat and stress.When used with Dripco soft poly pipe under low-pressure applications, the use of jubilee clips are not required, and leaks are eliminated from the system. Get behind a great Australianmade product line and rid yourself of leaky irrigation lines with DripCo fittings.

Check out WHG.net.au for more tried and true gardening products.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

15

BY ANNE GIBSON

work with

nature 16

ORGANIC GARDENING

This closed-loop cycle of turning ‘waste’ into healthy soil was the basis of how I learned to grow food from a young age

I

grew up in my family’s backyard garden. On a quarter-acre block in suburban Sydney, most of our food came from our abundant vegetable garden, fruit trees and a productive flock of cheeky chickens. Mum preserved our fruits and vegetables, made jams and relishes, and nothing went to waste. I learned from an early age where our food came from.

Our family only bought milk and seasonal fruit from local farmers to supplement what we didn’t produce ourselves.

Dad taught me how to use grass clippings as mulch, rake up chicken manure and sawdust from their coop, collect garden prunings and fireplace ash, and recycle our kitchen food scraps into a giant 3-bay compost system. This closed-loop cycle of turning ‘waste’ into healthy soil was the basis of how I learned to grow food from a young age.

I didn’t know at the time this would later be called ‘organic gardening.’ We were living sustainably, using onsite resources to recycle nutrients, working with nature by planting suitable crops for our climate and eating nutrient-rich foods that tasted amazing. Even the cabbage white butterflies that hovered in the garden didn’t last long with the chickens around. Pest management was easy too!

Why Everyone Should Garden Organically Wendell Berry once said: “I can think of no better form of personal involvement in the cure of the environment than that of gardening. A person who is growing a garden, if he is growing it organically, is improving a piece of the world. He is producing something to eat, which makes him somewhat independent of the grocery business, but he is also enlarging, for himself, the meaning of food and the pleasure of eating.”

Growing a food garden not just without chemicals, but by adding value to the environment by improving soil quality and plant health, is a sustainable practice we can all participate in. The rewards are immensely satisfying.

A few of the benefits of organic gardening include: • Minimal risk of toxic chemical residues in your food, garden soil, environment, pets and wildlife.

• Fresh nutrient-rich, flavoursome food with optimum nutrition to build a healthy immune system.

• Connection to nature, fresh air, sunlight and exercise, improving physical and mental health.

• Fewer weeds, pests and diseases because of healthier plants and living soil with increased biodiversity.

• Save money by being more sustainable and self-reliant, reducing the need to buy food and garden supplies by recycling nutrients from the kitchen and garden.

Interplanting and rotating crops of different plant families maintains a balanced ecosystem in an organic garden

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

17

See the most recent Product Spotlights right from your phone or tablet.

visit: GCmag.co/Product-Spotlight

ORGANIC GARDENING

work with

nature Grow ing a f ood ga rden no t ju s t w i t hou t chemic a l s, bu t by a dding va l ue t o t he en v ironmen t by imp rov ing s oil qua l i t y a nd p l a n t he a lt h, is a sus ta in a bl e p r ac t ice w e c a n a l l pa r t icipat e in. T he re wa rd s a re immensely s at isf y ing

Maintaining a chemical-free garden encourages predator insects like ladybirds to manage fungal diseases and pests

Heide Hermary, the author of The Essence of Organic Gardening, encourages us to think of organic gardening as “not about just substituting toxic chemicals with less toxic ones, but about a whole different way of thinking and working. It is a conscious effort to cooperate with Nature in the creation of health and abundance for all.”

So what does it mean to ‘work with nature’? Is it possible to grow an edible garden without any chemicals or back-breaking hours of labour?

From personal experience, I believe if you apply principles when designing your edible garden, choosing plants and maintaining it, you won’t need expensive inputs or collapse with physical exhaustion! By imitating nature, we can create a healthy balance in our gardens, so they are productive, abundant and require less time, money and effort to maintain.

Key Organic Gardening Principles I follow a few basic guidelines that I’ve found make a difference in creating a productive paradise – be it a balcony garden, backyard or larger space.

1. Feed the soil, rather than the plants. Soil high in organic matter with a continuous layer of mulch creates a nutrient-rich, moisture-holding environment for plants and soil microorganisms to thrive. Nature layers the soil surface with leaves, decaying plant material and dead critters. Continual recycling and composting create humus. This practice works perfectly in our pots and garden beds too. Recycle your kitchen waste back out into the garden to grow more food. Over time, you will develop a precious asset in your soil.

Nature mulches and composts on the forest floor

19

ORGANIC GARDENING

work with

nature Organic gardeners are stewards of the earth. We care about our soil, the health of our plants – particularly edibles, and create an environment that encourages all creatures to live safely

Autumn leaves mulch for an organic garden

2. Select plants wisely. Choose varieties that thrive in your climate and locate them in microclimates that suit their needs – sun, shade, moist or dry soil, protected from the wind, cold or heat. Plant in season. Forcing unsuitable species into poor soil or unfavourable growing conditions for their needs is a recipe for disaster! Don’t try to grow summer crops in winter. Stressed plants attract pests and disease, so give them the best chance of survival and growing productively by matching them to the requirements they need.

3. Focus on biodiversity. A healthy organic garden is an ecosystem with a wide variety of plants, insects and soil life.

They are all team players that work together for the common good. Avoid planting too much of one species as this encourages pests and diseases. A monoculture destroys nature’s balance. Mix up your edibles and crop rotate seasonally to help attract a diverse range of pollinators, beneficial insects, soil microbes and minimise disease.

4. Practice safe gardening. Avoid any artificial fertilisers or chemical pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. Choose certified organic and heirloom seeds and raise seedlings when possible unless you know your nursery doesn’t use chemicals.

Intentionally choose non-toxic materials for your garden instead of chemically-treated timber, PVC, manures containing vet medications and other contaminated inputs. Research well and do your due diligence on the source of your materials!

Heavy metals and chemical compounds can end up leaching into the soil, your food and eventually the water table. Read labels and look for certified organic logos on seeds and products to create a safe edible garden.

Organic gardeners are stewards of the earth. We care about our soil, the health of our plants – particularly edibles, and create an environment that encourages all creatures to live safely.

Growing organic food at home is a sustainable way to tread lighter on our planet and enjoy the delicious healthy rewards this deep connection to a garden can bring. 3

BIO Anne Gibson, The Micro Gardener, is an author, speaker

and urban garden community educator on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland, Australia. Anne is passionate about inspiring people to improve health and wellbeing, by growing nutrient-dense food gardens in creative containers and small spaces. Anne regularly presents workshops, speaks at sustainable living events, coaches private clients and teaches community education classes about organic gardening and ways to live sustainably. She has authored several eBooks and gardening guides. Anne shares organic gardening tips and tutorials to save time, money and energy on her popular website - TheMicroGardener.com.

21

BY EVAN FOLDS

22

FOOD & FARMING

t organic h g u o b o h ds of those w , y d u lthier foo t a s e h h c t r e a g e o s a Pew Re son was t a o t e r g a in y d a r s Acco nth, 76% in o m t s a d the soil” p e h t ent to “fee m in e v s o d m l o fo cultura $50 y as an agri an almost

W

r rned into 20th centu s today tu a ar ts of the h p , g y ream. rl in a e rm e in th onal fa the mainst ti it n h e v s n a o h c ” f ic hat star ted o n l practices onal. “Orga the ar tificia as conventi st to fa s se a n o e resp rowing twic r y that is g st u d in d o billion fo

Organic food is now found in almost all grocery stores, and the amount of certified organic acreage is increasing in every state. But despite all of the advances, organic still has a long way to go. Farmland that is certified organic represents less than 1% of all agricultural land in the US, and organic food makes up only 14.6% of all produce sold, according to 2016 numbers.

If we fix the soil, we fix ourselves. The question becomes, does “organic” fix farming? In a word, no. However, it is a step in the right direction

Still, the organic industry is growing rapidly. Driven mostly by health concerns, retail sales of organic foods more than doubled from 1994 to 2014. According to a Pew Research study, of those who bought organic foods in the past month, 76% say a reason was to get healthier foods. The public is waking up to the problems with our food supply and taking action with their food dollars.

While this sounds like positive news, it is essential to recognise that it was not until we messed up farming that we were compelled to fix it. Rather than follow the “precautionary principle” - which states that a new product or process whose ultimate effects are disputed or unknown should be resisted - we do the opposite, routinely approving chemicals for crop production that are dangerous to living systems and public health. The result is dead soil that is incapable of holding fertility, water, carbon, or life, and we are paying for it in so many ways.

If we fix the soil, we fix ourselves. The question becomes, does “organic” fix farming?

Many of us are not aware that the origin of artificial pesticides and fertilisers came from the World Wars.

The same factories that were built to make nitrogen and munitions in World War II are today used to make fertiliser, and pesticides were simply pointed towards crop fields instead of jungles. The notorious chemical DDT was discovered in 1939 and used extensively by the US military as an insecticide to protect troops in the field before it was ever used on food crops. Its production subsequently showed chemists the way to develop other toxic pesticides and herbicides like 2,4-D. As the wars ended, the new chemical age of agriculture began, and we went all in. By 1952, there were over 10,000 new and unique pesticides registered with the USDA. We did not understand the danger of them until after they were in use. There are currently at least 72 pesticides approved for outdoor agricultural applications in the US that are banned or in the process of a complete phase-out in the EU, Brazil, and China.

So, despite the emergence of organic methods, our agricultural system is still toxic. And because of this, so is our food supply. Consumers are responding to the toxicity of the food system by using buying power to vote for more organic food, which is a strong incentive for farmers to begin growing more organic food. The problem is that these market forces are far more enticing and lucrative to global food corporations.

In a word, no. However, it is a step in the right direction.

The term “organic” can be broadly described as farming and food that is not genetically engineered and grown without the assistance of toxic, synthetic chemicals. This is important because according to the Environmental Working Group, a full 70% of all fresh produce sold in the US contain synthetic pesticide residues, and many of them are directly linked to the detriment of environmental and human health.

The result of this burgeoning market incentive is lobbying

by Big Ag to dilute the organic standards to allow their ways and to fit the mega-farm scale of production, but also through massive consolidation where Big Ag purchases small organic food companies. Do an internet search for “Who Owns Organic Chart by Cornucopia Institute” for a sobering visual of who owns your favourite natural food brands.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

23

FOOD & FARMING FOOD

By capitalist design, Big Ag wants to control the entire USDA organic program. Through stacking boards and spending billions in lobbying efforts, the special interests of the conventional food industry creep into the organic realm, resulting in the acceptance of farming methods that would make the founders of the organic movement roll over in their grave.

Farmland that is certified organic represents less than 1% of all agricultural land in the US, and organic food makes up only 14.6% of all produce sold, according to 2016 numbers

We now have “organic” chicken CAFOs with 200,000 birds packed into environmentally-controlled buildings, and “organic” dairy CAFOs with 15,000 cows crammed into feedlots, and large “organic” grain shipments being sold into the US with no documentation.

In many ways, organic has become a new way for Big Ag to make more money. Data shows that people perceive “organic” to be a healthier way of producing food, which is an open question. There is no question certified organic food is cleaner, and it is safe to say that given similar soil conditions, organic food could be more nutritious. Still, it is essential to point out that there are no standards for nutrient density in the organic certification process.

It is an alarming realisation: we invented the chemicals that we are paying a premium for in organic food to protect ourselves from. And what’s worse, many times we are giving these extra dollars to the same corporations that invented the chemicals in the first place. Brilliant business model, but bad for people.

We are starting to wake up to our food reality, but some saw this coming a long time ago. One of the first known reactions

to conventional farming was Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) who, in response to farmers in Eastern Europe that were beginning to experience the loss of fertility on their farms from chemical inputs, delivered eight lectures in 1924 now known as The Agriculture Course. It is an outline that has become known as “biodynamic agriculture”.

In many ways, Steiner’s methods were before their time, involving homoeopathic field sprays, planting by celestial rhythms, and new techniques for making potentised compost preparations. The concepts of life force and spiritual science that he championed are only now starting to become more popular. But the remnants of what Steiner brought forward have been here all along in the spiritual science of dedicated farmers around the world, and the lunar planting calendars of the Farmers Almanac.

Steiner’s ideas inspired many people, including Walter James (1896-1982), known as Lord Northbourne, whose interest in biodynamics led him to visit Switzerland in 1939 to invite the leading advocate of the times, Dr Ehrenfried Pfeiffer (1899-1961), to present the first conference on biodynamic farming in Britain. The following year, in 1940, is when Lord Northbourne published a manifesto called Look to the Land that first coined the term “organic farming”.

The pioneer of organic in the US was Jerome Irving Rodale (1898-1971), the founder of the Rodale Research Institute and Organic Farming and Gardening magazine. Beginning in the 1940s from his farm in Pennsylvania, Rodale developed his publications and institute that continue to inspire “non-chemical” farming methods for US farmers and gardeners.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

25

FOOD & FARMING

Did you catch that?

Certified organic food doesn’t have to be 100% organic You don’t have to grow all of your food to impact agriculture in positive ways. Remember, eating is an agricultural act

Rodale was originally impacted by the work of Sir Albert Howard (1873-1947), a British scientist who spent many years observing and learning traditional agriculture in India, and developed a method of composting called the Indore Process that is still in use today in tropical regions.

The pioneers of the organic movement provided practical applications and logical, natural reasons to do our farming and gardening differently. The activism around this movement culminated in 1990 when Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act, requiring the USDA to develop national standards for organic products.

Then, in 2001, Congress established the National Organic Program (NOP). The NOP is a federal regulatory program that develops and enforces uniform national standards for organically-produced agricultural products sold in the US. The core mission of the NOP is to protect the integrity of the USDA organic seal, which is allowed for use on products that contain at least 95% organic ingredients.

Did you catch that? Certified organic food doesn’t have to be 100% organic.

One of the more recent controversies regarding organic certification is the debate about hydroponics. Hydroponic, aquaponic, and aeroponic farms can get organic certification for crops in some states and markets. Advocates promote the relative cleanliness and efficiency of these farming methods, and opponents point out that any way of growing that does not utilise soil undermines the spirit of the organic movement.

The USDA currently considers this debate a “settled issue”, and out of these compromises, there are now new platforms for certification being developed that go above and beyond organic certification. The Regenerative Organic Certification officially launched in March of 2018, and not a month later, another certification platform, the Real Organic Project, was introduced.

The purpose of these platforms is to ensure the integrity and transparency in labelling by defining certified food as grown in the soil and to prevent the certification of controversial methods of farming such as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) and hydroponics.

We are making progress, but when it comes to good food, it is never fast enough. In the food business, we are what we eat, and our buying power drives global markets. You don’t have to grow all of your food to impact agriculture in positive ways. Remember, eating is an agricultural act. 3

Evan Folds is a regenerative agricultural consultant with a background across every facet of the farming and gardening spectrum. He has founded and operated many businesses over the years - including a retail hydroponics store he operated for over 14 years, a wholesale company that formulated beyond organic products and vortex-style compost tea brewers, an organic lawn care company, and a commercial organic wheatgrass growing operation.

Bio

He now works as a consultant in his new project Be Agriculture where he helps new and seasoned growers take their agronomy to the next level.What we think, we grow!

Contact Evan at www.BeAgriculture.com or on Facebook and Instagram @beagriculture

26

@greatwhitemyco

BY DOUG JACOBS

Uniformity starts with mother stock and propagation. If you can repeatedly grow identical plants, they can be steered from the start of cultivation for maximum production.

28

PLANT STEERING

T

hey say variety is the spice of life. While that is undoubtedly true for many things, when it comes to growing mother plants and cuttings in a greenhouse or elsewhere indoors, uniformity is critical for quality. The farm design and plant care plan should be developed with consistency in mind.

In life, uniformity isn’t always a good thing.

But when it comes to cuttings, nothing beats it Uniformity star ts with mother stock and propagation.

If you can repeatedly grow identical plants, they can be steered from the star t of cultivation for maximum production. All subsequent inputs such as labour, climate, and irrigation can be optimised, delivering the highest quality plants time after time.

Use less growing media with a lot of space for root development. Make sure it has good water holding capacity and EC control. These factors allow irrigation to be used as a tool to steer and manage the growth of the mother plants, making them healthier and improving the quality of the cuttings they produce.

The Mother Load

Vegetative And Generative Growth

Sourcing mother stock is an essential first step in creating a uniform crop. Whether you are getting rooted cuttings, seeds, or tissue culture plants, be sure they don’t carry any pests or disease and that they will deliver the final product you want.

What we are talking about is the balance between vegetative and generative growth. Vegetative is the growth of leaves and stems, while generative is the development of fruits and flowers. Both stages can be used to control how the plant grows throughout its lifecycle.

A test batch of plants can be created. Watch them grow through an entire lifecycle to determine how well they perform in your facility. At every stage, take detailed notes on the speed of root development, plant height, stem diameter, leaf and stem colour, node spacing, and the natural structure of the plant. Also, observe the rootzone WC and EC measurements with climate conditions. These notes will help you determine the optimum spacing, irrigation and climate strategies, and the timing of labour.

If you want your mother plants to grow faster, implement a vegetative irrigation strategy by: • Maintaining a higher overall WC in the root zone.

• Having smaller dry backs between irrigations and overnight.

• Using small shot sizes at a high frequency of watering.

• Lowering EC at the dripper and in the root zone.

Substrate Volume But before growing the mother plants, select a substrate type, determine how much volume is needed for each plant, and the ideal planting density. Once these details are established, consider the irrigation requirements.

Mother plants are typically kept in large amounts of growing media, usually 5 to 25-gallon pots, and are watered infrequently, one to four times per day if they are lucky.

Having large mother plants in larger volumes of the substrate has some benefits and drawbacks. More substrate helps buffer out the irrigation system, so if your system fails or you don’t have time to hand water frequently, a large root zone can protect the plant. On the flip side, having large mother plants increases the risk of one bad mom spoiling several cuttings, therefore, reducing the yield of an entire crop.

To slow growth down, reduce stretching, and be more generative, do the following: • Decrease the overall WC in the root zone.

• Increase the dry back between each irrigation and overnight by delaying the first watering of the day and stopping before nightfall.

• Decrease irrigation frequency while increasing the volume of each shot.

• Increase dripper and rootzone EC with lower substrate temperatures.

It’s essential to test these strategies while taking regular crop registration of plant height, node spacing, overall plant development, and health.

Climate Steering Like irrigation, the climate has a significant impact on how plants grow. Using different types of lights with varying intensities affect how the mother plants perform from propagation through flowering. Climate steering techniques need to be explored and utilised as a tool to manage plant growth.

29

PLANT STEERING

Achieve better results by reducing the environmental conditions when taking cuttings

When taking cuttings, take note of the environmental conditions and how they affect the success of the crop.

Having high light intensity, humidity, and temperatures has an impact on the health and success of the cuttings.

Achieve better results by reducing the environmental conditions when taking cuttings.

Propagation: Sea Of Green

Not all cuttings are taken in one day. It can take an entire week to take all of the cuttings during a flush to keep the mother plants in balance.

Smaller mother plants can grow at a very high density with just enough space so they barely touch. This sea of green helps the cuttings grow nice and straight and new ones to be taken without stressing the mother plant.

Mother plants are grown to exact specifications with an equal number of leaves. After the mothers are planted, they need four weeks before they have about five fully expanded leaves. Once they are tall enough, pinch the head with a leaf to create a uniform crop structure across all the mothers. Keeping the number of leaves and branches even across all plants is critical for an even growth rate.

Between each harvest, look over the plants daily to ensure consistent growth. Remove leaves gradually to keep the plants equal and balanced. Mother plants are typically kept for a total of 26 weeks. Given the limitations on what can be used for pest and disease control, it is good practice to change the mother plants every three or four months.

Tools And Tricks

The first cuttings can be taken two weeks after the first pinch. Subsequent flushes of cuttings can be taken weekly.

During this process, you may end up with some taller plants that need to be trimmed back between harvests.

Not all cuttings are taken in one day. It can take an entire week to take all of the cuttings during a flush to keep the mother plants in balance.

To take the most uniform cuttings possible with the least amount of labour, “mum growers” use a special tool to help keep the cuttings the same length. This plastic tool uses a flat surface with a sharp edge that also suppor ts the cutting as it’s being taken. Only new growth head cuttings are taken, and some amount of stem is left above the node to protect it so it can grow another cutting.

As you go through each subsequent flush, maintain an equal number of leaves between each mother plant to keep them growing at a uniform rate. The perfect equation depends on what plants are growing. Some experimentation and crop registration will help determine the ideal number of leaves, the growth speed, and how many cuttings can be produced in a specific time frame.

It is essential to have a precise visual scale for the size of the cuttings you want. Stem diameter groups cuttings as “Thick ”, “Good”, and “Thin”. Cuttings can then be placed in batches together based on their growth rate. In addition to keeping stem length and diameter consistent, each cutting must also have the same number of leaves.

31

PLANT STEERING

After the initial saturation, the best way to maintain uniformity is through climate and irrigation

Irrigation

Climate Control

The timing, frequency, and volumes used to irrigate cuttings have a tremendous impact on how the plants develop.

Watering too early is the biggest problem for most growers.

Determine the best time for irrigation by using weights of trays and individual plugs in combination with plant observations.

Watch how much water is being applied after the first dry backs and work to find the optimum amount for developing the young cuttings. Growers who flood high up the side of the plugs and oversaturate the substrate tend to have problems with root development. Experiment with smaller floods or dips to keep the young root zone healthy.

Climate has a significant impact on the development of the cuttings. Low light intensity, for example, slows plant growth and opens the plants up to diseases. High humidity is also another cause of poor growth. To achieve the best cuttings possible, experiment with systems and tools that help maintain humidity between 70-90% while keeping moisture away from the canopy.

High heat and humidity levels lead to mould and mildew.

Wetting lines are popular in commercial agriculture because they reduce the need for expensive labour and various inconsistencies. At home or in smaller farms, manual watering booms and hand watering can be used. Still, the speed and flow of the water need to be adjusted based on the substrate being used. For Rockwool, repeated slow and steady applications should be made to ensure proper saturation. Applying too much water too fast can lead to dry spots in the media that will carry through the lifecycle of the plant. Inconsistent growth will affect the uniformity of growth.

Flooding is also an effective, uniform way to saturate the blocks, but in large and multiple batches, take care to dilute the solution and adjust the EC and pH. Nutrients should always be used at the start with Rockwool. Ideally, saturate new plugs or block with a nutrient solution between 1.5 to 2.0 EC, with a pH of 5.5. I recommend using nutrients from the start for cuttings because Rockwool doesn’t provide any to the plant.

Weights of the plugs, trays, or blocks should be checked at initial saturation to ensure it was done correctly. Weights should be rechecked 24 hours later and at regular intervals to determine the best time to apply the first irrigation. After the initial saturation, the best way to maintain uniformity is through climate and irrigation.

Growers must be sure that the air and rootzone temperatures are not excessively hot and wet. Once that the cuttings have established a root system, work to get them acclimated to the climate that will be used for growing. In commercial flower farms, use a clear plastic tarp to cover all the cuttings for the first week.

Seedling trays are usually stackable for ease of movement and have built-in structure so the tarp can be placed and removed without disturbing the cuttings. Once the cuttings have started to root into the substrate, the tent is removed, and a misting system helps maintain humidity at the optimum range.

In life, uniformity isn’t always a good thing. But when it comes to cuttings, nothing beats it.

Happy growing! 3

Bio

Doug Jacobs is a Technical Advisor with Grodan.

He provides expert consulting on proven Precision Growing methods to optimise crop production with Grodan Rockwool growing media and proper irrigation, producing the best quality plants using the least amount of inputs. He has experience with indoor, outdoor, and greenhouse hydroponics, vertical farms, aquaculture, and CEA system design, helping to design farms across North America. Doug showcases his passion and expertise as a feature writer in various national industry publications and as a conference speaker at US events.

33

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ALBERT MONDOR, HORTICULTURIST AND BIOLOGIST

Edible Plants On The Beach

34

SEA DELIGHTS

O

cean banks, beaches, and dunes have a rich flora. Surprisingly, many of the plants that grow on seashores are edible!

Some rose bushes spontaneously grow on beaches and dunes. One of the species most commonly found in the northern hemisphere is the Rough Rose. It is indigenous to north China, Korea, Japan, and eastern Russia. Introduced to Europe and North America a long time ago, it has escaped from gardens and now grows just about everywhere. In the wild, it is often found on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, on dunes in Cape Cod, and most of the New England seashore. This shrub is very resistant to winds and salt spray.

M a r sh s a mp hire is a p l a n t t h at grow s in t he w il d on t he b a nks of nor t her n se a s.

I t h a s a del iciou s ta s t e simil a r t o s a lt ed a spa r agu s a nd is u sed t o se a s on s a l a d s or a s a v ege ta bl e t o ac c ompa n y me at s a nd f ish.

Like the flowers, you can eat rosehips. However, it is crucial to remove the seeds, which have prickly hairs that can irritate the skin and digestive tract. Rosehips seeds are used to produce itching powder! Fun fact: rosehips contain more vitamin C than oranges.

Marsh samphire.

Another common plant found along the oceanfront is creeping saltbush, also called spreading orache. This plant has thick and plentiful spear-shaped leaves. Closely related to lamb’s quarters, a weed commonly found in gardens, creeping saltbush has a milder taste than spinach with a hint of salt. It pairs well with salads and is delicious with seafood chowder.

Rose flowers are edible

Marsh samphire is a plant that grows in the wild on the banks of northern seas. It has a delicious taste similar to salted asparagus and is used to season salads or as a vegetable to accompany meats and fish. This plant is occasionally sold in grocery stores or appears on restaurant menus, usually as samphire greens or sea asparagus.

Available in some nurseries, it is relatively easy to grow in a pot at home in full sun, but it requires frequent watering with salt water (1 teaspoon of sea salt per litre of water).

Creeping Saltbush

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

35

Gavita Master controller

Gavita Master controller ELF Get enhanced control of your grow room with the second generation Gavita Master controllers. The Gavita Master ELF is the latest addition to our controller line-up. You get everything the upgraded second generation Master controller offers, plus fan control.

With the integrated fan controller, it can directly control your lights and fans for a stable temperature in your grow room.

• Switch, dim, and boost your fixtures from a central unit • Independent cycle programming (EL2 only) • Separate sunrise and sunset settings • Direct control of EC fans (AC fan control with optional EFM1 module • Balance your intake and outtake fans with the Gavita Fan balancer (FB1)

SEA DELIGHTS

Rich in v i ta min C, se a p e a s s av ed t he Europ e a n se t t l er s w ho f ir s t a rri v ed in C a n a da f rom s curv y Sea peas look like snow peas tinged with purple. Whether eaten raw or cooked, shelling them isn’t necessary.

Before producing pods, sea peas produce lovely deep pink flowers.

Rich in vitamin C, sea peas saved the European settlers who first arrived in Canada from scurvy. It was a plant that people could eat in abundance and was a large part of the Native American diet.

Sea parsley

Credit: LuontoPortti

Sea parsley looks and tastes like lovage. That’s why this plant native to north-eastern North America and northern European coasts is also called Scots lovage. It has compound foliage with red twigs. In mid-summer, it bears beautiful white umbels of flowers. This plant is sold in some nurseries and can quickly be grown in any garden.

Sea peas

Since sea parsley also has a flavour similar to Italian parsley, it is a good substitute in any tabbouleh, soup, sauce, or stew recipe. Adventurous chefs can even create a pesto by mixing half sea parsley with half creeping saltbush leaves. 3

has practised his craft for over 30 years and created numerous gardens in North America. In addition to teaching courses and lecturing at conferences across Canada, his weekly gardening column has appeared in the Journal de Montréal and the Journal de Québec since 1999.

In April 2018, Albert Mondor published Le nouveau potager, his tenth horticultural book. He is a regular guest and contributor to radio and television programmes and his hosting The Trendy Gardener spots broadcasted on Météo Média and online. You can also read his blog called Extreme Horticulture at albertmondor.com. Follow Albert on Facebook: fb.com/albert.mondor

Credit: Freight Farms

BIO Passionate about environmental horticulture, urban agriculture and extreme landscape design, Albert Mondor

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

37

BY JESSE SINGER

IT’S SO MUCH MORE

THAN YOU THINK

38 38

HEMP

Hemp rope has also been discovered in Russia, Britain, and

IT WON’T GET YOU HIGH I figure we should get this part out of the way right off the bat. Because not only is it a fact many people don’t understand, but it will also help make you that much more frustrated with all the strict laws and lack of hemp usage we discuss later on.

Greece from hundreds

Yes, hemp is derived from the Cannabis sativa species. Yes, it contains the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, the hemp strain contains much lower levels of THC and higher levels of cannabidiol (CBD) - which all but eliminates any psychoactive effects.

In 1998, industrial hemp was legalised in Canada, and that same year, the United States began importing hemp seed and hemp oil.

Then in 2004, a court decision in the U.S. protected the sale of hemp foods and body care products. In 2007, two farmers in North Dakota were issued the first hemp licenses in over 50 years.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF HEMP

In 2018, President Trump signed into law an amendment to the “Farm Bill” that finally removed the hemp plant from the Controlled Substances Act!

If I told you the history of hemp dates back 100 years, would you be surprised? What about 1000 years? If I told you 2000 years would you give me a disbelieving look and ask me what I was smoking? Well, hold on to your hats (hemp, or otherwise) because the truth is that the history of hemp dates back about 10,000 years to around 8000 BCE when people in - what today is Taiwan and China - used it for pottery, food, and even natural hemp-based medicines.

Hemp rope has also been discovered in Russia, Britain, and Greece from hundreds of years BCE, and archaeologists found a jar of hemp seeds and leaves in Berlin, Germany from around 500 BCE. It was also around that time - 700 BCE to 900 - that the Chinese and the Arabs built mills and started making hemp paper.

As an interesting twist on all the legal hurdles set up to make growing hemp difficult, in 1533, King Henry VIII of England fined farmers if they didn’t grow it! In the 1700s, there were also laws enacted in some American colonies requiring their farmers to produce the plant.

of years BCE, and archaeologists found a jar of hemp seeds and leaves in Berlin, Germany from around 500 BCE

HEMP! WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? Unlike “war,” hemp is good for absolutely everything. Say it again! It’s no wonder it was such an essential crop before it got caught up in all the hard-handed anti-drug legislation of the last eight decades.

First off, there’s paper. For the younger generation, paper is a physical representation of the note app on your phone and the blank document on your laptop. While most paper is made from trees, hemp paper actually lasts hundreds of years without degrading. It can be recycled more times than tree-paper can, and the manufacturing process requires less toxic chemicals. Also, it only takes about 120 days for hemp to be ready for harvesting - as opposed to the years it takes for trees to reach that point. Add to that the fact that it takes 2-4 acres of trees to produce what you can get from just one acre of hemp. And I’m talking about all paper products: cardboard, tissues, etc.

Things began turning against hemp in 1937, with the introduction of The Marijuana Tax Act, which placed a tax on all cannabis sales. Hemp, of course, got lumped in with it.

While WWII brought a surge in hemp farming and production as the United States Army pushed the “Hemp For Victory” campaign, by the end of the 1950s, the last hemp fields had been planted.

You don’t have to be Woody Harrelson to know that hemp is also better than cotton. Not only is it stronger and softer, but it lasts longer than cotton and is resistant to mildew.

Hemp production requires no pesticides or herbicides and can tolerate frost - two things that can’t be said about cotton. Almost half of all the pesticides/herbicides used worldwide are in cotton production. Hemp also requires less water than its white, fluffy counterpart.

Jump to 1970 and the initiation of The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act and the classification of hemp as an illegal Schedule 1 drug. Its inclusion in this law is both ridiculous and uber-frustrating. As the 20 th Century comes to an end, and we begin the 21st , people in power are finally coming to their senses.

As far as food goes, it’s common knowledge that hemp seeds are good for you. But did you also know that hemp seed protein can be used to produce anything currently made with soybean protein? Tofu, cheese, veggie burgers, milk, ice cream; many people are trying to avoid soy these days for various reasons, so this would be another great alternative.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

39

You don’t have to be Woody Harrelson to know that hemp is also bet ter than cot ton

Hemp can also be converted into ethanol fuel - just like corn can. But hemp has an advantage over corn in that it produces more biomass and can be grown in a variety of locations and climates. Not only can it be used to one day fuel our cars, but it might also even be used to build our vehicles as well (or at least parts of them). In 1942, Henry Ford used hemp fibres to construct an experimental car body. Supposedly, the fibres are ten times stronger than steel.

A s an inte res t in g t wis t o n al l t h e le gal hurdles s et up to make growin g h e mp dif f i cult, in 1 5 33 , K in g H e nr y VIII of En gl an d f in e d f arm e rs if t h ey d i d n’ t grow it!

And we haven’t even really talked about CBD yet…

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CBD While CBD doesn’t date back 10,000 years like hemp, it does go back farther than many might expect. In 1940, chemist Roger Adams became the first person to extract CBD from the Cannabis sativa plant successfully. At the time, he didn’t know what he had done. But years later, when he, and others, realised what it meant, the research into the potential benefits of CBD really got started.

Six years later, tests on animals proved that CBD doesn’t cause an altered mental state. Also, in 1946, Dr Raphael Mechoulam identified the three-dimensional structure of CBD - which is why you might have heard his name credited with the discovery of CBD. Research continued over the next decades, and in the 1960s, some British pharmacologists released the first CBD oil for therapeutic use. Then in 1980, Dr Mechoulam discovered that CBD could help treat epilepsy.

40 40

CBD USE TODAY A Gallup poll conducted last year in the United States found that 14% of Americans said they used some CBD products. When asked if they use CBD products, the rest of the population broke down as such: 50% said no, 35% weren’t at all familiar with CBD products and the remaining 1% or so had no opinion.

As one might expect, CBD use is higher with the younger folks: 20% in the 18-29 age range and only 8% with the over 65 crowd.

Also, by far the highest percentage of use was for pain relief (40%). The next highest use-cases were: anxiety (20%), sleep/insomnia (11%), arthritis (8%) and migraines/ headaches and stress (both at 5%).

HEMP vs CBD It seems like everyone and their mother is making predictions on the market value of hemp and CBD, so the numbers vary depending on who you ask. However, some of the numbers I researched predict the industrial hemp market will reach around $15 billion by 2027, and the CBD market will smash the $20 billion mark by 2024.

I don’t think it will surprise anyone to read that the CBD market is bigger than the market for industrial hemp. I mean, it’s purely anecdotal, but I see and hear about CBD products quite a bit. However, I’m not filling up my car with hemp fuel, and it feels like hemp apparel is still a pretty niche market at this point.

HEMP

some of the numbers I researched predict the industrial hemp market will reach around $15 billion by 2027, and the CBD market will smash the $20 billion mark by 2024

Although it was a major industry crop all those years ago, the new laws allowing for its current resurrection still mean that it is a relatively new industry.

And while it is finally legal, the stigma hasn’t completely gone away. Hemp clothing isn’t just for hippies anymore.

Still, it will take some time before the idea of hemp clothes and other products have mainstream recognition, understanding, and appreciation to make the plant a ubiquitous part of our lives.

As for CBD, the value is much more apparent and recognisable and comes with legit health benefits that can’t be denied. The celebrity endorsements of cannabidiol are impressive as well. From Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Anniston, and Tom Hanks to big-time athletes like U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapino and former New England Patriot tight end Rob Gronkowski.

The stigma hasn’t wholly left CBD either, and for some, it will always be viewed negatively as an illegal drug. However, the numbers don’t lie, and all signs point to continued growth for both industrial hemp and CBD, which is good for the planet and the people living on it. 3

BIO

Jesse grew up obsessed with movies and so it only makes sense that he graduated from McGill University with a degree in Political Science. He then put that degree to good use with a job at a video store. After that, he spent months backpacking around Europe - a continent that he has been back to visit many times since. Jesse is super curious and loves to learn and explore new subjects. For the last 15+ years, he has been writing online for a number of different sites and publications covering everything from film and television to website reviews, dating and culture, history, news, and sports. He’s worn many hats - which is ironic because he actually loves wearing hats and he has many different ones.

41

Guerrilla Gardening

Gardening Without Borders 44

GUERRILLA GARDENING

BY MARTYNA KROL, PHOTOS: MARTYNA KROL

P

attern recognition is one of our most potent superpowers when it comes to sur vival. We know that those dents in the floor are animal tracks because we’ve seen the feet that made them. Millennia of obser vation taught us the patterns of the stars and seasons so we can use them for farming and

navigation. A ball rolling out of a side street tells you to brake because of the child likely to come chasing after it. But this superpower also has a dark side; confirmation bias.

Confirmation bias is an interesting idea and one which can often cast light on a lot of things people do. If you’ve never heard of it (and don’t feel bad if you haven’t), it means how humans tend to see new information as confirmation of our existing beliefs or theories. In simple terms, we’re so great at seeing patterns, that sometimes we imagine one that’s not there.

I might have caught myself using my confirmation bias this week. Walking by a bus stop near my house, I think I spotted evidence of a pattern of behaviour I never used to notice but now see everywhere: guerrilla gardening. Someone had placed a pot with a young sunflower by the bus stop sign. As if to show that it wasn’t an accident, it was tied to the post for support. Perhaps it was part of a movement to add greenery to our increasingly unnatural environment.

Someone had placed a pot with a young sunflower by the bus stop sign. As if to show that it wasn’t an accident, it was tied to the post for suppor t.

Pollination Street My first introduction to the quiet revolution that is guerilla gardening was meeting the originators of the Incredible Edible movement in Todmorden, a few miles from my home in West Yorkshire. Much has already been written about Mary Clear and her campaign, but this was my first taste of the impact associated with reclaiming barren public lawns and single-species verges for growing food.

Like all revolutionaries, Clear and her gang began small.

Knowing that it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission, they sneaked food plants onto traffic circles and grassy roadsides. They made little community action signs telling passers-by to help themselves and maintained the plants until harvest.

When local council officials eventually noticed their actions, there was the inevitable power struggle, but they were already too popular to stop. Incredible Edible planting days,

markets, and events have attracted thousands of participants and the attention of royalty! Prince Charles once told Clear that when he becomes king, she can plant wherever she likes.

We’re all still curious to see if he keeps his promise should his head ever hold the crown.

The Incredible Edible movement has since blossomed around the world, with thousands of independent groups copying and expanding upon the initial idea and bringing locally grown produce and awareness of how to grow to millions of people. Todmorden still has its publiclymaintained growing spaces, such as on ‘Pollination Street’ in the centre of town.

And Clear has a good chunk of her garden open to anyone who wants to forage for rhubarb and cauliflower.

Capital Lettuce One of London’s most impressive guerilla gardening projects is the so-called ‘magic roundabout’, which has been transformed from a dull traffic disc to a self-sustaining island of beauty, colour, and joyful buzz of bees. We have Caroline Bousfield Gregory to thank for the makeover. Her pottery studio overlooks the roundabout, and she took it upon herself to improve the view. It’s now 18 years that she’s been chipping away at it, and the result is spectacular.

Bousfield Gregory grows and dries lavender flowers, turns them into scented cushions, and sells them to pay for more plants. She looks after the makeshift garden to this day. The thing that many people comment on when visiting her workshop is the ‘feel-good vibe’ the spot provides to the public. Sometimes, residents help Bousfield Gregory tend the plants, creating a sense of belonging in the community. She says many people work together with the council to plant in tree pits or create small wildflower meadows.

This spreading of ideas and motivation is a theme common to all guerrilla gardening projects, and in my opinion, is the most critical result.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

45

46

GUERRILLA GARDENING

Why Break The Rules?

All of this isn’t without its risks, of course. In many places, planting without permission may be unlawful or leave the guerrilla gardener liable to being sued. Besides the legal consequences, there’s the danger of introducing invasive species and doing the ecosystem more harm than good. So why do so many still find themselves venturing out under cover of darkness with their trowels in hand to sneak plants into spaces where they “shouldn’t” be?

There seem to be three primary motivations:

Protest: From anger over the shortage of fresh produce in New York’s poorest neighbourhoods to the daffodils my husband planted as a teenager in the shape of a giant phallus under his headteacher’s office window, there are as many messages as there are people to speak them. For many, the very absence of greenness in their world is worth protesting. Guerrilla gardening can be an effective action against landowners or authorities who allow public areas to decline into decay.

Community: Incredible Edible and many others demonstrate time and again the value of bringing people together to plant and to harvest. A truth as old as time, but it’s easy to lose sight of in the modern world of supermarket produce.

Joy: You’re reading Garden Culture Magazine. The chances are you understand this part better than I can explain it. The simple act of planting flowers can lift someone’s day, raise their self-esteem, and surround them with beauty.

My feeling is that most sneaky planting (including the bus stop sunflower) is motivated by a mixture of all three.

The Incredible Edible movement has since blossomed around the world, with thousands of independent groups copying and expanding upon the initial idea and bringing locally grown produce and awareness of how to grow to millions of people.

A Natural Urge A couple of months ago, my friend, Sarah, put out a Facebook request for spare plants for her son’s planting project. While visiting the spot, I was impressed with what Jude has created.

After just a few weeks of lockdown, he took a bare, forgotten patch by the town car park and introduced a variety of plant and tree species, a log pile, a small pond, and even a bird feeder.

And best of all, this 12-year-old nature hero hadn’t ever heard about guerrilla gardening. Jude told me that he visited his friend’s garden with newts in the pond and an abundance of flowers, and felt he wanted to have a garden of his own creation. Living in a terraced house with no garden was not an obstacle; neither was a lack of resources, as he successfully gathered plants from people in town.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

47

GUERRILLA GARDENING

Find a space that is run down, in need of beaut y, in need of regeneration, in need of regreening, and plant something

As we chatted about the species planted When the concrete jungle seems to be In many places, (foxgloves, violets, poached eggplants, and taking over, there is some part of us that planting without various other wildflowers), a blackbird won’t let it eat up every corner. That gives permission may was hopping in the car park looking a little me hope for the future of our world. be unlawful or irritated that we were so close to his new food and drink source. In the words of Ron leave the guerrilla Or, maybe that’s my own confirmation Finley, whose guerrilla gardening TED talk gardener liable to bias. Maybe someone tied the sunflower went viral, “You’re changing the ecosystem to the bus stop to come back for it later. being sued when you’re putting in a garden”. The halfThere’s only one way to overcome this empty peanut tube in the bird feeder tells me that many uncertainty: we have to keep making the pattern we want visitors appreciate the space. Jude said that many people, to see. mostly neighbours living across the patch, commented on the brilliant job he’s doing.

I urge you to go out and plant something. Find a space that is run down, in need of beauty, in need of regeneration, in need of regreening, and plant something. Do it safely, Primal Patterns quietly, without fanfare. Do it as much as you can in as For me, Jude’s independent desire to make a green space many places as possible. Change the pattern. 3 of his own seems to point to a central truth about guerrilla gardening and about growing in general. We plant things because we want to be surrounded by the primordial Martyna Krol is a vegetable grower, natural beekeeppattern of the forests where our primate ancestors lived er, and edible spaces designer. She is a lover of all soil and urfor millions of years. There’s an eternal tension between ban farming techniques and is the former head of growing at the built environment that we make for our comfort and Incredible Aquagarden. the instinctive response we have to the beauty of nature.

BIO

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

49

BY RICH HAMILTON

DIY

Organic Pest And Disease Control Remedies

50

DISEASE CONTROL REMEDIES

H

ungr y pests, diseases, and deficiencies are, unfor tunately, inevitable in the garden. There are many ways to help control them, but most are far from natural. What options are there for growers wanting to maintain a purely organic environment? Here’s a look at the best do-it-yourself methods

available, all of which are inventive, easy on the wallet, and environmentally-friendly!

Capsaicin

Cinnamon is also a useful tool for bat tling ants, aphids, fungus gnats, spider mites thrips, and whiteflies

Capsaicin is what gives hot peppers their heat. Produced by pepper plants to repel insects and animal predators, this is an ideal all-natural pest control weapon for other plants.

Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin and can repel ants when sprinkled as a powder. You can also make an insecticidal pepper spray using dried fresh hot peppers, vegetable oil, lecithin, and water.

• •

•

Mix 1/2 tablespoon of the spray concentrate with one pint of water and test spray onto a few leaves.

Wait 24 hours to be sure the potent spray doesn’t cause any damage before applying to the rest of the plant.

PRO TIP: When growing indoors, it is best to use foliar sprays when the lights are off.

Castor Oil Moles and gophers despise the smell and taste of castor oil.

Smear the oil onto some paper and drop into their tunnels or burrows. Alternatively, you can place the oil strategically at the borders of the garden.

Applying castor oil directly to the soil will work for a week or so, even in the rainy season.

•

Use a hose-end attachment and spray a mixture of two tablespoons per gallon of water evenly to the affected areas. Treating with castor oil weekly will result in fewer molehills and dug up garden beds without any danger to pets, children, or the environment.

Cinnamon Oil With an effectiveness rate of 50-70%, cinnamon is excellent for reducing and controlling powdery mildew. Cinnamon is also a useful tool for battling ants, aphids, fungus gnats, spider mites thrips, and whiteflies.

•

• •

Add 5ml of oil to 950ml of water, or make a tea by adding an ounce of cinnamon to 1.5 pints of boiling water.

Let the tea cool then add half a pint of rubbing alcohol.

Strain the mixture and spray directly on to the leaves.

PRO TIP: For a quick fix against ants, sprinkle the cinnamon powder onto any area of the garden you see them crawling.

51

D-limonene (the main constituent of orange oil) is harmless to humans but deadly to most insects

Limonene Limonene is the refined oils from the rinds of citrus fruit.

D-limonene (the main constituent of orange oil) is harmless to humans but deadly to most insects. It dissolves the waxy coating on the exoskeleton, causing dehydration and asphyxiation. Limonene can wipe out or repel entire colonies and prevents future infestations in one application.

It is most effective against ants, aphids, fungus gnats, mealybugs, scales, spider mites, and whiteflies.

•

•

•

To make limonene spray, remove the white, inner portion of the orange or lemon rinds and cut into small pieces. Bring the rind pieces to a boil in a pan of water, then turn down the heat and simmer for five minutes.

Remove from the stove, cover with a lid, and allow to soak for 24 hours. Then, strain and pour into a spray bottle. The solution can be applied directly onto softbodied insects, such as aphids and fungus gnats.

PRO TIP: Limonene oil is so effective at killing bugs that it can also kill beneficial bugs and pollinators, so apply minimally and only where necessary. If growing indoors, this must be sprayed at lights off.

Milk The properties that make milk good for humans, such as calcium and B vitamins, also benefit plants. Calcium helps plants grow and prevents deficiencies such as blossom end rot, a condition common in tomato, peppers, and squash plants.

Milk can also be used as a pesticide against aphids and as an anti-fungal agent to prevent powdery mildew and mosaic leaf viruses. Milk is so efficient at killing powdery mildew that rose growers all over the world use it as a fungicidal spray.

Using too much milk, however, can damage your plants.

The natural bacteria present in the dairy product can stunt growth and cause wilt. The fat in whole milk can cause a foul odour, while skimmed milk could lead to black rot, soft rot, and Alternaria leaf spot on certain crops. If growing indoors, make sure the ventilation system is fully operational, as the above issues can escalate very quickly.

•

52

Make a milk spray by using one part milk to nine parts water. Avoid possible issues by using 1% fat milk. Use at the first sign of infection and then once a week to protect new growth.

DISEASE CONTROL REMEDIES

When dried cloves or clove oil is ingested, it numbs the mouth, keeping rodents away without killing them

Vinegar An old housewive’s favourite with many uses in and around the home, vinegar kills powdery mildew and can also help deter ants.

•

Use as a spray and dilute it at a rate of 15ml vinegar per litre of water.

With a 5% acetic acid level, household white vinegar also works as a natural herbicide against weeds. However, while it does burn the tops of the weed and temporarily destroys them, it does not have any effect on the root system and will not eradicate the problem permanently. Vinegar will also kill the foliage of any other plants it comes into contact with, so use carefully!

Coriander Oil Coriander oil acts as a fungicide and insecticide and can control Pythium, grey mould, Fusarium, powdery mildew, Septoria, aphids, thrips, spider mites, and whiteflies. The coriander plant is also an excellent pest deterrent plant for indoor growers.

• •

•

Make an oil spray by mixing one teaspoon of oil per pint of water with some lecithin and a wetting agent.

Alternatively, make a simple spray with fresh coriander.

Use one part coriander plant with equal parts of water. Boil the coriander for ten minutes, cool, strain and spray.

PRO TIP: Increase the effectiveness of your spray by adding ingredients to make it stick better to its target.

Coconut oil, used at 5ml per litre of spray, is an active spreading agent.

Coriander oil

Clove tree Clove Oil Eugenol, a component of clove oil, works as a fungicide and a contact insecticide with a lingering smell. Clove Oil is effective against Pythium, grey mould, Fusarium, ants, caterpillars, thrips, aphids, and spider mites.

Clove oil can also keep some healthy species away, so spray only in the areas where you are experiencing problems.

To keep moles and other rodents at bay, place a few drops of clove oil in the holes or runs they’ve made for themselves.

If oil alone doesn’t work, try crushed, dried clove leaves.

When dried cloves or clove oil is ingested, it numbs the mouth, keeping rodents away without killing them.

•

•

To make clove oil spray, pour ten drops of clove essential oil into a spray bottle. Fill up with water and shake well. Exposure to light may decrease the efficacy of clove oil, so it is best sprayed when the garden is not in direct sunlight, or when the lights are off if growing indoors.

PRO TIP: Rub clove oil around the rim of your plant pots to deter thrip in an indoor growing environment.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

53

s ’ o Whowing Gr

in austral ia

t a h W Where

& Zea N ew lan d

See all the urban growers, backyard gardeners, and inspiring communities featured in Who’s Growing What Where over the years.

Who’s Growing

WhWahte

re

in australia

& Zea New lan d

visit: GCmag.co/WGWW

DISEASE CONTROL REMEDIES

Garlic

Tomato plants are part of the nightshade family, and as such, contain toxic compounds called alkaloids in their leaves such as the aptly named “tomatine”

Anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, garlic works on ants, aphids, caterpillars, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. Garlic is also effective at destroying fungi and powdery mildew thanks to its high sulfur content. Great as a preventative spray, it can be used on new growth to keep problems from arising.

•

•

Make a garlic spray by using a teaspoon of garlic oil in one pint of water. Mix with two ounces of high percentage alcohol spirit like Vodka.

PRO TIP: Use garlic as a companion plant in your garden. The strong odour is repulsive to many pests, and so inter-planting garlic with carrots, brassicas, peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant can help deter many insects and rodents.

Tomato leaf Tomato plants are part of the nightshade family, and as such, contain toxic compounds called alkaloids in their leaves such as the aptly named “tomatine.” Alkaloids make a very effective repellent that is toxic to aphids and other leaf-eating insects, but completely safe for humans and beneficial bugs like bees and ladybirds.

•

To make a tomato leaf spray, chop 500g of fresh tomato leaves taken from the bottom part of the plant and add to 250ml of water. Let it steep overnight.

Strain the plant material and spray onto plant foliage.

Many effective treatments can be made cheaply using everyday items. It’s safe and easier than you think! 3

Garlic companion plants

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

55

BY EVEREST FERNANDEZ, JUST4GROWERS

56

ORGANICS

Novice growers typically overestimate the complexity of hydroponics.

They also invariably underestimate the complexity of organics.

N

ovice growers typically overestimate the complexity of hydroponics. They also invariably underestimate the complexity of organics.They misconstrue hydroponics as being for geeks in lab coats and organic gardening as the easy way to grow; just plant in some soil and let Mother Nature do the rest.Yeah, good luck with that.

I cringe a little when someone relatively new to indoor gardening insists from the outset that everything they do must be 100% organic. It’s a noble goal, for sure, especially if the aspiring organic gardener is informed. More often than not, however, the word organic represents little more than a vague notion of ‘all-natural’.

I’m not trying to diminish the magic of microbes, but by the same token, please

Buy a TDS/conductivity meter (and ideally a pH meter too), take your time in propagation, and always make sure you achieve 15-30% run-off during irrigation. Don’t let the plants sit in any moisture.

Take it easy with nutrient strength (star t at 200-300 PPM / 0.4-0.6 mS, and never go above 1000-1100 PPM/2.0/2.2 mS, unless it’s a super heavy feeder like an eggplant/ aubergine).

Many organic growers often shun mineral-based fertilisers.

But don’t demonise the climax of all the interactive I am confident that these tidbits minerals either! microbiological activity in healthy of advice mixed with some organic soil mineralises things. common sense and rudimentary Organic, carbon-based inputs like environmental control will help feather meal, alfalfa meal, blood meal, any grower achieve decent results. Sure, bone meal, and chicken manure are collectively broken growing in coco coir with mineral-based nutrients is down into their ionic mineral forms by the likes of worms, unlikely to win the crop an official organic cer tification, nematodes, protozoa, fungi, and bacteria in the soil. Only but at least you will succeed. then is all the organic goodness in the earth water-soluble and available to plants. I’m not trying to diminish the magic Growers who begin with potting soil can end up of microbes, but by the same token, please don’t demonise facing many complications. If planning on adding water minerals either! throughout the plant lifecycle, then an upgrade in pot size is essential. Select a much bigger pot, around 40L or 10 When planning to cultivate fast-growing, heavy-fruiting gallons, to act as a sufficiently large reservoir of organic annuals in containers indoors, then my recommendation is nutrition for the plant’s entire lifecycle. A rich potting mix to not grow in soil. Nursery pots, intermediate pots (1L-2L is also required. Ultra-premium potting mixes work well, or half-gallon), and some final stage fabric pots (5L-10L or but they don’t come cheap. Also, they’re invariably far too 3-5 gallon) are suitable, but fill them with a good quality nutrient-rich for seedlings and cuttings, so a lighter seed 70/30 coco/perlite soilless potting mix. Choose a liquid feed star ting mix is needed when the plants are just star ting. explicitly designed for the full plant lifecycle in coco coir. If in doubt, ask your local indoor gardening store.

My advice is to focus first on growing something full lifecycle.

Get to the finish line whatever way you can

57

ORGANICS

An alternative approach is to use a soil-based potting mix that is lighter in organic nutrition and add extra food periodically using organic liquid feeds and top dressings. These dressings are usually powdered organic inputs mixed with compost and applied around the base of the plant.

When pl anning to cultivate fas t- growing, heav y-fruiting annual s in cont ainers indoors, then my re commendation is to not grow in soil

The positive effects of adding nutrition take a while to reveal themselves in plants. It takes experience to gauge how much to add and how often to get the desired result.

Soil-based potting mixes are also easy to overwater. They are not nearly as forgiving as a 70/30 coco/perlite mix.

Furthermore, in contrast to working with coco coir, soil growers typically don’t aim for run-off each time they water, as this washes the nutrition out of the soil. So getting the irrigation right, especially given that it’s a moving target, can be a lot trickier.

What if the humidifier quits in the third week of veg and the grow shop is closed? If you’re growing in a coco/perlite mix, you can react by dropping the nutrient strength by 25-30% and increasing irrigation frequency slightly to counter the increased transpiration levels and calcium uptake. If you’re growing in a soil mix, then your options for damage control are limited.

To be clear, I’m not anti-organics. My outdoor soil beds are a testament to this fact. But they are also the result of thousands of dollars worth of premium organic inputs.

Large, outdoor soil beds are one thing; trying to regulate and control adequate natural nutrition in containers indoors is another.

Soil vs Soilless Potting Mixes

Both types of potting mix are often based on the same fibrous materials such as coco pith/fibre and peat moss.

Soilless potting mixes are not always inert/nutrientfree, and can sometimes contain organic inputs such as bat guano.

The critical difference between the mixes is the presence or absence of compost. Soil-based potting mixes invariably contain some compost (around 15% of total volume). They will always include some organic, powdered nutrition such as bat guano, seabird guano, bone meal and rock phosphate.

My advice is to focus first on growing something full lifecycle.

Get to the finish line whatever way you can. I promise you will be glad that you chose not to limit and constrain your options before you were even out of the gate.

59

ORGANICS

DIY SOIL RECIPE After following this recipe, wet the mix with water and allow to compost and pH stabilise for a month before use.

BASE POTTING MIX • 30% sphagnum peat moss • 10% redwood bark • 10% coco coir • 20% perlite • 5% lava rock • 15% compost • 5% worm castings • 5% Alaskan humus Add nutrients relative to the amount of base potting mix.

BAT GUANO • 4lbs per cubic yard of base potting mix • 67g per cubic foot • 2.37g per litre

The positive effects of adding nutrition take a while to reveal themselves in plants. It takes experience to gauge how much to add and how often to get the desired result

ALFALFA MEAL

BAT GUANO

DOLOMITE LIME

FEATHER MEAL

SEABIRD GUANO • 4lbs per cubic yard of base potting mix • 67g per cubic foot • 2.37g per litre BONE MEAL • 4lbs per cubic yard of base potting mix • 67g per cubic foot • 2.37g per litre POTASSIUM SULFATE • 2lbs per cubic yard of base potting mix • 33.5g per cubic foot • 1.185g per litre

Watch Everest make this soil mix here: bit.ly/38D0PYx

FINE DOLOMITE LIME • 2 lbs per cubic yard of base potting mix • 33.5g per cubic foot • 1.185g per litre FEATHER MEAL • 1lb per cubic yard of base potting mix • 16.25g per cubic foot • 0.59g per litre AZOMITE ® • 1lb per cubic yard of base potting mix • 16.25g per cubic foot • 0.59g per litre DRY POWDERED SEA KELP • 1lb per cubic yard of base potting mix • 16.25g per cubic foot • 0.59 g per litre ALFALFA MEAL • 1lb per cubic yard of base mix • 16.25g per cubic foot • 0.59g per litre

61

Moisture

Pulse.

Change your game in the greenhouse.

No More Pour-Throughs, Extractions Or Kicking Pots. Game On! The all-new Pulse™ Meter from Bluelab gives you faster moisture, EC and temperature measurements directly from the root zone in soils, coco coir blends and potting mixes.

It’s handheld, so it goes where you grow, and connects directly to the Pulse™ app on your smartphone for instant and accurate crop-health management.

One press, three instant measurements In under 10 seconds, you can accurately measure moisture, EC and temperature directly in the root zone. It really means the end of pour-throughs, extractions or kicking pots!

Get your A game on.

Order your new Pulse Meter today. bluelab.com/pulse

Nutrient

Temperature

The New Pulse™ Meter from Bluelab®.

Enhanced plant-health in the palm of your hand

FREE Bluelab Pulse™ App for Android 5.1+ with Bluetooth 4.0+ iOS 12.1+ (iPhone Only)

ORGANICS

BLOOD MEAL

CRUSTACEAN MEAL

CALCIUM PHOSPHATE

FISHBONE MEAL

GLACIAL ROCK DUST

GREEN SAND

INSECT FRASS

MYCORRHIZAE

The following are alternatives to organic inputs in soil mixes and top dressings. Additives such as blood, bone, and crustacean meal and bat guano are considered natural, but many growers don’t use them because they come from animals.

Blood Meal: Dried blood, not for the squeamish. Same NPK as feather 12-0-0. Very expensive. Contains iron. Very high protein content. Fine, water-soluble.

Calcium Phosphate: Cheap and delivers phosphorus and calcium. Popular with organic growers. Issues with contaminants (Uranium, Plutonium, cadmium, arsenic). Not recommended for growing medicinal plants.

Crustacean Meal: Combination bi-product of groundup lobster, crab, and shrimp shells. High nitrogen content, along with potassium and calcium. Chitin in the crustacean meal provides a defensive response in plants against insect predation so that it can act as a beneficial pest preventative.

Fishbone Meal: Store in dry conditions. Susceptible to mould. High nitrogen and phosphorus content.

Glacial Rock Dust: Trace elements, soft rock phosphate.

High phosphorus mined rock with a 0-3-0 ultra slow release.

Not recommended for short cycle plants.

Green Sand: Sand or sandstone with a green colour. High silica levels. Another mined product. Similar to glacial rock dust.

Insect Frass: Broad-spectrum fertility and a hit of beneficials. Also contains chitin.

Mycorrhizae: Cheaper to use in transplant (direct contact with roots) rather than blending with potting mix.

Relationships tend to be long-term, so there’s an argument that this is better suited for cultivating larger, older plants. 3

Bio

Everest Fernandez is a well-respected industry educator, veteran hydroponic grower, and grow light enthusiast based in France.

He works primarily as a marketing and cultivation consultant and was the founding editor of Urban Garden Magazine in the UK, US, and Canada. He also writes and researches for the popular hobby horticulturist YouTube channel, Just4Growers.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

63

BY RICH HAMILTON

Using Nature To Protect Your Garden 64

SACRIFICIAL PLANTS

I

n the world of gardening, there is a simple way to protect crops from pests and diseases while also helping with pollination. Sacrificial plants use nature to enhance the productivity of the garden. Much more

humane than using toxic chemicals or killing a critter, this all-natural pest control method is an excellent solution for any organic gardener.

Sacrificial plants drive harmful pests away by distracting natural predators. Most sacrificial plants are strongly scented and confuse pests looking for a host plant. Others attract beneficial insects, such as ladybirds and lacewings, which prey on destructive aphids.

Mos t s acrif icial pl ant s are s tr ongly sc ente d and c onf use pes t s looking for a hos t pl ant .

Planting a border of lettuce behind herbaceous plants, for example, will entice slugs away from ornamentals and toward tastier salad leaves. If, however, you are trying to grow salad crops, keep the lettuce safe by planting a thick border of marigolds close by, which slugs also find very tasty.

Nastur tiums are an excellent choice when it comes to deterring aphids. This flower also works well as a trap crop for slugs and snails. As the nastur tiums become infested, it is essential to remove the leaves and stems.

Sunflowers also attract aphids and, unlike nastur tiums, they don’t need to be pruned as the pests move in. They are robust and, as a result, the aphids cause little damage to the plant. When left to grow, sunflowers produce bountiful seed heads for birds to enjoy.

Nas tur tiums are an exc ellent choic e when it c omes to de terring aphids. T his f lower al so works well as a tr ap cr op f or slugs and snail s.

Sacrificial borders work just as well for keeping larger animal pests out of the garden.

Sacrificial borders work just as well for keeping larger animal pests out of the garden. For example, planting dill will protect crops from rabbits, as they will be drawn to the tasty herb before anything else. Dill also attracts hover-flies and predatory wasps, both of which eat aphids.

Infamous for destroying the roots of grapevines, the destructive ‘vine weevil’ attacks a wide range of host plants, in par ticular laurels and viburnums. Protect these crops by planting polyanthus and cyclamen close by.

Vine weevils love to lay their eggs beside these two species, making them easier to find should they decide to take up residence in your garden.

Naturally removing vine weevils is essential to the health of beneficial insects. The only product currently on the market for controlling them contains the active ingredient Imidacloprid, a lethal chemical and contributor to colony collapse disorder, a problem that is killing the bee population. Imidacloprid absorbs into nectar and pollen, affecting the bee’s nervous system. The toxin is eventually passed on in the hives, causing the bees to die in large numbers.

Nastur tiums

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

65

SACRIFICIAL PLANTS

B efor e r eaching for any pes ticide, think about what natur al alternatives ar e avail able f ir s t.

Wormwood

Mint

attracts pests away from carrots, tomatoes, alliums, and brassicas, and deters flea beetles.

Garlic’s

strong scent confuses and deters the carrot root fly, which can smell the root vegetable from up to a mile away.

Lavender

attracts bees, butterflies, and hover-flies while de-

terring aphids.

Wormwood deters aphids and flea beetles. Its yellow flowers attract hover-flies, lacewings, and ladybirds, which prey on aphids.

Calendula repels whitefly from tomatoes and can lure aphids away from beans. It attracts beneficial insects, including ladybirds, lacewings, and hover-flies.

Sage’s scent confuses pests that like to munch on brassicas, and its blue flowers attract bees and hover-flies.

Borage’s

Calendula

delicate blue flowers attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hover-flies. The sacrificial plant also prevents attacks by the tomato hornworm and can even improve the flavour of strawberries! Borage flowers refill with nectar every two minutes, making it the perfect addition to wildlife-friendly gardens.

Thyme

BIO An industry veteran with over 20 years of

experience in a variety of roles, Rich is currently a business development manager for a large UK hydroponics distributor.The author of the Growers Guide book series, Rich also writes on all aspects of indoor gardening.

He is also an independent industry consultant, working closely with hydroponic businesses worldwide.

is a great companion for roses. Its strong scent deters blackfly. Soak thyme leaves and spray on cabbages to prevent whitefly.

Before reaching for any pesticide, think about what natural alternatives are available first. There are so many excellent options out there that can keep the crops, pollinators, and the environment safe while beautifying the garden at the same time! 3

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

67

BY RICH GELLERT

Water Conservation for Sealed Hydroponic Environments The explosive growth of hydroponics can be traced to improvements in technology and efficiencies, as well as ample, decentralised indoor space for year-round harvesting.

68

CONDENSATE RECLAMATION

I

ndoor hydroponic farming is quickly becoming the business model of choice, with US revenues projected to reach $3 billion by 2025. The explosive growth of hydroponics can be traced to improvements in technology and efficiencies, as well as ample, decentralised indoor space for year-round harvesting.

With this new momentum comes essential questions as to how to reimagine farming from what is currently understood as a resource-heavy, wasteful process, to modern, sustainable, and environmentallyfriendly production practices that will last humanity on into the future.

However, in a sealed hydroponic In recent years, water conservation With climate change, environment, condensate must strategies in hydroponic farming drought, and water travel through HVAC equipment, have become as impor tant, if not air handlers, dehumidifiers, ducting, even more impor tant, than any pollution all becoming or other surfaces that may contain other energy and resource-saving increasingly urgent to different types of contamination. methods taken into consideration address, minimising water Surface exposure to rust, oils, when building a new operation. metals, biologicals and other types With climate change, drought, waste and maximising of industrial contaminants can and water pollution all becoming irrigation efficiency is ruin otherwise pure condensate increasingly urgent to address, a top facility-planning water. Condensate is also naturally minimising water waste and acidic and can act as a corrosive maximising irrigation efficiency priority on untreated metal, picking up is a top facility-planning priority. pollutants and destroying the goal Regulatory compliance has also of a purified irrigation source. Without proper postchanged the way hydroponic farming approaches water filtration, exposed condensate loses its potential of being use. In some areas, conservation technologies must be a reliably pure source of water ready for nutrient formula permitted in place and pass inspection before operations mixing, water that would typically be the product of a can begin. reverse osmosis filter. 3 There are several ways to reduce hydroponic farm water use; the most cost-effective methods involve high-efficiency reverse osmosis systems, as well as nutrient and condensate reclamation filters. Condensate, water vapour accumulated from indoor climate control equipment, is one of the easiest wastewater sources to recycle and reuse in a sealed hydroponic environment.

Condensate reclamation technology can be implemented in small farms needing only a couple of hundred gallons a day, to industrial-scale operations requiring massive amounts of high quality, purified water. When properly installed and maintained, condensate can fulfil up to 80% daily water demand, at any scale‌water that would typically go down the drain!

Because condensate is the accumulated evaporation of water, it is considered to be pure. Contaminates in the source water are denser than water vapour, so they are separated and left behind. This purified water is a perfect base formula for adding nutrient solutions, which are designed using reverse osmosis water for calibration.

This allows the grower to be precise with measurements and control, which can ultimately translate into healthier plants and higher quality, larger yields.

Bio

Richard Gellert is an adventure-seeker; he loves wilderness, biking, and hitting the slopes - the steeper, the better. Also an avid gardener, Rich has created extensive gardens to grow fruits and vegetables for his family year-round. He is the president of Hydrologic Purification Systems, a company delivering top-shelf hydroponic water filtration systems to consumers. Speaking five languages, and with as many advanced degrees, Rich has become the industry’s leading expert in water quality, facility discharge, reclamation systems, and regulation compliance. His articles have appeared in Max Yield, HydroLife, Garden Culture, and Urban Garden.

69

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

Cover Crops

Ry e

r ed clov e r

m u sta r d 70

COVER CROPS

M

astering the art of organic gardening involves more than merely growing without chemicals. To boost yields, provide plant nutrients, and control weeds, diseases and pests naturally, one

must add various techniques to their growing regimes. Think compost, companion planting, crop rotation, and cover crops.

Aptly named, cover crops are sown to cover the soil with plant growth, typically after primary food crops have been harvested and over the winter. Sow the seeds one month before the first frost for best results, and while the plants are still alive, cut them down and mix them into the soil as green manure.

Cover crops include legumes, such as pea and hairy vetch, which fix nitrogen as they grow. Grassy plants can also be used, like oats and barley. Other examples of cover crops include: • • • • • • • • •

Sow the seeds one month before the first frost for best results, and while the plants are still alive, cut them down and mix them into the soil as green manure

Annual rye Arugula Buckwheat Fava beans Forage radish Red clover Mustard Winter rye Wheat

The study was carried out over two growing seasons in Clovis, New Mexico, 200 miles east of Albuquerque.

The area doesn’t get a lot of rain, but when it comes, the storms are intense. Coupled with strong winds, severe soil erosion and topsoil depletion are common.

Researchers identified healthy soils by measuring their carbon dioxide emissions. They found the emissions were higher in test plots with cover crops than those without, a good indication that soil microbes were thriving down below.

“The higher the biological activity is in soils, the greater the carbon dioxide emissions,” explains Ghimire.

It’s impor tant to note that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, and if left unchecked, the soil’s emissions can be problematic. But Mother Nature works in mysterious ways. Cover crops work over time by absorbing the CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil.

Planting cover crops is one of the cornerstones of organic gardening for many reasons. Beyond deterring erosion and weeds, cover crops help protect soil structure by building nitrogen and organic matter levels. They also significantly improve the ground’s water retention capabilities, and have even been found to sequester carbon and reduce global warming!

A recent study finds cover crops are especially helpful in semi-arid climates. Researchers from New Mexico State University and the United States Depar tment of Agriculture say the plants led to better soil health in the Southern High Plains.

“There was a lot of scepticism on the effectiveness of cover cropping in the hot, dry environment of the southern High Plains,” says Rajan Ghimire, a researcher at New Mexico State University. “Our research shows that cover crops increased the biological health of soils in the study area within two years.”

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

71

Don’t want to miss out?

Visit GardenCultureMagazine.com and subscribe now!

Grow your own – no matter where you live.

Sustainable, efficient gardening. New hints and tips from our blog delivered to your inbox weekly, and be the first to know when the latest print magazine lands in a progressive garden shop near you.

Truly local. Beyond fresh.

Follow Us GardenCulture GardenCulture Garden_Culture

GardenCultureMagazine

COVER CROPS

arugula

fava be a n s

Beyond deterring erosion and weeds, cover crops help protect soil structure by building nitrogen and organic matter levels. They also significantly improve the ground’s water retention capabilities, and have even been found to sequester carbon and reduce global warming

Cover crops help with soil carbon storage because they are largely made of carbon, which decomposes into organic matter. They are also a source of food for soil microbes such as fungi, which are linked to even more carbon storage.

No matter what kind of climate you’re growing in, it’s essential to find the right balance when planting cover crops. It is recommended to mix legumes with grasses to increase both soil carbon and nitrogen while minimising the release of carbon dioxide.

The researchers in this study say there is still so much to learn about cover crops and hope to continue this experiment long-term. However, for now, planting cover crops remain a crucial element in every organic garden, no matter where you live in the world. 3

Cover crops help with soil carbon storage because they are largely made of carbon, which decomposes into organic matter.

m u sta r d

Sources: •

• •

Cover crop effects on soil carbon dioxide emissions in a semi-arid cropping system (Nilahylane, Ghimire, Thapa, Sainju) Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment.

Practical Organic Gardening: The No-Nonsense Guide To Growing Naturally (Mark Highland) Cool Springs Press.

Gardening Complete: How To Best Grow Vegetables, Flowers, And Other Outdoor Plants (The authors of Cool Spring Press) Cool Springs Press.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

73

BY CAROLINE RIVARD

Tasty Medicinal Gems 74

GARDEN WEEDS

W

ild violets are some of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, covering lawns with tiny lilac and white flowers. Those

who strive for golfing green lawns consider them weeds, but wild violets are incredibly useful and delicious to boot!

There are more than 500 species in the viola family, and most of them have exciting medicinal benefits and culinary uses.

When looking for wild violets, you will frequently find Viola sororia, known as the common blue violet, the sweet violet, Viola odorata, and the Labrador violet, Viola labradorica. Viola tricolor or Johnny jump up, which are also in the viola family, make excellent food and medicine.

Those who strive for golfing green lawns consider them weeds, but wild violets are incredibly useful and delicious to boot!

Wild Violet

Colourful and Nutritious

Wild violets are an excellent place to start if you want to forage food for the first time. Easily recognisable and mild in flavour, the violet blooms will help you begin your journey as a wild plant forager.

The flowers are lettuce-like and have a subtle peppery flavour.

Some species taste like wintergreens. The vibrancy of the fresh herbs add some visual interest to a green salad and make great cake toppers. You can even freeze the flowers in ice cubes for drinks and cocktails. Wild violets are a gentle herb, so it can be eaten in large quantities and is safe for people taking medicines.

People also candy the flowers or transform the petals into a vivid lavender-blue syrup. In Europe, high-end gourmet food stores sell pricey raspberry sweet violet jam that is heavenly.

Common violets are also very nutritious. Rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium, this plant nourishes the body with quality nutrients. The lower leaves, harvested in early spring, contain an impressive amount of vitamin A and C. A single gram of wild violet leaves packs double the amount of vitamin C a gram of orange fruit provides!

Wild violets also contain a phytochemical called rutin, an antiinflammatory and antioxidant that helps neutralise damaging free radicals and prevent chronic diseases like cancer.

Medicinal Benefits

Wild violets have helped treat many conditions over several centuries. The upper parts of the plant can be used as an infusion to promote sleep. Taken in a strong tea, they help with lung health by working as an expectorant. Wild violets help treat infections in the upper respiratory tract, as well as colds, congestion, flu viruses and bronchitis. Overall, they are a gentle immune system stimulant.

The wintergreen taste in some wild violets is due to the salicylic acid content, which helps clear skin abrasions with its disinfecting and active fungicidal properties. Salicylic acid also reduces pain and swelling, and therefore, violet leaves and flowers used in the form of a poultice will soothe inflamed skin, sores, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, and skin infections.

The leaves of the wild violets contain a high level of mucilage, which helps soothe irritated tissues. Fresh or dry, the leaves and the flowers can be used to make a strong infusion to reduce puffiness of the eyes.

75

powerful soil for powerful plants www.highpoweredorganics.com

GARDEN WEEDS

Making Violet Vinegar Infusing wild violets in vinegar is the best way to extract the medicinal properties. Using white vinegar will give the extraction a lovely purple colour. For an added boost, use apple cider vinegar.

• • •

•

Pinch off the violet stems and clean the leaves and flowers thoroughly.

Place them in a jar and cover with vinegar. Seal the jar with a non-metal lid.

Store in a dark, cool place for a week while the violets and vinegar infuse. The longer you let it soak, the darker it will be.

Strain out the blossoms, discard, and store your vinegar in a glass bottle.

Wild violet vinegar can be used in vinaigrettes or marinades.

You can also add it to a tonic, diluting one teaspoon a day in some water. If you have a decent quantity, add half a cup of the violet vinegar to your bath and soak for 15 to 20 minutes.

Your skin will thank you!

Violet vinegar is good for wasp stings, sunburns, and even as a hair rinse! If using on your scalp, dilute it with equal parts of water. 3

Disclaimer: As with any wild plant, be 100% sure of what you are foraging before consuming. Even though violets are very gentle herbs, eating reasonable amounts to see how your body reacts is recommended.

Wild violets help treat infections in the upper respirator y tract, as well as colds, congestion, flu viruses and bronchitis

A therapist and healer for over 15 years, Caroline’s passion for medicinal plants only began after leaving the city for the quiet country life in Quebec, Canada. Eager to learn, she’s never looked back, using forests and wildflower fields as her classroom ever since. In a time where reconnecting with plants and nature is badly needed, she spreads her love for herbalism by holding teaching workshops about the powers of medicinal herbs and natural remedies.

Bio

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

77

BY ANNE GIBSON, THE MICRO GARDENER

s ’ o h W Growing

t a h W Whe

austin rali a & Ze a N e w lan d

re

1.

Captain’s Flat (NSW)

Credit: Lean Timms

Brightside Produce

2.

Emily Yarra and Michael Kobier are a dynamic young couple practising biological regenerative farming on under an acre of land. Their farm is about an hour and a half south-east of Canberra and sits around 950 metres above sea level with a challenging cool-temperate climate and extreme temperatures. They time their crop planting and harvesting around scorching hot summers, and at times, drought and frost. Despite these conditions, all seasonal produce is grown without chemicals. They model their family-based farm on traditional European and Asian smallholdings with all crops cultivated by hand. They choose varieties for intensive planting in compact spaces and calculate the spacing between plants to maximise every centimetre. Emily and Michael offer a weekly or fortnightly pre-paid subscription to a mixed produce box servicing the Canberra region. They supply several Canberrabased chefs who love working with local, seasonally fresh ingredients.

Learn more: brightsideproduce.com.au @producebrightside brightsideproduce

Anambah (NSW)

Learn more: purplepearfarm.com.au @PurplePearFarm purplepearfarm

78

Credit: Purple Pear Farm

Mark Brown and Kate Beveridge operate Purple Pear Farm Education Centre and Biodynamic farm. It has over 20 years of experience in teaching, farming, sustainability, permaculture, biodynamics, and community building. Located on a productive 14-acre property on the outskirts of Maitland, the farm offers visitors an opportunity to learn about their techniques through field days, onsite courses, and farm tours for adults, school groups, and children. Purple Pear Farm has facilities to cater for groups in a hands-on and supported learning environment. Both Mark and Kate share a passion for feeding people, particularly children, healthy organic food, and walk and talk about what they teach. They grow food in the mandala market garden using permaculture, organic, and biodynamic principles. This produce is distributed to the local community using the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box system, where customers can purchase weekly food boxes of seasonally grown produce.

Community members can also rent allotments to grow their own food.

Credit: Chester Beatty / Facebook

Purple Pear Farm

WHAT’S GROWING ON

3.

Kybong (QLD)

Forage Farms

Credit: Forage Farms

Stuart Andrews’ family-run Forage Farms in the beautiful Mary Valley region of the Sunshine Coast operates under Natural Sequence Farming philosophies. The aim is to restore natural landscape function and regenerate the farm while integrating food production. Food is ethically produced without artificial fertilisers or chemicals, and all their grass-fed hens, pigs, sheep, and cattle live permanently in the paddock, playing an important role in land management. Animals are rotated to the new ground each week, fertilising pastures and improving the soil while living a healthy life. Forage Farms offer their pork and eggs year-round and seasonal vegetables, lamb, and beef via farm gate sales and home delivery. They regularly run farm tours and educate landholders about Natural Sequence Farming practices to promote biodiversity within the farm and environment, helping restore degrading systems to landscapes that function in a productive state for the environment and the farmer.

Learn more: foragefarms.com.au @ForageFarmsAustralia Instagram: foragefarms

Credit: The Tasmanian Food Co

4.

Northdown (TAS)

Shima Wasabi

Shima Wasabi is the largest commercial wasabi farm in Australia, located in the ideal growing conditions of Tasmania’s temperate northwest. Shima grows and markets pure Japanese wasabi (Wasabia japonica) and supplies many of Australia’s leading restaurants with premium grade, fresh wasabi products including flowers, leaves, stalks, and stems for grating to make fresh wasabi paste. There is also a growing interest in Shima wasabi from people at home who are looking for real wasabi.

Often the ‘wasabi’ people eat is actually horseradish with less than 5% wasabi. Once they try the real thing, they rarely go back. Apart from the well-known use with sashimi, wasabi also works well in condiments, with mayonnaise, in mash potato, or even in cocktails. Using rainwater captured on-site, Shima utilises a hydroponic growing system that enables a controlled growing environment. Shima wasabi is said to rival the very best wasabi produced in the world. Wasabi paste, powder, leaves, and stalks are available online.

Learn more: thetasmanianfoodco.com.au Facebook: @thetasmanianfoodco Instagram: thetasmanianfoodco 3

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

79

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

ALL-NATURAL TRICKS FOR A THRIVING GARDEN Organic gardening doesn’t have to mean fewer results and smaller yields! There are plenty of all-natural ways to score big during the growing season. Here’s our list of 5 cool ways you can help an organic garden thrive.

1

Compost, Compost, Compost!

It’s no secret that the success of our outdoor gardens begins with the soil, so taking care of it is paramount.

A great way to do that is by adding compost to the earth. Apply once in the spring and then again in the fall. Compost improves soil structure by keeping it wellaerated and enhancing its water retention capabilities.

It reduces the need for natural resources like peat and makes more nutrients available to your plants. If you’re looking for ‘black gold’ that will make the most significant impact, look no further than vermicompost. Worm castings contain five times more nitrogen, seven times more phosphorus, and 11 times more potassium than other kinds (1). Your veggie patch will thank you for the delicious snack with higher yields.

2

Find Some Companions

Interplanting, or companion planting, is common in organic vegetable gardens.

That’s because finding suitable ‘friends’ for your precious plants can help them ward off various pests, improve flavour, and produce better yields. For example, tomatoes, basil, and marigolds work well together because the latter two help repel aphids and tomato hornworms. Basil is also said to improve a tomato’s taste. Carrots and lettuce also grow well alongside tomatoes because they act as a groundcover. The taller plants will shade the low-growing veggies from the harsh sun. And when you harvest the carrots and lettuce, you’ll help aerate the soil and create passageways for water and nutrients down to the tomato roots. The same idea applies to the three sisters strategy (2), in which corn, beans, and squash grow together. The corn supports the beans, and the beans fix nitrogen in the soil, boosting fertility. The squash is a groundcover and helps retain moisture and protect from hungry herbivores.

80

GREEN ADVICE

3

Speaking Of Hungry Animals...

Let’s face it; at some point, we’ve all pulled a Mr McGregor and gone crazy on Peter Rabbit. If bunnies aren’t your problem, perhaps you struggle to keep groundhogs, raccoons, or deer out of the garden. Larger critters can make or break the growing season, but toxins and other inhumane control methods are not always the answer. Organic gardening employs the use of a gentler hand to protect the yard and garden from animals (3).

For example, an 8-foot tall fence around the veggie plot and permaculture principles will help keep the deer and other critters out. Hanging fabric softener sheets from nearby trees may also help, as will applying blood meal to the surrounding area. Floating row covers can protect newly planted seeds from birds and young seedlings from other pests. And as for Peter? Distract rascally rabbits by planting clover on your lawn, or deter them entirely with animal urine (like from a fox), or homemade concoctions using eggs and garlic.

4

Spot Of Tea Just like you might enjoy a cup of tea, your gardens do too! Garden teas are home-brewed liquid fertilisers that contain a lot of nitrogen, and they’re super easy to make with materials you already have in the yard.They can be applied directly to the soil or as a foliar spray, just dilute them to avoid burning plants.

An excellent recipe for Green Garden Tea (4) involves filling a 5-gallon bucket two-thirds of the way full with chemical-free lawn and garden clippings. Be sure the bucket has holes drilled in the bottom; sit it on top of a second bucket.

Submerge the green material in rainwater and stir. Cover the container and let it sit for three days, stirring in the mornings and again in the afternoons.

Strain the tea into the lower bucket. Dilute one part garden tea with ten parts rainwater when feeding.

5

Mulch

Never underestimate the importance of mulch in the organic garden. Adding a layer around the base of your plants helps retain moisture during dry spells, keep weeds at bay, and protect against pathogens (2). When water hits the ground, soil splashes onto the leaves of the plant, which can cause various bacterial and fungal diseases.The mulch helps prevent splashing! Shredded bark, compost, wood chips, and straw are all excellent options. For the organic garden, avoid dyed mulch, and when you’re applying it, leave a small circle around the plant stem to prevent rotting.

Happy organic gardening! 3

1. Foster, Clare. Compost: How To Make And Use Organic Compost To Transform Your Garden. Octopus Publishing Group, 2014.

2. Highland, Mark. Practical Organic Gardening:The No-Nonsense Guide To Growing Naturally. Cool Springs Press, 2017.

3. Rooney,Theresa.The Guide To Humane Critter Control: Natural, Nontoxic Pest Solutions To Protect Your Yard And Garden. Cool Springs Press, 2017.

4. Rose, Stephanie. Garden Alchemy: 80 Recipes And Concoctions For Organic Fertilisers, Plant Elixers, Potting Mixes, Pest Deterrents, And More. Cool Springs Press, 2020.

81

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

COW FARTS

ARE NO JOKE

“If my cow ain’t far ting...must be me!”

I

t’s a line with the potential to go down as one of the classics in the world of adver tising. In a hilarious video created by the fast-food chain Burger King, an adorable young cowboy belts out a tune about how cow far ts and burps aren’t as funny as they seem.

According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), livestock creates 14.5% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Beef production is a primary culprit, accounting for about 41% of those emissions.

One of the reasons cattle create so many greenhouse gasses is because they have a complex digestive system that includes four stomachs! As the cows digest the foods they eat, like grass, they produce methane, which is released when they burp and fart. Methane is the most potent gas contributing to global warming.

Admitting that it’s a big part of the problem, the burger joint has been looking for ways to be a part of the solution.

It has teamed up with researchers from the US and Mexico, and what they found might end up being a real differencemaker in the world of beef production.

Adding 100 grams of dried lemongrass leaves to a cow’s daily feed reduces methane emissions by an average of 33% over three or four months!

The study, commissioned by Restaurant Brands International, finds that just like humans use natural remedies to help with digestive issues, certain foods can help cows feel a little less gassy.

Adding 100 grams of dried lemongrass leaves to a cow’s daily feed reduces methane emissions by an average of 33% over three or four months!

Who knew a less gassy rear could lead to a healthier atmosphere?

To be clear, in no way does Garden Culture Magazine support a fast-food diet, but we do love initiatives taken to reduce negative impacts on the planet! 3

“When cows burp and far t and splat ter, well, it ain’t no laughing mat ter.

They’re releasing methane ever y time they do.

And the methane from their rear goes up into the atmosphere, and pollutes our planet warming me and you.”

Lemongrass can help reduce methane emissions

82 82

-lyric from Burger King ad

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZbXCr0HqVs