#laidbackgardener

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Master Gardening - The Who and The What

First things first, let me tell you a little bit about Master Gardeners.  They are full of my Plant Pals that have a wealth of information for you and your community.  I enjoy talking and working with them when I can. If you find that you are interested in plants like they are, I will heartily encourage you to get information about them in your state and look into becoming one.  I promote and support the MG Programs.  

Master Gardener Programs are usually run through the Cooperative Extension programs of state universities.  They are volunteer programs that train individuals in the science and art of gardening, horticulture and garden design. After passing with a minimum grade of 80% on all of their quizzes and the final exam, these trained individuals begin as Master Gardener Interns.  They must do a minimum of 50+ hours of volunteer time to complete their certification and must actively help others in their community with gardening related issues.  

MG programs have a variety of horticultural topics taught. Instruction in lawn care, soil and plant nutrition, diseases, flower gardening, weed management, insects and pest management, fertilizer, tree and shrub care, water conservation, organic gardening techniques, vegetable gardens, native plants, pollinations, the water and food cycle and more.  Post training as a MG Intern includes office orientation, presentations and workshops all while completing your required volunteer hours.  

Where Do I Volunteer and What Do I Really Do

The information they learned during their own training and their own experiences to the public is passed on in numerous ways.  Some provide research, write, or respond to telephone calls, emails or texts.  Some help with local meetings or record keeping.   More volunteer activities include participation in the set-up or operation of horticultural clubs, exhibits or displays.  Some do education programs, demonstrations or presentations to schools, youth organizations or 4-H groups.  Still more assist staff of local government buildings, research facilities, gardens, churches, or schools with garden installation, design or maintenance.  The list expands continual and is different in each area of the country.

State Requirements for Master Gardening

Each state has its own requirements for becoming a Master Gardener.  Once you have completed the training classes and done the volunteer time, you become a Master Gardener.  To maintain your status as such, you must complete additional training each year, averaging from 6 to 15 hours, and you must also volunteer a minimum of 10 to 25 hours.

For more information, look up Master Gardener in your state.

#laidbackgardener #master gardeners

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#laidbackgardener #happy mother day 2020

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Simple Easy Gardening

I’m a Master Gardener and that means is that I’ve taken classes and been trained, in the science of plants and gardens, to help others with their gardens.  That’s a good thing for me, because I like being in my garden doing my thing with my plants.  I find it enjoyable, relaxing and fun.  I get good exercise, fresh air and sunshine.  

I also do it because I’m frugal and save a boatload of money raising fruits and vegetables for my family.  I’m an avid cook and have some super fresh and tasty food on our table, too.  For me, it’s a winner all around.  

I will tell you up front that I don’t go crazy in my garden.  I’ve worked in the South, the Midwest and the East Coast and regardless of where I’ve been, I try to set things up so that I use the least amount of effort, spend as little money as possible and only have to do things once.  

I get up to date education information from the Cooperative Extensions at the Agriculture Colleges throughout the country.  I have personal experience and first-hand knowledge from people who have gardened for years.  Based on that, I can answer questions and help you in your own garden.  

I have a very casual approach to gardening and want to share that with you.  So, if you want to minimize the effort but maximize the results, I’m all for it.  Cheaper, better, easier is the mantra we want to start and work with so here is your path to simple, easy gardening.

#laidbackgardener #Welcome

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California Isn’t Green, Clean Or Sincere

(Op Ed photo courtesy of American Lung Association)

Everyone has an opinion.  This one is mine about fresh air and the quality, or lack there-of, since we have seen things change with the Coronavirus.  It might also be about hypocrisy and being too big for their britches but you’ll let me know that later.

A report from IQAir, a company that monitors pollution levels, says the air in Los Angeles hasn’t been this clean since the 1990’s.  Now, we know that California is the leader in over the top Green responses and they tend to be a trend setter when they make decisions.  Why is that?  It’s based on sheer size, not on them having better information or a better way of doing things.  Since they are such a large consumer of goods, many companies do what they want because they don’t want to lose money.  

The government and people of California are truly serious that we’re better off now sheltering in place, telecommuting and social distancing.  If that’s true, they should restrict anyone from using a car within city limits.  They have great air quality now, and they value the environment, so why doesn’t Los Angeles just put in a law that bans cars in the city?  

And by no cars, I mean NO cars.  It wouldn’t matter if you owned a company, or a big-time movie mogul or a guy working at the local burger joint.  You would only be able to use public transportation like busses, trains, subways and shuttles.  The only other things allowed would be delivery trucks and emergency response vehicles.  

What an ideal response time you would have from police, fire and ambulances with no traffic.  Your sidewalks would be open for foot traffic and your air would be cleaner.  It would even open up new business investments like parking garages and more job possibilities like shuttle operator.  You would have lots of people and companies shuttling to and from the airports, too.

Perhaps they should put their money where their mouth is because I would pay to see the mayor, a celebrity or some big wig in a shuttle van.  That would be well worth it.

#laidbackgardener #air quality #don't be a hypocrite

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The Garden feeds your soul.

#laidbackgardener #feed your soul

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The Dirt on Dirt

(photo courtesy of Gully Greenhouse & Garden Center, Fort Collins, CO)

Here are some basic definitions of what you see in the store.  This will help you understand what you should be looking for and why you should buy or use one product over the other.

{dirt} Dried out parts of soil that are rocky, silty, and void of any beneficial nutrients and microbes that healthy plants need.  Usually separated, carried or moved unwittingly from its natural habitat or location.

{soil} A complete ecosystem composed of organisms living within a physical environment of mineral, organic particles, gases, water, nutrients and other chemical elements.  

{garden soil} A soil product that is usually pre-mixed with nutrients and other amendments.  It is intended to be added to existing soil in a garden bed.

{topsoil} Soil taken from the top layer of the earth.  Unless specifically stated, no additional ingredients are added.

{potting mix} A clean, sterile blend of assorted organic materials that you use for growing plants in pots or containers.  It does not have soil in it as that can carry diseases, fungus or plant pathogens that could infect plants.    

{potting soil} Similar to garden soil and should be used in the garden and not in pots as it has soil in it and will dry out faster in smaller containers.

#laidbackgardener #soil #basics

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Gardeners have a great sense of humor.

#laidbackgardener #covid 19 jokes #you gotta laugh

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#laidbackgardener #jokes #you gotta laugh

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Good Agriculture Practices

GAPS refer to methods applied to cultivate the growing of crops or animals to provide food or other products, like wool.  Master Gardeners always encourage you to use GAPS because they will help you, the environment and your production.

A more formal definition from VA Tech states: “Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in order to: guide the production systems towards a  sustainable agriculture and ecologically safe, obtain harmless products of higher quality, contribute to food security generating income through the access to markets and improve working conditions of producers and their families.

The point?  GAPS help you produce more in a better, safer way for you, the environment and your family.  

1. Remember to expect mistakes.  They happen to everyone.  The worse that happens is that you start with a new packet of seeds or seedling.  

2. Size is important – you need to know if you should be using a dwarf instead of a standard.  The biggest difference between a 20 foot tree and a 9 foot tree is that you won’t be able to get the fruit off of the larger standard size tree.  It’s called the right plant for the right place.

3.  Always consider the time, effort and money you have available for your garden.  That will help you determine the size of what you set up.

4.  There is a cost, time and effort difference between seeds, seedlings and transplants.  

5.  Have your basic equipment ready: shovels, pick, hoe, rakes. 6. Always wear gloves when working in dirt.  (GAP) 7.  Read the instructions before using any chemical for fertilizing, pest control or weed management to know the HOW, WHEN and WHERE.  Consider mechanical/hand removal if possible.  (GAP)

8.  Use your local planting calendar.  (GAP)  Some things, like peas, go in earlier than beans.          

9.  Prepare your area the year before by doing a soil test so you know the ph and what you need to add or not put in.  Mark you area and put in compost and organic material to augment your soil.  (GAP)

10.  Like real estate, Location, Location, Location is important.  Again, put the right plant in the right place for the best result. (GAP)

11.  Make sure you have the right amount of sun, water and food for your particular plant.  (GAP)

#laidbackgardener #good agricultural practices #GAPS

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Victory Gardens

The buzz going around today is “Grow a victory garden!”  But you have to ask yourself, what is it?  Victory Gardens originated during World War 1 and 2 in America.  Food stuffs were in short supply because many both fresh and processed items were being used by the military.  To help the war effort, people were encouraged to grow their own fruits and vegetables.  The more people grew, the more they could ship overseas to “win the war”.  It was the original homegrown garden, that for the self sufficient, the one for naturalists and those who like organic. 

Why You Grow A Victory Garden

A victory gardens reduce your carbon footprint, puts food on your table and in your pantry and gets you fit and healthy with fresh air and exercise.  They are also designed to quickly and efficiently produce large amounts of food in small areas so you are saving money as well.

The best thing about gardens is that the food is fresh and delicious

Regardless of the reason you’re here, you should find out as much as you can and do it in the most efficient way possible. Gardens do take a bit of work but you can make them doable with a little bit of planning and some help.  For those of us who don’t mind a little bit of dirt on their hands and actually enjoy it, that’s never a problem.

Welcome to the garden.  

#laidbackgardener #victory garden #Plant Pals Unite

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Starting Your Garden

The first thing to do is figure out where you want to put your garden.  And if this is your first time out of the gate, smaller is better.  You can mark it off if it’s in the yard.  You might want to use or need to do pots if you don’t have the sun, the yard space or if it is more convenient.

Pick a spot that has good sun.  Find out where NORTH is because that gets the least sun.  You want the yard to get as much sun as possible so look and see how the sun passes over the house and which spots get 6 or more hours of sunshine.

Look at your water supply.  You want to be able to get your water to your plants easily.  Make sure your hose is long enough to get to the garden spot.  

Then look at your soil.  You should use potting soil for your pots and planters because it’s especially made and fortified for containers.  If you are in a larger spot, like a raised bed, you want to use garden soil to backfill them.  The largest garden spots should have compost mixed with your garden dirt to insure that you have a nice soft mix that the plants can grow up out of easily, not hard compacted dirt.

Mark off your garden.  You can use stake and twine, stones or even a small sign.  Let everyone know this is where your garden will be so no one will traipse over it.  Now you are ready to start looking at what goes into it. 

#laidbackgardener #starting your garden