Worried about the Water Use

Now that it is warming up in the Desert Southwest, I am getting concerned about the increase in water use. Some of my containers are drying out every day now. It might be time to pull the winter flowers out of their pots and throw them into the compost. They are looking a bit weary for all the wilting and reviving they have been doing.

My veggie garden is in and it is looking good. I was a little overwhelmed with all of the space I now have to garden in the front yard. I will plant several squash and pumpkins and melons as they need lots of room! I don't mind watering it because I know I will be eating them in a few months.

I came across all of last years water bills when I was preparing my taxes this past weekend (yes - just a little late). I am going to track the difference between each month now that the bermuda is gone. I am curious to see if I use any less - perhaps not - but at least now I can eat what I water out in front!

Here's an interesting diagram of where all of our water really is on Earth. http://www.blog.thesietch.org/2009/03/24/where-the-water-is/
It helped me put into perspective the debate about whether or not we have enough water or not. I think we need to watch how we use our water....


So for now I will just monitor how much I use - water deeply to encourage the roots to go deep and make sure I don't waste any water...

How is your water use??

Doreen aka the Garden Goddess
www.down2earthgardens.com

Turning Trash into Cash in the Garden

Kitchen scraps, shredded paper, grass clippings and leaves usually end up in the trash bin. You can easily and cheaply turn them into a great amendment to fertilize and protect your plants and garden beds through composting.

By following a few basic guidelines, you can produce beautiful compost - and do so with relative ease.

So what is compost? Composting is the resulting product of the natural decomposition of anything once living.

So why compost? Here are a few of the most significant benefits:
· Improves soil structure - gives it crumbly texture, beneficial for root growth.
· Improves water-retention in soils, helping to keep plants healthier for longer in dry conditions.
· Provides a source of slow-release, organic fertilizer for your plants.
· Boosts the community of microorganisms and other creatures (worms) beneficial for enhancing nutrient uptake and fighting plant diseases.
· Reduces the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill. (Can make up as
much as 20-40% of the total waste stream.)

Here are the basic requirements for making compost - 1) Water, 2) Organic ‘waste’, 3) Warmth, and 4) Oxygen.

Water – Water is necessary to provide the environment necessary for the microbes to begin the break down of the organic waste. A ‘moist wrung-out sponge’ type of environment is best.

Organic Waste - There are two very important elements to consider when deciding what materials to use - carbon and nitrogen (aka Browns and Greens.) A reasonable rule of thumb would be to use about twice as much c-rich material as n-rich but there are no hard and fast rules for composting.

Here are some common examples:
C-Rich (Browns)
Tree and shrub leaves (dead), cardboard, newspaper, shredded paper, wood chips,
N-Rich (Greens)
Fresh grass clippings, green yard waste, kitchen waste, hair

Warmth - The size of the heap (or container that holds the materials) is also an important consideration. You need a certain “critical mass” in order for a heap of organic materials to generate enough heat for composting to occur.

There are many ways to store your compost while it is breaking down and keeping warm. One of the simplest is to use an old garbage bin. Just cut off the bottom and drill holes for air flow. Other options include purchasing a compost tumbler or making your own bin out of used wooden pallets.

Oxygen - The materials must be mixed occasionally to incorporate air into the decomposition process. In fact turning is an important part of hot composting - as the composting mass heats up and more and more oxygen is consumed, the microbial action slows down, so a little help from you can be important.

The best way to see what works best is simply to start experimenting yourself. I like to think of composting as part art form, part science - once you’ve done it enough you will start to get a ‘feel’ for it and will be able to create a perfect pile without even thinking about it!

So what are you waiting for - why throw out all that great trash that can be turned into FREE garden fertilizer and soil amendments? I find it very empowering that I can create something that replces what I would normally go out and purchase. AND I know I am doing something great for my gardens and plants and let's not forget the environment. Even if you do not have a 'garden' pre se, you can use the humus around your ornamental plants, use it as a mulch to keep the soil moist or give it to a friend who gardens.

Still not sure if you can do this? There is a 90 minute class on compositng at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market on April 1st form 6 - 7:30 PM through the Phoenix Permaculture Guild (PPG) taught by a collegue of mine, Jay Johnson, who is extremelly knowledgeable about this topic and many others. Visit the PPG site for more information on this class.

Got a question about your compost pile? Ask away - I am also happy to reply!

Happy Digging!

The Garden Goddess

www.down2earthgardens.com

Backyard wildlife habitats are just one of many examples of Permaculture. I wrote an article about them for an on-line magazine called "The Big Blend". www.BigBlendMagazine.com. It should be on the site about Monday of next week.

Here's a few paragraphs of the article:

So what can you do to bring nature back into balance and encourage the wildlife to become part of your outdoor environment? It’s easy – go natural! By adding native plants (bushes and trees, too) to an existing landscape and providing the four essential elements necessary to create a habitat you will encourage the birds, bees, butterflies, insects and other creatures to return to your yard.

How to create a habitat
Habitat is defined by four essential elements: food, water, shelter (cover), and space. The foundation of the habitat is the vegetation type that exists on the site. Food sources may include plant material (including roots, pollen, and nectar), insects, or other animals. If preferred food sources are not available but other habitat elements are optimal, then some species will look for new sources of food such as pet food, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, or landscape plants. So be sure to plant native species to provide food and keep them away from your prized plants and gardens. Another way to create a symbiotic environment is to provide a plant for the animals and one for you! Then there will be enough for everyone.

More at www.BigBlendMagazine.com


I will be interviewed on internet radio about backyard habitats on Tuesday, March 3rd about 3:30 in the afternoon AZ time. The link to use for this is http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Garden-Gossip/2009/03/03/Eminent-Domain-Bird-Butterfly-Gardens-More

If you are near a computer I hope you can tune in and hear the show!

Doreen aka The Garden Goddess
www.down2earthgardens.com

Spring is Bursting Out All Over

Well the warm weather sure has the plants confused. My apple trees started to bud 10 days after they were planted! The plants are starting to flower and growing like weeds - well, the weeds are growing, too.

This yard and the garden have only been in place a few months yet they are really beginning to take shape. The foot paths are in and covered with wood chips as mulch, the fruit trees seem happy and the rain water harvesting pieces are almost done.

I recently installed a new brick patio to help with the water harvesting into my rain garden and future home for my velvet mesquite tree. Now when I sit on the patio, I will actually be part of the gradens VS. sitting on the porch looking at the gardens.

The work is not completely done, yet I can see the end of the major components and then it will be time to plant a new garden and start all over again!

Look back to my earlier posts and you can see the journey and how much has been done - It hasn't been easy - but it sure is worth it!

Happy Digging, Doreen

AKA the Garden Goddess

www.down2earthgardens.com