Gardening is becoming more popular than ever, thanks to a number of converging circumstances, including the First Lady’s planting of a White House organic garden. Because of the sagging economy, people want to save money anywhere they can, and vegetable gardening is a great way to save money on foods that can be costly. Additionally, more and more people want to live a “green” lifestyle, and you can’t get more local than picking vegetables right in your backyard. Plus, when you start an organic garden, it’s even more environmentally friendly.
When you start on your way to growing healthy garden fruits and vegetables, keep in mind that tending an organic garden has special requirements and poses some different challenges than conventional gardens do. However, the increased popularity of organic gardening has led to some great innovative products that can help you maintain your plot without adding harmful chemicals.
Whether you live within city limits or in a more bucolic setting, it’s always fun to see wildlife – just not when they’re munching on your zucchini or stealing your strawberries. For most organic gardeners, the goal is to get rid of overly curious garden guests, but without forcing them to ingest poisons or other chemicals that can hurt them.
One of the most trusted ways to keep a strictly organic garden free from unwelcome animal browsers is with the Swedish-developed, garden pest repellent Plantskydd (pronounced “plant-skid” – a Swedish word meaning “plant-protection”). Sweden’s reputation as a rigorously green-minded country comes through in these non-toxic repellents, which were the first deer and rabbit repellents to be listed by the USDA-approved Organic Material Review Institute (OMRI), as “suitable for use in the production of food and fiber.” Plantskydd’s 100 percent organic ingredients make it safe to use around pets and children, but it’s also effective in that it won’t wash away in the rain, giving your garden longer-lasting protection.
Claude Boisvert, president of Tree World Plant Care Products, Inc., says Plantskydd does double duty as a garden pest repellent and fertilizer. “Because it’s a blood meal-derived product, it provides the nutrients necessary for plants to grow strong and produce abundantly, in addition to repelling garden pests like deer and rabbits,” Boisvert says. “It’s been lauded for its repelling effectiveness by forestry experts, the National Home Gardening Club, as well as soil and water conservation districts throughout the United States.”
Other ways to protect your garden include putting netting over the plants that birds, rabbits, and other critters favor. Look for netting with small holes that you can spread over strawberry patches or wire that you can circle around delicate vegetables.
When selecting solutions for feeding or protecting your garden, be sure to do your research and find out the true certification status of products you buy. As they move toward growing one’s own organic food becomes mainstream, some repellent manufacturers, who use non-certified ingredients, use terms such as “all-natural,” or “environment friendly” on package labels in an attempt to associate their products with this “organic” trend. OMRI continues to be a good resource for learning about which products are truly safe and organic.
If you’re concerned about your family’s health and that of the planet, planting an organic garden is the way to go. You’ll not only be able to harvest delicious, nutritive foods right in your backyard, but you’ll also be doing your part to foster a healthier environment.
Courtesy of ARAcontent