The Family Farm Is Being Systematically Wiped Out Of Existence In America An entire way of life is rapidly dying right in front of our eyes. The family farm is being systematically wiped out of existence in America, and big agribusiness and the federal government both have blood all over their hands. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of farms in the United States has fallen from about 6.8 million in 1935 to only about 2 million today. That doesn't mean that there is less farming going on. The way that the farming industry is structured today, it is simply not economically feasible to operate a small family farm. Many old timers are trying to hang on for as long as they can. Most young people these days are not too eager to choose farming as a career. In recent years, many family farmers have been forced to find second jobs in order to support their families. Sadly, less than 25 percent of all farms in America bring in gross revenues in excess of $50,000. With each passing year, the farming industry becomes even more centralized.
Gardening and Spirituality, Gardening to Lift One's Spirits, Spirituality of Gardening, Spiritual Gardens, Horticultural Theraphy, Religion and Gardening Gardening to Lift One's SpiritsGardening and Spirituality, Horticultural Therapy, Spiritual Gardens Gardening and Mental Health, Gardening and the Good Life February 2001 Main Menu of Themes Gardening and Spirituality, Part I: Quotes, Sayings, Poems Gardening and Spirituality, Part II: Quotes, Sayings, Poems Religion and Gardening: Quotes, Sayings, Poems The Spirit of Gardening Index Introduction Doing and Appreciating Enriching the Senses Earth Fast Path and Slow Path Gardening for Everyone Gratitude Nature Spirits and Devas Intimate Connections Humor and Jokes Lessons from the Earth Trees Nurturing Ourselves Lifestyle Advice for Wise Persons Earth Religions On Quiet Time and Silence Our Paths in the Valley Blog Power and Control Putting Us In Our Place Flowers Reasons for Taking Up the Gardening Way Seeing Taoism and Gardening Pulling Onions: Quips and Sayings of an Old Gardener Relaxation and Awareness Index to the Spirit of Gardening Themes to be Developed in the Near Future Zen Poetry Introduction by Judith Couchman
How to Turn a Pallet into a Garden Good news and bad news. I had planned to film a short video showing you how to make a pallet garden, but the weather didn’t cooperate. I was stapling the landscape fabric onto the pallet when it started drizzling and got really windy. That’s the bad news. So keep reading my pallet loving friends, instructions on how to make your own pallet garden are just a few lines away… Find a Pallet The first thing you need to do is–obviously–find a pallet. Don’t just take the first pallet you find. Collect Your Supplies For this project, you’ll need the pallet you found, 2 large bags of potting soil, 16 six packs of annual flowers (one six pack per opening on the face of the pallet, and two six packs per opening on the top of the completed pallet garden), a small roll of landscape fabric, a staple gun, staples, and sand paper. Get Your Pallet into Shape Once you’ve dragged your pallet home, give it a once over. Let the Stapling Begin! Lay the pallet face down. Now for the sides. Caring For your Pallet
Four ways to creatively grow your own fruits and vegetables using principles of permaculture (NaturalNews) Modern industrial agriculture is a disastrous failure, as it defies practically every natural law related to food cultivation, ecological and environmental protection and stewardship, and human nutrition. But there is a new agricultural revolution sweeping the land that is changing the way humans eat and grow food, and its methods are derived from the concepts found in permaculture. Permaculture is basically an all-encompassing term used to identify the strategic and creative ways through which human structures and agricultural systems are unified into harmonious, sustainable entities. As opposed to factory farming systems, which rely heavily on chemical and fertilizer inputs and destroy the environment and human health in the process, permaculture farming systems take advantage of the many unique ways that natural systems work together to complement one another and sustain life. If you have a fairly sizable growing area, you may want to consider creating a mandala garden.
USDA Admits Exterminating Birds, Crops, and Bees The USDA has been under fire recently for its admitted assault against nature, after multiple investigations have uncovered its deliberate tampering with both plants and animals alike. One such investigation has put an end to the mystery surrounding the death of millions of birds, with USDA documents revealing the organization’s role in the massive slaughter. In addition to the mass bird killings, it turns out the USDA was fully aware that a highly-popular herbicide chemical was a known bee-killer, which may have aided the bee decline. In December of 2010, mystery struck the world. In the 1960? Brown-headed cowbirds: 1,046,109 European Starlings: 1,259,714 Red-winged blackbirds: 965,889 Canadian Geese : 24,519 Pigeons: 96,297 Grackles: 93,210 Starlings European: 1,259,714 These numbers are simply the top for 2009. According to Natural News : A Nebraska farmer was apparently complaining that the starlings were defecating in his feed meal. “Cows are supposed to eat grass. Eddie (2751 Posts)
Gardening Tips - 7 Habits of Successful Gardeners Originally published January 2009 Or is it the Seven Pillars of Horticultural Wisdom? As everyone's resolutions remind us, we love attaching a number to advice, a number smaller than the one I regard as most realistic: The Twenty Three Thousand Four Hundred and Sixty-Two Things It's Important to Remember Before Getting Out of Bed. So be warned: I haven't really honed it down to only seven; these are just the first seven essentials that came to mind when I decided to do this. Make CompostUse CompostPlant Crops in Wide BedsMulchFeed the Soil, Not the PlantsShare SomethingBe There Photo: The compost bins at Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring, N.Y. 1. Short version: Mother Nature never throws anything away. Longer version: Composting is the rare silk purse from sow's ear, something for nothing, win-win. It's easy to fall into thinking that compost's last name is bin, and that careful layering and turning are part of the deal. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. If you've got a garden, you're rich. Got seeds? 7.
Starting Your First Vegetable Garden by Neil Moran You're aware of the health benefits of eating fresh vegetables, you have the space for a small garden, but just don't know where to start? Look no further. Here's all you need to know to put fresh, crisp vegetables on your dinner table. First, think small. Choose a location that receives as much sun as possible throughout the day. Next, examine the soil. If you're stuck with a predominantly sandy or clay soil it will be worth bringing in some topsoil to get you off on the right foot. Another thing you can do is use topsoil to make a raised bed. Hey, I think we're ready to plant! In a small garden you may want to avoid some of the space hogs, like corn, squash and pumpkin. Easy to grow crops include onions, peas, beets, rutabaga and zucchini squash. Unfortunately, critters (and children) may take a shine to your new garden. Vandals can also attack gardens, especially in conspicuous areas of a city, such as in a community garden. Watch for insect infestation. Happy gardening.
Growing Onions Easy to cultivate with a long storage life, home gardeners are growing onions more than any other vegetable! Records indicate that they were grown in Ancient Egypt, and eventually arrived in Rome and became known as the word onion (from the Latin word UNIO, which means large pearl). Site Preparation: Onions grow best in full sun and deep, fertile well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Onions form bulbs in response to day length. How to Plant: You can grow onions from seed, seedlings or sets. Allow 1-4 inches between plants in traditional rows spaced 1-2 feet apart. Harvesting: Allow tops to fall over naturally, then pull bulbs and let them air-cure for two weeks. Insects and Diseases: To help prevent insect and disease damage avoid planting onions in the same area for three years. Note: Take Down Garden Spray combines the fast knockdown of pyrethrin and the residual activity of canola oil to kill ALL stages of insects, including eggs. Seed Saving Instructions: Biennial.
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