Mainely Mulch.

Hay smells different to lovers and horses.
~ Old Proverb

I am on the hunt for Mainely Mulch "Salt Hay Substitute". Even though I have always lived in deciduous climates, I always come up short on carbon (dry browns) for my compost pile and heavy on nitrogen (wet greens) during the spring and summer months. When I lived in Rhode Island, I discovered and used to purchase Mainely Mulch at the Redwood Nursery in Swansea, Massachusetts. I would keep the mulch in its bag right next to my compost bin, and anytime I added grass clippings or kitchen scraps, I cover them with a few handfuls of Mainely Mulch, and my compost was beautiful. Now that I have moved back to Pittsburgh, my compost pile is again suffering from too little carbon, and I find myself missing Mainely Mulch.


Mainely Mulch is heated in a kiln to kill any or pathogens or weed seeds so you don't need to worry about diseases or volunteer weeds. It's chopped up into thumb-sized pieces so you can easily control the breakdown of the mulch depending on how thick you spread it. Along with Coir, Mainely Mulch is great for organic gardening, and local nurseries should be encouraged to carry these products.

My Monticello Garden Hat.

We will try this winter to cover our garden with a heavy coating of manure. When earth is rich it bids defiance to droughts, yields in abundance, and of the best quality. I suspect that the insects which have harassed you have been encouraged by the feebleness of your plants; and that has been produced by the lean state of the soil. We will attack them another year with joint efforts.
~ Thomas Jefferson, in 1793, in a letter to his daughter Martha Randolph regarding insect damage in the Monticello gardens.

[Photo credit: Luke P. Pieczynski © 2009]

My sister lives in Virginia, and last summer we went to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello (pictured above) to tour his 1,000-foot by 80-foot vegetable garden (pictured below) on his 5,000-acre plantation and estate in Charlottesville, Virginia.

[Photo credit: Luke P. Pieczynski © 2009]

Thomas Jefferson, commonly known as our third president and the writer of the Declaration of Independence, was an avid gardener, so much so that he devised a wind gauge that could be viewed from 5 different places from within his Monticello home so he could be easily aware of the weather conditions affecting his garden. I think that Jefferson would be very pleased to see Michelle Obama's efforts on the Whitehouse South Lawn. Like our First Lady, he, too, prided himself on the diversity and variety of plants within his garden, growing over 330 varieties of more than 70 species of herbs and vegetables, including 23 varieties of his favorite-peas, two of which I am growing this year in my garden— Prince Albert Pea and Marrowfat Pea. I am also growing his Connecticut Field Pumpkin, Carolina or Sieva Lima Beans, and Yellow Arikara Beans.

Along with seed purchases, I also bought my garden hat. I wear it so often that if my neighbors see me outside without it, they ask me where my hat is. It has been great at keeping my face and neck sunburn free, and also blocking the blinding sun from my eyes. It's a perfectly ideal garden hat for spring and fall. But unfortunately I am finding, not so ideal for summer; the top of the hat is not vented, and my head has turned as red as a beet from overheating.

So now I am on a search for a summer/vented garden hat that I will like as much as my Monticello one. I found this Stay Cool Hat. Practical, yes. Attractive, no. I kinda like the Crownless Hat, but worry that the sun will redden and/damage the hair on the crown of my head during my long hours in the garden. I may get an Asian Coolie Hat, aka Sedge or Paddy Hat.

Garden Wisdom.

I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognizably wiser than oneself.
~ Marlene Dietrich

When I worked at Southside Community Land Trust in Providence, my coworker Rich Pederson, the City Farm Manager, and I would meet every Wednesday morning at the farm for a co-coaching session. Because we did not have a Program Director, I would listen and help him think through his priority list for the week and help him brainstorm solutions about managing the farm, upcoming workshops, farmers' markets and so on, and he'd listen and help me think about membership drives, fund-raising events, garden tours, publicity and how best to convey the mission and work of the Land Trust.

Rich would arrive at the farm as early as 5:30 am to beat the sun, see the sunrise and spend some time alone before the onslaught of volunteers and visitors arrived and farm chores began. By the time I arrived at 8:30 am, he'd have finished watering and organizing his supplies and tasks for the day. Usually he would need about 5 to 10 minutes to finish up whatever task he was doing, so he'd tell me to take the time to walk around the farm and make observations.

Earlier this year, Southside Community Land Trust nominated Rich for the Natural Resource Defense Council's "Growing Green Award", and asked me to contribute some words about my experience with Rich. This is what I wrote:

"One of the most meaningful contributions Rich has made to the community is to encourage people to be mindful of their surroundings. When a visitor or volunteer arrives at City Farm, Rich invites them to walk around and make observations-- the sour cherry tree is in bud, a lady bug is tending to a sunflower, the wind detached a piece of Remay covering from the tomato beds, the hens are happily clucking away at their feed, a pea shoot pushes it way up through its tiny piece of earth, the radishes are thriving, a hawk is defending its nest chasing a crow above the greenhouse, the main path is soft from rain and showing footprints, the compost has a sweet earthy smell... He then asks what you learned, what inspired or excited you in your quiet moments of reflection around the farm. Each time the person returns to the farm, Rich asks them to repeat the observational tour, to note changes from their last visit. With his keen insight and philosophical nature, he helps connect these observations to their lives, the community and to global issues. The world then changes. You are less careless and more thoughtful with your actions and words, you consider the impact of your choices, you look for ways to nurture, heal and lend a hand, you realize how interconnected and interdependent we are with the environment and each other. Rich teaches you how to be your best self. He leads through example."

When I did my first observational tour of City Farm, I immediately knew that Rich and I were kindred because he had hand-painted signs of his favorite inspiring quotes placed throughout the farm to provide "food for thought". I have been keeping quote journals since my freshman year of high school, and used to paint my favorite environmental quotes with tempura paint on roll paper and hang throughout my high school every April for Earth Day. I look forward to each Spring when Rich adds a quote or two to his farm collection.

Now that I am away from Providence, I am trying to implement what I learned from Rich in my own garden. And as a tribute to Rich, my garden mentor and guru, I thought I would display my favorite quotes.

I love so many quotes, but unlike Rich's 3/4-acre farm, my garden is quite small, so to have multiple quotes hung throughout the garden would be a bit too cluttered for my tastes. So then I tried to choose just one quote, the epitome of all inspiring quotes. A futile effort for sure.

I gave up on the idea of hand-painted signs, and bought a small chalkboard and some white and colored chalk. I can have all my beloved quotes, just one at a time. Choosing the first one was difficult but I finally decided:

Lettuce talk lettuce.

When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look into the reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reasons and arguments. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, you can love, and the situation will change.
~ Venerable Thich Nhat Hahn


The teachings of Thich Nhat Hahn, a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, provide fresh insight and perspective on daily living and relationships. Whenever anyone wants to change a habit, I recommend his Dharma Talk on Transforming Negative Habit Energies which I found to be very helpful.

I read his lettuce teaching for the first time a couple of years ago, and now whenever I see or eat lettuce, I think of its profound lesson. If this is the only lesson to be accepted, learned, and practiced, what a world of difference it would make, what peace it would bring. To understand, to love. Simple really. We'd hope others would understand and love us, and yet sometimes it's seems difficult to do the same for them. Remembering the lettuce helps, it reminds us that it can be that simple, that it doesn't have be difficult or complicated. It merely requires us to let go of our need to be "right". The lettuce lesson is easy to remember with this mnemonic device:

Lettuce not blame or judge one another;
Lettuce understand and love one another.

What better way to keep this teaching in mind, then to incorporate lettuces into your visual and edible landscape?

Growing up Roman Catholic, there are many rituals, one of which is to bless yourself when the Gospel is read by making the Sign of the Cross on your forehead, mouth and heart as a gesture to keep Jesus' teachings in your thoughts, in your words and in your heart. Sometimes I think food, a significant source of life, requires the same awareness and appreciation of connection of mind, mouth and heart. Think about where your food comes from and how it is grown. Eat what is wholesome and allow it to nourish you. Take its lessons to heart.

Lettuce is soon becoming one of my favorite things to grow. Once you understand and meet the basic needs of lettuces and leafy greens, they are quite easy to grow, and the fruits of your labor are apparent rather quickly as the seeds germinate within a couple of days of planting. You can start them indoors in seedling trays and then transplant them outside. You can grow them in cold frames, hoop houses or greenhouses during the winter months as they are very cold hardy, they even can handle some frost. They grow in a magnificent array of colors and textures which make it fun to incorporate into your garden plan or pots. Each lettuce has its own distinctive taste, some mild, some bitter, some peppery.


This year I am growing an assortment of lettuces and leafy greens, some I have never knowingly tried before. I am looking forward to eating fresh, homegrown meals all summer. My hope is by growing lots of lettuces, we'll eat more salads and reap the benefits of a healthier diet and a less hot house. Here's what's growing in my garden:

Rouge d'Hiver (heirloom)
Sucrine
Winter Density
Red Iceberg
Black Seeded Simpson (heirloom)
Organic Blend (containing Grand Rapids, Oak Leaf, Salad Bowl, Red Salad Bowl & Prize Leaf)
Sylvetta Arugula
Red Russian Kale
Komatsuna
Tatsoi Spoon Mustard
Swiss Chard

Here are some articles I found very useful when learning the ins and outs of growing lettuce:

Cut-and-Come-Again Lettuce Sampler: A Whole Palette of Colorful Varieties Delivers a Leafy Feast, by Peter Garnham, from Kitchen Gardener Magazine #19, pages 10-14.

All About Growing Lettuce, by Barbara Pleasant, Mother Earth News Magazine.

Lettuce, Organic Gardening Magazine.

Water of life.

When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.
~ Benjamin Franklin

When you drink the water, remember the spring.
~ Chinese Proverb

As the Earth's population grows and more nations adopt a Western lifestyle, there will be a greater demand for resources. A lot of people are concentrating on the scarcity of non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels. But many parts of the world are experiencing a scarcity of clean, fresh drinking water, and this scarcity grows and spreads each year. [See Global Water Shortage Looms In New Century] Shortages of water can lead to tensions between neighbors, and as the University of Arizona's Arizona Water Resource article points out, It should come as no surprise to learn that the words "river" and "rival" share the same Latin root; a rival is "someone who shares the same stream." Preserving and conserving water is not only better for the environment, but also for maintaining peace.

POLLUTION
One way to protect our watersheds is to reduce and eliminate water pollution. As gardeners, it is important that we consider how our growing practices impact groundwater supplies, and nearby streams, creeks, rivers, and bays. By practicing organic gardening methods, you commit to not using harmful pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers on your lawns, gardens and plants that could poison fish and cause algae blooms. An organic gardener is also committed to preventing soil erosion, preventing soils and fertilizers from being washed away in runoff that pollutions are waterways. By not polluting water supplies, we increase the amount of clean drinking water available for our communities.

You can also ease pressure on storm drains and the waterways they dump into by creating a rain garden to absorb runoff from your driveway or yard. The Low Impact Development Center is a ttremendous resource for Rain Garden Design Templates and information.


CONSERVATION
Another way to protect our watersheds, is to reduce the amount of water we use and waste. Gardeners use a lot of water in the day-to-day care of their plants. While it may be easy just to turn the faucet on and let the water flow, it is not the most environmentally friendly or cost-effective way to water your plants. It is possible to reduce the amount of water needed in your garden by implementing some simple but wise measures.

1) Try "recycling" water for a second use in the garden:
-water left over in the salad spinner
-water left over from boiling potatoes or pasta, or steaming vegetables
-water left in the tea kettle or coffee pot, or leftover tea or coffee for that matter for acid-loving plants (no creams or sugar though)
-water removed from a fresh water aquariums
-water from a hot water bottle
-water leftover in drink glasses or water bottles
-water saved from waiting for it to heat up in the shower or when washing dishes
-greywater (water from dish washing, bathing or laundry), although special consideration of residues, soaps and cleaning agents is needed

2) Take advantage of rainy days by catching rain from rooftops in a rain barrel or in 5-gallon buckets placed under gutter spouts.
Rain barrels often come equipped with a hose or spicket to make watering from them easier. They also have screens to keep debris and mosquitos out.

3) Amending the garden soil with compost and/or coir (or peat moss) can help retain soil moisture.

4) Mulching with straw, compost, dried leafs, beauty bark, sheets of b&w newspaper, etc. can help soil retain moisture, plus give the extra benefit of keeping down weeds.

5) Drip tape irrigation keeps water close to ground level and reduces water loss caused by evaporation.

6) Watering in the early morning before the heat of the day can reduce water loss by giving plant roots time to drink up the water before the sun's rays cause it to evaporate.

7) Incorporate native plants into your garden. Native plants are adapted to the growing conditions (climate and soil) of your region, and have higher drought resistance.


8) If you grow plants in containers, line terracotta pots with plastic grocery bags before you fill them with potting soil. Make sure you put a hole in the bottom of the bag for drainage. You can also place small stones or mulch in the top of the container. Both of these methods will help reduce water loss caused by evaporation.


SHARING
Remember the creatures that share the garden with you. Keep a small pond, bird bath or fountain in the shade for birds and beneficial insects to have access to water.

Predicting frost.

Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.
~James Bryant Conant

I have been hardening off my plants, not because the weather has stabilized (because it hasn't), but because they have grown too big to squeeze them all under the Grow Lights in my basement. I was hoping that my large south-facing living room window would suffice, but the plants were getting leggy for stretching for even more sunlight. So now they are braving the elements, and for the most part, I feel like a proud mama whose babies are "all growed up". At first I was worried about frost, but then I learned a few tricks on how to predict it.

Frost involves chance and risk. It's reputation is a bit scary as we have all heard horror stories of frost damage claiming the lives of young seedlings and prized plants. Frost punishes the ill-prepared or forgetful, but it can be tamed with knowledge, foresight and planning.

You can determine the likelihood of frost scientifically if you know the dew point, the temperature and expected low. The National Gardening Association's KidsGardening.com states, "If the air temperature is below the dew point and below freezing, frost occurs." Say the current temperature is 56˚F, and the dew point is 42˚F, if the temperature fell to 44˚F, no frost; if it fell to 38˚F, still no frost. If it fell to 31˚F, frost would occur. To find current temperatures, dew points, and expected lows, Weather.com's Gardener's Local Forecast is a great resource for this data, or watching the local weather report on your late night news, like KDKA or WTAE in Pittsburgh, PA.

Through observation, you can also predict a frost. Say the sky is clear, but the temperatures fall steadily throughout the day, there is a chance of frost. But if it's cloudy or rainy, chances are a frost will not occur because the clouds and moisture will act as a blanket. To learn more about these observational methods, read Eliot Tozer's article on Predicting Frost on OrganicGardening.com and Marion Owen's article on How to Predict a Frost on Plantea.com.

If there is a chance of frost, protect your plants from possible damage by moving them indoors or protecting them under garden cloches, hoophouses, greenhouses, Reemay cloth, tents, tarps, shower curtains, plastic sheets, 5-gallon buckets, plastic grocery bags, trash bags, pillowcases, bedsheets or anything that will keep frost away from the plant. Make sure that the covering is properly secured and supported so that it does not weigh down on or damage the plant stems and foliage.

Composting Pet Waste.

Even the Queen of England has to wipe her own bottom.
~ my Pap when explaining to me after a particularly rough day in grade school that regardless of a person's rank, position, wealth or popularity, everybody is human, everybody is valuable, so never let anyone make you feel less than what you are.


Since my sister Kelly's boxer Kayla joined the family, we talk about poop a lot. I am not sure if it is because when we were kids our mom scolded us for saying poop, stating, "It's called a bowel movement." What kid says "bowel movement"? I actually think that's worse than saying "poop". At least poop is fun to say. Twenty years after the fact, "poop" can still bring all of us to laughter which while juvenile and confusing for our significant others, it's good to remember that everybody poops. And sweet lil Kayla seems to do it more than the rest of us. Kayla has some digestive issues, so everybody is somewhat interested in her poops–how much, how often, what color, what consistency. As long as we keep her on her special diet, and she doesn't binge eat grass or acorns, the color and consistency doesn't come up too much. But the amount and frequency do come up a lot because Kayla is a little, or big depending on how you look at it, poop factory. I have been researching different ways to compost Kayla's poop, and so far this is what I have found.

Pet waste from carnivorous or omnivorous pets such as dogs and cats, can contain harmful bacteria to humans and other animals. Pet feces and droppings can contain Salmonella, e. Coli, Giardias, Parvovirus, Cryptosporidiosis, Campylobacteriosis, Toxoplasmosis and also parasites such as tapeworms and heartworms. The EPA has even categorized dog waste as a "non-point source of pollution". So if you are taking your dog for a walk, and the exercise gets the bowels moving, it is not only courteous to bag up your dog's poop, but it's healthier for everyone. These pathogens and parasites are why it is strongly advised that you do not compost pet waste in with your regular compost. The pathogens can even harm the beneficial microorganisms in a compost pile, and cause your compost pile to go cold which slows the decomposition process to a halt.

While you can't compost pet waste in your regular compost pile, pet waste certainly decomposes. To compost it, you just need to create the right and safe conditions for it. From what I am learning, basically you need, a large hole in well draining soil away from any food garden, a plastic trash can or barrel, and some enzymes that can handle sewage, such as Septo-Bac or other septic starters, available at most supermarkets or home improvement centers.

CityFarmer.org discussed the subject of Pet Waste Composting, and offers some a step-by-step instructions on how to build your own "dog dooley". Now if you have a large dog, the Big Dog Poop Composter, which works along the same principles, seems to be a better option. There are also commercial pet waste digesters available such as, Pet Waste Composter and Doggie Dooley.

It seems that once the pet waste is composted and aged between 18-24 months, that it can be used just like you would normal compost except it is recommended that it only be used in non-food gardens. I'd probably play it safe and wait like 5 years before I used it unless a test kit exists that could test for presence of pathogens. I may be a worry wort, but I wouldn't want to inadvertently contaminate the soil that other wildlife and children may come in contact with.

While most of the information I have found is about composting dog waste, it is certainly possible to compost cat waste if an eco-friendly bio-degradable litter is used. Precautions exist regarding pregnant women composting cat litter, but I think pregnant women are supposed to avoid handling cat litter in general.

What I haven't been able to find out yet is how to choose a location for the pet waste composter so that it doesn't adversely affect ground water sources. Anybody have experience with composting pet waste? Please share if you do.