Tricia — Page 66 — Organic Gardening Tips

Mount Hagen, Organic-Cafe, Freeze Dried Instant Coffee, 3.53 oz (100 g)

Organically Grown Highland Coffee USDA Organic This fine coffee has been carefully selected and separately harvested. The processing to freeze-dried coffee is also achieved without the use of any form of preservatives or additives. Mount Hagen The first certified organic freeze dried coffee in the world””. 100% organic certified by EcoCert in accordance with the organic standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This delicious coffee is of the highest quality, mild and naturally rich in flavor. Our coffees are from plantations of the best cultivation areas of the world. These highland coffees are guaranteed to be organically grown without the use of any artificial chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or fertilizers.

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First Flush Darjeeling Tea – 3.5 oz

by Tricia

The First Flush Darjeeling Black Tea has a distinctive muscatel sweetness and aroma. This type of black tea can be found at a certified Organic tea garden in the Kurseong district which is an hour away from Darjeeling. The garden usually produces very strong types of teas. It is it called First Flush Darjeeling Tea because these type of tea are harvested during the first plucking of the year which happens from March to April. Usually the teas are more aromatic and lighter than the second flush. First Flush have been lower oxidized mainly for the purpose of preserving a greener leaf profile and to contain more tips, resulting to a complex consistency and bounce of flavor. So try one now!

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What is the least toxic lawn insecticide used to prevent ticks?

by Tricia

I'm looking for the least toxic insecticide I can use on my lawn to prevent ticks. Is there anything that isn't toxic to humans, birds, or beneficial insects (e.g. lady bugs)? Maybe even something organic?

I called one of my local hardware stores, and all they carry is Durzban (chlorpyrifos), which I have found out is being phased out for residential use by the EPA. My other local hardware store only sells Sevin (carbaryl), which is apparently widely known (including admittance by Union Carbide) to kill "beneficials" including ladybugs & honeybees. It has even been accused of being linked with spina bifida & hydrocephalus… I'd almost rather take my chances with lyme desease…

So, bottom line:
Is there a fairly safe lawn insecticide I can use to prevent ticks on my (large) lawn?

If you are in a rural area, buy yourself some guinea chicks. They love to eat small bugs like ticks (but they can be quite a nuisance themselves). Otherwise, I'd live with the ticks. We understand the dangers of lyme disease, but who really knows the hazards of chemical insecticides? Wear avon skin-so-soft as tick repellant and check yourself regularly.

Natural pest control for my vegetable plants?

by Tricia

I was looking for a homemade remedy to keep the bad insects away from my vegetable plants. I noticed some aphids on my tomatoes, and the ladybugs can't seem to eat them fast enough.
I saw something on TV once made with hot peppers blended with other stuff, but I can't remember. I'd like to stay organic and food-safe without having to buy a pesticide (don't want to harm the ladybugs-just repel the "bad guys").

Hmm, I've heard about the pepper recipe, but I have no idea if it works!

A website that I use A LOT is from the University of California, Davis. They have a wonderful website with ideas on how to non or least-toxically get rid of, or better yet, prevent, pests.

http://ipm.ucdavis.edu/

First things first though! Basic Integrated Pest Management (IPM) says that you need to know what you are trying to get rid of first. As far as aphids, the website has a bunch of wonderful ideas. I find that insecticidal soap works very well, which you can make yourself using soap and water (recipe: http://azaz.essortment.com/homemadeinsec_rvhp.htm ). You can also blast them off with the hose.

http://ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7404.html is the specific stuff about aphids and you have many options to choose from. Sometimes, if the aphids aren't doing a lot of damage too, who cares if they eat a bit!

Anywho, good luck!

What is some name brands for best organic topsoil at garden stores?

by Tricia

Hello everyone, I grow my own wheatgrass and now instead of getting my topsoil from random places, I want to know what is one namebrand of ORGANIC topsoil(peatmoss too) that I can stick with indefinitely-Are the name brands in the green and yellow bag in home depot good? (seems so, but just want to be sure)I would highly appreciate a simple answer to this, thank you

Miracle Gro is not organic as it has wetting agents and synthetic fertilizer in the soil.

At the moment there is no certification for organic top soil, peat moss and other such things. But some soil mixes carry the OMRI seal meaning that the Organic Material Review Institute people have approved it for organic use.

What you want to look for in the ingredients (yes top soil/soiless mix have ingredients) is if there is a wetting agent or fertilizer. An organic soil will either have no wetting agent or it will clearly state the wetting agent is not from petroleum/synthetic sources. If fertilizer is mentioned it is synthetic fertilizer and therefore not organic

Peat moss because it contains only peat moss is always considered organic.

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