Biodynamic & Organic Growers

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Comment by Dawn Hurwitz on August 15, 2009 at 2:23pm

For snails I use crushed eggshells, enough so there looks like a patch of snow around the plants. Haven't had problems since.

Comment by Marinspin on May 28, 2009 at 6:22pm

I have used beer before and forgot about that. I will have to try the salt and the copper too. My friend told me to keep the crows away to hang the end circles from a can so they hang above the plants. You can put a hole in the can ends with a nail for hanging. They don't like the shiny can ends. I have crows nesting in a tall tree in my yard and today I caught them eyeing my lettuce.

Comment by Erin Michelle on May 26, 2009 at 11:54am

I use copper flashing around the base of the plants or even on the base of the stems. Snails won't cross it because it gives them the electrical willies. When they get overwhelming, I set out little saucers of beer. At least they go happy!

Comment by Alexander on May 26, 2009 at 5:52am

If you have some vegetables you want to protect from snails use salt.
If you cut a hoolahoop down the centre so you have two circles you can fill the trough with salt. snails will not cross it. unless they find a fallen leaf or branch to use as a bridge.

Comment by Marinspin on May 26, 2009 at 12:42am

How does everyone deal with snails in their garden?

Comment by Marinspin on May 22, 2009 at 9:29pm

I had fun planting lettuce starts today. Working in the garden always feels good.

Comment by Joel Levey on March 21, 2009 at 7:49pm

Aloha ))) Heartfelt greetings from our home, organic farm, learning center on the northern tip of Big Island of Hawaii - http://KohalaSanctuary.com. We've been developing this Sanctuary for about 13 years now beginning with raw pasture and now with flourishing orchards, gardens, bamboo groves, clusters of buildings... Some years ago it occurred to me that this was really a 12 acre art project in a medium that grows and has many lives of it's own. That realization has been quite profound as we listen for Guidance to inspire our design and set our priorities and distribute our attention in Malamaing (nurturing and caring for) this most amazing place. We welcome you to take a virtual tour ~ http://web.mac.com/levey1/iWeb/AlohaSlideShow1/%28%28%28%20Hawaii%20%7E%20Big%20Island%20%29%29%29.html

Comment by Marinspin on March 7, 2009 at 1:00am

Master Gardener: Habitat gardening can offer lots for wildlife, great views

Barbara J. Euser
Posted: 03/06/2009 10:21:43 PM PST


A hummingbird hovers and laps nectar from a flower.
Sitting on the bench in my garden, I listen to four different birds' songs; I watch a hummingbird zip past, then pause to rest on the branch of a Monterey pine; I observe the full loads of pollen carried by our bees into their hives. White-and-black butterflies hover over garden blossoms. This wildlife and more thrives in our garden because we practice sustainable gardening.
Sustainable gardening is the popular umbrella term that covers gardening that conserves water, uses minimal (or no) chemicals, focuses on native plant species and requires a minimum of maintenance by the gardener. It is a holistic approach to gardening that could also be termed self-sustaining because this type of garden does not require excessive input of water, plant material or human effort. Low-water, drought-tolerant, xeriscape, native, low-maintenance and habitat gardens all fall within the purview of sustainable gardening.

One aspect of sustainable gardening that particularly interests me is habitat gardening - that is gardening with a special awareness of providing food, water and cover for wildlife, as well as places animals may raise their young.

A sustainable garden that is wildlife-friendly includes:

- Food sources: Plants provide basic food for wildlife in the form of seeds, berries, nuts, fruits, nectar, sap, pollen, and foliage and twigs. Of course, in the garden ecosystem, some animals may become food for other animals, for example caterpillars or insects provide nourishment for

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birds.
- Water sources: Wildlife must have water to drink and in which to bathe. A water source in the garden may be a spring, a stream or a lake. For those of us without those natural resources, an artificial pond, a pump-driven fountain, a cement birdbath or even a depression in a stone can serve as a life-giving water source.

- Cover and protection: Wildlife need protection from predators and shelter and cover from the weather. Dense shrubs, brambles, evergreens, rock piles or walls, and wooded areas provide protection and shelter. A little messiness, in the form of piles of branches or untrimmed shrubs, around the edges of a garden can provide a refuge for birds and mammals.

- Places for young wildlife: To succeed as a habitat, a garden must provide a place for wildlife to bear and raise their young. Ideal locations are places predators have a hard time invading. These include mature trees, dead trees or snags, thickets or dense shrubs, wetlands and burrows. If your garden does not include any of these, home-made nesting boxes are an alternative. To create a habitat for butterflies, learn which plants are hosts for the larvae (caterpillars) of a given species and plant them in your garden. For example, milkweed is a host plant for larvae of the monarch butterfly; California Dutchman's pipe is a host plant for larvae of the pipevine swallowtail butterfly.

- Sustainable gardening practices: The way we manage the weeds, soil and water in our gardens affects the general habitat for wildlife living there. Chemicals from synthetic pesticides and fertilizers may be toxic to the insects and birds we are trying to encourage. Pulling weeds by hand is labor-intensive, but that labor can be minimized by heavy mulching, which will prevent the growth of weeds in the first place.

As an alternative to synthetic fertilizers, soil can be improved with organic fertilizer such as the sustainable aged manure produced by sheep or cows. Compost is a sustainable fertilizer because it is created from the waste plant material of the garden itself. Make compost tea by soaking compost in water, then use that water on thirsty plants.

Water in the garden should be managed to minimize waste. Xeriscape or water-wise landscaping will reduce the cost of irrigation, as will drip systems and soaker hoses. To reduce erosion of wildlife habitat, plant ground covers - preferably native species - or build terraces.

If you are interested in creating a sustainable habitat garden, you may want to learn about the National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) Certified Wildlife Habitat program.

In order to qualify for certification, in addition to providing food, water, places for cover and places to raise young, gardeners must also demonstrate that their gardens employ sustainable gardening techniques, including mulching and composting, without using synthetic fertilizer. The program is aimed at educating gardeners and their communities about the interaction between gardening practices and nurturing wildlife. The NWF hopes to register 100,000 gardens as Certified Wildlife Habitats.

More information is available at www.nwf.org/certify.

HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS

Five aspects to consider when creating a garden that creates healthy habitat for wildlife.

- Food sources: Basic nutrients for plants and animals

- Water sources: Place for wildlife to drink and bathe as well as to refresh plants

- Cover and protection:Shelter from predators and the weather

- Places for young wildlife: Protected places where wildlife can bear and raise young

- Sustainable gardening practices: Weed, soil and water management

The University of California Marin Master Gardeners are sponsored by UC Cooperative Extension. For questions about gardening, plant pests or diseases, call 499-4204 from 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays, or bring in samples or pictures to 1682 Novato Blvd., Suite 150B, Novato.Ê

Comment by Vixie Styx on March 5, 2009 at 8:53am

Give Peas a Chance!

Comment by Silja Saareoks-Kaldre on February 18, 2009 at 7:19pm

Plant the seed with the feel
With the dream you want to see
Plant from love that you feel
You will see the unseen

Love is everything.

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