There is many solutions that can help you keep the bugs out of your garden. By using household items, we can keep our garden free from pests. Toxins and harmful chemicals do not have to be part of your garden.

1. Tobacco or Nicotine Spray

This mixture is great for combating many different types of bugs, but especially caterpillars, aphids, and many types of those nasty worms.

Ingredients:
1 cup of tobacco
1 gallon of water

Put the tobacco into the container of water. Allow the mixture to set for approximately 24 hours. After it has stood for a day, check the color. It should be the shade of weak tea. If it is too dark, just dilute it with water until it looks right.

*Warning: Don’t use this solution on peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, or any other member of the solanaceous family. Tobacco chemicals can kill these types of plants!

2. Soap Spray

Another way to stop the slugs is with soapy water. That’s right, you can just use your old, dirty dishwater! Collect some of the water in a pan and pour it into a watering can or even use a pitcher to pour it over the plants. This works really well on hostas and mums, but also can be used on other hardy plants. Many bugs do not like their lunch spoiled by a soapy aftertaste! For a stronger solution, mix 3 Tablespoons of liquid detergent into a gallon of water, I prefer Dawn, but any will do. Use this weekly.

3. Alcohol Spray

This spray really is great for houseplants. This especially works on meal bugs. Read more

http://beautifulhomegarden.blogspot.com/2008/09/big-top-ten-organic-gardening-tips.html

http://containergardening.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/the-big-top-ten-organic-gardening-tips-google-beautiful-home-and-garden/

===============

By using only organic gardening supplies, your gardening tasks will be easier and more enjoyable.• Compost, an all natural soil amendment is made through the use of composters. Composters break down organic materials such as leaves, grass clippings, and food scraps to make a 100% organic, all natural soil additive. Composters come in varying shapes, sizes and designs. Research composters and choose one that meets your needs. Making your own natural compost is a great alternative to other organic gardening supplies you would ordinarily have to buy, and it’s free!

• Rain Barrels collect water from your roof and store it until needed. Rain water is softer and chemical free. Rain Barrels are great for keeping your plants healthy and saving water. Many rain barrels are made from reused food drums and recycled plastic, keeping with the commitment to sustainable living. You can collect approximately 675 gallons of rain off your roof from a single rain storm. Stored rain water supplies much needed moisture to your gardens during extreme dry spells where rationing is necessary.

• All Natural and organic fertilizers supplies much needed nutrients to plantings. Natural and organic fertilizers generally have a slow release so nutrients last over time. Natural and organic fertilizers such as liquefied worm poop and tea from composters, are among the top natural and organic fertilizers and an essential ingredient to your organic gardening supplies.

• Push reel mowers are a great way to be eco friendly! Push reel mowers use no gas or electric, only your own energy. Push reel mowers are lightweight, easy to use and gives your lawn that golf course look. Owning a push reel mower is an important part of organic gardening.

• Grow native plants. Native plants require less water. They are also naturally more insect and disease resistant than other plants. Healthy, lush gardens made from indigenous plants also make a natural home for birds.

• Container gardening is good for planting your favorite flowers and vegetables when space is limited! Use large containers such as steel buckets and wooden barrels for creative container gardening. Container gardens do not require a lot of organic material due to being enclosed. Many gardening containers such as green pots are all natural, made from all natural elements such as rice hulls and coconut fiber.

• Using only natural and organic gardening supplies such as Insecticidal Soap, Horticultural Oil or Organic Disease Control will keep your garden healthy, naturally. Organic gardening supplies leave no hazardous residue and break down naturally into the soil. Natural predators such as bats, praying mantis and ladybugs are great organic insect controls. Bat boxes are effective for keeping bats nearby and supplies shelter through the harsh winter months. Enjoying and benefiting from organic gardening is dependent upon the use of the highest quality organic gardening supplies.

• Mulch your flowerbeds and vegetable garden to retain moisture around plants. Mulch supplies your plants with much needed moisture throughout hot, sunny days. Mulching also keeps weeds away. Apply all natural worm poop fertilizer around plantings when mulching. Your organic garden will love you for it. • Create a bird habitat by placing bird houses, birdbaths and bird feeders in your yard. Birds are fun to watch and will control the insect population in a natural way. Pick a quiet section of your yard to keep a variety of birding supplies to attract birds of your choice. Bird food such as sunflower hearts and suet are great treats. • Whether you are working on your lawn, flowerbed or vegetable garden, have fun. Remember, all natural supplies will make organic gardening easier and more enjoyable. The following is a list of recommended all natural and organic gardening supplies: composter, rain barrels, organic fertilizers, push reel mower, natural gardening containers, birding supplies, natural homemade compost, These are the best equipment, tools and supplies for keeping your plants, turf and environment healthy.

Happy Gardening!

This article may be reproduced and/or distributed. This article was written by Mark & Vera Pappas, Co-owners of http://www.greennationgardens.com/?Click=23GreenNationGardens.com, suppliers of unique and eco-friendly garden supplies.

Grow fruit in even the smallest backyard
Even a small garden has room for a fruit tree. Fruit trees are ornamental as well as useful. They produce beautiful blossoms in the spring and can enrich the surrounding soil. Apple trees are great for climbing and providing shade as well as…apples. If you have the patience, consider at least one fruit tree as a beautiful and useful addition to your organic garden. Depending on the size of your yard and area where you want to plant a tree consider dwarf, semi dwarf and standard sized trees.

Your fruit tree must be pollinated in order to bare fruit. Some trees are self-pollinating while others need to be planted in pairs. Some trees require three trees in order to be pollinated. Ask your local nursery if self-pollinating trees are available, otherwise, let the bees do all of the work! For apple trees, a crabapple tree makes a great tree that is used solely for pollination. Read more

Send this sampler of Organic tasty treats & finest fruits! A specialty sampling of juicy, organic pears and apples, with a treasure trove of organic gourmet: tasty yogurt-covered banana chips, creamy yogurt-covered almonds, and luscious organic, nut-covered Chocolate Fudge. Read more

The organic food market may have been hot, but U.S. economic challenges have cooled down sales. While sales have increased 140 percent since 2003, and food and beverage sales are expected to reach $7.2 billion this year, growth has slowed in recent months, reports the research firm Mintel.

Economic concerns are causing Americans to take a harder look at grocery purchases. “Across the board, Americans are spending less and ‘organic versus traditional’ is a decision many people are thinking about carefully,” says Marcia Mogelonsky, Mintel’s senior analyst points out.

The research firm cites two major cost-related challenges for organic food producers: rising food prices and private-label brands. Prices for food consumed in the home increased 7 percent this past year, according to Mintel’s report. “To cope with higher prices many shoppers are simply opting not to buy pricey organic or premium brands,” says Mogelonsky. Read more

After eating China-made products that were tainted with melamine two more children in Hong Kong have developed kidney stones.

The city also found unsafe levels of melamine in China-made fish feed that were used at a local farm, after a similar scare over eggs.

All this has proven to be a boom for sales of organic food. Despite tightening budgets, when it comes to high-end grocery shopping, people in Hong Kong are still willing to dish out the extra cash.

One said: “I’m always willing to pay a little more for organic food because I think it’s better for the earth, not just for people.”

“I don’t want to take any chances,” another added. Read more

Ergonomic Garden Set from Radius Garden, Advanced Ergonomic Bulb Trowel. For bulbs and transplanting Optimized blade with depth markings for precision planting Natural radius grip maximized power and comfort and minimizes hand and wrist stress Santoprene provides secure grip weather wet or dry Ultra-light, super-strong aluminum magnesium blades should last a lifetime of gardening Carded Ergo style hand tool program. Read more

Organic Monitor announces a special Natural Cosmetics Masterclass that looks at the practical implications to cosmetic & ingredient companies.

After several years of discussions, the major certification agencies in Europe have finally reached an agreement on harmonising their private standards for natural & organic cosmetics. Soil Association (UK), BDiH (Germany), Ecocert (France), Cosmebio (France), AIAB (Italy) and Ecogarantie (Belgium) have developed common standards for natural and organic cosmetics. The first draft of the new standards has been released for public consultation this week. The final draft will be drawn in January and certification of products will begin in April 2009.

The agreement sets minimum standards for natural cosmetics and organic cosmetics, however the agencies will still be able to develop separate standards as long as the baselines are met. The move is analogous to what has occurred in the organic food industry where the EU has minimum standards for organic agriculture and food products. Read more

Organic and natural food products can play a key role in managing lifestyle diseases in the Middle East, where obesity, stress, cardiac disorders and diabetes are the biggest healthcare concerns, according to experts. The up to 40% more antioxidant levels in organic foods, as revealed in a four-year long European Union-funded study, have been scientifically proven to mitigate cancer and heart disease risks.

The fast-growing organic and natural food market is the highlight of the Middle East Natural & Organic Products Expo (MENOPE 2008), to be held from November 16 to 18 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Organised by Dubai-based Global Links, the event is supported by the UAE Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment & Water.

The organic food market is growing at an estimated 20 to 25% annually. More than 175 companies from over 35 countries will showcase an array of natural foods at the expo, expected to be attended by lifestyle specialists, nutritionists, retailers and healthcare professionals. Read more

The summer of 2008 has not been very good for the organic food industry. Below is a compendium of this summer’s news items:

June 20. The season starts with news of a Which? report that a panel of 120 taste testers found no differences between organic and conventional strawberries although the former cost two to three times as much. (Which? is the UK equivalent of Consumer Reports.)

July 6. Researchers at Bristol University in the UK find that organic chicken is not as tasty as conventionally-raised chicken. (Many people buy organic food because they believe it tastes better, but whenever tests are conducted scientifically, no taste differences are found.) Read more