YouPlanting Hardnecked Variety Garlic
Preparing The Soil Good soil preparation is necessary. Garlic prefers a loamy soil with a ph in the range of 6.2 and 7. A reading lower than this means your soil is too acidic. If your soil shows to be too acidic apply a little lime to correct the ph. Now you want to add some organic compost or hummus to your soil which creates a good growing environment. Prepare your soil to a depth of approximately 12 inches. Planting You want to plant your garlic cloves just before the first hard frost, here in Michigan mid to late October is perfect. This will allow roots to grow out before the ground freezes. We chose the hardnecked variety of garlic to plant because it grows well in cold climates. Just prior to planting, separate each of the cloves. Remove any cloves that appear to be soft and toss in the compost. To provide adequate room for the bulbs to develop you will want to space each clove 6 inches apart. When planting the cloves of hardnecked garlic, place the pointy end up and plant each clove 3 inches deep. Bugs are Everywhere! Because bugs are everywhere, toxic, poisonous insecticides are big business and money makers for the chemical companies. Some of these bugs are not so good for the garden but, some are very good for the garden and you really do want to keep them around. Let's meet 9 of the good guys that you want to welcome... More to come... Are you a cultivator of the earth?
Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous, and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bonds. ~ Thomas Jefferson Two recent studies show most Americans are still confused about GMOs!
Two new studies have found that most of the American public is clueless when it comes to foods that are genetically modified organisms and foods labeled as Non GMO. 46 percent of the respondents to one of the studies either don't know whether they consume GMOs or believe that they rarely or never do. There also seems to be a confusion between foods labeled Organic and Non-Genetically Modified. The findings reveal that the public lags behind current scientific understanding when it comes to our food! The bottom line here is we have to educate ourselves so that we can make the best decisions for our families. This means having a clear understanding of the labels and all the market terms. Do not be fooled by terms and words such as "All Natural" or "Straight From The Farm". Many of these are deceitful and will contain Genetically modified organisms. And, why you should care.... You should care because very little unbiased, independent scientific research has been done into the health and environmental implication of GMOs. The industry works hard to keep it that way through influencing our academic institutions and bullying scientist who don't comply. What foods are GMO's? Most processed foods contain genetically modified organisms (GMO's) such as corn oil, corn syrup, soy and beet sugar. Although most supermarket produce is non-GMO the USDA reports that a small percentage of sweet corn, zucchini and yellow squash are GMO as is most Hawaiian pineapples! Because federal law doesn’t require labeling of GMO produce, the EWG advises consumers to purchase organically grown varieties of these foods. To avoid GMO ingredients in processed food, look for products with a Non-GMO Project Verified or Certified Organic labels. And remember, "non GMO" does not mean organic. "Organic" does mean non GMO. |
AuthorDavid and Valerie Zimmer, owners of Greater Michigan Timber Management and chemical free gardeners. Archives
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