Organic Gardening

September in St. Johns: Apache County Fair

By Regina Hitchcock

The culmination of the entire gardening season happens the week after Labor Day in Apache County: The Apache County Fair. In talking to entrants about their gardening tips and tricks, a person can garner invaluable information about organic gardening on the Southern Colorado River Plateau.

A Mid-Summer Foliar Spray for Fertilization and Pest Control

By Joshua Burman Thayer, Native Sun Gardens

This easy blend can be given as a root drench and also as a foliar spray. Foliar is to be applied in the time when the sun is up but too low to shine on the leaves. By spraying directly on the plants leaves, a boost to their metabolism hits them faster than in the soil.

Grow Sub-tropical Moringa for Food and Fodder

By Joshua Burman Thayer, Native Sun Gardens

The amazing a fast-growing soil-builder called moringa (Moringa Oleifera) is a perennial plant that is edible from root-to-shoot and can be a real boon to your garden and orchard. High in iron, it is an amazing vegetarian nutrition boost to you and your chickens.

Aquaponics

In this episode of Mother Earth News and Friends, Charlotte and her co-host Christianna meet with Dre Taylor, of Nile Valley Aquaponics, to discuss the difference between aquaponics and hydroponics, how he got started, and what this farming style has done for him and the community.

Hoophouse Bed Prep for Fall Plantings

By Pam Dawling

Good bed preparation in the hoophouse is very important, as we want to grow lots of close-spaced crops, which call for plenty of organic matter and good soil conditions. Here are step-by-step instructions, along with information about the tools we like best for this task.This article also includes information on the first fall crops we sow: spinach, tatsoi, radishes, scallions and Bull's blood beets.

Grow Scarlet Runner Beans For The Flowers

By Rebecca Harrold

So much more than simply an edible bean - scarlet runner beans are magnets for hummingbirds and butterflies.

Tips for Surviving a Summer Drought

By Benedict Vanheems

Help your garden survive a summer drought by using watering cans, watering from below, using drip irrigation, soaking drill before sowing, shading seedlings and keeping the soil cool by spreading mulch.

Perennial and Annual Weeding Tips

By Benedict Vanheems

Avoid persistent annual and perennial weeds by laying down cardboard, removing roots, using a sharp hoe weekly on established beds, spreading mulch or planting a vegetable with abundant foliage like potatoes.