Benefits of having a diverse garden
Creating a diverse garden is a great way to create ecosystems that are sustainable and resilient. Diversity is used in sustainable farming practices such as agroforestry and polyculture. You can create diversity in your backyard gardens too. Growing a variety of herbs, shrubs, trees, flowers and vegetables has a lot of benefits. Benefits of a diverse garden 1. Improves soil fertility Growing different variety of plants leads to a significant increase in soil fertility because the microbial population in the soil increases. The root systems in plants share a complex relationship with microbes in the soil. These microbes are responsible for the improvement in soil fertility because they feed upon…
What are permaculture principles
Permaculture can be described as designing landscapes by replicating patterns that are found in nature that benefit man and the environment. The word permaculture is from “ permanent agriculture”. Bill Mollison and David Holmgren are the founders of permaculture. Permaculture designs can be used in various fields. They are more sustainable and benefit humans. There are 12 permaculture principles and they can be used in any field. Be it having your own kitchen garden, building a house or starting a small scale business you can use these permaculture principles. Including these principles can help you to create sustainable permaculture designs. Permaculture principles 1.Observe and Interact Before planning a kitchen garden…
Mulching and its benefits to the soil
Mulching is a process of covering the soil with a layer of material to improve soil health. It can be done using either organic or inorganic material. Organic material includes dry leaves, grass clippings, straw and wood chips. Inorganic material includes pebbles, plastic and rubber. Microorganisms feed on organic mulch and in turn improve soil health. Mulching can be done throughout the year. Mulching the plants during summer helps to retain moisture in the soil and reduces water usage. Mulching during rainy season prevents soil erosion. Adding mulch to your plants has lots of benefits but at the same time adding too much mulch can harm them. It’s important to…
Benefits of Backyard Chickens
Having chickens in your backyard has lots of benefits besides getting fresh eggs. Chickens are quite friendly creatures that do not require much maintanence. They use only a small space in your backyard. If you have a kitchen garden or a vegetable garden, having chickens can benefit you in many ways. Benefits of having backyard chickens 1. Fresh eggs You get lots of eggs by raising chickens in your backyard. These eggs are more delicious and healthy compared to eggs that are brought in stores. Chickens raised in industries are raised in inhumane and unhygienic conditions. By having backyard chickens you avoid buying eggs that are produced in industries. You…
Benefits of having a kitchen garden
Most of the food that we eat today is grown using pesticides and they do more harm than good to our health. At the same time, these pesticides destroy our soil, water, and biodiversity. Having a kitchen garden can benefit you and the environment. Fruits and vegetables that are grown in kitchen gardens are more nutritious and benefit our health. Benefits of having a kitchen garden 1. Provides clean air Having more plants in your garden can help you breathe clean air keeping your lungs healthy. If you are living in a polluted city, it’s a must that you have more plants. 2. You get Fresh herbs You can pluck…
What is permaculture?
A lot of us have heard of the word permaculture but are not sure of what it is. Permaculture is derived from “ permanent agriculture”.It was introduced by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the year 1978. It follows a natural and sustainable approach to agriculture. Besides agriculture, permaculture design principles can be applied in several other fields such as Town Planning, Community Spaces, and Commercial and Industrial Premises. Permaculture Ethics These designs are created by observing natural patterns in an ecosystem. These patterns are replicated to create a sustainable system that can help solve issues like food shortages for humans and restore damaged ecosystems. Permaculture is about working with…
9 vegetables to plant in fall season
Fall is the season that lasts for four months (August, September, October and November) before the first frost arrives. It is the best time for growing vegetables that grow best in cooler temperatures. Before you start to plant vegetables during this season, know when will the first frost date be. Then plant vegetables that germinate fast and can be harvested within 2 months. Certain vegetables cannot handle very low temperatures whereas other vegetables are cold-hardy. Here is a list of fall vegetables that you can grow. Best vegetables to plant in fall season 1. Radish Radish is a cool weather crop and can tolerate temperatures between 60°F to 65 °F…
9 Best companion plants for okra.
Okra is one of the vegetables that is widely used for cooking purposes in many countries. It is one of the easiest vegetables to grow for beginner gardeners. This plant belongs to the same family of hibiscus and can be easily attacked by pests and many insects. Practising companion planting is one way to reduce the attack of pests on your okra plants. Best Companion Plants for Okra 1.Cosmos Cosmos flowers help to attract bees, pollinators and other beneficial insects to your garden. Beneficial insects help to control pests like mealy bugs and whiteflies on your okra plant. 2. Basil The strong scent of basil can help to deter pests and many insects away from your okra. Okra can also provide…
Growing a herb garden for beginners
Herbs are one of the easiest plants to grow in your home as they grow fast and require less maintenance. Growing herbs in your home can benefit you in many ways. You get fresh herbs to add to your dishes plus herbs can help to treat ailments as well.Here are few things to know when growing a herb garden: Planning a herb garden 1. Before planning your herbal garden, do some research and find out what herb grows well in your location. Herbs are of two categories Annuals and Perennials. Annuals are herbs that grow for a single season. Some examples include mint, cilantro, borage, dill and basil. Perennial herbs are those that live for…
11 flowers to grow in fall season
Certain flowers grow well and give bright blooms in cooler temperatures. Fall is the best season to grow them. Some of these flowers can tolerate frost and give blooms during the next spring whereas, others die when the first frost arrives. Here are some of the flowers that grow best in the fall season 1.Pansy: Pansies come in a variety of colours such as yellow, violet, red and purple. These flowers can also tolerate moderate levels of frost. They grow well when temperatures are between 7°C to 18°C (44.6°F to 64.4°F). They need well-drained fertile soil to grow well. 2.Nasturtium: Nasturtiums are cool-weather flowers but not frost-hardy. They grow well…
