By Dan Courtois
In order to live off a garden, you practically have to live in it." Frank McKinney Hubbard
Sprouts are the least expensive vegetable to produce and are plentiful. With only a supply of seeds it is entirely possible to eat for a year or more from your kitchen garden. When preparedness and sustainability are considered the pantry sprout seeds are a staple. Sprouts help to under gird a struggling budget. They are easy to use utilize, easy to prepare and require no fertillizer. All that this economic, nutritious, bountiful crop needs is a little moisture, a little air and a small nook in which to do their magic.
Sprouts can be a quality substitute for lettuce and other greens if the supplies or affordability becomes such that the produce is longer readily available. There are a variety of sprouting seeds available that will grow year round when the vegetable garden is not as hardy or bountiful. Sprouting guides have extensive information as to measuring quantity, soaking hours and sprouting days. Daily care and harvesting recommendations are also listed on the charts available. Use only untreated or organic grains, seeds or beans may have been treated and could be toxic
The largest relative amount of nutrients per unit of intake in comparison to other food sources is found in sprouts. This concentration of nutrients is used by the for the development of the seed. When the sprout is harvested at the proper time these nutrients have not been completely utilized by the growing plant and are optimized. They contain enzymes which aid in digestion, proteins that aid in digestibility, fiber, vitamins and other minerals. There are however several important.... http://tinyurl.com/y8b4ljk
Farmer Dan Rn is a blog that offers simple solutions to a variety of simple livings being gardening, pest control, poultry management and wholesome entertaining. Our intention is to consistently present relevant articles that are applicable to the small farmer and those who have chosen a frugal lifestyle. We address some of the political problems faced and their direct affect on this community without offending our audience.
Farmer Dan RN. is a registered nurse where patient care is his passion. With the blog the same care is given to each article. Farmerdanrn.com is the quality internet magazine that can meet the needs across generations and political lines.
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Sprout Your Kitchen Garden
AeroGrow AeroGarden Hydroponics Kit Review - Indoor Hydroponics for the Rest of Us
By J Ruppel
Looking for something different for a gift for your gardener? Or something for the cook in your life. It's not often that something completely novel shows up in the world of gardening, but the Aerogrow Aerogarden Indoors Hydroponics kit is something new, that uses technology that did not exist ten or fifteen years ago, and at one point was actually featured in Time magazine.
The Aerogrow system is a completely self contained hydroponics system. Hydroponics is a soil-less system, in which the plant's root system actually grow in enriched or fertilized water.
Because the Aerogarden is a soil-less hydroponic system, it eliminates a lot of the mess associated with indoor container gardens. There is also no risk of soil-borne diseases or pests when using a hydroponics unit.
The Aerogrow Aerogarden kit includes not only the hydroponics system, complete with a computer controlled pump, but a built in adjustable grow light as well. Because of this level of automation, you can set the system up and not bother it for up to two weeks. It includes seed sets for many different types of plants. Ranging from herbs to to salad fixings to small vegetables there are seed kits for many different types of vegetables. You simply set the computer control for the type of seeds you have selected, and you are set to go.
Because this is an indoor hydroponic unit, the Aerogrow system can be used year round. Harvesting herbs and vegetables in the middle of winter is not a problem, and it can be used indoors in the heat of the Southwest summers to keep a supply of vegetables that would normally wilt that far south.
How well does the this indoor hydroponic system work? To learn more you can go to our complete Aerogrow Aerogarden Hydroponic System review along with time lapse videos of the assembly and operation of the unit at How to Garden Guide
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Two Tips For a Higher Yielding Vegetable Garden
By Casey Evens
The first thing to do is make sure the soil is enriched. Plants pull much need nutrients out of the ground when they grow so you need to replace them.
The first way to do this is to add compost. You can make compost by taking kitchen scrapes (not meat or dairy) and mixing them in with leaves or grass clippings. Over time the matter will break down leaving you with a nutrient rich brown soil. Mix the compost in with your regular soil and your plants will love it.
The second way to enrich soil is (hold your breath) horse manure. That's right horse manure is one of the best things to plant you plants in. Right now you're probably thinking to yourself that you don't have horses but you probably know where a horse farm is. Most horse farmers will let you get horse manure as long as you don't mess with their horses. Stop by a local farm and ask if you can have some. You want the older manure that looks like dark brown dirt. It really doesn't smell that bad!
The second thing to do is to plant flowers by your vegetable garden. The logic behind that is that bee's pollinate flowers. The more honey bees that you have around the more the flowers on your vegetable plants will get pollinated. Honeybees are not like wasps. They only sting you if you are a threat to them. I've even pick vegetables along side of honeybees and don't get stung. Now if you have little kids you have to be more careful until they learn to leave the bees alone.
Gardening is a lot of fun to do and can be seriously relaxing. And lets face it, in this day and age any thing that is relaxing and enjoyable is something worth doing! Get more vegetable gardening tips. Check out The Real Gardening Handbook and sign up for Free Gardening Tips and Articles!
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