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Gardening Gurus (useful Websites & Info)

Discussion in 'Nature/Habitat/Garden Corner' started by foodie, Dec 7, 2006.

  1. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Has anyone been to the Blandy Arboretum in Boyce, VA? This is a great resource for gardening questions, tree identification and education for large and small gardeners, and a kid friendly environment for learning about nature.
    Website is:

    virginia.edu/blandy/ (Virginia State Arboretum.)

    Below are web sites for gardeners:

    seedsofchange.com (Seeds of Change has HEIRLOOM varieties of 100's of vegetable and flower seeds. Great site for sustainable gardening and educational information online.)

    planetnatural.com (Planet Natural is an organic garden company selling organic fertilizers, natural pest controls, and other sustainable gardening products. Great educational information online with newsletters, etc.)

    organicgardening.com (Organic Gardening publishes an organic gardening magazine and can be viewed online or subscribed to. Archived articles on web site. Best resource I know of for organic reading!)

    vnps.org (Virginia Native Plant Society web site for native plants and their habitats. Great resource for teaching kids and adults on nature, etc.)

    greenhousecatalog.com (Greenhouse Catalog resource for starter and larger greenhouse growing, cold frames, etc.) We use them for cold frames for growing year round veggies, etc. Small cold frame kits available for small yards in single family and townhomes.

    gardeners.com (Gardeners Supply company supplies ALL types of gardening tools, garden decorations, lights, etc. Great resource!)
     
  2. JLC

    JLC Member

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    One of my favorite websites for gardening is: http://www.gardenweb.com/

    They have a vast list of forums covering just about everything.
     
  3. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    :D JLC--

    Thanks your your input in this threads. Glad to have helped you. I did forget about garden web.

    Foodie
     
  4. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Below are some more gardening sites:

    www.asnv.org (Audubon Society's web site that has a wealth of information. They sponsor the LEAPP program which has classes regarding astronomy, birding and nature classes, and other useful information.)

    www.kitchengardeners.org (Kitchen Gardeners International has informative information and essays on gardening. Check it out!)

    www.loudounwildlife.org (Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is another great resource.) They have alot of educational programs for ALL ages (kids and adults). Nature studies, hands-on-classes, field trips, amphibian and stream monitoring--to mention a few. Great place for homeschoolers too!
     
  5. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    RE: Gardening Gurus (Useful Web Sites & Info)

    Fellow Gardeners--

    For organic gardening and great soil amendment products--we suggest that you purchase "Bumper Crop Soil Amendment" produced by a company called Master Nursery. Blue Mount Nursery carries the 2.0 cubic foot bags and the material contains fish bones, kelp, and other organic materials.

    We purchase on the average 10-15 pallets of this soil amendment for our gardens (vegetable and flower). Master Nursery also produces other organic garden products for the avid gardeners. The company has a plethoria of materials and useful information with a Question and Answer (Q&A)segment. Also, if you wish to see where the Master Nursery products are sold beside Blue Mount Nursery--put in your zip code and go within 25 mile range. We are pleased with Blue Mount's selection. Web site is--

    www.masternursery.com (Master Nursery's site and helpful info for gardeners.)

    Good luck--

    Foodie
     
  6. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    RE: Gardening Gurus (Useful Web Sites & Info)

    Gardening Gurus--

    Here are some sources that we use when ordering gardening, landscaping, farming, flowers, and vegetables for our farm. Not all catalogs are just for farmers. Have fun--also, any questions feel free to ask.

    Good eats and gardening!:D :D

    www.FarmTek.com (FarmTek is a source for greenhouses--small and large. Farming needs and other garden sources. Large and informational catalog online also. We use FarmTek for our large greenhouses as well as our Mennonite relatives who are farmers also.)

    www.gardeners.com (Gardener's Supply Company is another great gardeners dream for all types of products, etc.)

    www.starkbros.com (Stark Brothers is a well-known catalog for fruit trees, vegetables--seeds and plants, etc.--that you do not find locally and other garden products.)

    www.seedsofchange.com (Seeds of Change is a well-known Certified Organic Heirloom seed catalog for vegetables, flowers, and other organic garden needs. Great descriptions for heirloom varieties of produce, etc. We use their catalog yearly.)

    www.rhshumway.com (Shumway is an illustrated garden guide for heirloom and hard-to-find varieties of seeds for flowers and produce (vegetables, fruits, etc. Great sources and reads like a magazine.)

    www.woodprairie.com (Wood Prairie Farms sells heirloom organic potatoes--fingerlings, baby gourmet potatoes, and gourmet potatoes that you do even see at Whole Foods. They sell fully produced ready-to-eat potatoes from September to May yearly in their growing season. Based out of Maine and they also sell seeds of all their potatoes as well as other products. We use them all the time.)
     
  7. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Gardening Gurus (Useful Web Sites & Info)

    Gardening Gurus and others--

    Below are some tips that we have been doing forever in gardening and on our farm. They are "old-timey and tried and true" Amish and Mennonite solutions for gardeners. Enjoy--

    1. For the BIGGEST AND JUICIEST tomatoes--sprinkle 1
    teaspoom Epsom Salt into each hole when you plant tomato plants. It is
    the MAGNESIUM in the Epsom Salt that works the magic!

    2. Worms will not bother tomato plants as much if you plant dill close by
    them.

    3. Put wood ashes on the ground when you plant radishes to keep the
    worms away.

    4. Wood ashes and lime are good for dusting cabbage.

    5. For rose plants--to keep bugs off your rose plants--hang banana peels
    over the branches.

    6. To keep cut flowers longer--add 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon
    vinegar, 1 teaspoon mouthwash, and 4 drops of dishsoap to the water.

    7. Add Epsom Salt to water. Use to water your geraniums. It makes the
    leaves a darker green color and makes big blooms.

    8. To rid ants--mix 1 cup laundry Borax and 1 cup sugar. Sprinkle mixture
    lightly on countertop. Also good for garden paths, shrubs, and trees.
    BE SURE TO CLEAN AND WASH COUNTERTOPS AFTER ANT
    MIXTURE HAS DONE ITS WORK!

    9. For plant food--in 1 gallon of water--put 1 shot glass of baking powder,
    1 shot glass Epsom Salt, and 2 ounces ammonia. Put on plants every 2
    weeks.

    10. For pepper plants--spray at blossom time with 1 tablespoon Epsom Salt
    in a pint of water for a good yield.

    11. Plant radishes and carrots in same row. Radishes loosens soil for delicate
    carrot plants.

    12. For flower plants--1 tablespoon gelatin (NOT JELL-O),
    1 cup boiling water, 3 cups cold water. Mix this together and give 1/2
    cup to each flower plant ONCE a week.

    13. To keep snails away from lettuce and celery--crush dried egg shells and
    place around young plants. Snails have shown in studies not to cross
    egg shells. (We use our chicken's egg shells--after we eat the eggs--for
    our vegetable and flower gardens. Great method!!)
     
  8. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Gardening Gurus (Useful Web Sites & Info)

    Gardeners who are Gurus (or wannabes)--
    Happy Gardening--Foodie--

    Yes, coffee grounds and used tea bags (or used loose tea leaves) are great for vegetable and flower gardens--roses and azaleas included. When you compost food--nitrogen is released in the soil and the worms love it for your garden soil. Great way to "recycle" food leftovers--we do this alot with our food and table scraps. If you wish more explicit details on food composting for gardens, how to build or purchase a compost bin/bucket--PM me or ask me on this thread. Also, check out previous garden catalogs that I posted previously on "Gardening Gurus..." thread.

    Here are some more gardening and information web sites--

    www.gardenweb.com (Garden Web is a great source--just ask questions online.)

    www.pennypinching-grandma.com/garden.html (Pennypinching Grandma's site is also "chockfull" of thrifty ideas and also on gardening. Click on gardening tab for info.)

    www.davesgarden.com (Dave's Garden is another site with garden forums, etc.)

    www.freebies.about.com/cs/free/l/blstarbucks.htm (About.com's 03/12/01article online regarding Starbucks' "free" coffee grounds and tea leaves/bags for composting in gardens.)
     
  9. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Gardening Gurus (Useful Web Sites & Info)

    Gardening Gurus--

    Since my family and I (including quads) spent most of today weeding and harvesting our huge veggie garden and fruit trees today on our farm--I thought that I would provide some more gardening tips and web site information for your perusal. Enjoy!

    Below sources are excerpted from a garden book called GROW ORGANIC FOR FIRST-TIMERS AND OLD-TIMERS ALIKE--written by--Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser. Great resource for reading--

    We have used the below resources on our farm--even though we are not certified organic--we farm organically! Good eats--:D :D

    Any questions--feel free to ask us or PM queries--below are a listing of Organic Suppliers and Info (O) will refer to Organic gardening web sites. Non-organic (NO) will refer to Non-Organic--of course--where noted--

    www.extremelygreen.com (Extremely Green Gardening Company provides a complete line of organic products, good customer service, and a great web site.) (O.)

    www.dirtworks.net (Dirt Works has alot of everything for organic lawns--including fertilizers, grass seed, and pest controls.) (O.)

    www.territorialseed.com (Territorial Seed Company has a great catalog also for late season harvests and summer gardening. Great resource.) (O.)

    www.rareseeds.com (Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds is a great heirloom garden site for gardens. Examples of heirloom seeds that we grow each year from their catalog are--winged beans, tiger-striped melons, and orange eggplants.)
    (O.)

    www.highmowingseeds.com (High Mowing Seeds is a great source for organic seed. Family owned and great service!) (O.)

    www.planetnatural.com (Planet Natural shows great methods of pest control for organic gardens. Lawn care products and beneficial insects. Easy web site to use.) (O.)

    www.groworganic.com (Peaceful Valley Farm Supply is where we obtain also alot of our own farming needs for gardens. Everything from soil test kits to tools, equipment, seeds, and pest control. Catalog has alot of useful information filled with helpful hints and charts.) (O.)

    www.abundantlifeseeds.com. (Abundant Life Seeds also have rare seeds and extraordinary seeds also.) (O.)

    www.seedsofchange.com (Seeds of Change is a seed company that specializes in preserving heirloom and traditional varieties.) (O.)

    www.gardensalive.com (Gardens Alive is a one-stop organic shopping. The catalog boasts great pictures of pests and a program for organic tree care.) (O.)

    www.arbico-organics.com (Arbico Organics has organic fly control, pet care, pest control, fertilizers, ,and lots more.) (O.)

    www.onegreenworld.com (One Green World has fruit and nut trees, shrubs, rootstocks, and berries.) (O.)
     
  10. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Gardening Gurus (Useful Web Sites & Info)

    Gardeners--

    Below are some effective and helpful web sites for Natural and Organic Pest Control along with some "good and informative" reading material. Enjoy!

    www.attra.ncat.org (Attra's site is "chock full" of info regarding Sustainable Gardening info and other Agricultural answers. We use this site alot for our concerns/inquiries.)

    www.organic-egarden.com/InsectCtl.htm (Organic Egarden's site is great for all types of pest control, gardening info, etc.)

    www.invisiblegardener.com (Invisible Gardener's site features an online radio broadcast with question/answer segments, answers for Natural/Organic Pest Control Methods, and other useful gardening information.)
     
  11. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Gardening Gurus (Useful Web Sites & Info)

    Gardening Gurus--

    Just thought I would "dig up" (bad pun--:)) this post to offer some web sites/info for Fall and other seasonal Farming and Gardening Events. The following info is great for Farmers (like our family) and Gardeners with alot of land or small lots.

    Reading information will be listed as needed. PM or ask me for help if you wish.

    www.GMushrooms.com (Gourmet Mushrooms web site/info where you can--yes you can--grow your own Mushroom Farm. The Gourmet Mushroom Kits are Certified Organic. Our kids do this for 4H projects. Also, we gave our kids' school this idea for a Science Fair. You can choose from several varieties of Gourmet Mushrooms like blue oyster, brown oyster, and Shittake as well as other types. Great resource for Homeschoolers and just plain fun!)

    www.mosesorganic.org (Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Services offers great info. We have attended in the past. Great web site with info.)

    www.hobbyfarms.com (Hobby Farms magazine is a great resource even for non-farmers who garden. Web site offers tons of info related to farming, gardening, etc. Online resources for events all over the USA for trade shows, events, recipes, Organic Foods/Farming, etc. We subscribe to this magazine and find it interesting.)

    www.pasafarming.org (Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture and Farming's web site/info with alot of info to read and learn from regarding gardening, the Local Food Movement vs. Organic Food that travels 1000's of miles, and CSA(s), etc. We are attending some of the trade and farm events this Fall.)

    www.sare.org (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education's site/info for Farmers, Gardeners, etc. Great resources to locate local CSA(s), Farms which may not be listed with the local Cooperative Extension Offices, and other related info for Sustainable Eating and Farming. We contribute to this movement with our own farm practices. I have written articles for this group and other publications related to this ideal. Good eats!!)
     
  12. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Gardening Gurus (Useful Web Sites & Info)

    More Misc. Gardening Info/Sites to Buy Garden Seeds, Plants, etc.--


    www.debaggioherbs.com (Debaggio Herb Farm is a great place for herb plant seedlings and herbal soaps, etc. Great local farm which we use frequently. Check out Spring 2007/etc. catalog for a look at their plant stock.)
     
  13. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Gardening Gurus (Useful Web Sites & Info)

    Gardening Gurus--

    Just bumping this post up for early Spring gardening ideas. We purchase our herb plants, vegetable plants, and perennials from Debaggio Herb Farm & Nursery in Chantilly, VA (Loudoun County near S. Riding area). Even though we farm and use alot of mail order online and hardcopy paper catalogs for seeds, plants, etc., Debaggio Herb Farms has 100(s) (literally!) of plants and seedlings, herbal soaps/lotions, etc.

    Web site is below--

    www.debaggioherbs.com (Debaggio Herb Farm's site/info.)

    Foodie
     
  14. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Gardening Gurus (Useful Web Sites & Info)

    Gardening Gurus--

    Just thumbing through my new Spring 2008 garden catalog from a great resource called Territorial Seed Company. Since we have almost 10 hoop green houses now, I am looking to try growing Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes for this Winter and Spring 2008. Yes, you read this right, Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes. Easy to grow and a new variety that is easy for the home gardener.

    The Territorial Seed Company catalog has over 100 pages of garden seeds, greenhouses (for homeowners that have small and large gardens and yards), and other garden supplies. The seeds also includes flowers, vegetables, and herbs that you do not find at local nurseries or in some other garden catalogs. They also sell seedling plants. Check out their catalog online and order a catalog for hard copy to peruse--and dream--of Spring.

    Web site is below--

    www.territorialseed.com

    For example, right now, I am growing a soybean called "Black Pearl" which is a black soybean, "Gold and Candy-Striped" baby beets, "Purple Haze" carrots which has a purple skin. Unique items that you normally do not see at Whole Foods or Wegmans. Great place for seeds or other gardening needs.

    When our tomatoes and other veggies are ready--I will try to drop off some veggies if you wish.

    Foodie
     
  15. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Gardening Gurus (Useful Web Sites & Info)

    Gardening Gurus--

    Just came in from sledding with our kids (who were out of school today) on our big snowbank behind our home--boy--I hope they are tired--I am.

    Anyway, just went to retrieve my mail from the mailbox on the way in the mud room, and I came across another great resource for ordering Certified Organic and Biodynamic Seeds from a great company. The Spring 2008 seed catalog arrived from Abundant Life Seeds Company.

    Web site is below--

    www.abundantlifeseeds.com (Abundant Life Seeds' site/info. Great resource for gardeners for Spring 2008 with unique, unusual, rare, and endangered seeds for the home and commercial gardeners/farmers.)

    Some examples of seeds that we ordered online are--

    Mushroom Kits that includes Giant Morels, Pioppino (which Italian chefs use a delicacy in cooking), Elm Oyster Mushrooms, and Enokitake Mushrooms. Shittake and other varieties are easy to grow without alot of room or garden space.

    Shelling Peas (Heirloom and Old Seed varieties)

    Peppers, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Greens, etc. that you do not find locally.
    Great web site to read also.

    Foodie
     
  16. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Gardening Gurus (Useful Web Sites & Info)

    Gardening Gurus--

    Since we are dealing with growing garden produce, growing herbs, fruits, and veggies on our farm, I thought I would provide some useful helpful gardening tips that we use; as well as my Mennonite grandparents and parents still use on their farms. Hope you enjoy the information and "Happy Gardening"!!:)

    Misc. Gardening Information/Hints--


    Gardener's Home Remedies--

    1. One practice that farmers and home gardeners have done for years is to plant nails around tomato plants for relief of cutworms.

    2. To get lush tomato plants--bury a wad of wet newspaper under each tomato plant. The newspaper will help retain moisture for the plant's roots.

    3. Sprinkle lime dust or wood ashes on the ground around plants that have slugs.

    4. Use sour milk or buttermilk to sprinkle over cabbage to fight against cabbage worms.
     
  17. bazoda

    bazoda New Member

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    We are new to gardening and would like to begin by composting our kitchen waste. Does anyone know where I can buy, locally, a garden composter? I would prefer not to order one, but will if I must. Many Thanks!
     
  18. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Gardening Gurus (Useful Web Sites & Info)

    bazoda and others--

    Welcome to the beautiful and rewarding gardening world! Since we are farmers and avid gardeners, below are some local and mail order resources for ordering gardening supplies, garden composters, rain barrels (which we use alot on our farm), and other great information.

    www.gardeners.com (Gardeners' Supply Company site/info. Gardeners' is a great mail order resource and has everything an "at-home" gardener or "wannabe" farmer would enjoy. Huge assortment of garden composters, etc. We use this alot for one of our companies that we order from for our farm.)

    www.merrifieldgardencenter.com (Merrifield Garden Center's site/info. Many locations to choose from in the N. VA areas. We usually shop at the Fair Oaks location. Great web site to order from also.)

    www.tractorsupply.com (Tractor Supply's site/info. Closest store is in Leesburg, VA next to the DMV. Great place to shop and ordering online is enjoyable.)

    www.pitkinsacehardware.com (Pitkins Ace Hardware owns several EXCELLENT Ace stores. Closest and one of the largest stores is located at Sully Station Shopping Center off Westfields Blvd. in Centreville, VA. Sully Station Ace (Pitkins Ace owns this store) Hardware carries items that Lowes or Home Depot doesn't carry. Reminds me of an "old-fashioned" hardware store. Also, if you sign up for the ACE REWARDS PROGRAM (which is a NATIONAL program that ALL Ace stores offers), you will receive discount offers.)

    Hope this helps--I will add more info later.

    Foodie:happygrin:
     

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