CHARLESTON, W.Va. - I'm always looking for healthier, more-natural ways to take care of my home and garden. In an ongoing quest for "green" gardening tips, I've found several of interest.
No special storage or disposal worries, unlike pesticides.
No threat of polluting property from product spills.
No special training or certification needed.
Provides a poison-free environment.
Self-cleans equipment, spray tanks and nozzles.
Can be combined with most conventional pesticides.
Considerable cost reduction of chemicals.
Exploring herbs
The West Virginia Herb Association will hold a fall conference Friday through Nov. 2 at the Flatwoods Conference Center. The theme is "Exploring Herbs." The cost is $90 for three days, $30 for Friday or Sunday only, $50 for Saturday only. For reservations, e-mail WVHA_Presid...@comcast.net and mail payments to Kathryn Hare, 44 Gentle Breeze Lane, Charles Town, WV 25414. For information, visit www.wvherb.org.
More night-bloomers
Brenda Konarske tells me her cereus had eight blooms this summer and 12 last summer, and that it loves the 90-degree days. Her cereus was part of her grandmother's plant and she has a photo of her mother in 1947 in Calhoun County, with the plant in the photo.
Carol Pendell of Charleston's West Side said she has a "moon flower" that she's always called "Christ in the Cradle." She called Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass' office, and the gentleman she spoke with told her the plant was a native of the Brazilian rain forest. He told her the original plant had a white bloom, but there was also one with a red bloom as well.
Contact Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 348-1249.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - I'm always looking for healthier, more-natural ways to take care of my home and garden. In an ongoing quest for "green" gardening tips, I've found several of interest.
Many city recycling programs don't take plastic plant pots, including the city of Charleston. However, the Kanawha County Solid Waste Authority does, according to Jeannie Gunter. You can drop off the rinsed-out pots at 600 Slack St. in Charleston. Other options include donating them to schools or community gardens.
Any other suggestions?
Wildflower stationery
My recycling bin is always full of paper. It seems the mailman brings more and more "stuff" that I don't want. I've tried those Web sites that say they will end mailbox clutter by removing me from catalog mailing lists, but so far, it's not working.
But here's one letter I would like to receive. There's a company called Botanical Paperworks of Winnipeg, Canada, creating lovely cards, invitations and stationary that are about as eco-friendly as possible. The handmade paper is embedded with wildflower seeds or herb seeds. When the paper is planted in a pot of soil, wildflowers or herbs will grow from the paper. Made with recycled bond paper, cotton remnants and abaca, a renewable leaf fiber, the product is "tree-free."
The company produces wedding invitations and programs, as well as personalized Christmas cards and party favors. For information, visit www.botanicalpaperworks.com.
Clean green
When plant leaves are clean, this enhances photosynthesis, which in turn, increases a plant's ability to fight pests and disease. Bio Plant Wash changes the way you might think about "application." It is applied as a wash, and washes plants, flowers, lawns, trees, fruits and vegetables clean. It can be used on its own, or blended in with your regular nontoxic pest-control program to achieve excellent results while using less pesticides.
According to www.greenhome.com, fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides create weak, dependent lawns, with shallow roots, weeds that compete and win, dead soil with no worms or tilth, and poisoned runoff into water supplies, lakes, ponds and oceans. The shallow root systems lead to weak plants that are easily damaged by drought, pests and diseases.
Benefits include:
No health hazards to workers, animals, customers or owners.No warning signs needed when spraying, or concerns of chemical drift.No special storage or disposal worries, unlike pesticides.No threat of polluting property from product spills.No special training or certification needed.Provides a poison-free environment.Self-cleans equipment, spray tanks and nozzles.Can be combined with most conventional pesticides.Considerable cost reduction of chemicals.Exploring herbs
The West Virginia Herb Association will hold a fall conference Friday through Nov. 2 at the Flatwoods Conference Center. The theme is "Exploring Herbs." The cost is $90 for three days, $30 for Friday or Sunday only, $50 for Saturday only. For reservations, e-mail WVHA_Presid...@comcast.net and mail payments to Kathryn Hare, 44 Gentle Breeze Lane, Charles Town, WV 25414. For information, visit www.wvherb.org.
More night-bloomers
Brenda Konarske tells me her cereus had eight blooms this summer and 12 last summer, and that it loves the 90-degree days. Her cereus was part of her grandmother's plant and she has a photo of her mother in 1947 in Calhoun County, with the plant in the photo.
Carol Pendell of Charleston's West Side said she has a "moon flower" that she's always called "Christ in the Cradle." She called Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass' office, and the gentleman she spoke with told her the plant was a native of the Brazilian rain forest. He told her the original plant had a white bloom, but there was also one with a red bloom as well.
Contact Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 348-1249.
Get Connected