Its Arbor Day: Start Your Victory Gardens, America

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*Its Arbor Day: Start Your Victory Gardens, America *

**

*This can be as simple as a few potted herbs or tomato plants to a

community

garden or a full scale farm for profit. Get out in the fresh air and get

some exercise this weekend. Turn your soil and mix in some organic

matter

such as composted leaves and grass clippings, coffee grinds and egg

shells

and other composted kitchen waste. A small bag of composted manure

from the

garden store goes a long way. For large plots, you may want to rent or

borrow a tiller. Those in the North can start your seeds indoors.

Lettuce

and spinach can be planted directly in the ground weekly or bi-weekly. *

**

*The key to healthy eating is including more fresh vegetables, fruits,

and

whole grains in our diets. *

*I have been a backyard gardener since childhood. The experience is

educational, therapeutic, healthful, and rewarding. When you harvest and

share the bounty of your garden, you will have a fine experience. *

**

*Here is a great gardening website at about.com with lots of

information and

articles.*

**

*Happy Arbor Day! Get out and hug a tree today! *

**

*-Tommy*

 

Michelle Obama and Students Planting the new White House Kitchen Garden

 

 

http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/Getting_Started_in_the_Garden_Techniq\

ues_and_Terms.htm

Getting Started in the Garden - Techniques and Terms

Gardening is one of the most enjoyable and relaxing activities around.

Siting a garden bed, choosing plants and making them thrive are

techniques

you can learn. Here are some fundamental concepts and ideas to get you

growing in the right direction.

Basics - Getting Started

(12)<http://gardening.about.com/od/gettingstarted/Getting_Started_Creating_a_Gar\

den_and_Choosing_Plants.htm

>

Organic

Gardening

(9)<http://gardening.about.com/od/organicgardenin1/Organic_Gardening_How_to_Have\

_a_Great_Garden_Organically.htm

>

Blogs

About Gardening

(17)<http://gardening.about.com/od/blogs/Garden_Blogs_Stay_Informed_and_In_Touch\

_with_Other_Gardeners.htm

>

Pruning

Plants

(13)<http://gardening.about.com/od/pruningplants/Pruning_Plants_When_to_Prune_Wh\

at_When_How.htm

>

Books

on Gardening

(11)<http://gardening.about.com/od/booksongardening/Books_for_Gardeners.htm

>

Seasonal

Gardening

(113)<http://gardening.about.com/od/seasonalgardening/Seasonal_Garden_Projects_T\

asks.htm

>

Catalogs

& Online Sources

(3)<http://gardening.about.com/od/catalogsonlinesources/Catalogs_and_Online_Sour\

ces_for_Plants_and_Gardening_Supplies.htm

>

Seed

Starting

(11)<http://gardening.about.com/od/seedstarting/Seed_Starting_The_Basics_of_Grow\

ing_Plants_from_Seed.htm

>

Cooperative

Extension

(1)<http://gardening.about.com/od/cooperativeextension/Cooperative_Extension_Ser\

vice_Finding_Yours.htm

>

Soil,

Fertilizer and Mulch

(26)<http://gardening.about.com/od/soil/Soil_The_Beginning_of_Any_Good_Garden.ht\

m

>

Garden

Maintenance

(36)<http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenmaintenance/Garden_Maintenance_Half_the\

_Fun_of_Gardening.htm

>

Tools

for the Garden

(67)<http://gardening.about.com/od/toolschool/Tool_for_the_Garden_The_Right_Tool\

_Can_Make_Any_Garden_Task_Easier.htm

>

Gift

Ideas (5)<http://gardening.about.com/od/giftideas/Gifts_Ideas_for_Gardeners.htm

>

Zones:

USDA Hardiness Zones

(1)<http://gardening.about.com/od/zones/USDA_Hardiness_Zones.htm>

Gardening Basics - Getting Started in the

Garden<http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/a/GardenBasics.htm>

Starting a garden should be a pleasure. But it does help to have a

little

knowledge of how to go about making a garden. Here's a quic selection of

articles to give you confidence in creating your won garden.

Starting a New

Garden<http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/ss/NewGarden.htm

>

Starting your first garden shouldn't be a daunting task. Probably the

best

piece of advice is - Start Small. If you're frozen in your steps,

wondering

what to plant, where to plant it, how to not kill it..., here's a bottom

line Step-by-Step primer for you. Veteran gardeners, how many times

have you

been asked for help from frazzled first timers. Here are some tips to

pass

along.

See more links

below...<http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/Getting_Started_in_the_Garde\

n_Techniques_and_Terms.htm#b

>

 

Planning a Vegetable

Garden<http://gardening.about.com/od/startingavegetablegarden/a/Grow_Vegetables.\

htm

>

Fortunately, growing vegetables is pretty easy. Whether you are

starting to

plan your first vegetable garden or dreaming up your next, growing great

tasting vegetables and staying ahead of problems does take a little

knowledge and effort. The following lessons will get your vegetable

garden

up and running in no time.

Frugal

Gardening<http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/tp/Frugal-Gardening.htm

>

It's easy to get carried away planting a garden. Even after you've

bought

all the necessary tools and supplies, there are always more plants to

covet

and new gadgets to try. But that doesn't mean your garden has to turn

into a

sink hole for your money. Some of the best gardening tips don't cost a

cent

and some will help you save money for years. Here are 10 no-pain ways to

save money and reso

 

Tips for a Better

Garden<http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/a/Quick_Tips.htm>

Great gardeners seem to know all the little secrets for making plants

happy.

Luckily, gardeners love to share almost as much as they love to talk

about

their gardens. Here's a collection of quick gardening tips and ideas

to make

your garden better. Feel free to share you gardening quick tips too.

Top Plant Picks - Top 10 Lists of Garden Plants for Specific

Needs<http://gardening.about.com/od/gardendesign/a/TopPicks.htm>

Need a clay buster? A rose for shade? What to try growing some of those

heirloom vegetables you've heard about? Wish your annuals would self-

seed?

These lists will give you some top plant varieties, whatever your garden

needs.

2 Minute Videos to Help Make You A Better

Gardener<http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/ig/Gardening-Video-Library/i\

ndex.htm

>

Gardening how-to video library. 2 Minute Videos to Help Make You A

Better

Gardener. Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. The

videos

in this gallery will show you how to prune roses and shrubs, plant

trees -

even make your garden look larger than it is!

Seed Starting - How to Successfully Start Plants from

Seed<http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/ss/SeedStarting.htm>

Starting plants from seed isn't rocket science, but there are several

seed

starting tips that will help your success rate with seed germination and

give your seedlings a healthy start.

Deadheading, Pinching and Cutting

Back<http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/ss/GardenMaint.htm>

Flower gardens require constant maintenance to look their best. Common

garden chores like pruning, pinching and deadheading are easy to

master, as

show here in this step-by-step photo tutorial.

Cuttings - How to Make More Plants with

Cuttings<http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/ss/Cuttings.htm>

Increase the plants in your home and garden by taking cuttings from

existing

plants and rooting them to make more plants.

Weather Predicting: How To Make a Monthly Climate Data

Calendar<http://weather.about.com/od/under10minutes/ht/climatecalendar.htm

>

The Midwestern Regional Climate Center is providing a free, online

program

where users can create calenders to tell them things like: average

temperatures, heating and cooling degree days and precipitation. And

it’s

easy to use! Here's a quick How-To from About’s Guide to Weather,

Rachelle

Oblack.

Gardening Terminology - Useful Terms to Know About

Gardening<http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/a/

GlossaryIndex.htm>

Gardening can sometimes sound like a foreign language, with hybrids,

drupes

and herbaceous plants. This garden glossary is meant to assist you in

deciphering gardening terminology.

Gardening Quotes of the Month

<http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/a/GardeningQuotes.htm>

A compilation of words of wisdom as quoted by fellow gardeners.

 

More:

http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/Getting_Started_in_the_Garden_Techniq\

ues_and_Terms.htm

--

Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.

Have a great day,

Tommy