Any enthusiastic gardener will tell you that gardening is food for the soul. Gardening stirs your imagination to be creative. It provides some fun along with physical exercise, fresh air, and sunlight. In addition, there is the delight of seeing the seedlings sprout, flowers bloom, picking fresh fruit, harvesting vegetables and having fresh herbs at your disposal.

An added bonus is seeing a variety of butterflies, birds, and frogs you attract to your garden. These are just some of the joys of gardening and creating a well-balanced ecosystem around you. So today we will discuss the importance of keeping your garden pest free and how to attract butterflies as well as providing a well-balanced eco-system for them.

“Every garden is an individual expression of creativity. So! You think you‘re not creative. Well, plant a garden and you may find out that you are far more creative than you thought.”

CALCIUM TO ENRICH THE GARDEN SOIL

After using the eggs rinse the eggshells and set them aside to dry. Powder them in the blender and sprinkle in your flower and vegetable beds. This adds a boost of calcium to the soil. Alternatively, you could just crush them and throw them on the compost heap (If you have one).

COMPOSTING

Are you throwing your kitchen waste in the garbage? Why don‘t you start your own compost pile? This doesn‘t require a large area; a drum-sized container (200 liters or 55 gallons) will work well. Once you have a small pile, add some earthworms. Make sure your compost gets water and sunlight as this helps with the decomposition. Chemical/synthetic fertilizers are manufactured using synthetic substances. These fertilizers work quickly because they feed the plants directly, but they do not improve the soil itself and can, over time, destroy the beneficial organisms needed for healthy soil.

Organic/natural fertilizers don‘t feed the plants directly but rather add essential nutrients to the soil. They work more slowly, first breaking down in the soil into forms that the plant‘s roots can absorb more easily. Over time, these nutrients become available to the plants. So let‘s allocate a space for a container and let‘s start composting by using some of this daily common household waste.

COFFEE GROUNDS

Coffee grounds are particularly useful for plants that like more acidic soil, such as blueberries, evergreens, azaleas, roses, camellias, avocados, and many fruit trees. Allow the coffee grounds to dry and scatter them lightly around your plants.

COOKING WATER

Cooking Water - After cooking your vegetables, don‘t throw this water down the drain. The cooking water contains many nutrients that the boiled vegetables have released. Let the water cool down and use it to water your plants.

HAIR

Dog Hair, Horse Hair, and Cat Hair - Dig these into your garden soil or add them to your compost.

GELATINE

Gelatine is great for houseplants and a good source of nitrogen. Dissolve one packet of gelatine in 1 cup of hot water, and then add 3 cups of cold water. Pour this mixture directly on the soil around your plants once a month.

GREEN TEA

Make a weak solution using 1 tea bag to 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of water and apply once every 4 weeks.

WOOD ASH

Use the ashes from Your Fireplace or Fire Pit. Ashes from wood fires can be sprinkled directly onto the soil. (no charcoal ashes) Wood ashes add potassium and calcium carbonate to the soil. Please note that wood ash will increase the alkalinity of the soil, so you don‘t want to use it around your acid-loving plants.

PLANT MATERIAL

Plant Material such as leaves, wilted flowers, kitchen waste from fruit and vegetables, grass cuttings and other garden refuse can be added to the pile. Do not add weeds that have flowered and do not add branches that are too thick, as they will take too long to decompose.

CUT FLOWERS

To make your cut flowers last longer in a vase, combine equal quantities of Epsom salt and Alum, (available at drugstores or supermarkets). Store the mixture in a jar and add 1 tsp. to each liter of water. Stir well to dissolve, and then add your flowers.
Tulips will not open to the full and live far longer if a little salt is added to the water.

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Animation By @zord189

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(photos from Pixabay)

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I am offering a safe and natural alternative to conventional treatment, but these recipes, ideas and treatment should not be misconstrued or substituted for medical advice. Please always proceed with caution and test it first on a small area, or in small quantities, if you are uncertain. Should you suspect that you or your animal have a medical problem, I urge you to seek professional advice.