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This is my greenhouse in the winter. I don’t heat my greenhouse, too expensive, but things somehow make it, even my tropical fruit trees. I can grow most things until dec without heat, even tomatoes until Nov. I am growing goji, curry leaf and other exotics most people don’t grow in Virginia.

A short video of raised bed gardening at Dancing Creek Farm. Visit my blog at farmgoddess.com

In the past few years there has been an increase in the reported cases of lyme disease in human and pets in the state of Virginia. In the past we didn’t have such a concern with lyme disease but cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Rather then go into a lengthy explanation about vector-borne diseases I’d like for you to use the link below to do a bit of reading and research.  Even if you live in town it doesn’t mean you won’t have a tick problem. My sister lives on Westover and her flea and tick problem is far worse then mine. I’d like to provide you with the information and this post will focus on protecting your pets and family. This summer will be worse then you can imagine. Please plan ahead.

Vector-borne Disease Control

The first line of defense is your lawn where you pets and family spend time. If you MUST use a chemical spray such as Cutters which last for 8 weeks and fits on a hose-end sprayer, please follow these guidelines carefully;

• Spray after you’ve cut your lawn.
• Spray early in the morning before the heat of the day sets in or in the evening.
• Allow 24 hours before pets or humans walk on treated grass. Spray the backyard one day and the front yard the next so you can safely let your pet out to potty.
• Carefully monitor your children and pets after.

Any chemical can have harmful side effects so it’s important to use only as needed and take the extra precautions.  If you have a big lawn perhaps you could spray the outer areas, bushes and avoid the direct area where your pets and children are.  After a few days there is less chance of the chemical entering the skin and blood stream. Still many pets eat grass and you need to be prepared to supervise.

Natural Flea and Tick Treatments for Lawns

Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade 10 Lb
Diatomaceous Earth - This fossilized skeletons of tiny aquatic organisms. When untreated, the razor sharp edges of this mined product scratch the exoskeletons of hard bodied insects, making them susceptible to fatal attack from natural organisms in the soil. Application rate: Dry: 1 lb. per 500 sq. ft. Solution: 2 tbs. per gal. of water. As a food supplement for pets: 1-2% of food volume.

Diatomaceous Earth will not work right away. You should also reapply every month. You can mix it as a paste and in a hose-end sprayer or by a powder applicator and puff dust around your yard. Sounds like a pain but it works and it will not harm pets, children, wildlife and the environment.

In addition I also use:

Farnam Central Life 3002536 Equisect Fly Repellent - Approved by the OMRI and the EPA. Contains the botanical repellent PyGanic. Also contains botanical and essential oils of citronella, clove stem, thyme, and corn mint. Although it’s a horse fly spray it is approved to kill ticks and fleas on dogs and cats. I use it here. I buy the 32 oz spray bottle then a gallon ( Equisect Gallon
) and refill. Once a week you spray lightly and deeply brush into the coat. Then once a day when you take your fur baby potty give them a quick light spray on the legs and belly. The gallon is 40 bucks but when you consider the price you pay for Frontline and the like it’s very affordable. In fact along with my other treatments I’ll put Equisect in a hose-end sprayer, set it at 3 teaspoons per gallon and spray it in my dog yards, on my fence, etc. It has an oil base and should stick just fine for a while. So I can kill fleas, ticks, other insects AND keep the flies away? I’m definitely signed up for that!

Last year we used a Garlic concentrate which worked great IF I applied it often but it was very expensive over an entire season.

If you have questions or comments let me know in the comments section below.

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The cats were once feral as little kittens but completely social now. I decided since I was allergic I couldn’t keep them in the house and they drove the dogs nuts! I have one cat that thinks he’s a dog.

The inside is floored with cedar chip bedding. They have beds and it’s like a cozy little cabin. You can’t see it but the top is completely closed in with chicken wire. This summer I will build a waterfall pond with some fish.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Japanese Eggplant, Thai Basil and Lemon Grass

With high gas prices, the cost and quality of food today we are all searching for ways to cut cost and provide our family with healthy fresh food. Here at the farm I am fortunate enough to grow enough food for myself and to share with my family. I have many years experience growing natural and organic fruits and vegetables. Although I am not a master gardener I feel pretty confident that I can provide you with information to help you get started.

Below this post you’ll see a comments section and a box to subscribe to comments. This post will act as an interactive discussion where you and others can ask questions or share your own links and information. Rather then post a multi page article on ALL your gardening options we’ll start with the basics and then wait for questions posted below and follow up post. If you subscribe to comments below you’ll receive an email each time someone post to this topic.

How do you grow an organic garden?

I admit that not every single thing that I do in my garden is considered organic by USDA standards. I may use a professional planting mix (Not miracle gro) and occasionally I will mulch with newspaper.  What I won’t use is pesticides or chemical fertilizers.  Few people realize the overall effects on your soil condition and food from chemicalfertilizers not mention what it does to wildlife.  Before we begin it’s important that you read :  Harmful Effects of Miracle Gro

The simplest and most effective way to grow fruits and vegetables is in a raised bed or containers. It’s much easier to control weeds and the condition the soil.  You can also grow in 5 gallon buckets or anything that holds soil.

How much sunlight is in the area you wish to place your garden? You need at least 6-8 hours of natural light per day.

In the ground or in a bed? Most of my gardening is done intensively in raised beds and automated irrigation. I find this way quicker, easier and produces larger crops. A bed can be made of anything, however stay away from pressure treated woods or they will leech harmful chemicals into your soil. I use white cedar, however this is expensive. Maybe others here have ideas? VERY IMPORTANT- always line the bottom and sides with weed cloth or nursery ground cover. Otherwise you’ll have weeds and grass growing straight up into your beds.

Using Straw Bales. Put down some weed cloth or ground cover. Sit straw bales on them. Do not take off the twine. Put top soil and compost smeared all on top, dig out holes into the straw with a spade and plant your seedlings in this. Then set up soaker hoses pinning it down on top, next to your plants and set up a simple timer on your facet to the hoses. Be sure to fertilize often because it runs down into the straw. This works great. It drains well and the roots get plenty of air.

What type of soil? Although you can grow in almost anything that drains, soil PH and balance is important. I also want a mix that will help save on watering. I like to use something you can get at a large Nursery call Sunshine Pro Mix 1. It comes in a 2 cubic foot bale. It cost about 30 bucks but it will fill a average size bed and go a long way. It also is a soiless mix containing peat, perlite, mosses. In the long run you’ll save money and time. You can however purchase bags of top soil, manure and compost to make your own. have at it!  If you have a lot of beds, a large garden then this could be a process, building your soil. We’ll get into compost soon.  Deciding to use organic potting soil is a personal choice. The truth is you can use almost anything if you’re willing to amend the soil so that it can provide nutrients to your plants.

More coming soon. Please feel free to start posting your questions below. I’ll keep add to this post and be sure to check the comments for post and replies.

I found these unknown chunks in in a bag of Purina One

Just like humans, dogs can become constipated. It may seem like a relatively mild condition, but if left untreated, constipation in dogs can lead to much more serious health problems. Veterinarians have been researching remedies for canine constipation for several years, and have made some useful advances in treating this condition. There are many identified causes of constipation in dogs, most of which are able to be treated by good lifestyle habits and attentive health care.

Constipation is a condition that can be defined by a visible difficulty in your dog’s bowel movements.

Click here to go to a free site about Dog Constipation