Organic Pest Control for Gardens

by Lauren Elizondo

Minneapolis/Feb. 16, 2010/V-Local…Maybe you have children or pets and you’re not comfortable spraying your lawn and gardens with chemically-based insecticides. Maybe you want to take the next step in going green and bring your efforts to your landscaping. If organic pest control interests you, take a look at the following:

Keep your soil healthy. Nutrient-rich soil that contains humus and compost along with beneficial organisms yield flourishing plants and flowers. Think about making your own compost pile in your backyard (make sure it is at least 2 ft. away from structures). It’s simple, just add any of the following and turn it with a shovel or pitchfork every week until it has a dark soil-like consistency:

* Grass clippings

* Leaves

* Dried straw

* Coffee grounds

* Kitchen scraps

* Hair

* Dried blood

* Eggshells

Things to Avoid:

*  Animal fat

* Meat scraps

* Animal bones

* Grease

* Diseased vines

Use your hands. Instead of spraying harmful insecticides on your entire infected plant and risk killing it, handpick the insects from it. You can kill the bugs by placing them in a jar filled with water and liquid soap. Make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself from bug bites.

Fight nature with nature. Many garden pests have other enemies besides manmade chemicals. Research what types of insects are infesting your garden and what other insects attack and eat those damaging pests. For example, ladybugs eat aphids while praying mantises catch and devour dozens of insects a day, like caterpillars.

Find your plants’ natural companion. A variety of plants hold properties that naturally repel certain types of insects. When you place these plants next to other plants that attract said insects, you are providing it with a natural defense. Marigolds play well with tomatoes, as do garlic and roses.

Plant native species. Plants that are native to where you live have adapted to the surroundings, making them better protected from insects and pests.

Keep a garden pest journal. Keep track of what is happening in your garden. Make sure to note the types of insects and bugs that are infesting your flowers and vegetables. If you are unsure of the kinds, write down what they look like and what plants they are attacking. Research them. When the next planting season comes around, you’ll know what to expect and how to organically protect your plants.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

by Lauren Elizondo

Minneapolis/Feb. 16, 2010/V-Local…If you live in the Midwest, lush landscapes and cool grass between your toes are things of dreams that won’t come true for at least another four months. But who says you can’t start planning your backyard paradise early? Midwesterners and warm-weather dwellers alike will be bearing green thumbs this planting season with the help of these blossoming garden tips!

Make sure the location in your garden can provide the proper environment for the plant to flourish. Things to take into account include:

Type of soil.
Is the soil in your yard very dry? Does it have sand and rock mixed in with it or is it more dense like clay? The sandier the soil, the more drainage it allows, sometimes leading to dehydrated plants. In contrast, the more clay-like and dense the soil is, the more likely it is to retain water, causing root decay from waterlogged soil. Both types of soil can be beneficial to planting, but it’s important you learn what type of soil works best for the types of plants you’d like to garden.

Sunlight.
There are three sun intensities that suit plants: full sun, partial sun and shade. Before you decide what kinds of plants you’d like to grow in your garden, plot out where your garden will be located and gauge how much sunlight it is exposed to throughout the day. Is it mostly shaded during the day? Hosta plants or bleeding hearts might be good choices. Each plant will say how much sunlight it needs on its tag when you go to the nursery.

Water.
You should consider the following factors when watering your plants:

Weather – Depending on the climate, your plants may need to be watered more than others. For example, plants in drier climates, like Arizona, need to be watered two to five times more often than wetter climates, like on the East Coast.

Soil – As mentioned before, some soils retain more water than others. If your soil is sandy, it will need to be watered more often. Learning the type of soil you’re working with will help you avoid waterlogged or dehydrated plants.

Where – Most plants’ absorbent roots span out between one to three times as wide as the plant’s canopy and less than a foot under the soil. It’s important to water this entire area.

How much – Use enough water so the entire area under and around the plant is sufficiently doused. Not sure if you’re using enough water? Try the finger test. About a minute after you’ve watered the plant, stick your finger completely into the soil check to see if the soil absorbed the water completely.

How often – How often you water your plants depends on the soil and the weather.

How fast – Water plants only as fast as the soil can absorb the water. Watering plants too fast can cause soil erosion and simply wastes water.

Quick Tips

- Utilizing compost is an inexpensive way to better the soil.
- Wear gloves when you are gardening to protect your fingernails and skin!
- Keep an eye for any signs of pests in your garden so you take action before the problem spreads out of control.
- If you live by the ocean, you’re in luck; using seaweed in your soil will make your plants flourish!

The Right Winter Vacation Spot For You

By Lauren Elizondo

Minneapolis/Feb. 16/V-Local…The dog days of winter are upon us. Below-zero wind chills, sand-crusted snowbanks and that lowly feeling you get when you remember that it is going to be like this at least until April; ultimately too long.

How to Overcome Emotional Eating

by V-Local

Minneapolis/Feb. 16, 2010/V-Local…Eating is a part of life. Your body gets its nutrients from food. Sometimes we can go overboard with our eating habits and it can result in gaining weight. One issue with food is emotional eating.

The problem of emotional eating may end with the scale but it begins in the mind. Stress takes its toll on your life. When your defenses are compromised your health takes a hit and so do your emotions.

Everyone has good days and bad days. How we deal with the bad ones brings emotional eating into play. You look for comfort for your hurts. People who turn to food for comfort find a coping mechanism that won’t judge them, hurt them or tell them “no.” To complicate the issue, eating pleasurable foods can stimulate the release of endorphins just like exercise. So, after you eat, you feel better.

Emotional eaters use food to relieve stress. They hide behind the food instead of seeking solutions to the problems. This is not uncommon when the stressor is something horrible such as physical abuse or a death.

But, how do you know you are using food in this way? The first sign is obvious. You will gain weight if you eat too much.  In light of the weight gain, examine other areas of your life:

* Have you been under stress lately at work or at home?

* Has anything traumatic happened in the last year?

* Are you dealing with a problem but haven’t found a solution?

Answering “yes” to any of these questions could mean that you are an emotional eater. You eat but you are not necessarily hungry at the time.  The foods that you choose are what we term “comfort foods”:

* High fat foods like French fries, fried foods* High carb foods like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes

* Sugary foods like ice cream, donuts, cookies, cake

There is help for emotional eaters. The first step is recognizing that you have a problem. You’ll experience feelings of helplessness and guilt. The guilt is over potentially ruining your health and the helplessness lies in the fact that you don’t see a way out.

Secondly, seek counseling. There are many types of counselors out there that can meet your need. Emotional eating has nothing to do with dieting or changing your eating habits but gaining control over your emotions.

A counselor might suggest things like visualization, practicing problem solving skills, relaxation techniques and family support. Visualization helps you to see your problems in a realistic way and not blown out of proportion. You will also learn to see food as nutrition for the body and not an emotional crutch.

Thirdly, your family can learn your triggers for stress and be on the lookout for changes in your eating habits. They can help you be aware of the foods you are eating, assist you in making healthy food choices and exercise along with you. Proper diet and exercise increases immunity, blood flow and positive thinking. Yoga enhances the mind/body connection so you don’t eat when you aren’t hungry.

Finding new ways to solve your problems and deal with stress will push food out of the equation. You’ll feel good about finding solutions which will replace the dependence on food.

Cappuccino, Mocha and More

by Lauren Elizondo