Eco Friendly Mowers and What You Need To Know

February 17, 2009 by  
Filed under Organic Gardening News

So summertime has rolled around again, and with it comes the need for cutting your lawn. One place that many people are looking to cut back on environmental problems, though, is fossil fuel emissions and it turns out that the traditional gas powered powers are among the heaviest offenders. A recent Swedish study declared that cutting your lawn for an hour with a gas powered mower was as damaging to the environment as a 100 mile car trip, so in light of that, you might be looking for alternatives. When you are looking to get away from a gas powered mower, take a look at the options that are open to you.

When you are considering a very eco-conscious but still workable solution for cutting the lawn, consider an electric mower. These models are actually very reasonably priced, and can be used as long as you have cord that will run between the mower and a power outlet. You’ll find that they are most efficient for small lawns though you should keep in mind that their efficiency for energy over all depends on the practices of the nearby power plant.

If you have more cash to spend, consider a solar powered mower. These are wonderfully convenient and in addition will actually mow your lawn itself; it will wander around the lawn, using its motion sensors to avoid cutting anything but grass. This is the ultimate in convenience plus environmental friendliness, but they have to be ordered directly from Sweden.

For a more affordable mix of the two solutions above, consider getting a Solar Powered Mulching Mower, produced by Gaiam. These mowers use a mix of electrical and solar power and can be charged just by being plugged into an outlet.

Finally, you’ll find that the most eco-friendly option by far is to take a look at the old-fashioned push mowers. You’ll find that these human-powered reel mowers are great for the environment, can give you a healthy amount of exercise and can be found virtually everywhere. You’ll find that these mowers are just as efficient as the mowers listed above, and at the end of the day, they are not much more time consuming.

If you are looking for a way to cut back on the fossil fuel emissions that you are putting out, consider what to do about your lawn and how you cut your grass. You’ll find that looking at this is an important way to see how you fit into things, environmentally speaking.

5 Ways to Protect Your Organic Garden From Pests

February 17, 2009 by  
Filed under Organic Gardening Tips, Organic Pest Control

If you are familiar with gardening, or even if you aren’t, you already know that pests can destroy a season’s worth of work if left unchecked. While you might be at a bit of a loss when it comes to making sure that your stays healthy while not using chemical products, you’ll find that with a little bit of research, nothing could be easier! Check out a few of the great ways to protect your garden from pests while still keeping organic.

1.Garlic
Garlic is great for a number of different pests, and it’s easy to use, as well. All you need to do is to start with 3 ounces of finely chopped garlic and mix it with two teaspoons of mineral oil. After a 24 hour soak, you can add it to one pint of water and ΒΌ n ounce of dish soap. This is a great all-purpose insect spray, and when you go to use it, all you need to do is to take about tablespoon of this mixture and mix it with a pint of water. Test the mixture on some lower leaves to make sure that you have not made it strong, but this can be a great way to fight really persistent pests.

2.Weed Regularly
We already know that weeds can choke out the desirable plants, but keep in mind that they can also play host to a number of undesirable pests as well! Make sure that your rows stay clear of weeds and also of debris, where insects can nest. When you have finished the weeding, make sure that you put the refuse at some distance away from your garden, to make sure that the pests that you have cleared out don’t return.

3.Milk
Milk is good for you, and great for your garden. When you mix one part milk to nine parts water, you can spray the mixture every week or so to prevent things like powdery mildew. Use it whenever you see black spots on your vegetables or your roses.

4.Composite Flowers
Not only will these flowers be a great and colorful addition to your garden, you’ll find that they’ll attract the useful insects as well. Ladybugs and lacewings are both attracted to these flowers and you’ll find that they can help reduce pests a great deal. For some great composite flowers to add, look at yarrow, chicory, chrysanthemums ad dahlias.

5.Newspapers and Cardboard
Use newspapers and cardboard layered on top of your weeds to suffocate them by keeping them away from the light and the water. If you do this in the fall, your garden will have a great weed-free start in the spring.

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