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TREE PROBLEM: I FIRST RAN INTO THAT TREE PROBLEM ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO…
“I find this inch and a half big indentation in the trunk of the tree. It brings tears to your eyes.”Arborist Kevin Lee
INTERVIEW – ALL ABOUT TREES
Donna Balzer : Tell me about this tree disaster you keep seeing in Calgary?
GARDENING IS GOOD FOR YOUR SOIL, GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL
What kind of nutrients do falling leaves really have? Are they just drained out empty shells of their former selves? Answers vary.
Some older studies show commercially collected fallen leaves in urban centers contained nasty elements such as lead and cadmium because the tree leaves were swept up by machine along with portions of lead-contaminated soil.
THE BUGS ARE BACK
Dear Donna
To-day we noted a dense infestation of red bugs on one of our ‘pseudo sunflower plants’ – with a ‘pseudo-ant-like’ appearance.
The picture shows the poor growth with the ’enemy’.
Can I Use Leaves in the Veggie Garden?
If you have rich good soil packed with microbes ready to break down shredded leaves then add the leaves right away. The leaves will disappear quickly. If you are not sure if you have a microbe packed soil, then add a small layer (1/4 inch) of high quality worm castings on top of the shredded leaves so you are inoculating your leaves and soil. Worm castings are like pro-biotics for your garden.
Modern Homesteading – Don’t miss the next big trend
I guess it’s the hobbyist thing. If you are growing outdoors, particularly here, you start in the spring and you are ending – by now. With indoor growing you can grow whatever you want whenever you want 365 days of the year. That’s what modern homesteading is about.
The Solution (to most of your problems) is in the Soil
Our world is just too small to be messing with random additions of chemicals and in his book, the intelligent gardener, Steve Solomon spells it out for you. But if you prefer to keep it really really safe, simply make the conditions right for microbes and they will make the conditions right for plants. It is a simple and satisfactory solution.
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