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Angels in My Garden Week 18 May 4, 2010 |
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If
the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass
springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things
of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul
is alive.
Eleonora Duse ( Italian actress 1858-1924) Hello Fellow Gardeners, If you're using the biodynamic preparations, this week is a good time to apply #501, the horn silica. 501 is applied directly to the leaves of the young plants. It stimulates photosynthesis and the formation of chlorophyll. It also influences color, aroma, flavor and the keeping qualities of crops This preparation should be stirred for a full hour so I suggest that you find someone who is willing to share this task with you, especially if you have any shoulder or wrist issues. If possible, apply 501 in the early morning just as the sun is coming up. This week we're going to talk about protecting your garden against the various “critters” who like to reap the benefits of your gardening efforts. In western Pennsylvania we have a huge deer issue. I hesitate to call it a problem because I love to watch the deer grazing on the hill behind our house and they were, after all, here before we were. However, grazing on my garden is definitely an issue. Some of the deterrents we've used are:
All of these have had some degree of effectiveness with the above structure being by far the most effective. But not everyone would want to go to that extreme. Some other measures that I've heard of, but haven't tried, are to scatter human hair around the garden (which apparently is also effective against those cute little bunny rabbits) and to hang mothballs or a strong smelling bars of soap near the garden. If you're
using chicken wire around the garden, make a little “skirt” along
the bottom. In other words, bend the bottom of the fence outwards so
that it lies flat on the ground. This will discourage small animals
from digging under the wire. Here are
some suggestions for how to deal with the creep-crawley type of pests. Believe it or not, dandelions can be very beneficial to the garden. Dandelions attract beneficial ladybugs and provide pollen for their food. Ladybugs eat certain destructive insects like aphids. Dandelions long roots give air to the soil and enable the plant to accumulate minerals, which are added to the soil when the plant dies. Not only are dandelions good for your soil, they are good for your health. Dandelion leaves in a salad provide beta carotene, an important nutrient, as well as vitamins C & A. However, grow dandelions around the garden area rather than in the garden as they will take nutrients from the soil that should go to the vegetables. Cabbage Worms – these are the worms that attack cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and brussel sprouts. You know they are there when you find partially eaten leaves. If you look closely you will find worm droppings and a tiny worm, almost the same color as the plant lying at the stem of the leaf. The best way to get rid of them is to pick them off and destroy them. Then cut out the damaged portion of the leaves and wash away the droppings with a gentle spray of water. Do this to all of the affected plants. Cut Worms – cut worms cut down an entire plant by eating through the base of the plant. Cut worms come out at night and go into the soil to sleep during the day. To find them take a pointed instrument or a pencil and gently dig a circle around the plant. You should find the worm in the soil but if you don’t find it right away, keep making wider circles around the plant until you find it. Then destroy it right away by dropping it in salty or soapy water or it will quickly burrow into the soil again and disappear. Slugs and snails – these pests can be detected by the slimy silvery trail that they leave behind and small holes they eat into the plants. They also eat at night and sleep during the day. They like to sleep under boards, mulch or other cool resting places. If you put little planks up between your garden squares, you can catch them sleeping under the planks during the day. Pick them out of the garden and drop them into salty or soapy water. Ants – You can try mulching the garden with coffee grounds. Thoroughly cover any anthills with the grounds but also spread them on the entire garden. Some organic Pest Control Sprays Buttermilk
Spray 8-10
cloves garlic Reflection: In the opening quote Eleonora Duse speaks about the simple things of nature being a message for the living soul. These words from the Essene Gospel of Peace describe the four steps that the soul of the Child of Light will take on his/her evolutionary path. O Heavenly Father, What is the invocation most worthy In greatness and goodness? It is that one, O Children of Light, That one delivers When waking up and rising from sleep, At the same time professing Good thoughts, good words and good deeds, And rejecting evil thoughts, evil words and evil deeds. The first step That the soul of the Child of Light did make, Placed him in the Good Thought Paradise, The Holy Realm of Wisdom, The Holy Realm of Wisdom. The second step That the soul of the Child of Light did make, Placed him in the Good Word Paradise, The Holy Realm of Love. The third step That the soul of the Child of Light did make, Placed him in the Good Deed Paradise, The Holy Realm of Power. The fourth step Ilat the soul of the Child of Light did make, Placed him in the Endless Light. The Heavenly Father knoweth the hearts Of the Children of Light,
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