A 'New' Read

Today a friend sent me this lovely organic blog site to peruse.  They work with their community in such ways as to offer help to all searching for better ways to grow, eat and deliver organic produce to the local folks.  Recipes and photos abound.  Enjoy

The Homestead Organic Farm - Peachland, British Columbia,  Canada

Natural Tansy Insect Repellant

We have wild tansy growing on our property.  It is listed as a noxious weed in Idaho, but we don't have much of it so I leave some of it to grow instead of mowing over it.  You can use it as a companion plant with cabbage and other garden plants as an insect repellant.  I'm going to make a spray to keep cabbage worms at bay.  Once used for medicinal purposes such as de-worming, it has toxic properties and should be used with caution for human consumption.  However, as a natural insect repellant, I'm going to give it a try.

Homemade Tansy Insect Spray and other uses.

Tansy photo credit here

Growing Tips for Organic Apples

I planted two apple trees several years ago and am always on the lookout for good organic growing advice. Last year I bagged the apples on the trees using small ziplock plastic bags.  The apples were pest free and delicious.  Today I came across this organic apple growing article and thought I'd share it with you.  Be sure to view the little pop up windows showing how to use brown paper bags and how to thin the apples.  A novice I am ... but hope to give my trees a good chance at being organic.  Proper root stock and apple variety is also helpful.  Placing insect traps will help alert you that the pests have started arriving as well.  If you have a good organic apple growing tip ... please share (pretty please:).  Now I'm off to stock up on little brown paper bags.