Gardening For The Body & Soul
- New to gardening? Don’t let it overwhelm you! The best way to get into gardening, if you have never done it before, is to associate with someone local who knows how to garden in your zone and spend time with them in their gardens.
You could start by growing flowers, move on to herbs, and expand to vegetables when you feel confident. There are also many organizations to turn to for help and instruction. For instance, in my area there is an organization from the University of Arizona called the Pima County Master Gardener Cooperative Extension which helps educate all levels of gardeners.
Cultivating a home garden is an enjoyable way to de-stress, get some fresh air, sunshine, a little exercise, and get back to nature in general. Another benefit is that you control the growing conditions, so go organic! To get good results without synthetic chemicals, try these suggestions:
- Intercrop. Bringing a diverse group of plants together in one bed creates a pleasant environment for beneficial insects, as well as nutrients for the soil.
- Compost. Don’t dump your carrot peels and apple cores in the garbage. Recycle them to nourish the next generation.
- Be creative. Use crushed eggshells, vinegar solution, or stale beer to keep out slugs and snails. Garlic oil spray (recipes abound on the internet, to ensure it’s comprised of nontoxic ingredients) is an effective measure against sucking insects such as aphids.
Find more information for curious gardeners and beginners:
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