Organic Gardening at Home

Growing your own food is rewarding and it saves money, too! Encourage parents to embrace Earth-friendly farming at home. Whether it’s a garden in the yard or simply a few plants in pots on a windowsill, it’s a great experience for the whole family. Here are a few tips:

1. Earth-friendly gardening means ditching the chemicals.Instead of using pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, find natural ways to eliminate pests and build nutrient-rich soil.
2. Save space by using vertical gardening techniques. If you have limited space in your yard, grow things up instead of out. For example, produce that grows on a vine can grow up on trellises if you help it along. The same techniques can be used for deck or indoor gardening (although indoor plants may need the help of a grow light).
3. Save water by collecting rainwater. Do you have indoor or outdoorplants that you need to water regularly? Instead of using tap or hose water, collect rainwater. If you own a home with gutters, place a barrel at the bottom of a downspout. You can also buy rain barrels that have a spigot you can attach a hose to. If you life in an apartment or condo with a fire escape or deck, you could leave buckets out during a storm. Get creative!

Go to www.organicgardening.com for more information and advice on how to incorporate Earth-friendly practices into your life and your students’ home lives.