Making Compost Try to have equal parts of green and brown. For green: manure, shredded leaves, ashes, food wastes like peelings, coffee grounds, egg shells, hair. For brown: corncobs, hay, paper, sawdust, vegetable stalks, seeds, nutshells, pine needles After rains, or put water on mulch pile, cover with an old tarp or black plastic so the mixture cooks Turn pile often, try to do before a rain, cover Compost piles work by generating heat and biological activity to decay organic material Try to have equal parts of green and brown. For green: manure, shredded leaves, ashes, food wastes like peelings, coffee grounds, egg shells, hair. For brown: corncobs, hay, paper, sawdust, vegetable stalks, seeds, nutshells, pine needles After rains, or put water on mulch pile, cover with an old tarp or black plastic so the mixture cooks Turn pile often, try to do before a rain, cover Compost piles work by generating heat and biological activity to decay organic material

Compost Container Alternatives Bag-black plastic garbage bags Bin-make your own from boards, logs, bricks, concrete blocks, chicken wire, other fencing Can remove the bottom of a metal garbage can, wobbly so needs support with stakes Fireplace-unused outdoor fireplace, or barbecue pit Compost= “black gold” for a garden Bag-black plastic garbage bags Bin-make your own from boards, logs, bricks, concrete blocks, chicken wire, other fencing Can remove the bottom of a metal garbage can, wobbly so needs support with stakes Fireplace-unused outdoor fireplace, or barbecue pit Compost= “black gold” for a garden

Encourage Breakdown Worms-earthworms Pour a drink-dump a can of regular cola, sugar will hurry up decomposition Mix up a starter tonic: ¼ bottle of beer; ¼ c. of ammonia and gallon of warm water Ready in 14 days Interior temperature should be 180 degrees Worms-earthworms Pour a drink-dump a can of regular cola, sugar will hurry up decomposition Mix up a starter tonic: ¼ bottle of beer; ¼ c. of ammonia and gallon of warm water Ready in 14 days Interior temperature should be 180 degrees

Ammonia-helps encourage leafy plant growth Beer-enzyme activator helps release nutrients locked in soil plus starts organic activity Molasses-source of sugar that stimulates chlorophyll formations of plants Seaweed-natural hormone that stimulates and increase plant growth Soap-softens soil, removes dust, dirt, and pollutions so that osmosis and photosynthesis can more easily occur. Tea- contains tannic acid, which helps plants digest their food faster Ammonia-helps encourage leafy plant growth Beer-enzyme activator helps release nutrients locked in soil plus starts organic activity Molasses-source of sugar that stimulates chlorophyll formations of plants Seaweed-natural hormone that stimulates and increase plant growth Soap-softens soil, removes dust, dirt, and pollutions so that osmosis and photosynthesis can more easily occur. Tea- contains tannic acid, which helps plants digest their food faster How's and Whys of Ingredients

Spring Cleanup 1.As soon as you can, remove all of last year’s foliage (even if there is a little snow on the ground). 2.Before growth begins, sprinkle a mix of 5 lbs. of natural organic food and l lb. Epsom salts per 100 sq. feet of garden soil 3.Feed plants with All-Season Green-Up Tonic: l can beer, l c. ammonia, ½ c. liquid dish soap, ½ c. of liquid lawn food, ½ c. molasses or syrup ---Add water to 20 gallon sprayer and apply every 3 weeks after plants start to grow 4. Use Total Pest Control one week later, repeat every 2 weeks. Garlic cloves 6, 1T baby shampoo, l qt. Water, spray plants 5. Keep soil damp, but not soggy. 6. Thin, trim, pinch back plants 7. DO NOT pick vegetables if under stress from extreme drought, extreme temperatures or excessive humidity. Water, or let cool off, or dry then start. 1.As soon as you can, remove all of last year’s foliage (even if there is a little snow on the ground). 2.Before growth begins, sprinkle a mix of 5 lbs. of natural organic food and l lb. Epsom salts per 100 sq. feet of garden soil 3.Feed plants with All-Season Green-Up Tonic: l can beer, l c. ammonia, ½ c. liquid dish soap, ½ c. of liquid lawn food, ½ c. molasses or syrup ---Add water to 20 gallon sprayer and apply every 3 weeks after plants start to grow 4. Use Total Pest Control one week later, repeat every 2 weeks. Garlic cloves 6, 1T baby shampoo, l qt. Water, spray plants 5. Keep soil damp, but not soggy. 6. Thin, trim, pinch back plants 7. DO NOT pick vegetables if under stress from extreme drought, extreme temperatures or excessive humidity. Water, or let cool off, or dry then start.

Ready to Plant Companion plants help each other grow by supplying nutrients other needs and warding off insects Asparagus- Tomatoes Beans- Beets, Cabbages, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Potatoes Corn- Melons, Peas, Pumpkins, Squash Spinach- Strawberries Onions- Beets Radishes- Cucumbers, Lettuce, Peas Carrots- Chives, Leeks, Lettuce Companion plants help each other grow by supplying nutrients other needs and warding off insects Asparagus- Tomatoes Beans- Beets, Cabbages, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Potatoes Corn- Melons, Peas, Pumpkins, Squash Spinach- Strawberries Onions- Beets Radishes- Cucumbers, Lettuce, Peas Carrots- Chives, Leeks, Lettuce

Transplanting Don’t transplant a seedling until has 4 leaves ( show: for starting plants) The second set of leaves are the “true leaves” which helps the shock of transplanting Water plants thoroughly 24 hours before transplanting Before planting roots in soft mud. Use Transplant Tonic=1/2 can of beer, 1 T. ammonia, l T. instant tea, 1 T. baby shampoo, l gallon of water. Use 1 cup for each plant transplanting. Don’t transplant a seedling until has 4 leaves ( show: for starting plants) The second set of leaves are the “true leaves” which helps the shock of transplanting Water plants thoroughly 24 hours before transplanting Before planting roots in soft mud. Use Transplant Tonic=1/2 can of beer, 1 T. ammonia, l T. instant tea, 1 T. baby shampoo, l gallon of water. Use 1 cup for each plant transplanting.

Secrets Dry eggshell in microwave or oven, crush, add to planting mix for quick calcium fix or soak in water use, get same results Peppers love acidic soil, bury a book of matches under each plant sulphur in matches increases acidity Red-Hot Repellent Keep insects or worms off of flower bushes, cabbage plants, etc. lightly dust with cayenne (red) pepper in morning while plants are still wet with dew

Bug Control Natural Bug Juice= ½c. marigolds, ½ c. geraniums, ½ c. garlic, 10 gallons of warm water, Mash finely, sprinkle over and around vegetables Fruit Trees Insect Tonic= l c. honey, ½ c. vinegar, water to almost top of gallon milk jug, add 1 banana peel. Hang in tree. Use ½ gallon jugs still use 1 banana peel. Works!!!! No more spraying with insect spray for bugs. Beans- coffee grounds for bugs Nail by tomatoes to prevent cut worms Natural Bug Juice= ½c. marigolds, ½ c. geraniums, ½ c. garlic, 10 gallons of warm water, Mash finely, sprinkle over and around vegetables Fruit Trees Insect Tonic= l c. honey, ½ c. vinegar, water to almost top of gallon milk jug, add 1 banana peel. Hang in tree. Use ½ gallon jugs still use 1 banana peel. Works!!!! No more spraying with insect spray for bugs. Beans- coffee grounds for bugs Nail by tomatoes to prevent cut worms

Bare-root Plants Root Revival Tonic 1 T. liquid dish soap ¼ c. brewed tea 1 T. Epsom salts 1 gallon of water Let plants sit in this tonic up to 24 hours. This will revive the plants and get them ready to grow Root Revival Tonic 1 T. liquid dish soap ¼ c. brewed tea 1 T. Epsom salts 1 gallon of water Let plants sit in this tonic up to 24 hours. This will revive the plants and get them ready to grow

Roses Give your roses a bath once a week with a solution of 1 T. liquid dish soap with 2 gallons of warm water. Odds are you will not need any chemicals Powdery Mildew is a fungus. ¼ c. BS, 1T of vegetable oil, 2 qts. water Spray early in the morning and when needed, every 2 wks. Works well Give your roses a bath once a week with a solution of 1 T. liquid dish soap with 2 gallons of warm water. Odds are you will not need any chemicals Powdery Mildew is a fungus. ¼ c. BS, 1T of vegetable oil, 2 qts. water Spray early in the morning and when needed, every 2 wks. Works well

Cut roses off of the vine above a five- leaf cluster to encourage new growth. Letting roses die on the vine is an invitation to pests and diseases. Winter ready roses by pruning the back in the fall, cutting back only enough so they don’t whip in the wind. Rose cones help by preventing excessive pruning promoting sturdier plants and heartier growth in the spring. Don’t paint cones will absorb heat and damage roses. Cut roses off of the vine above a five- leaf cluster to encourage new growth. Letting roses die on the vine is an invitation to pests and diseases. Winter ready roses by pruning the back in the fall, cutting back only enough so they don’t whip in the wind. Rose cones help by preventing excessive pruning promoting sturdier plants and heartier growth in the spring. Don’t paint cones will absorb heat and damage roses.

Instead of cones, use card board boxes, laying flaps flat on the ground at the base of the bush. Weight down the box by putting rocks or soil on the flattened flaps. Remove after the last hard spring freeze. Can cut off top (bottom) of the box and easily covered for freezes. Use All Season Clean Up Tonic 1c. liquid dish soap 1c. Chewing tobacco juice 3 fingers of chew in cloth, soak in gallon hot water 1c. Antiseptic mouthwash Mix all in 20 gallons of water, use sprayer to put on plants Instead of cones, use card board boxes, laying flaps flat on the ground at the base of the bush. Weight down the box by putting rocks or soil on the flattened flaps. Remove after the last hard spring freeze. Can cut off top (bottom) of the box and easily covered for freezes. Use All Season Clean Up Tonic 1c. liquid dish soap 1c. Chewing tobacco juice 3 fingers of chew in cloth, soak in gallon hot water 1c. Antiseptic mouthwash Mix all in 20 gallons of water, use sprayer to put on plants

Never feed roses after August 15 th where temps drop below 20 degrees. If you do, new growth won’t mature to get through the winter Energize your old roses with rotten bananas Work bananas, skin and all into the soil around the base of the bushes. Potassium in the fruit and skin gives your roses a power-packed boost Never feed roses after August 15 th where temps drop below 20 degrees. If you do, new growth won’t mature to get through the winter Energize your old roses with rotten bananas Work bananas, skin and all into the soil around the base of the bushes. Potassium in the fruit and skin gives your roses a power-packed boost

ROSES –ONIONS ON CALL Use onions to discourage aphids from dining on your roses. Chop up a medium onion, place in blender with one quart water, pulverize, strain off liquid. Add 1 t. of liquid dish soap to the onion juice Liberally spray mixture to your rose bushes with a hand-held mist sprayer Use onions to discourage aphids from dining on your roses. Chop up a medium onion, place in blender with one quart water, pulverize, strain off liquid. Add 1 t. of liquid dish soap to the onion juice Liberally spray mixture to your rose bushes with a hand-held mist sprayer

Feeding Flowers 3 steps  Primary fertilizer beginning in the spring  Snacks---when flower plants show themselves. No rules every 2-4 weeks; liquid 20-30% fertilizer; grow faster  Vitamins –really a plant enhancer; liquid on ground not plant; powder best because last up to 5 years 3 steps  Primary fertilizer beginning in the spring  Snacks---when flower plants show themselves. No rules every 2-4 weeks; liquid 20-30% fertilizer; grow faster  Vitamins –really a plant enhancer; liquid on ground not plant; powder best because last up to 5 years

FRUIT TREES To keep bugs off of fruit Tonic 1/2 c. vinegar, l c. honey, fill one gallon jug with handle, and one banana peeling Hang from fruit tree Worth saying over! Because works well!!!! To keep bugs off of fruit Tonic 1/2 c. vinegar, l c. honey, fill one gallon jug with handle, and one banana peeling Hang from fruit tree Worth saying over! Because works well!!!!

Geraniums Put in a paper bag during the winter months in a cool place Pull out, plant! Also leave in planters and put in front of a southern exposure Must be well drained Easy to propagate