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Organic Gardening
The term 'organic gardening' generally refers to the avoidance of chemicals, pollutants, and synthetics in the cultivation of plants. Specifically, it may describe either informal commitments by the individual or government certified and regulated practices by the grower. Contributors typically want to know about the different types of organic gardening, the many environments in which it is practiced, and the most likely costs and benefits.
821 Questions
Worms are a diverse group of organisms that have evolved over millions of years through natural selection and genetic mutations. They diversified into different species to adapt to various environments, such as soil, marine, and freshwater habitats. Their evolutionary history is shaped by factors like predation pressure, competition for resources, and environmental changes.
Egg shells are acceptable candidates for compost, in organic production. They also control cutworms, slugs, and snails.
Can the Red Worm consume poultry manure as its feed?
An authoritative, respected source would be ATTRA [Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas]. According to ATTRA, poultry manure tends to have too much ammonia and inorganic salts. So it should be aged, six months to a year, before use in red worm composting.
Organic nutrients are compounds containing carbon that are essential for the growth and development of living organisms. These nutrients can include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals obtained from organic sources such as plants and animals. They play a critical role in supporting various physiological processes and maintaining overall health.
Why is there heat inside a compost heap?
A compost heap gets hotter when bacteria and other organisms multiply inside the heap, breaking down the rough matter into humus. There are both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, which work at different times in the heap depending on how much air is present in the mix.
Does the pH of compost ingredients affect the populations of microorganisms during composting?
Yes, the pH of compost ingredients can affect the populations of microorganisms during composting. Microorganisms in composting thrive in a pH range of 5.5 to 8.0, with most being most active in slightly acidic to neutral conditions. If the pH is too low or too high, it can hinder the activity of certain microorganisms and impact the overall composting process. Monitoring and adjusting the pH of compost ingredients can help create optimal conditions for microbial activity and decomposition.
Where can you buy worms in bulk in New Jersey?
It depends on what you mean by "bulk". I know that Long Wind Farm up in Vermont sells composting worms on their website and can ship small or large volumes. According to their site they even deliver very large orders of 1000 lbs or more to locations within 12 hours of their farm. If you want to check them out go to www.longwindfarm.com/worms.
How do you make organic fertilizer?
Organic fertilizer can be made by composting kitchen scraps, yard waste, and manure to create a nutrient-rich soil amendment. You can also make organic fertilizer by steeping compost or other organic materials in water to create a liquid fertilizer known as compost tea. It's important to let the mixture decompose properly before adding it to your garden to avoid burning your plants with excess nutrients.
What does a juniper bush look like?
Juniper berries are 'berries' from any of several species of Juniper. Junipers are conifers.
The berries are not really berries at all - they actually seed cones. They have unusually fleshy scales which are merged so that they look like a berry.
They are usually edible but can be very bitter on some species, a few species are toxic but not sufficiently so to pose a great risk to health in most people.
Juniper berries are the little blue fruits produced by species of Juniperus. To my knowledge, they are not edible. I guess I'm wrong about them not being edible!
Yes, dirt is organic. Dirt may be defined as a mixture of clay, humus, sand, and stone. Humus serves as the key ingredient as the end-product of the natural breakdown of dead, decayed, and decaying animal and plant matter.
Why does compost give off heat?
The byproduct of the compostable materials being broken down into the elements from which they're made is the reason for the heat in a compost pile. The breakdown of compostable materials into compost is brought about by the food that these materials represent to microbes. The microbes give off heat in digesting their food.
The situation is similar to human body temperature rising due to the change from stored to motion energy when human muscles are exercised. Human sweat helps regulate human heat. There's no such equivalent for microbes.
So microbes warm up, and may even do so to the extent that the compost pile catches on fire. You don't want the compost pile on fire. But you do want it at a maximum temperature of 140 degrees F/60 degrees Celsius. The heat keeps weed seeds and pathogens from growing.
It sounds like you may be dealing with drain fly larvae. To get rid of them, clean out the drains with a mixture of hot water, vinegar, and baking soda. Seal any cracks or openings where they may be entering the house. Consider using a drain cleaner specifically designed to eliminate organic matter that the larvae feed on.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of green manure?
Green manure's nitrogen content is very high, and it will burn growing plants. Green manure is great, on the other hand for starting a compost pile, if you mix it with some plant matter. It's also great for turning into a compost pile which hasn't been composting well. The best use of green manure is to dig it lnto the soil by trenching where it will rot and release Nitrogen.
How do matter and energy work in the compost?
[1] Basically, all living things are made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. That's what they become once more when they die and decay. [2] And that's what happens in composting. Matter breaks down into its building blocks of carbon and nitrogen, with the addition of hydrogen by applying moisture and with the addition of oxygen by letting in air. [3] Energy is generated, by the build-up of temperatures within the pile. The temperature gets high enough to speed up the breakdown, but stays low enough not to catch on fire.
What is the importance of worms?
Earthworms aerate soil, allowing water, air, and plant roots to penetrate deeper into the soil. Red compost worms (Eisenia foetida) live near the surface of the soil, under accumulations of leaves, dead grasses, or manure.
Worms eat the bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter in the soil or compost pile. They help convert organic matter into forms that plants can absorb through their roots. Worm castings are inoculated with beneficial bacteria and fungi as they pass through the worm gut. These bacteria and fungi increase the biodiversity of the soil and attack or compete with bacteria and fungi that infect plants.
Will wood ashes hurt red worms?
It depends on how much you use. Red worms do best in neutral soil that's neither too acidic, nor too alkaline. Wood ashes are alkalizing, so if they're added to an acidic soil, they bring it closer to neutral and make it more hospitable for red worms. If you add too much, or add them to an already alkaline soil, worms will move to soil with a more comfortable pH range.
Why is organic fertilizer better than inorganic fertilizer or chemical fertilizer?
It's better because organic fertilizer contains no chemicals that could / may kill the plant faster than using inorganic that contains man-made things that WILL kill your plants faster
Organic fertilizers are often less expensive, make more nutritious plants, improve the soil micro-organisms. They can also improve root growth, more disease resistant and make the plants more drought tolerant.
Answer 2Every farmer or gardener must decide for themselves what kinds of materials to use in their operation. It is usually best to make those decisions on the basis of sound science. There is sound science to back the use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers. Generally speaking, if one wishes to market an organic crop, you must use approved organic materials. Conversely, if the intent is to produce a large commercial amount of some crop, inorganic fertilizer may be the best choice. All plants need the same basic elements available to them for good growth, whether they come from an organic or inorganic source.Organic fertilizers typically contain lower concentrations of major nutrients, but a wider variety of micronutrients. Inorganic fertilizers typically contain much higher concentrations of the nutrients, and so require very precise application to avoid damaging the crop. Unless properly made, organic fertilizers can harbor disease, as well.
Statements like the one at the beginning only help to spread the myth that one form is better than the other. Like most things in life, both have their uses and their proper application. Simple question -- if inorganic fertilizer "contains man-made things that WILL kill your plants faster", do you think commercial farmers would use it? Wouldn't that just quickly put them out of business?
Answer 3Inorganic chemical fertilizer use in commercial farms is on the decrease in the United States. Organic fertilizer use is increasing. More laws are limiting the use of inorganic fertilizer due to it being a major pollutant in our surface water and groundwater where most chemical fertilizers end up. There is no advantage to using chemical fertilizers over organic, and we will continue to see a decrease in the use of chemical fertilizers and the increase use of organic fertilizers.
Answer 4
Organic fertilizer is only a source of nitrogen; chemical manmade fertilizers can offer nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous and other microelements. These fertilizers are stable and can be easily transported at long distances.
Natural fertilizers are insufficient for all the world.
Yes. You could consider them to be meat, though they are not in most human diets. Worms of all types, like most bugs, contain a large proportion of protein. And when we are talking about meat, we are usually referring to a food source that has lots of protein.
Where is a safe place to put a worm farm?
Worms don't like it too hot or too cold, and they don't like direct light, so they should be out of the sun. They prefer 65 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit (18 - 25 degrees Celsius). They can be kept in a garden shed, or on a balcony or veranda, or even inside the house. A well managed worm farm has no smell.
There should be a lid on the top to discourage pests, rats, cats, dogs or others. If ants come into your worm farm it's not really a problem but it's a sign that your farm is too dry. A little more moisture will drive them away.
What are the benefits of having a worm farm in your garden and how can you measure the effects?
Benefits:
* You stop throwing food scraps and kitchen waste into the garbage where they end up as landfill, producing methane which contributes to global warming. * You produce an excellent plant food and fertilizer for your plants. * You throw away less garbage, thus saving fuel on garbage trucks and transport. Measure the effects:
* Count, estimate, measure the amount of food you feed your worms over a period, for example, a small worm farm: 500 grams (1.1 lb) of food a day is 3.5 kilograms (7.7 lbs) a week, or 182 kilos (400 lbs) a year. In ten years that's almost two tonnes (2 tons) of food scraps you've diverted.
Ribbon worms face threats from predators such as fish, sea birds, and other marine species that hunt them for food. Additionally, ribbon worms may also face competition from other organisms that share their habitat.
How can you liquefy worm castings?
You can't totally liquefy it, but you can make it into a usable tea for fertilizing plants. This works with composted cow manure as well. Take about 2-3 cups of the dry material and put it into a plastic gallon jug with a screw on lid and fill it with water to the halfway point. put the lid on it and shake till the castings are broken up into smaller pieces and the water turns dark. When done, fill the jug to the top and use this for feeding indoor and outdoor plants. This is similar to "compost tea" that many gardeners refer to. They just use compost instead of castings.
What are the white worms you have in your kitchen?
Maggets. They start off as small white worms usually in your garbage. Then they turn into flies and it will be alot of them. Get rid of the worms ASAP!
So I recently found them on the ceiling of my kitchen too. We found out, we had oatmeal in our pantry, and the worms were coming from there. We think they're moth larvae.Is it true you can kill bag-worms using dish washing detergent such as Dawn?
Yes, dish washing detergent like Dawn can effectively kill bag-worms when mixed with water and sprayed onto the affected areas. The detergent helps to suffocate and kill the insects by clogging their breathing pores, ultimately leading to their death.
