Spring and Autumn

Photos by Melina Duarte

In the northern hemisphere, people are beginning to bring their pot plants indoors. The pictures on this page show beautifully grown geraniums, African violets and hibiscus in Umeä, Sweden. It is amazing how tropical plants like hibiscus can bloom so well even in a country known for its low temperatures. However, when properly cared for, plants do surprise us. Good soil, sun and water make wonders...

Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere, the opposite movement is going on, I mean, people are looking forward to springtime, and getting outdoors to start off the first steps to clean their gardens, prepare the soil, sow the first seeds.

If you are thinking of having a flowery garden next summer, you'd better begin now. Spring is a few days away only, and you may start thinking about or choosing which varieties you are going to grow this season.

Geraniums are a good choice as they are hardy enough to withstand transplanting while they have buds or flowers, but transplanting a flowering geranium when there is still a risk of a spring frost will kill the flowers. Check what Lisa Chinn has to say about planting and growing these beautiful flowers.

Springtime is Coming

 Flowers, flowers, flowers

Today, I must admit, I'm too lazy to write a regular post. So, I'm publishing this poem
by Julia A. Moore which describes precisely what we all long for at this time of the year in the southern hemisphere. Hope you will like it.





 Springtime is Coming

Julia A. Moore

Beautiful Spring is coming,
Ah, yes, will soon be here,
For the clear bright sun is shining
All human hearts to cheer.
One the brightest gems of nature
Is the orb that o'er us shines,
And o'er the wide creation,
It'll shine to the end of time.

The birds will soon be singing
On shrub and bough of trees,
Their notes will soon be ringing
Out, forth so merrily.
They love the merry spring time,
Those little birds we love,
They love the pleasant sunshine
That comes down from above.

We can hear them sweetly singing
From early morn, till night.
They make music in the woodland
Those little birds; so bright,
We should dearly love them,
Those little harmless things,
And when we hear their music,
We know that it is spring.

Food Sovereignty and Income Generation

More food, higher income, more social justice

The Centro Ecológico NGO  designed this Project, supported by Heifer International, on Food Sovereignty and Income Generation in 2009 and since then they have been helping and working with low-income families from Sanga da Madeira, an underserved community in Passo de Torres, SC, southern Brazil.

The project aims to teach those families to grow their own veggie gardens, and, as a result, eat healthier food. Last but not least, they will be able to trade some vegetables with neighboring communities as well.



The families joining the project have been harvesting their  tomatoes, radishes, lettuce, and giving the example that anyone may grow their own food and eat better. So far they can only count on a patch of yard, but that has been enough for them as they are now eating flavorful, nutrient-rich food.

The pictures on today's and Tuesday's post clearly show how simple a solution to end hunger may be provided well-intentioned people get together and dig their hands in the dirt.

The Greek philosopher Nikos Kazantzakis said that while there are flowers, children and birds, there is hope to the world. I would add that while there are people willing to make a difference, we can be assured that a better world is possible.

Successful "Grow Your Own Food Program"

Grow Your Own Food and Eat Better

 

The "Grow Your Own Food Program" is being developed in a very poor area in southern Santa Catarina, a state in southern Brazil, involving low-income families and helping them get out of  malnutrition and bad eating habits.

The photos taken at one of those families' yard speak for themselves. The effort and dedication of both the families and their instructors have begun to show the first results.

The families who have joined the program are certainly eating better. This will lead to other effects, i.e., better health, higher self-esteem, more social development.This initiative, although not unprecedented, may be replicated everywhere and used to help other communities to grow their own food and live a better life.

Springtime Is One Month Away

Winter is almost gone

If you are like me, you get fed up with the cold weather and long not only for warmer temperatures but especially for the flowers that blossom out everywhere in springtime.

In the northern hemisphere, people are still enjoying summer with all its good things while we, in the south, are having a hard time coping with this freezing cold.

Fortunately, springtime is only one month away. This means that a month from now we will be seeing the first blooms... gardens will be filled with flowers...trees will be greener...and people will rejoice with nature.

How To Grow Vegetables in a Small Area - 2

Growing Veggies in a Small Area

 Eat Better By Growing Your Own Food

You may have your fresh green salad every day, and eat your own organically grown veggies even if you can't count on a large lot. It's all very simple as the only requirement is that you "dig your hands into the dirt and start gardening". The result is so rewarding that you won't think of doing it otherwise.

Initiatives and examples of people growing their own food are everywhere, and the number of families that have joined  programs like this one - http://www.proudgreenhome.com/article/181990/Gardens-are-growing-within-communities?rc_id=509 - is increasing.


Check out on the photos a friend of mine has sent me. A few families in her apartment building are sharing a sunny open area in the building to grow their own veggies, from lettuce to beets (!!!).

You too can start with a pot of herbs, and slowly grow into a full-fledged garden, if you like.

How To Grow Vegetables In a Small Area

Is it possible to grow vegetables in a small area?

You like to eat fresh vegetables, but you live in an apartment building (like this friend of mine) and there's no room for a veggie garden. At least that's what you think. And you dream of having a small yard where you can grow your own lettuce, your own parsley... Imagine being able to get fresh arugula for your green salad. Wouldn't it be just great?

Well, the good news is that you may have that. You may grow your vegetables in pots!!! And you'll be surprised at how easy that really is.

All you need to do is find a sunny spot in your apartment or in the balcony (if you are lucky to have one), and choose a container (http://gardening.about.com/od/vegetablepatch/a/ContainerVeggie.htm) that you will want to fill with soil or potting mixes. The advantage of potting mixes is that they are relativily sterile and pH adjusted. 


Check out the pictures illustrating this post. The vegetables look just as great because the gardener used good soil to start her mini-veggie garden. Her secret is to add juice pulp to the planting soil because this helps increase oxygen, retain moisture and provide nutrients to the plants. The result is amazing!

Weeding The Garden

Well...after getting rid of (or trying to ) brown spots, plant rust, and aphids, we must turn our eyes to the weeds that are threatening the garden's health! And we must take action as soon as we spot any of these unwanted plants. It's amazing how fast they grow and spread all over if we don't stop them.

Weeding the garden isn't my favorite pastime, but I must admit that if I don't do it, I'll regret the consequences later. And I believe you feel just the same.  

So,  let's get to work before the yard is overgrown with weeds. We may choose  different methods, depending on the area to be weeded.

Mechanical Method - It consists of the use of tools such as hoes  or similar ones to pull off  the weeds.

Biological Method - It is the use of biological agents to control unwanted plants. An example of this method is the use of some animals that have a preference for feeding on certain plant species.  Fungi are also used.

Chemical Method - It is the use of chemicals or weed-killers, herbicides. It is one of the most widely used methods on large plantations, for their efficacy and selectivity, but the use of these products should only occur under the guidance of a qualified agronomist.

In small areas, the preference should be for the mechanical method  as it's less agressive. But the best thing to do is undoubtedly to take preventive care, I mean,  use only certified seeds,  clean the tools after using them, and, last but not least, watch out for any sign of a weed in the garden.

How To Get Rid Of Brown Spots (Bipolaris fungus)

If you take proper care of your garden, it's unlikely that your plants will be damaged by brown spots - a disease caused by a parasite (a fungus that can grow as a mold in semi-dry environments ) called Bipolaris. The bad news is that such parasite is very hard to get rid of, but there are a couple of steps you may take to help you lessen the damage.

Healthy plants growing in nutrient-rich soil are naturally resistant, but, since such fungus may be spread by the wind or, at short distances, by rain or irrigation, it's important to be on the watch for any sign of the disease. Round dark brown spots on leaves, stems or grains should call your attention, specially if they show a light-greyish center and a light yellow halo. Once set in, brown spots are hardly controlled.

So, in order to avoid such trouble, you should look to avert the conditions for the development of these fungi in your garden, specifically mild temperatures associated with high relative humidity and frequent wetting. Also, keep plants pruned so that  there is ventilation and the irrigation water does not remain ponded on the leaves, this way both the temperature and humidity will be regulated. 

Since it's difficult to get rid of brown spots, the solution is to act preventively and apply fungicides such as Bordeaux mixture ¹,which might control the disease.

The best solution, however, is to choose seeds,  seedlings, and mature plants very carefully, purchasing the healthiest ones only, making sure you buy varieties that can resist such parasites.

Last but not least, remember that Bipolaris is a potential allergen and is the leading cause of allergic fungal sinusitis. Some people may even experience hay fever, or asthma. So, stay away from plants that show brown spots if you are allergic. :)

How To Get Rid Of Plant Lice (Aphids)

There is nothing more distressing than see your cherished plants  fading away because of those unwanted insects that can destroy the whole garden. I'm talking about these highly destructive insects called aphids.

Aphids are small sap sucking insects that can multiply rapidly, causing serious economic losses for farmers in general. They are also known as plant lice, greenflies, blackflies or whiteflies. There are over 4,000 species, of which at least 250 cause agricultural losses. They feed on plant sap by piercing the conductive vessels. In addition to direct losses, the aphids spread diseases among plants and favor the emergence of fungi.

Their reproductive cycle is very interesting, and in the warmer months of the year females produce other females parthenogenetically, ie, without fertilization in a viviparous manner, whereas in the fall, there is mating between males and females, and they become oviparous .

Depending on the species, aphids may show different colors, displaying  brown, green, yellow, red, gray, black, or almost colourless bodies. Natural predators of aphids are ladybirds, syrphid (flower-flies), beetles and wasps, but there are numerous other animals capable of preying them. Some ants, in order to get protection from predators, make use of an aqueous solution rich in sugars the aphids excrete.

It is possible to control aphids  naturally by introducing  predators and parasites in the affected areas. Other traditional, efficient forms of combat include spraying  tobacco syrup and mineral oil on the plants. Commercial insecticides should be used only when the plants are not flowering and fruiting, as they also kill beneficial insects to plants such as bees.

How To Get Rid Of Plant Rust

Time jetflies...it's May already, and this blog hasn't been updated since January, when hot sunny days were still going on in the southern hemisphere. Now that wintertime is getting closer, we have to look at our cherished plants more carefully to check if they've got any disease, and take the necessary measures to get rid of the unwanted intruders.

It's annoying to find those yellow-reddish or red-yellowish lesions on the plant leaves or on the stems, and you will want to get rid of them ASAP. That's plant rust which is a general term that refers to a rather large family of fungi that attack plants.

Rust fungi are very easy to identify on the plant. They can be characterized by a rust color on plant leaves and stems. The rust will start out as flecks and will eventually grow into bumps, appearing on the underside of the leaves of the plant.

Plant rusts often benefit from mild climates with moderate temperatures and high precipitation. There are higher incidences in wet years, which are prone to the formation of dew on leaves. These factors are ideal for the spores to germinate. So, do not overwater your plants. Also make sure that your plants have good air circulation inside the branches and around the plant itself. This will help it dry off its leaves faster.

The damaged caused by plant rust is irreparable as the plant tissues have no regenerative capacity. Thus, the best thing to do is work on prevention.Remove affected leaves at the first sign of rust color on plant leaves. The faster the affected leaves can be removed, the better chance your plant has for survival. Be sure to dispose of these leaves. Do not compost them.

Then treat your plant with a fungicide. Continue to remove leaves and treat the plant until all signs of the plant rust are gone.

An efficient fungicide is the homemade Bordeaux mixture. It consists of a mixture of copper sulphate, hydrated lime or quicklime and water.

Applications should be made preventively, as the Bordeaux mixture acts by contact, after a few days or after a rain of average intensity, new application must be made. Do not apply directly to all the plants; instead,  test it on a few leaves and see if there is no toxicity.You can dilute or concentrate the syrup if necessary.

Summertime Flowers

Back again to blogging...

After the last post, time simply flew...other projects came in the first place, and  I ended up putting off this one that should have been my priority in 2010. After all, it was the idea of creating a blog like this that helped me to get through the first months of the year as a retired teacher. I found in it a substitute for the classes I no longer had to teach. And, in the end, blogging turned out to be a great pastime.

But, once a teacher, forever a teacher... my teaching practice was required, and my blog was set aside for a while.

So, after a few months, here I am writing about summer flowers - which are just gorgeous. Every garden, every corner is filled with colors, from bright pink to light rose, from dark purple to light blue, not mentioning the numerous varieties of yellows.

The bougainvilleas this year are incredibly colorful and so are the gracious hibiscus. My neighborhood is specially blessed with so many beautiful gardens. Were not for the boiling heat this summer and I would say this is my favorite season.