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!