Pure Black Castings™                VermaPlex®                  VermaMax®


          a blog by a dog

    Digger's Composting

Careful About Materials You Add To Your Compost Pile

You may be like us and are gathering up materials for your compost heap and mulch for winter plant protection.  Did you know that herbicides used on turf grass, hay fields, and other common compost/mulching materials can retain pesticide/herbicide residues that can harm your plants and trees?

And these herbicides can be found in horse and cow manures, too.  As if we didn't have enough to worry about these days....

Some Herbicides Don't Break Down

There has been a serious problem for gardeners since 1999 with herbicides  that don't break down during the composting process.  These herbicides, used to kill weeds in hay and grass can be deposited onto your garden soil and lawns, causing damage to plants, trees and vegetables.

The active ingredients, proved to not cause harm to animals but not proven safe for plants, include:

• Clopyralid
• Aninopyralid,
• Aminocyclopyrachlor 

The last one is the active ingredient in the brand-name herbicide Imprelis and is attracting attention.

The above herbicides are in the pyridine family which kill plants by altering plant hormone levels.  The reason they do not harm animals is that plants have different hormones than animals and it's safe for the animals to ingest it.

But, what about the manure from these animals?  And what about using the treated grass clippings, hay and straw in our gardens and compost piles?

The problem is that these herbicides is, because they remain in the environment for long periods of time , they are causing problems with plants that we all want to keep alive, like our tomato plants, for crying out loud.

The bottom line:  Be careful where your compost materials come from.  You may inadvertently cause damage or kill your plants, trees and vegetables.

Steps Organic Gardeners Can Take

1. Compost your own materials. 
   Only bring in composting materials from sources that you know what maintenance practices are used.
2. Know your composting sources. 
   If you use a commercial composting, find out if they accept municipal organic waste material.  And, if they do, is it tested for herbicide residue.
3. Be an activist. 
   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is so named because it is supposed to, get this,  "protect the environment".  Write them and let them know you want protection from harmful herbicide residues.  Herbicides need to be tested for potential harmfulness to plants before approval.  Contact manufacturers of herbicides that you want herbicides thoroughly tested before they are put on the market, and not just for animal safety.

Use Only Organic Composting Materials

The only real way to prevent these products from getting into the environment is to not use them in the first place.  Avoid using herbicides yourself and don't import compost materials onto your property from outside sources who do.

Certified Organic:

Pure Black Castings™:  Certified Organic Worm Castings created using only organic materials.
VermaMax®:  Chicken Litter organically composted using VermaPlex®.
VermaPlex®:  Created from Certified Organic Pure Black Castings™.  Innoculate your garden soil and your compost heap.
Organic Fertilizer Information: Find use/application guides and Monroe Works.

Pure Black Castings™                                                       VermaPlex®                                   VermaMax®


          a blog by a dog

Digger's Fall Garden Project

New Strategy for Our Fall Garden

Ol' Bill's been's working feverishly on his new garden project.  If you've been following my blog (you have been following faithfully, haven't you?) we've struggled with our garden due to the area's weird weather patterns.

The "shade yurt" is just about ready to set up, just in time for unpredictable October. 

Shade Gardening

Our Central Florida weather similar to Louisiana and Texas:  Relatively mild winters with occasional freezes; early/late frosts and early/late heat.  The summers can get hot early and do the tomatoes in before the fruit ripens.  An early frost can wipe out young plants in the fall garden; a late frost can wipe out young plants in the spring.  A mild winter can be a blessing, providing fresh vegetables year long.  A harsh winter can freeze out the hardiest of plants.  Whatever weather we get in any given winter is a crap shoot.  We won't even get into the drought/flooding issues.

Well, ol' Bill has come up with a possible solution.  To protect the plants from sun, frost and freezes, he's building a yurt - a Mongolian portable house.  It's fast,easy and inexpensive to build, so we did.  Or rather, ol' Bill did.  I supervised as usual.

After the yurt is erected, we'll set up a self-watering container garden system in it, cover the yurt with shade cloth and have frost cloth covers at the ready.  Oh Tricky Central Florida Weather, bring it on.


                      Shade Garden

After construction, we set up the yurt to see how it went together.  Then, we dismantled it and are just finishing up the protective finish.  More to come....

Garden Fertilizer Resources:

About Worm Castings :  Articles and use/application guides.
Pure Black Castings ™:  Certified organic, OMRI listed 99.9% pure worm castings
VermaPlex ®: Liquid soil inoculant made from these organic worm castings
VermaMax®: Organically composted chicken litter.  For extra nitrogen and 6% Calcium.

Other Resources

Pure Black Castings™             VermaPlex®         VermaMax®

a blog by a dog

Digger Fertilizes Lawns.
 

It's fall and you know what that means...time to fertilize and re-seed the lawn. Why? Because fall and winter is the time for roots to build and  fragile seedlings to get a start before next summer's heat. 

Of course, I work none-stop all year long on adding my contribution to the grass and pasture, but I can only do-do so much.  I need some help. 

Fall Lawn Fertilizer Check List

Things to consider in the fall:

• Soil Test.
  Now's a great time to send a soil sample to your state's agricultural extension office for testing.  You'll see what your soil is lacking and fix it.
• Apply organic compost or worm castings.
  They will slow release throughout the fall and winter, strengthening your grass's root system for a great start come Spring.
• Add microbes.
  Microbes will work on this organic content (compost and/or castings), releasing nutrients for your grass.
• Aerate.
  If you have heavy or clayey soils, aerate before adding the compost/castings.
• Over-seed or re-seed now.
  The young grass seedlings have time to establish themselves before the drying, hot sun of late spring and summer arrive.

Healthy well-fed grass out competes weeds and eliminates the need for herbicides.  Pests are reduced, which eliminates the need for pesticides.  Your lawn grass will thrive as you contribute to a safer planet.

Uh...will you excuse me for  just a second?  I really must do my part in this grass fertilizing project now....like, pronto....

Fall Lawn Fertilizer Resources:

How To Your Lawn :  Guides and Application Instructions.
Pure Black Castings ™:  Certified organic, OMRI listed 99.9% pure worm castings
VermaPlex ®: Add microbes with this liquid soil inoculant made from these organic worm castings
Lawn Fertilizer Combination:  Convenient and saves on shipping.

Other Resources

	Pure Black Castings™                VermaPlex®                VermaMax®

a blog by a dog

Digger Is Certified Organic!  

Organic Farming Research Foundation Report

(huff...puff...pant...) News hot off the ticker.  Left a perfectly delicious chew bone to do a quick news post:  A report released today by OFRF  gives evidence of the benefits of organic farming.  It also reveals a bright possibility for those of you looking for a lucrative career choice in our struggling economy and shrinking job market. Read on while I rest..... (and chew)...

Increased Demand For Organic Products

Because of increased demand for organic products, the report urges more public resources be directed towards programs supporting organic farming.   That current support can only be described as "modest" and does not reflect the reality of the growing demand for organic products.

Organic Farming Is Beneficial

Further, the report reveals what we've suspected all along: Organic farming practices are tremendously beneficial to consumers, farmers, the economy, and the environment.  It also urges more research be done on this growing market.

Did you know that for this ever increasing clamor for organically grown products, there are currently only 14,500 certified organic farmers who are struggling to supply the demand?

So what does  the increasing demand for organic products, the limited number of certified organic growers, and the call for more Congressional initiciatives in the upcoming Farm Bill mean? Organic farming is becoming an increasingly attractive option for struggling entrepreneurs looking for a viable business with tremendous demand.

Certified Organic Fertilizers

In order to be produce certified organic products, certified organic fertilizers are required.  For farmers seeking organic certification, the following worm-based fertilizers are accepted.:

Pure Black Castings ™:  Certified organic, OMRI listed 99.9% pure worm castings
VermaPlex ®: Liquid soil inoculant made from these organic worm castings
VermaMax®: Organically composted chicken litter.  For extra nitrogen and 6% Calcium.

Other Resources

Pure Black Castings™             VermaPlex®         VermaMax®

a blog by a dog

Digger's Bamboo Lives! 
 

I fertilize the bamboo every chance I get.  The rest is up to Ol' Bill.

Quick Update on Bamboo

This bamboo  died back entirely last winter.  But, it came back with the spring and we've been fertilizing, watering and mulching it to get some hardened off growth before the freezes (if we have any) get here.  Good culm growth shows the root system is fully established now.  Should help with surviving the winter.

 


There's time for a dose of VermaPlex® to finish out the growing season.  

Bamboo Fertilizer Resources:

About Worm Castings :  Articles and use/application guides.
Pure Black Castings ™:  Certified organic, OMRI listed 99.9% pure worm castings
VermaPlex ®: Liquid soil inoculant made from these organic worm castings
VermaMax®: Organically composted chicken litter.  For extra nitrogen and 6% Calcium.

Other Resources

Pure Black Castings™             VermaPlex®         VermaMax®

a blog by a dog

Digger Digs Holes On Command.
 

Preparing Fall Container Garden

I volunteered to make narrow holes in the potting soil of our self-watering containers, but I was turned down flat. It’s frustrating for one as talented as me in hole-digging to be passed over. Ol’ Bill opted instead for an old sailing tool to do the job. O.K., O.K. I know my holes can’t be classified as “narrow”, but what I lack in precision I make up for in enthusiasm.

Preparing Fall Container Garden

This is a cool way to add worm castings fertilizer to the potting soil of our self-watering containers without having to dump out the whole she-bang. Drill several narrow holes into the mix, much like you would for tree/shrub fertilizing, and then fill with organic fertilizer. Ol’ Bill pulled out this sailing tool from his bottomless trunk that did the trick.
 


If you don't possess one of these uncommon tools, you can make one by cutting off a baseball bat up from the narrow end. Round off the end.  It should reach down 2/3 of the container depth.

Adding Organic Fertilizer to Containers

After drilling the holes, Ol’ Bill filled them with 50/50 mixture of Pure Black Castings™ and VermaMax®. He added VermaPlex® to the water reservoir and let it perk. Our containers are now ready for planting those heirloom tomato seedlings we picked up from the old-timers.

Next, our heirloom tomatoes and the yurt pics as promised. For now, I think I’ll go practice “precision hole digging”.

Container Garden Fertilizer Resources:

About Worm Castings :  Articles and use/application guides.
Pure Black Castings ™:  Certified organic, OMRI listed 99.9% pure worm castings
VermaPlex ®: Liquid soil inoculant made from these organic worm castings
VermaMax®: Organically composted chicken litter.  For extra nitrogen and 6% Calcium.

Other Resources

    



 Pure Black Castings™    VermaPlex®             VermaMax®

  a blog by a dog


    Digger Loves Fall

Is that a slight nip in the air?  An imperceivable drop in the humidity?  Are we actually below ninety for a change?  No doubt about it, this summer has been a hot one, but, as usual, times they are a'changing.  It's time (probably past time) to start thinking about the fall garden.

What To Plant In The Fall Garden

Generally, you should plant only cool weather plants.  But, in our area, we can afford to plant some fast maturing warm weather plants like tomatoes and peppers.  Most of you guys should only consider cool weather varieties like broccoli, peas, spinach, kale lettuce, onions and radishes.

We happen to have a jump start on our fall garden.  Amazingly, when we trimmed back our peppers in the green house, they came back and are producing new blooms and fruit even as we speak.  Since they are in the green house, we can probably keep these babies going throughout the winter.  Want that be nice.



                           Ready For Fall Garden



                                 Bonus Fall Peppers

Fertilizing Our Self-Watering Containers

To add fertizer to our self-watering containers without having to dump out the potting soil mix, ol' Bill poked a couple of holes down into the soil of each buckey with a sail making tool (can't think of the name, it's a tapered stick) much like fertilizing around a tree or shurb.  He filled these holes with worm castings, then drenched with VermaPlex®.

Other Fall Garden Plantings

The other self container garden  (which ol' Bill fertilized the same as above) is going to be moved into our newly constructed (almost finished) "yurt".  This structure, meant for our summer garden, will make it easy for us to cover with frost cloth should we get one of those early October frosts like last year.  And, because of our schizophrenic weather, we can put on the shade cloth for a late October heat wave.  I told you our weather here in Central Florida was a challenge for gardening.
 
Yurt pics next.

Fall Garden Resources:

Fertilizers:  Pure Black Castings™, VermaPlex®, VermaMax®
Vermicomposting:  Make your own worm castings fertilizers with earthworms.

Pure Black Castings™      VermaPlex®                   VermaMax®

  
     a blog by a dog

  Digger Sometimes Digs

Problem Shrub

Our attention has turned to these poor, neglected shrubs.  Actually, there's a good reason they've been neglected.  You know, they call me "Digger" for a reason.  Amongst these once lovely shrubs is where I gained my reputation as an accomplished digger.

I dug up the landscaping cloth, buried the mulch, made semi-permanent holes - basically creating a big mess.  When I saw Kayce walk away in disgust last year, I had a feeling these shrubs were going to the back burner.

But, I've turned over a new leaf (metaphorically speaking) and no longer dig holes.  Well, for the most part.  Occasionally, when it's hot and I've been banished to the yard for some indoor rules infraction, I have relapses.  All in all, though, I'm leaving stuff alone.  So it's not going to be wasted effort to bring these shrubs back to life.


                       A Shrub in Need

First, we (Kayce) pulled out the vines that had overtaken the shrubs this rainy, hot summer.  Then we (Kayce) sprinkled some Pure Black Castings™ and VermaMax® around the shrubs and washed it in.  After a few days, we'll add a VermaPlex® drench.


             Does This Shrub Have Time?

Although it's getting late in the season, there should be time for the shrubs to put out some growth.  Then, in the spring we'll add the castings/VermaMax®/VermaPlex® treatment.  I've promised to leave the shrubs alone from now on.  When the urge to dig comes over me, there's always the planter in the front yard.

Shrub Fertilizer Resources:

Organic Shrub Fertilizer:  Combo Pure Black Castings™ and VermaPlex® for shrubs, lawns and gardens.

Extra Nitrogen For Shrubs:  VermaMax® also provides an amazing 6% calcium.

 

Pure Black Castings™     VermaPlex®          VermaMax®

         a blog by a dog
     
 
Digger often fertilizes bamboo plants.

Growing Bamboo 

I don't know about you, but growing bamboo in our area (North Central Florida) is challenging.  Come to think of it, growing anything here is a challenge.  Florida has 4 distinct growing zones: North Florida, Central Florida, South Florida, and Tropical Florida.  As luck would have it, we're at the bottom of North Florida, and at the top of Central Florida.

What does this mean?  To you, absolutely nothing.  To us, it means we get more freezes than Central Florida, more heat than North Florida.  We get them early and late, coming and going.  No wonder ol' Bill doesn't know if he's.....well, you know.

Although winter's tend to be mild here, for the last 2 years, that has not been the case. Oh.... no, no, no.  We've had temps down into the low teens both years, and for several days at a time, and for several instances.  So, guess what's been happening to our bamboo?

You guessed it.  They grow and grow during the summer, then winter comes and, BAM!, the freeze kills back all the lovely canes that were so promising.

Even the established bamboo gardens at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens suffered major losses.  Bamboo's that have been standing for years were lost.  And the property were we dug up some of our bamboo sprouts lost the big clumper.

But, our bamboo plants themselves survived and there are things we can to get some canes established this year.  Pray for a milder winter and fertilize really, really good.

Here's what we did:

• Piled on the composted horse manure behind the barn.

• Added worm castings to that.

• Drenched with VermaPlex®.

• Applied heavy mulch.

• Two week later, we add VermaMax® (composted chicken doo).

• Watered during the dry season

As luck would have it, after a very dry spring, the rain has really kicked in and the bamboo is going wild:

                                                   
 
This particular species of bamboo is meant for Zone 9.  We are Zone 8.  I'm afraid, very afraid.

Bamboo Plant Fertilizer Resources:

 

 Find information about VermaMax® at www.MonroeWorks.com.

Pure Black Castings™:  Certified organic worm castings (poop).
VermaPlex®:  Liquid microbial soil inoculant (a real mouth full) made from the above.
VermaMax:®  Organic chicken litter (again, poop) composted with the above.

Other Resources:

One Garden At A Time

Think that "going green" is revolutionary?  Did you know there was a time, not so long ago, when all farming and gardening was done organically?

Gradually, chemical fertilizers became the accepted way of farming and gardening.  It was quick and easy.  And, once upon a time, cheap.

The fact is, chemical fertilizer exhausts the soil, destroys the microbes, depletes the micro-nutrients, and diminishes the "tilth".  The result?  Dead soil.

And now, with the new "peak oil" reality, chemical fertilizers are no longer cheap.  Isn't it time to stop the madness? Isn't it time to change the same-old-ways of doing things?  Isn't it time to get "back to the future"?

Imagine, as you're gardening, using organic methods and applying organic fertilizers like compost, manures, and worm castings, what is actually happening.  You're replenishing the soil, restoring the microbes, returning the micro-nutrients, increasing the "tilth", and, yes,...... saving the planet.  So go ahead, be a revolutionary, "go green".

Organic Fertilizer Resources:

Find use/application guides for these certified organic worm fertilizers at Monroe Works

Worm Castings  Nature's most perfect fertilizer, Pure Black Castings™.
Liquid Soil Inoculant  Restore your soil's microbe with VermaPlex®.
Composting Worms  Make your own vermicompost with red worms.