The "Down and Dirty" about soil

Spring is here in the Northeast. A time to enjoy the beauty of nature, plan that veggie garden or flower bed, new shrubs or simply improve the quality of your lawn. Most New Jersey gardeners and homeowners are just itching to get out there and turn up a little soil.

Gardening is a great hobby with wonderful rewards. To insure a successful return on their investment, commercial lawn, plant and flower fertilizers are a ritual part of spring and summer gardening efforts. But STOP for a moment before you add that fertilizer to your shopping basket!

ARE YOU SURE your soil needs the nutrients you're adding

OR are you applying amendments to the soil that are unnecessary?

The very first step in assuring a successful and rewarding garden, lawn or newly established tree or shrub is NOT adding fertilizer-it's sending a sample of the soil out for analysis. 

Soil sample testing is an easy and affordable process. AND NOW is the time to gather your samples and send them to the lab for analysis. Soil labs can provided you with step-by-step instruction on how to collect, bag and label your samples. 

But here's the basics on how it works:

1. You'll decide what type of plants you intend to grow in each site.
2. You'll contact your local Extension Agent or Soil Lab for special containers and labels for the samples you'll collect.
3. In early Spring and/or late Fall, you'll collect several samples from the same plot of soil, mixing them together to create a representation of the plot's nutrients.
4. You'll complete a simple form or two which identifies the sample and indicates what you plan to grow in that soil. This is an important step because different plants have different nutrient needs. 
5. Samples, forms and payment (generally under $20.00 per sample) will be mailed to the lab for analysis.
6. In a short time, you'll receive a written report indicating the nutrients already present in the soil sample-and recommendations for amendments that will be best suited for the plants you are installing.
7. NOW you have all the information you need to make a good choice of fertilizers or amendments for each garden plot or planting site!

Why is this an important first step in planning your landscaping or garden?

1. Knowing the composition of your soil guides you in making smart decisions which lead to fewer costly garden disappointments.
2. You may be surprised to learn that your soil nutrient load is already perfectly suited to the plants you wish to grow! (This is especially true for folks who annually enhance their garden with compost).
3. By applying the proper amendments, you're giving your plants all the right things for their growth, productivity and longevity.
4. YOU save money-and time- avoiding the "trial and error" method
5. The environment benefits. Excessive application of fertilizers-or the application of fertilizers not used by plants-becomes runoff. Run-off travels into our vital water systems.  Plants in the natural waterways absorb fertilizers which stimulates their unchecked growth. The delicate balance of aquatic life is disturbed. This alteration of the balance nature intended changes the ability to survive or find food for a variety of organisms, fish and water creatures. 

While YOUR garden or landscape may look amazing- the extended damage from the misapplication or excessive application of fertilizers impacts your "earth neighbors"- and no one wants to see that happen! On one level or another-we all care about "green"-even if that's means the "green" in our wallet! Soil testing before applying fertilizers is a smart way to "go green and SAVE green.

NJ residents can learn more about soil testing through Rutgers Soil Lab's website. Your local county extension agent should also be able to provide you with more info, soil sampling kits and expert advice on maintaining healthy lawns, pastures, gardens and landscapes. 

Spring is in the air-but has the mild weather created a pest paradise?

While lots of folks are celebrating the record mild winter and early arrival of Spring in NJ, many are speculating on the impact of the 4th warmest winter in recorded history. NJ Bee keepers are reporting losses in honey bee populations because of the mild winter. In normal winter weather, bees are dormant. This year however, hives remained active throughout the winter months and quickly devoured their food stores. Many hives were lost to starvation. Will new colonies be established in time to pollinate the early blooms? That remains to be seen.

And it's true that the mild temps and lack of frost have many farmers and gardeners taking advantage of an early start to crop production, but farmers are also concerned that Springs early arrival could herald a new challenge to their crop production-pest control.  There's much speculation as to how Mother Nature will deal with the early arrival and anticipated overpopulation of insects.
In the Northeast, the cold weather months and ground frost generally act as a control to insect populations. The 2012 season brought little to none of both-great for folks struggling with rising fuel costs, but a concern as food producers take the plow to the fields and families take to the great outdoors.

 ON A PERSONAL NOTE:
Mosquito and stink bug infestations have already been reported to state officials. Good news for pest control operations, not such good news for the larger population.  Insect populations are usually kept in check because of their susceptibility to winter's cold. Mosquito populations are reported high than average across the country as well.

Tics on the other hand aren't impacted by winter weather and due to the mild temps, are active earlier than usual. Tics and mosquitoes carry disease. New Jersey's tic population present higher than average as agents for Lyme disease which, left untreated, can have crippling effects on humans, livestock and pets.

PEST POPULATION CONTROL and precautions:
Officials are encouraging residents to start their exterior Spring clean up now. By simply emptying standing water from containers, play sets, tire swings etc. and doing this regularly, mosquito breeding habitats around the home will be well... uninhabitable! This easy task can be turned into a fun summertime activity for kids by enlisting them in regular mosquito patrol. There are great educational resources that help kids learn about the life cycle of mosquitoes and creative resources that make "mosquito patrol" a fun lesson in record keeping.

Learning to identify tic species and which are most likely to carry Lyme's disease may not be on your bucket list of things to do-but knowledge is power-and a huge psychological relief to the natural panic most people feel when they find a tic on their body or their child. Let's be honest here, nobody appreciates a blood sucking parasite feasting on their flesh. The mere thought sends a shiver down the spines of even seasoned naturalists and folks who connect with the outdoors every day. But being able to identify the potential for transmission of a disease that lingers long after the chills are gone will take away undo anxiety. So do your homework and teach your kids to check themselves thoroughly when they come in from play. (BTW-the same careful inspection applies to pets who are also susceptible to Lyme's). Vaccines are available through your local vet. These can protect your pet from coming down with Lyme and other diseases BUT keep in mind that some vaccines require a course of treatment to become effective and at the least, most require a period of time for the body to build immunity. PLAN AHEAD to offer the best protection for your pets.

 There are a variety of topical flea and tic preventatives available for pets. Over the counter preventatives have very specific weight and dosing recommendations. Read them carefully before applying. (It's human nature to think if a little is good-a lot will be great- but remember that these over the counter treatments are MEDICATIONS and can have damaging effects to your pets health if not administered properly) the best course for planning prevention is to coordinate with your vet and practice good record keeping.

Severe weather impacts wildlife and birds

As hurricane Irene heads to the East Coast, preparations for human and pet safety are being made. Green Happenings H2O is also encouraging preparations that will help wildlife and birds get through the aftermath of the Irene and the damage that is predicted.

Wildlife and birds have survived Mother Nature's fury since the beginning of time, however, the significant loss of habitat which is already a pressure on many species, compounded by the loss of natural food sources and shelter resulting from flooding, high winds and downed trees, can tip the scales against wildlife populations especially those who depend on late summer berries, nuts and leaves.

Autumn migration has begun along the East Coast corridor. Birds making this long trek south follow ancient skyway patterns and navigate to familiar feeding and resting areas along the way. During the storm's high winds, birds may be thrown off course. While most will be able to reorient themselves eventually, they will be far more successful with a little help finding food sources to help them along their journey.

Birds will seek shelter during a rain event. Due to their high metabolic rate, birds need to "refuel" on regular intervals.  Prolonged, severe storm will leave birds hungry and potentially cause life threatening consequences. Moreover, the resulting damage from a severe weather event and flooding diminishes and alters the availability of food sources once the rain and wind have stopped.

With the impending hurricane approaching,  Green Happenings H2O hopes homeowners on the fringe of the impact zone will consider offering a supply of fresh water and wild bird seed during the post storm period.
Fall migration has begun. Cornell's Bird Lab has addressed "how hurricanes affect migrating birds"  in the following republished article(http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1277) below:

Question of the Week

Q. How do hurricanes affect migrating birds, and is there anything we can do to help the birds that have been negatively affected?

A. Each year, migratory birds cross the Gulf of Mexico during hurricane season. Most birds wait for favorable winds and weather before starting a migratory flight, so seldom strike out over water during a hurricane, but some birds may be well offshore when a storm begins. Although migrants have enough fat (fuel reserves) to make the 600-mile Gulf crossing in favorable winds, they may not have enough energy to survive if they have to fight against headwinds.
Before and after flights, when migrants have higher than normal food requirements, they may have problems finding safe supplies of food in areas devastated by storms. Resident birds in hurricane areas also suffer when their food supplies, such as fruits and berries, are stripped from trees and shrubs. Like migrants, they may wander to other areas in search of food. Preserving critical coastal habitats is essential for these birds. It's also crucial for them that we enforce strict regulations to prevent hazardous materials from leaking or spilling during storms and floods.
Large storm systems may drive some birds far off-course. Strong-flying birds often move ahead of the storm, carried by the winds at the forefront of the weather system. Brown Pelicans, Magnificent Frigatebirds, and other oceanic birds have been recorded far inland, sometimes more than a thousand miles from the coast, after hurricanes. Some of these birds may find their way back; others, unable to deal with the unfamiliar terrain or to find appropriate food in freshwater, may die.
Birds and hurricanes have coexisted for millennia, and given the chance, healthy bird populations rebound from the effects of such natural disasters. Unfortunately, humans make this difficult for some birds because we have destroyed so much natural coastal habitat, and so nowadays hurricanes pose greater threats to vulnerable bird populations than they once did. Working to preserve and restore as much coastal habitat as possible, to minimize toxic spills and leaks during storms by enacting and enforcing strict regulations, and to keep bird populations healthy year round are our best strategies for minimizing the long-term effects of hurricanes on birds.

Alternative Gardening 2011 At-Home Hydroponics Naturally...Sussex

NaturallySussex.com  makes it easy to grow your own fresh produce virtually anywhere!

NATURALLY HOME  

at-home hydroponics unit

We all know the health benefits of adding fresh greens to your family's diet. 

But the time and space needed for a traditional garden is an obstacle.

available online at naturallysussex.com


The beauty of NaturallySussex's
Naturally Home At-Home Hydroponics unit is the simplicity of design and ease of use.

Constructed from lightweight PVC piping, the compact unit measures roughly 3 feet wide by 5 feet in length-so it fits perfectly just about anywhere inside or out.

Three flow tubes provide enough growing space for 18 plants. A constant supply of nutrient rich water flows through the tubes and discharges back to the nutrient tank. Plants are fed at the root. The stress-free access to nutrients makes it easy for plants to direct all their energy into production of great produce. YOU control the type of nutrients added! Organic or commercially available water soluble products are readily available from most garden centers.

Best of all THERE'S NO WEEDING! No need for a garage full of tools either.
With each plant neatly tucked into its own growing space, there's never a need to bend, weed or hoe. Plants are fed at the root with a steady flow of nutrients. Little effort is needed to produce fresh veggies all year long.

Custom fit hard plumbed distribution unit

NATURALLY HOME At-home Hydroponics from NaturallySussex.com is designed with an improved distribution unit.Hydroponic systems generally rely on a flex hose design to deliver the water from the nutrient tank up to the flow tubes. Hoses need frequent cleaning and look messy. The NATURALLY HOME At-Home Hydroponics unit sold exclusively by NaturallySussex.com offers a clean design and replaces irrigation lines with hard pluming and a custom fit distribution unit. The compact, removable piece eliminates the potential for algae growth which can clog the system.

The unit includes:

-three four foot flow tubes with 18 prepared planting chambers
-lightweight, easy to assemble frame
- hard bodied main line
-hard bodied distribution unit
Assembly is easy!
The unit ships in easy to assemble pre cut pieces. Most fit together by hand. Flow tubes come with pre cut planting chambers.  A few screws in the pre-drilled holes will anchor the flow tubes to the main frame in a matter of minutes! Hardware is included.

The unit doesn't include:
-Nutrient tank, pond pump and flex hose/fittings to connect to the uptake line.


Naturally Sussex recommends using a ten gallon bucket or tub -easily found at a local hardware store or homegoods store. Choose a pond pump based on lift. A small piece of flex hose and adaptor will also be needed to connect the pump to the uptake plumbing.

Once your NATURALLY HOME hydroponics unit is set up, simply add plants to the growing chambers and nutrients to the nutrient tank. Plug in the pump and let nature do the rest!
The hydroponics unit lasts forever and costs under $150.00.



Folks have this to say about the NATURALLY HOME At-Home Hydroponics unit
from Naturally Sussex.com:

"We stopped gardening several years ago. Most of our weekends are spent at our vacation home and it seemed easier to buy our veggies rather than trying to tend a garden of our own. The NATURALLY HOME hydroponics unit makes it so easy for us to grow our own produce that we've gotten two! One at our weekend residence and one at our home. We add nutrients to the tank once a week . That's it! Wherever we are, we have fresh produce-that we grew ourselves!" S. Meyers  Montclair, New Jersey

"I'd love to garden-but just don't have the backyard space. NATURALLY HOME hydroponics is a compact solution and the kids think it's really cool!" Anna M. Easton Pennsylvania

"My boyfriend and I work crazy hours. By the time we get home we're beat so meals wind up being whatever we can throw together-most of the time, that's doesn't include fresh produce. NATURALLY HOME hydroponics gives us "garden fresh" choices-without the work of a garden! The compact unit fits great in our small apartment. It takes up next to no room and is easy to maintain. We love it!"
Kathy L Montague NJ

Alternative Gardening 2011

Another growing season is upon us. In between rain storms, Sussex County NJ gardeners are planning, dreaming, prepping and pledging to PLANT A ROW for the Hungry this season. The Sussex County Board of Agriculture initiated this grass roots community service project with a different spin from the Garden Writer's Association's original vision...The SCBOA utilizes its web presence to not only encourage gardeners to Plant an Extra garden row dedicated to sharing with a local food assistance program or neighbor in need-but equally important- the site offers agricultural experience, horticultural knowledge, recipes, how-to's on canning and preserving the harvest AND alternative gardening.
Why would farmers encourage alternative gardening? The facts are that farmers have always encouraged local produce-fresh and healthy as important part of a daily diet. But in today's hectic pace, it isn't always easy or practical for folks to garden.

The Alternative Gardening feature (part of the SCBOA Plant a Row online segment) demonstrates it is possible (and relatively easy) to grow food in small spaces using some alternative methods like; containers, edible landscapes, strawbale gardening and no dig potatoes, upside down tomatoes on the deck and more.
The harvest from the 2010 PAR Alternative Gardening model undertaken by SCBOA member farm Shepherd's Cove, proved productive-producing enough food for the Shepherd's Cove family table AND and abundance to share through a local food shelter. This year SHEPHERD's COVE has signed on for a rather unique alternative experience- hydroponically growing produce while simultaneously raising protein ( namely trout) in a system that exchanges nutrients from the fish waste (those feed the plants) with filtered water returned to the 50 gallon stock tank.

The project began a few weeks ago with the installation of a 3 flow tube system (enough for 18 plants) and the acquisition of brown trout from a New Jersey hatchery. Here's what Shepherd's Cove reports so far:

" We were delighted to construct the three tube hydroponics system with so much ease. Made from PVC piping, the system can hold 18 plants-which to our delight DO NOT have to be restricted to lettuce!
Our initial hope was to raise Tilapia in the stock tank-however-sourcing this fish proved to be almost impossible and not cost effective. Our goal is to create an economical and practical model that can easily be repeated ANYWHERE.
After several weeks of trying to locate a hatchery that bred tilapia, we shifted gears and decided to make trout our protein source. Trout are heat sensitive and sensitive to changes in their environment- however, we believe that we've worked out many of the issues and are on the road to success in achieving and maintaining that delicate balance.

We'll be sending photos and diary entries to Green Happenings H2O as we move forward with this project- our end goal being a food pantry donation of both fish and produce-including some less traditional hydroponically produced plants! Fingers crossed!"Shepherd's Cove

Green Happenings H2O encourages YOU to become part of the SCBOA/Plant A Row project by visiting the Sussex County Board Of Agriculture website: www.sussexcountyboardofagriculture.org and making your participation pledge to Plant A Row. Find local donation sites by zip code search-learn about the food you grow and how canning and preserving  your garden harvest can significantly add savings to your food budget AND test out some alternative gardening at home!

Green Happenings H2o is excited to have Shepherd's Cove Farm contributing to our site. We wish them well in their exploration of hydroponic growing and aquaculture!

NJ Sec of Ag asks campers to help protect NJ's forests...

USDA release


FOREST PEST AWARENESS MONTH MARKED IN AUGUST

NJDA Issues Alert That Firewood May Contain Insects That Threaten Our Forests
      

(TRENTON) – New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher is asking campers to leave their firewood at home to prevent the spread of insects that pose a potential threat to the Garden State’s forests.

“New Jersey has some of the most beautiful camping areas, and a campfire is part of the whole camping experience,” said Secretary Fisher.  “But the firewood that is used might be host to unwelcome tree-killing bugs.  So, we ask campers, both from out of state and here in New Jersey to buy firewood near where they camp to stop the spread of these insects.”

Recognizing the importance of protecting New Jersey’s forests, parks, and wilderness areas from infestation, Governor Chris Christie declared the month of August in New Jersey as Forest Pest Awareness Month.  “This awareness aims to prevent potential destruction of our forests, which are of great value to our citizens, the environment, and even the state’s economy,” the Governor said.

Secretary Fisher said new infestations of invasive pests are known to occur due to movement of wood and wood products.  People can accidentally spread the pests by bringing firewood along with them.  He urged all of New Jersey’s citizens to be on the look-out for these forest insects and prevent their spread with a few easy tips:


Buy firewood where you plan to burn it, which means that the wood was cut within 50 miles of where you will have your fire.
Wood that looks clean and healthy can still have tiny insect eggs that can start a new and deadly infestation.  Even if the firewood looks fine, always leave it at home.
Aged or seasoned wood is still not safe.  Bugs can crawl into dry wood, as well.
These simple reminders can prevent a deadly loss to New Jersey’s forest life.  A pledge against moving firewood can be taken at www.dontmovefirewood.org.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has been battling an infestation by the Asian longhorned beetle since 2002 when the wood-boring pest was discovered in Jersey City.  Surveys found 113 invested trees – those trees and 348 at-risk host trees were removed.  The beetle was declared eradicated in 2008 after a five-year federal/state operation.

Asian longhorned beetle was again found in Middlesex and Union counties in 2004 involving 116 infested trees, which were removed along with 20,903 at-risk host trees.  An eradication effort continues in that region.

The Division of Parks and Forestry worked closely with the NJDA to replant about 5,400 trees in the two areas. No new infested trees have been discovered in New Jersey since April of 2006.

The Department is watching three other pests that have the potential to threaten New Jersey trees – Emerald Ash Borer, Sirex Woodwasp and Southern Pine Beetle.

Emerald Ash Borer, a small emerald green insect native to Asia, was discovered in July 2002 feeding on ash trees in southeastern Michigan.  Since then, it has afflicted more than 100,000 square miles of damage to ash trees in 12 states, as well as Canada, including New Jersey’s bordering states.

Sirex Woodwasp also is a threat but instead to pine trees.  This large, dark insect is native to Eurasia and North Africa and can be up to 1.5 inches in length.  Identified in New York State in 2006, it has since affected many other states including Michigan, Ohio and Vermont.  If the pest continues to spread, it could eventually cause billions of dollars of damage to United States forest life.

Lastly, Southern Pine Beetle, a native insect that has been found in New Jersey and is expanding its range to the southern part of the state, poses a similar threat to our pine trees.  This 1/8-inch long, dark, reddish-brown insect has been one of the most destructive pests in the southern U.S. for more than 30 years and killed around 4.5 million board feet of pine timber in four years alone from 1973-1977.

The State Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry, oversees more than 430,000 acres of land that receive over 18 million visitors annually.  About 42 percent, or 2.1 million acres, of New Jersey is forested, which includes state and private lands that serve as environmental resources.

Trees exist for many important environmental reasons including filtering air pollution chemicals and dangerous small dust particles from the air, reducing water runoff, flooding, erosion and storm water management costs, and helping to recharge groundwater and keep sediment and pollutants from streams.  They also provide summer shade and protection from winter winds and snow, which increases comfort as well as reduces winter heating and summer cooling costs by at least 20 percent.

Asian longhorned beetle as well as Emerald Ash Borer, Sirex Woodwasp and Southern Pine Beetle, all pose a great health risk to the landscape of New Jersey’s urban, suburban, and rural forested areas.  The Department of Agriculture’s Forest Pest Awareness Month aims to call attention to these potentially devastating pests by asking campers not to move their firewood to prevent their spread in New Jersey.

Preserving locally grown goodness

Preserving your favorite summer produce and fruits by canning, preserving and freezing is a great way to save money and is a great family activity. It's even more fun for kids if they've grown the foods themselves. The process is relatively simple though a few essentials are required for jellies, jams, sauces and jar canning. Chances are that some of the equipment is already in your house-or in family treasures passed on from previous generations. If not, you can find canning supplies at thrift stores, antique shops or you can purchase brand new canning kits online.

Canning methods have changed since Grandma's day. Gone are the days of sealing wax and many folks are opting to freeze rather than can certain low acid foods. Keeping safety first is always important whether in the garden, kitchen or in processing foods. Be sure to follow all directions and method steps to insure your canning process results not only in great flavor and nutrition, but foods that are safe for your family. It is recommended that canning methods prior to 1990 not be used. The USDA provides a wealth of resources on current day canning processes. Check them out!

We'll be sharing some of the info here and hope you'll be encouraged to give canning, freezing, dehydrating and preserving fresh from the garden or farm goodness at home.

SOME TIPS:
*Keep it simple! Preparing and preserving large quantities of harvest can be time consuming, messy and generally not too much fun. Keep your goals simple and realistic
*The more the merrier! Plan a "Jamming" parties with friends-sharing quality time with the added benefit of yummy take-homes is a great alternative to the usual night out with the girls.
*Get the kids involved-assign tasks appropriate to age and remember to keep safety first! Summer canning projects make AWESOME "show and tell" school projects in the fall!
*Nothing beats homemade-except locally grown! Great results start with great ingredients- visit your local  Pick UR Own Farm, Farm Stand or Farmer's Market-locally grown for your homemade.