The main reason the Urban Farm came into existence was to grow food. Before long I found that I was growing way more food than I was consuming and I began sharing it with neighbors and restaurants. I set up a trade agreement with one local eatery and for many years provided her with a bounty and got my ‘free lunch’ in return.

I learned the beauty of the garden is plenty and that the steps to taking my leftover groceries to market was really quite easy. In this week’s article, I outline a plan for you to get your produce from seed to the local market. It is easy and quite fulfilling. There is nothing better for me than to plant, nurture, harvest and ultimately share with the community all that my garden grows.

Of course, getting to market and setting up in the wee small hours can make for a long day. Fortunately, we have a few “survival items” for you. Our Espresso Travel Tumbler can be filled with your beverage of choice and has great looks, too. Should you get hungry later, or just need to bring home a fresh-baked goodie from the market, just bring along our Stainless Steel Lunch Bundle.

Have a great green day!

Technorati Tags: food, garden, gardening, market, Urban Farming

Many of you know that my passion for gardening can rival that of the garden bugs that show up in my yard. It is quite an interesting dance as each of us takes lead. Often we feel that a pest solution lies in some kind of pest deterrent. I however have found over and over that if we address the root cause, the bugs essentially become a non issue. What, you say, is the “root” issue? Healthy soil and balance. Join me in this week’s article as we explore just how we can create healthy soil and balance in our gardens.

On a side note, chlorine is added to our tap water to kill all the little microorganisms that live there. THAT is good for our drinking water but not so for our gardens. So what is one to do? Check out the Gard’n Gro Chlorine Removal System that we have available on our site. This handy add-on filters as you go, making for happy flowers and veggies in return.

For those pesky bugs at the cottage and campsite, I suggest our DEET-free Herbal Armor Insect Repellant Spray. You’ll love it. The bugs won’t.

Have a great green day!

Greg

Technorati Tags: balance, bugs, chlorine, filter, flowers, fruits, garden, gardening, health, microorganisms, pests, soil, veggies

The past two weeks we have been discussing greywater and rainwater use in our yards. Last week author Brad Lancaster gave us the background on his journey to expertise in rainwater harvesting. This week he gives us the specifics on his eight principles for successful rainwater harvesting.

A quick review of last weeks article: On average up to 90% of our household municipal water that goes down the drain is actually greywater ready, we just need to get it to the landscape. Additionally, we can harvest and infiltrate thousands of gallons of rain and runoff into the soil around our home (and, by extension, the community’s watershed) over the course of our annual average rainfall. These two water sources can provide a significant amount of our landscape irrigation needs.

By shifting to living within our greywater and rainwater “budget” we can make a significant impact on our local sustainability and landscapes. As a result, we can enrich the land, create a beautiful home and neighborhood environment – and give back more than we take!

Both of Brad’s books:

Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands Vol. 1

Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond Vol. 2

are available at our YourGuidetoGreen.com online store, as well as the book Create an Oasis with Greywater. Along with our theme of showers from the sky, we’re offering you our Eco-Shower Bundle, which both the kids and your pocketbook will love!

Enjoy the rain and hey, if you enjoy reading these weekly tips and articles please forward them to a friend (use the “Share” box below and click “email”.

You can also get them hooked on our 15 Essentials for Living a Green Lifestyle ”quickie” email series. See the green “Subscribe” box in the column to the right

Technorati Tags: diversion, garden, gardening, greywater, harvesting, rain, rainwater, systems, water

Last week we discussed greywater and some of the methods for utilizing it. If you missed it, here is the link to the tip. Now let’s move on to rainwater harvesting which, from an implementation perspective, is very similar to greywater applications. The biggest difference between the two is the source of water.

Rainwater typically is harvested from a roof and directed via gutters into the ground surrounding the structure. However, any flat hard surface can be designed to direct the water from where it lands to where you want it. As an example, my concrete driveway is slightly sloped to the south and drains the rainwater into the garden bed.

In this week’s article, Brad Lancaster begins the exploration of how we go about installing rainwater harvesting systems. Remember that many of the methods can also be overlaid on greywater systems as well. He also outlines his eight principles to a successful water harvesting system. Here are the first four:

1. Conduct a long, thoughtful observation
2. Begin at the top and work your way down
3. Plan and manage an overflow route
4. Harvest rain as close as possible to where it falls

…and for the rest check out his full article.

Our featured book, Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands Vol. 1, shows you how to select, place, size, construct, and plant your chosen water-harvesting “earthworks”. Along with our theme of showers from the sky, we’re offering you our Eco-Shower Bundle, which both the kids and your pocketbook will love!

Enjoy the rain and, as always, have a great green day! And hey, if you enjoy reading these weekly tips and articles please forward them to a friend. You can also get them hooked on our 15 Essentials for Living a Green Lifestyle ”quickie” email series.

Technorati Tags: diversion, garden, gardening, greywater, harvesting, rain, rainwater, systems, water

Tending my vegetable garden falls second next to growing fruit trees. I planted my first fruit trees in 1975 when I was in the eighth grade and my fruit tree fetish has grown dramatically since. I now have over 80 fruit trees growing at the Urban Farm, with a goal of having fresh fruit every month of the year. There is nothing better than picking a fresh peach, apricot or orange that is so juicy it drips down your chin.

When it comes to my yard I realize I can be a little extreme, but don’t let my yard overwhelm you. I have spent the last 20 years recreating my Urban Farm into an edible paradise AND I didn’t do it overnight. I did it one step at a time. In this week’s “Your Guide to Green” article, I explore the trees that live in my yard which is in Phoenix Arizona. If you don’t live in Phoenix check with your local cooperative extension office for the trees that grow and produce in your area.

In the meantime, we have an excellent resource available on our site. Benefit from the many tips in The Backyard Orchardist, written by a professional horticulturist and experienced fruit grower. Complement your orchard with berries, too! The Backyard Berry Book will teach you how to enjoy “farm fresh” berries….from your condominium terrace to your expansive backyard. Nothing like fresh berries on cereal in the morning.

Greg

Technorati Tags: apricot, berries, book, fruit, garden, growing, guide, orange, peach, reference, trees, vegetable