Pages

Monday, April 16, 2012

Motivational Monday: "Self-Reliance - Gardening"

Self-Reliance is something I am constantly trying to achieve. I love reading church articles that keep me motivated in my persuit of Self-Reliance.

A picture of me in front of our family garden when I was young.

Planting a garden, even a small one, allows for a greater degree of self-reliance. With the right information and a little practice, individuals and entire families can enjoy the many benefits of planting and tending a garden.

The following information is provided to help you prepare your garden.

Planning a Garden

As you begin to plan and prepare for a garden, here are a few general reminders:

Vegetables need at least six hours of sunlight a day.

The garden site should be relatively level. If there is a steep slope, run rows of plants across it to prevent erosion.

It is a good idea to spade (mix) the soil to a depth of 12 to 14 inches. Adding organic matter such as manure, peat moss, or leaves will benefit the soil.

Be careful with fertilizer. All fertilizers have a three-digit code. For vegetable gardens, look for 8-8-8 or 16-16-16.

The simplest way to eliminate plant pests is to remove insects, worms, or eggs by hand. Some shake-on powder or liquid bug sprays are relatively safe to use.

Proper depth for planting seeds is approximately four times as deep as the seed is thick.

1 comment:

  1. We are going to try a garden again. Maybe this year will be the one!

    ReplyDelete