Starting seeds indoors

Starting seeds indoors is one of the greatest joys of the vegetable growing season. In the dead of winter, we witness the magical transformation of a seed into new life. Gardening with kids provides a unique opportunity to teach life cycle lessons, and if you play your cards right, nutritious eating habits. I've had success on both counts in my own backyard vegetable garden: www.http://northernvirginiagardener.blogspot.com/

Knowing when to start seeds indoors takes some backward thinking. Find out the average date of the last frost in your area and the number of weeks before that date you should start a particular seed (the number of weeks varies and is listed on the seed package). Then count backwards on the calendar from the average last frost date. Most seeds should be started six to eight weeks before the last frost date. Some seeds can be started a few weeks before it, while others may need a lead-time of 12 to 14 weeks. If you start seeds too early, you will have to keep the seedlings inside too long, and they will be weak by transplant time. For vegetable planting dates outdoors, visit ttp://www.hgic.umd.edu/_media/documents/publications/planting_dates.pdf. 

To start seeds indoors, it is important to have enough light. More homegrown seedlings are probably lost to this one factor than to any other. Vegetable seedlings grown under low-light conditions are likely to be leggy and weak, and many will fall over under their own weight after they are 3 to 4 inches tall. If you do not have a sunny room or back porch with a southern exposure, you will probably need supplemental lights. A simple, fluorescent, shop light with one warm-white and one cool-white bulb (or with grow lights) will suffice.

It is probably easiest to use a soilless or peat-lite mix to start seedlings, since garden soil contains disease organisms that can be highly destructive to small plants. Soil can be sterilized in the oven by baking it at 200ƒ F until the internal soil temperature is 180ƒ F. It should be held at that temperature for 30 minutes. This is a smelly process, but it works. Garden soil for use in containers should be conditioned with compost and perlite to prevent excess moisture retention and/or shrinkage . You can mix your own peat-like mix if you prefer; 50% vermiculite and 50% fine sphagnum peat is excellent for starting seeds. Fertilizer at half the normal strength may be added to the mixture. Mix well before using.

Many types of containers can be used to start seeds. Flats or other large containers may be used; plant in rows, and grow seedlings until they have one or two sets of true leaves, then transplant into other containers for growing to the size to transplant outdoors. Seedlings may also be started in pots, old cans, cut-off milk cartons, margarine tubs, egg cartons, or other throwaways. The pop-out trays found at garden centers are easy to use and reusable after cleaning. Peat pots are nice, especially for large seeds. Sow one or two large seeds directly in each peat pot. Thin to one seedling per pot. Peat pots may be planted directly in the garden; do not allow the edges of the pot to stick out above the soil since they will act as a wick and moisture will evaporate from this exposed surface. Many seed starting kits are now available and provide everything you will need, but remember that these are used as part of a hobby and not as a way to save money instead of buying plants at a nursery.

Regardless of the type of container chosen, fill it three quarters full with seed-starting mixture and sow the seeds. Cover to the specified depth, and water the mix. It may help to cover the containers with plastic wrap to maintain a steadier moisture level. Seeds and seedlings are extremely sensitive to drying out. They should not be kept soaking wet, however, since this condition is conducive to damping-off, a fungus disease deadly to seedlings. Damping-off can be prevented or diminished by sprinkling milled sphagnum moss, which contains a natural fungicide, on top of the soil.

Another option is to use peat pellets or cubes, which are preformed and require no additional soil mix. The pellets or cubes are soaked until thoroughly wet, then seeds are planted in the holes provided. The whole pellet or cube may then be planted without disturbing the roots. The only disadvantage to this method is the expense.

Starting seed outdoors

Many seeds may be sown directly in the garden. If garden soil is quite sandy or is mellow (with a high content of organic matter), seeds may be planted deeper. Young seedlings can emerge quite easily from a sandy or organic soil. If garden soil is heavy with a high silt and/or clay content, however, the seeds should be covered only two to three times their diameter. In such soils, it may be helpful to apply a band of sand, fine compost, or vermiculite, 4 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick, along the row after seeds are planted. This will help retain soil moisture and reduce crusting, making it easier for seedlings to push through the soil surface.

Soil temperature has an effect on the speed of seed germination. In the spring, soil is often cold, and seeds of some plants will rot before they have a chance to sprout. The following chart gives optimum soil temperatures.

Plant Production Data Chart
Crop Days to Emergence
From Seeding Optimum Germination
Soil Temp. Range (°F) Number of Weeks
to Grow Transplants
Beans 5-10 65° - 85° *
Beets 7-10 50° - 85° *
Broccoli 3-10 50° - 85° 5 - 7
Cabbage 4-10 50° - 85° 5 - 7
Carrots 12-18 50° - 85° *
Cauliflower 4-10 50° - 85° 5 - 7
Celery 9-21 50° - 65° 10 - 12
Chard, Swiss 7-10 65° - 85° *
Corn, sweet 5-8 65° - 85° *
Cucumber 6-10 65° - 85° 4 (peat pots)
Eggplant 6-10 65° - 85° 6 - 9
Lettuce 6-8 50° - 65° 3 - 5
Melons 6-8 65° - 85° 3 - 4 (peat pots)
Okra 7-10 65° - 85° *
Onion 7-10 65° - 85° 8
Parsley 15-21 50° - 85° 8
Peas 6-10 50° - 65° *
Pepper 9-14 65° - 85° 6 - 8
Potatoes, Sweet (slips) 65° - 85° 5 - 6
Radish 3-6 50° - 65° *
Spinach 7-12 50° - 65° *
Squash 4-6 65° - 85° 3 - 4 (peat pots)
Tomato 6-12 65° - 85° 5 - 7
Turnip 4-8 50° - 65° *
* transplants not recommended

When planting the fall garden in midsummer, the soil will be warm and dry; therefore, cover the seeds six to eight times their diameter. They may need to be watered each day with a sprinkler or a sprinkling can to promote germination. Moisture can also be retained with shallow mulch or by covering the row with a board until the seeds have sprouted. Shading the area may be helpful to keep the soil cooler for seed germination, especially when planting cool-weather crops in summer. Seed that requires a lower germination temperature may benefit from being kept in the refrigerator for two weeks before planting or from pre-sprouting indoors. Pre-sprouting is a useful technique for planting in cold soils, as well. However, seed must be handled very carefully once sprouted to prevent damaging new root tissue.

Row planting

A string stretched between stakes will provide a guide for nice, straight rows, if desired. Use a hoe handle, a special furrow hoe, or a grub hoe to make a furrow of the appropriate depth for the seed being planted. Sow seed thinly; it may help to mix very small seed with coarse sand to distribute the seeds more evenly. Draw soil over the seed, removing stones and large clods. Firming soil so that it is in direct contact with seeds improves uptake of soil moisture by the seed, hastening germination. Water in the seeds. When plants have grown to 4 to 6 inches tall, thin according to seed packet instructions to provide adequate room for growth.

Wide row or banded planting

Many crops may be sown in wide rows or bands instead of in long, single rows. Crops of spinach, bean, pea, beet, lettuce, and carrot are especially suited to this type of culture. Sow seed evenly over the area, then rake it in, firming soil over the seeds. Thin young plants to allow room for growth.

Hill planting

Larger vegetables, such as melons, squash, sweet corn, and cucumbers, may be planted in hills or groups of seed. Soil is mounded to a foot or so in diameter, at the recommended spacing. Plant four to six seeds per hill, firming the soil well. Thin the seedlings to three to five plants per hill.

Transplants for the Garden

Most gardeners use transplants in the garden at some time or another to give long-season plants a chance to grow to maturity under their preferred weather conditions or just to lengthen the harvest season. Cool-season crops, such as head lettuce, broccoli, and celery, would not have a chance to reach their prime harvest stage in most places in Virginia in spring if not given those extra weeks indoors to get a head start. Tomatoes would certainly have a short harvest period in all but southeastern Virginia if started from seed in the ground, and peppers and eggplants might not produce at all if not grown from transplants.

Due to the amount of time, attention, and need for controlled growing conditions, many gardeners prefer to purchase plants for their gardens. However, for a larger choice in varieties and the control of plant production from seed to harvest, others choose to start their own transplants.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Rick D. Rudd, Interim Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; Wondi Mersie, Interim Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State, Petersburg. adapted from articles by Diane Relf, Extension Specialist, Environmental Horticulture, Virginia Tech, and Alan McDaniel, Extension Specialist, Environmental Horticulture, Virginia Tech and Audrey Cooke, Frederick County Master Gardener 

 

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A Virginia Cooperative Extension - Master Gardener (VCE-MG) is an individual who acts on behalf of VCE as a volunteer educator within his or her community after receiving specialized training in environmental horticulture through cooperative programming with VCE. Master Gardeners are trained to provide environmental education that meets SOL's, assist schools in establishing and maintaining schoolyard gardens, counsel homeowners about proper lawn care, and conduct environmental outreach to the general community.

For 2009, we reported more than 334,000 volunteer hours statewide (up from 269,000 hours in 2008) and more than 577,000 contacts (up from 547,000 in 2008). The economic value of that volunteer service exceeds $6.7 million dollars.  

Master Gardeners are only one aspect of the Cooperative Extension Programs in Fairfax County. Extension programs have had a significant impact in our community and schools by providing:

SOL supported Environmental Education for community schools
Childhood Obesity Prevention programs (Healthy Weights for Healthy Kids)
Chronic Disease Prevention Education programs (Small Steps to Health and Wealth)
Financial Management Counseling
 Nutrition Education for limited resource adults and families
Urban Landscaping Education to improve the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
4-H provided Character Counts Youth Leadership training in after school programs in Portsmouth and across the state.

In 2009, Extension Programs reached more than 2.2 million Virginians across the state and generated more than $75.8 million dollars to support research, which provided the ability to address critical needs of the Commonwealth.

Unfortunately, the Budget Bill before the Virginia legislature contains drastic cuts for VCE including the closure of many offices and combining others.  

The Bill will eliminate Cooperative Extension completely in Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and Prince William and four other counties. Emails to legislators are needed to save these programs. If the Bill passes, Cooperative Extension jobs will be eliminated in Northern Virginia. Master Gardener programs, 4-ill also be eliminated. (Info http://leg1.state.va.us/101/bud/SubCom/HB30Committee.PDF ; p77, item 219 #2h). 

To let our legislators know how important these programs are to the community call or email them. You can find your legislator here: http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main

Thank you in advance for your help, so that I can continue to work with Brooksfield as a Master Gardener volunteer.

 

  

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"Our children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way." I'll never forget these lyrics, and the more work I do in the green sector, the more powerful they become to me. Many of us are making changes as adults to have less impact on the earth and live healthier lives. But it is not always easy, especially when it requires making changes in our daily behavior when we are already used to do things a certain way. 

What if you grew up being conscious of how your daily actions impact the earth? What if recycling and unplugging your electronics every day was as much a ritual as brushing your teeth? Most of us did not grow up living green because our parents didn't know the impact our daily lives have on the quality of our air and water and how many resources are consumed to support our lives. We didn't know that using bleach and other cleaning products were harmful to our health and the environment. We weren't taught to think about the life cycle of a product - what something is made from, how it is made, how it is used, and how it is disposed. 

But things are different today. Living green is not just a trend or luxury. Living green is living smart, for people and the planet. It saves money, keeps us healthy, improves quality of life, and helps preserve resources for current and future generations. The future generations - our children - are learning about living green as early as preschool now. Educators all over the country are embracing eco-education, including Brooksfield. But we can't put all the responsibility on our teachers.

The Zero Footprint Kids website has some great ideas for eco-educating your children. Many of the footprint calculators are based on practices that your younger children may not by engaged in yet (cell phones and video games for example), but the more you know, the more you can educate your children as their own lifestyles and behaviors change.

Areas they focus on include:

• What you eat
• What you throw away
• What you use

Educating your children about green living will ensure healthier a healthier people and planet for their children, and children's children.

be well. live green. 

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I don't know about you, but yesterday with the sun shining so brightly and the temperature in the high 40s, it almost felt like spring was in the air.  Just as nature changes for the better (in my opinion) in the spring, many of us feel the urge to bring positive change to our homes, schedules and self.   With spring, comes the desire to make our homes lighter and brighter.  Additionally,  we look for ways we can free up time to enjoy the longer days and maybe make some positive self changes a long the way ...especially if we have long forgotten our New Years resolutions.

Several new clients have reminded me of the amazing, uplifting power of letting go of clutter.   For one client in particular, we had two storage units to clean out and what I estimated would take several days, ended up getting accomplished in 1 day.  A lot of it was due to her readiness to let go of things that she wasn't using and that didn't hold any particular significance now.  She was able to gain great satisfaction knowing that these perfectly good items were going to be reused by people who need them now.  She was able to move at a quick pace because she was highly motivated to clear out the clutter and she was mentally prepared to face whatever was in storage.  By the end of the day she was beaming and though we were tired, it was such a good feeling to witness her sense of satisfaction and happiness.

 Organizing does have many benefits, and a significant one is through the process of letting go of clutter, it does enhance happiness.  I have seen time and time again how organizing can have a domino effect whereby a person becomes more motivated to focus on personal goals such as  undertaking a job search, working on a weight management program, or going to the gym regularly. 

We all want more time to do whatever it is that makes us happy.   Organizing can help us find extra windows of time in our day so that we can direct our time. 

Okay, so I realize we have a way to go until spring, but for now, I'll enjoy these first signs of it and smile as I hear the birds chirping out my window.   Let's be prepared to embrace spring when it gets here!

 

 

 

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Given the right conditions, a vegetable garden will yield a year-round supply of fresh produce. You can extend the growing season by sheltering plants from frost in early spring, late fall, and even winter.  There are several options for protecting crops against cool weather. Your choices depend on the amount of time and money you want to invest. 

 

Cold frames and row covers are the simplest, least expensive structures for protection from the cold. Cold frames are raised beds that are covered with a glass, fiberglass, or plastic cover. They shelter plants from wind and use the sun’s heat to warm the soil. They’re also useful in hardening off seeds before Spring planting. 

 

The ideal location for a cold frame is a south or southeastern exposure, against a North wall that will provide further protection from the elements. Placing the bed on a slight slope will help with drainage, and sinking it into the ground will provide further insulation. 

 

Low-tech materials, such as bails of hay or bricks placed in a square and topped with a storm glass window, make a perfectly functional cold frame.  A plastic window cover is another light-weight, portable option that can be moved from bed to bed, or nailed to a wood frame. Polyurethane covers and cold frame kits are available from several sources. I purchased one from Gardener’s Supply and was delighted to find pak choy and spinach sprouting happily under several inches of snow. Unfortunately, this particularly cover tends to blow off in a strong wind. 

 

A more elaborate wood structure is not difficult to build and is more permanent. If you are building a wood frame, use pressure treated cedar or plywood. Buy alkaline copper quarternary (ACQ) treated lumber in lieu of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) or ammoniacal copper arsenate (ACA).

 

Whatever method you chose, you’re sure to have an extended harvest. Prepare the coldframe about a week before you’re ready to harden off Spring seeds. Hardening off is the process of acclimating plants that were started indoors to the harsher light of the sun and cooler outdoor temperatures. Place seedlings in the coldframe for gradually increasing lengths of time until temperatures are appropriate for transplanting into the ground. In spring and summer, you can start young seedlings in a shaded frame many weeks before they’d ordinarily be ready to set out. You can also start cool season crops in the shelter of a cold frame. Make sure your coldframe is ventilated and irrigated, especially when winter temperatures reach 45 degrees. Depending on the harshness of the weather and a gardener’s ingenuity, an ambitious Northern Virginia Gardener can have fresh veggies year round. 

 

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I think it is safe to say that we all are going a little stir crazy! Having an unexpected snow day in the middle of the winter can be fun, and can break up our routines, but too much snow, and too many days off from school (and work) can wreck havoc with our over packed schedules, create stress and sometimes be very demotivating.

Our neighborhood streets are still pretty bad since we haven't been plowed. I have been able to get out, but on a limited basis. Yesterday, I worked out at home and after my surge of endorphins kicked in, proceeded to organize my office closet, and knock out a few work to dos that I've delayed getting to. While I was busy doing my work, I told my kids, who were home from school again, that I'd take them to Krispy Kreme donuts if they got their rooms picked up and sheets changed on their beds. My daughter needed some help because she is only 5, but my 8 year old brought his laundry down to the laundry room, made-up his bed and picked up his room so that I could dust and he could vacuum.  Though he will usually grumble when I remind him to clean-up his space, I can tell he has pride in his room and things, and I feel good knowing he is learning essential life skills.  We all felt great that we had accomplished some things before heading off to get their donuts. It was a miracle that I was able to resist getting one...I think the work out helped with that.

I think a major winter snowstorm and the way it encourages neighbors to reach out and help each other is a great teaching tool for parents. My husband and I talked with our son about how proud we were that he had on his own, tried to help some of our neighbors with their shoveling. We talked about how important it is to help neighbors who live by themselves and who may not be as physically able to deal with the snow.

I hope the schools reopen tomorrow...unlikely, but if they don't, I am hopeful that I will work on some other projects I have been putting off. And who knows, maybe I can get my kids to work on cleaning up the playroom.

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I am sometimes asked by a client why a room that we have worked on together still gets disorganized.  Sometimes it is because the system needs tweaking, or it may be time again for a good purge.  Though, sometimes it is because there are some habits or behaviors that if modified, could help support the system.

Usually the first phase of organizing focuses on the physical space.  This is where the most change happens.  In order to organize a space, items need to be sorted and purged.  Once a client has identified the remaining objects in a room, then the room is zoned, items are grouped by type and then a home is found for each item and/or group of items.  We then talk about storage and strategize on ways to keep the system up.

This is where we talk about types of behaviors or habits that help or hurt the system.  I encourage clients to have simple, uncomplicated systems that support their habits and behaviors.  Don't have a mud room?  Create one and have an area for each person in the house to put their briefcase/purse/backpack, etc.  Have it become a routine to place your important bags and necessary items needed for the  next day, to minimize the morning question..."Mom, where is my homework?"  Have an issue with mail piling up?  Does the system you have created for processing the mail work?  Maybe you need to create a routine to process the mail.

Probably one of the most important aspects of organizing is the end of day 15  minute pick-up and next day planning.  This is really important to maintain a sense of organization and order, especially if kids are part of the equation.  An effective way to stay on top of your priorities is to plan ahead and figure out what your most important tasks/to dos are for the next day.  In order to make things happen, a person needs to have a plan.

The reality of life is that rooms are lived in and get messy, but if the right systems are created, it should not take a lot of time to pick them up.  Have a plan so that you are reacting less and are checking things off your to do list.

 

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Hello Brooksfield family.  I greatly appreciate this opportunity to be an occasional blogger for your school community.

 I have been working in the organizing field, providing both residential and business organizing services, for over 8 years.  My motivation and passion is to assist clients, through the organizing process, to find clarity and time in their home and work lives.  Prior to starting my company, Simplify for Life, I worked in the association management field for 15 years.

 Do you know that the National Association of Professional Organizers designates January as "Get Organized Month"?  I think they do so because many people have getting organized as one of their top resolutions.  Many of us, myself included, have an innate desire to start the year off right, in control, organized, so that we are prepared and ready to manage our workload and personal lives instead of being in reactive mode. 

I don't know about you, but I'm still getting organized, so don't feel bad if you haven't gotten organized yet, because I tell my clients getting organized is an on-going process.  Here are a few ideas for you to mange clutter in your active rooms....

•  Identify a storage place for everything (make sure everyone in the home is involved)
• Put like things together
• Utilize multi-functional pieces such as storage ottomans/cubes that can be seating, storage or two can be placed together to make a coffee table
• Put frequently used items at eye level and in prime space
• Group small like items and if necessary put into containers and label
• Remember the 80/20 rule - we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time; kids play with 20% of their toys 80% of the time and 80% of what we file we will never need.

I look forward to sharing organizing ideas and thoughts with you and please feel free to let me know what you'd like me to write about.

 Karen

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While there are many green practices worth adopting, switching to green cleaning products is one of those actions I advocate for both as a way of helping the environment but also of protecting our own health.

Why Switch to Green Cleaning Products?

A Safer Home

Each day, families are put to risk by household cleaning products found throughout their homes, most of which are unregulated and untested, and many whose toxic ingredients are not disclosed on labels. According to National Geographic, only about 30% of the roughly 17,000 chemicals found in household products, including those used for cleaning, have been sufficiently tested for their effects on human health. Healthier and safer cleaning products offer natural, non-toxic, and biodegradable alternatives that are just as effective as synthetic chemical cleaners.

A Safer Environment

The use of synthetic cleaners has adverse effects on air and water quality, as well as land-based environmental concerns. Many of the chemicals in household cleaners are harmful not only in their use, but also in their manufacturing process. For example, the first step in bleach production produces dioxin as a byproduct—a chemical that has been identified as a carcinogen and has been linked to birth defects and genetic changes. Natural cleaners are manufactured in a way to leave the smallest impact possible on the environment and the healthiest atmosphere in our homes.

How to be Green and Clean

Don’t Be Green-Washed

The search for truly green products may not be as easy as reading “organic” on a label.  Many companies engage in greenwashing practices, including words such as “organic,” “eco-friendly,” “biodegradable,” and “non-toxic” on their labels to make products more appealing to consumers. Unfortunately, these claims are often unverifiable and meaningless.  Look for products with full ingredient disclosure or third party certifications to ensure that product claims are substantiated.  Independent groups such as Green Seal, Cradle To Cradle, the Leaping Bunny and the EPA’s Design for the Environment program analyze product ingredients and certify that those chemicals don’t pose harm to your health or to the environment. My rule of thumb is to buy products with less than 5 ingredients and with names that I can pronounce and recognize. I also look for products packaged in post-consumer recycled materials or that offer refills to  further reduce environmental impact.

The Bleach Debate

It has been argued that because bleach breaks down into salt and water, it can be considered biodegradable and does not necessarily pose an environmental hazard. Bleach is a popular cleaning product because it is effective on a wide range of bacteria and viruses and has the added benefit of being cheap. However, despite the fact that bleach breaks down when released into the environment, it is an eye and lung irritant and mixing bleach with other acids (such as vinegar) can produce dangerous and potentially lethal fumes. Furthermore, the manufacturing process of bleach creates the known carcinogen dioxin as a toxic byproduct. It is best to find alternatives to bleach to ensure both a healthier planet and home.

Some Good Green Cleaners

• Better Life. This company was started by two dads, one a chemist, the other a greenie. This is the most effective green cleaning line I have used to-date and one that I use in my home for every surface.  Buy in DC: ACE Hardware locations, Green Living Consulting. Online: Walgreens.com, Drugstore.com. Delight.com.
• BioKleen. Family-owned, with all products receiving a third party review. Order through Greenshops.com
• Ecover. Belgian company that started making eco-friendly products in 1980. In DC: Whole Foods, Yes Organic Market, Nora, Java Green, Brookville Supermarket. Online: HerbTrader.com
• Mrs. Meyers. Biodegradbale, phosphate free and made with essential oils. In DC: Ace Hardware, Bed Bath & Beyond, Container Store, Dean and Deluca, Greater Goods, Whole Foods, Frager’s Hardware.

National Geographic’s Green Guide also reviews and sells products that meet their environmental criteria.

Green Cleaning Recipes and Tips

The greenest way to clean is to make your own cleaning agents. This can save money and ensure that you know what is in your cleaning products. The following recipes can be made from things that are typically found in your kitchen cupboard.

Vinegar

Vinegar naturally cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Always test on an inconspicuous area. It is safe to use on most surfaces and has the added bonus of being incredibly cheap. Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. Never use vinegar on marble surfaces. Don’t worry about your home smelling like vinegar. The smell disappears when it dries.

Here are some uses for vinegar in the rooms of your house:

Bathroom – Clean the bathtub, toilet, sink, and countertops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of rings. Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down. Pour the undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim. Scrub down the bowl. Mop the floor in the bathroom with a vinegar/water solution. The substance will also eat away the soap scum and hard water stains on your fixtures and tile. Make sure it is safe to use with your tile.

Kitchen- Clean the stovetop, appliances, countertops, and floor.

Laundry Room- Use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. This can be especially helpful for families who have sensitive skin. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. Vinegar has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively. (A plus when you have a family member whose skin detects every trace of detergent.)

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is another natural substance that can be used to clean your home. Lemon juice can be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Lemon is a great substance to clean and shine brass and copper. Lemon juice can be mixed with vinegar and or baking soda to make cleaning pastes. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains. You can also put a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal. It freshens the drain and the kitchen. Orange peels can be used with the same results.

Baking Soda

Baking soda can be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as commercial abrasive cleansers. Baking soda is great as a deodorizer. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. Put it anywhere you need deodorizing action.

Olive Oil/Lemon Juice

Mix together 1 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup lemon juice to create a homemade furniture polish. Mix together in a clean new spray bottle. To use, remember to shake before each application. Apply a small portion to your cleaning cloth. Spread the polish over the furniture, trying to polish evenly. Use another clean cloth to polish the surface dry.

be well. live green.

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Brooksfield’s garden project is off to a strong start. The two raised
beds where we’ll plant vegetables and perennials require some soil
amendment, and Fall is the ideal time to get started. By preparing the
soil in the Fall, we’ll ensure that the garden is ready when the first
warm days lure us outside.

One method for restoring nutrients to soil is to plant a cover crop,
or green manure. A green manure is an organic method for improving
soil fertility. It’s “green” because it begins with a plant, rather
than an animal. A green manure is particularly useful in preventing
soil erosion and compaction. It also restores nitrogen to soil where
plants with high nutrient needs were previously growing.

To prepare the bed for a cover crop, or green manure, till under
summer plant waste and rake the soil to remove clumps.  A cover crop
can be planted as early as August, or as last as November.  There are
several types of cover crops to choose from. At Brooksfield, we used
winter rye, since it can be planted late in the season, is cold-hardy,
and grows in just about any type of soil conditions. We will turn it
under about a month before Spring planting. The green matter
decomposes quickly, transforming the soil into a healthy loam.

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