The party starts every Tuesday at 7am
EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59am. Feel free to stop back
any time and "like" your favorites. Please visit other blogs if you have a moment.
Share older posts as well as new ones. No limit on links!
*Pictures should be your own*
By linking up you give us permission to use these photos
(with proper link backs) in our features. And now for the party!
For 2 days ONLY I've decided to give you a chance to score
FREE STUFF with purchase at Mary's Heirloom Seeds!!!
Sale ends January 27th at 6pm EST FREE pack of Organic Seeds with purchase of COCONUT COIR PELLETS Available in quantities of 12, 24, 50 and 75
FREE *extra* tray with purchase of 6-CELL GERMINATION TRAYS Available in quantities of 3, 6 and 12
Don't forget...We still have the FREE SEEDS OFFER with purchase of $15 or more.
We'd like to do our part for the BEES and BUTTERFLIES. Through January 31st, all seed orders of $15 or more will include a FREE pack of MILKWEED or ZINNIA. *Your choice*
Before I give you my recipe I need to be very clear. ALFALFA is considered a "high risk crop." This means that Alfalfa is on of the top 10 Genetically Modified plants in the US.
From the Non-GMO Project, High-Risk Crops (in commercial production;
ingredients derived from these must be tested every time prior to use in
Non-GMO Project Verified products (as of December 2011):
Alfalfa (first planting 2011)
Canola (approx. 90% of U.S. crop)
Corn (approx. 88% of U.S. crop in 2011)
Cotton (approx. 90% of U.S. crop in 2011)
Papaya (most of Hawaiian crop; approximately 988 acres)
Soy (approx. 94% of U.S. crop in 2011)
Sugar Beets (approx. 95% of U.S. crop in 2010)
Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash (approx. 25,000 acres)
This is why I chose to offer Certified Organic, Non-GMO Alfalfa Meal at Mary's Heirloom Seeds. It wasn't easy to find and it certainly wasn't cheap. Non-GMO is the way to go!!!
Making a Liquid fertilizer is pretty easy. I used make Seaweed tea every year but not everyone has access to seaweed. Now I make Alfalfa Tea. It's also important to mention that while I call it "TEA," I DO NOT DRINK IT! Just need to clear that up. Making Alfalfa Tea You'll need:
Directions: Fill bucket with water, let it sit from 1
to 4 days. The result will be a thick tea. Apply generously to the root
area of shrubs and flowers or use as a foliar spray after straining the
solids out. The longer it brews, the better it is but the worse it will
smell.
From Mary's Heirloom Seeds, Derived from leguminous perennial alfalfa plant used for pasture and
cover crop. Primary benefit of this pleasant smelling meal is
increasing organic matter, although it is also a valuable plant-derived
fertilizer.
NPK analysis is 2.8-0.29-2.4
Contains trace minerals and triaconatol
Excellent addition to the compost pile for nitrogen content and absorbency
Roses respond especially well to alfalfa meal
WSDA Certified Organic Alfalfa Meal
Alfalfa Meal can help restore soil and bring back
its full growing potential. With a unique 3-1-2 ratio, Alfalfa Meal is
an all natural, organic fertilizer that replenishes sugar, starches
and proteins that help keep your plants growing healthy and strong. Alfalfa helps plants create larger
flowers and increases the tolerance to cold. Good for all flowering
plants. Research has shown that using more is not better.
This recipe can easily be cut in half by using 1/2 cup Alfalfa Meal and 2.5 gallons of water. You can also make a HUGE recipe in a large trash can if you just multiply the ingredients. It's easy to make and very healthy for your plants.
I said the same thing last month.......and now we've added MORE SEEDS!
We are busily packing up NEW seed varieties and re-stocking for 2015.
We added a few NEW Varieties this week. Some are special requests and others are just to unique and exciting to pass up! They're amazing!!!
You do not have to start your
blueberries from cuttings or nursery shrubs. For the patient gardener,
growing blueberry shrubs from seed can give you excellent results. Just
give it time, enough sun and acidic soil and you will have some
wonderful blueberry plants out your front door. Blueberry plants
will start producing berries when about 2 years old, but will not
mature and offer maximum berry yield until they are about seven years
old. In order for blueberry plants to produce berries the
soil pH needs to be between 4.5 - 5.0. Soils not within the range of pH
acceptability for blueberry plant growth must be prepared before
planting. If the pH is too high, the growth of the plant is slowed and
the foliage turns yellow. Blueberries require adequate water,
especially the first year that they are planted, to properly establish
a good root system. During the growing season, blueberry plants
typically require 1 inch of water per week.
The
Valerian root is what is harvested for medicinal use. Valerian has
been called nature's tranquilizer. It is used to soothe anxiety, relieve
pain, and calm minds that cannot fall asleep. In many parts of the
world, Valerian root is the standard care for stress and relaxation.
Valerian
(Valeriana Officinalis) - Start Valerian seeds and grow this
well-known herb plant. Valerian is highly prized as a medicinal herb.
It is a hardy perennial with a history of use dating back to the 16th
century. It is very ornamental with fern-like foliage and pink flower
heads that attract butterflies. The Valerian herb is also referred to
as All Heal and Garden Heliotrope.
75-95 days Very large, up to 2 lbs.
each. The yellow fruit has red marbling through the flesh and is one
of the most beautiful tomatoes! The flavor is very sweet and fruity; good yields.
This morning, someone on our facebook page commented on our post about MILKWEED.
They said, "Monarch Butterflies are about the be placed on the Endangered Species list (thanks Monsanto!).
If we all bought at least one package of these with every order maybe we could help."
The party starts every Tuesday at 7am
EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59am. Feel free to stop back
any time and "like" your favorites. Please visit other blogs if you have a moment.
Share older posts as well as new ones. No limit on links!
*Pictures should be your own*
By linking up you give us permission to use these photos
(with proper link backs) in our features. And now for the party!
Have you heard about CCD or Colony Collapse Disorder? "Colony
collapse disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon in which worker bees from a
beehive or European honey bee colony abruptly disappear. While such
disappearances have occurred throughout the history of apiculture, the
term colony collapse disorder was first applied to a drastic rise in
the number of disappearances of Western honey bee colonies in North
America in late 2006. Colony collapse is significant because many
agricultural crops worldwide are pollinated by bees."
Honeybee Deaths Linked to Corn Insecticide: By Alexandra Ludka | ABC News
What
was killing all those honeybees in recent years? New research shows a
link between an increase in the death of bees and insecticides,
specifically the chemicals used to coat corn seeds.
The study, titled "Assessment of the
Environmental Exposure of Honeybees to Particulate Matter Containing
Neonicotinoid Insecticides Coming from Corn Coated Seeds," was published
in the American Chemical Society's Environmental Science &
Technology journal, and provides insight into colony collapse disorder.
Colony
collapse disorder, or the mass die-off of honeybees, has stumped
researchers up to now. This new research may provide information that
could lead to even more answers.
According to the new study, neonicotinoid
insecticides "are among the most widely used in the world, popular
because they kill insects by paralyzing nerves but have lower toxicity
for other animals." Source
FREE Seeds for the BEES and BUTTERFLIES!
A few months ago, someone on our facebook page commented on our post about MILKWEED.
They said, "Monarch Butterflies are about the be placed on the Endangered Species list (thanks Monsanto!).
If we all bought at least one package of these with every order maybe we could help."
From NOW thru July 15th, ALL orders will include a FREE PACK of BUTTERFLY GARDEN Seeds!
Just leave a comment with your order! **Minimum $10 Order with free shipping on heirloom seeds within the 50 United States and US Territories**
What to Plant and WHY?
The
simplest way to increase crop yields is to encourage pollinators to
your garden. It's simple to do, easy to grow and eco-friendly.
BASIL and BORAGE produce flowers and are both companion plants for Tomatoes, Peppers, Squash and Eggplant.
Marigold is another companion plant AND it deters nematodes!
MILKWEED is the perfect addition if you're looking to attract Bees and Butterflies.
HERBS:
Lavender, Lemon Bee Balm, Anise Hyssop, Caraway, Chives, Chamomile and
Yarrow are all Flowering Herbs and what I call "Double Duty Herbs."
These "double duty" varieties encourage pollinators to your garden AND
are useful in herbal home remedies as well as home-cooking recipes.
SUNFLOWERS are an excellent addition to your garden for the bees and other pollinators. For multiple flowers, try Mexican Sunflower!
Nasturtium
is another edible flower that attracts pollinators. Pretty flowers
with a delicious flavor! As a companion plant, Nasturtium deters Squash
Vine Borers!
"The
critical importance of pollinators is exemplified in a recent study
out of the University of California, Berkeley. Not only do pollinators
help increase crop yields, they may be even more important than
fertilizers, according to the study suggests."
"Scientists
concluded that an almond tree can compensate for the lack of nutrients
and water in the short term by storing the nutrients and water in the
fruits instead, but cannot compensate for insufficient pollination"
