Much of what bio-intensive organic gardening expert Deborah Eden Tull teaches about gardening doesn't begin with seeds, dirt, or water. It begins with the mind. Rethinking how you approach the soil is equally important as what you do to the soil.  Consider this: When ants help themselves to your strawberries, or squash beetles nestle in your pumpkin patch, you're more likely to strap on a mask and empty a tank of "KILL 'EM DEAD" solution over their intrusive bug-eyed heads.  Hardly a natural solution, though naturally, that is how we sometimes approach our pest problems. A stain on an otherwise blemish-free masterpiece. However, considering your garden as part of the whole--instead of a pretty project--will ultimately affect your gardening methods. In an organic garden, observation is key, creativity is rewarded, and learning is inevitable. With those paradigms in place, there are four cornerstones of organic gardening that you should begin practicing: conserving water, building good soil, taking proper care of the soil, and integrated pest management.
      

Watering Wisely

 "It is every gardener's responsibility to set up water-wise systems. It comes down to the art of observation."

Consider How You Water

1.  Never water crops at mid-day, when the sun is at its strongest. Evening or morning is best, and reduces the level evaporation as well as the potential of plant sunburn...Yes, plants do get sunburned!  
   
2. There is no exact prescription for watering. Test and watch the soil using a finger or shovel, checking for even moisture similar to that of a wrung-out sponge.
   
3. You can tell how much water a plant needs based on age, and of course, close observation.
4. Water SOIL, not plants. Watering plants encourages weed growth as opposed to deep roots.
   
• Newly planted seeds need moisture and then completely dry soil before watering again.
  
• Depending on seed, climate, and season new seeds should be planted 1-3 times daily.
• Young seedlings like to be surrounded by big puddles of water
  
• Mature plants may be watered 3 times, or even once a week. Again, consider the season and climate.
  

Build Good Soil

"I can not emphasize enough the beauty that can be created by double digging."

Double Digging
Double digging is a method invented by Johns Jeavons of Ecology Action, and fully endorsed and practiced by gardeners all over the world.  Deborah Tull teaches workshop attendees how to double dig and its various benefits. Though it takes more time (and energy) to complete than single digging, this method effectively builds healthy soil. "Double-digging adds air deep into the soil and enables roots to grow and the microbes to create good soil structure," Jeavons says. The video shown below is very similar to the method Deborah uses, however, before pushing any excavated soil into an empty trench, we added a few inches of compost to the dirt. The dirt from the first trench should be placed in a wheelbarrow so that it can be shoveled into the last trench of your bed. By adding compost each time, the soil is always well nourished with nutrients.

You can also read How to Grow More Vegetables by John Jeavons, to learn more about double digging. Labor intensive? Yes. Worth your effort? Absolutely.

 

Proper Soil Care

"When people invite me over to assess their poor tomatoes or stunted eggplant, it almost always comes down to not taking care of the soil."

 

Crop Rotation-- Don't Plant the Same Thing Twice
Waiting three years to plant the same thing can help avoid pest infestation that may have been attracted to that plant. Additionally, plants have a varied impact on the soil they are grown in. As Deborah illustrates,  "A tomato is a heavy feeder, so it leaches a lot of nutrients from the soil.  A bean is a heavy giver, so it gives a lot of nitrogen back to the soil.  A carrot is a light feeder, so it takes just a light amount of nutrients from the soil."

The basic guidelines for crop rotation is a "heavy feeder"(fruit or leaf crop), followed by a "heavy giver"(legume), followed by a "light feeder"(root crop).

Heavy feeders	Heavy Givers	Light Feeder
corn	snow peas	carrots
eggplant	beans	beets
chard		burdock

tomato

Learn Companion Planting
Companion planting is the art of pairing plants that benefit each other.

 

"Just like humans..there are plants that have favorite "companions" who they thrive around, while also having "antagonists" that they don't do so well around."

• Try pairing basil with tomatoes, peppers, and marigolds.
  
• Partner carrots with bush beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, radishes, peas, and sage. 
  
• Melons like corn, nasturtium, and radishes.

Often the advantages of these pairings are multifaceted. In addition to a soil replenishing mix of heavy givers, heavy feeders and light feeders, some plants will grow down into the soil, while others grow up and out--creating a good use of space. Because some plants will attract beneficial insects, these can be planted on the outskirts of the garden bed. Knowing the characteristics of each plant you plan to grow will yield a fruitful garden with healthy soil.

For a complete list of companions and antagonists, you can visit:  www.companionplanting.net.

Practice Integrated Pest Management

"There is a kind solution to every ecological problem. Always choose the solution to a pest problem that causes the least amount of harm."

Organic gardening is the perfect opportunity to practice observation and working with nature. Integrated Pest Management requires preparation, daily observation, and natural solutions.

Preparation

• Plant fragrant, tubular flowers in a variety of sizes, to provide plenty of nectar for the bees and beneficial insects you want to attract.
• Keep the ground well-mulched.
• Hang a hummingbird feeder in a tree by your garden.
  

Dig In!

Deborah balances education with hands-on activity in her workshops, insisting that "You can only develop your learning through experience, rather than being book-bound."  Learning to conserve water, build and maintain healthy soil, and naturally deter pests will only serve you well with practice, so absorb what you can...then go play in the dirt!

For more information on Deborah Tull's workshops, visit her website at CreativeGreen.

Additional Resources for your organic garden:

What is organic gardening?

Organic gardening isn't just a lack of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Organic gardening requires you to consider your garden as part of nature as a whole, not an entity separate from hungry rabbits, aphids, or sweltering summers. Organic gardeners work in harmony with the natural environment, and have a responsibility to create and maintain healthy soil--replenishing what is lacking and nourishing it with organic matter. Organic gardening is a not a new practice, it is a paradigm shift that will change your approach to the environment.

In Tull's terms, focusing on soil yields greater results in your garden and in your personal awareness of how you impact the environment. As in any relationship, both parties give and take. Gardening is no different. Healthy soil produces healthy plants. "By focusing on soil, I get something far more rewarding than just food:  a long-term relationship with the plot of dirt I'm working on and a garden that will sustain itself long-term, becoming even richer and healthier over time....On the other hand, if my focus is on "growing the most plants and biggest plants I can, as quickly as I can", I might be prone to use pesticides and Miracle Grow or plant inappropriately.  I will simply be gardening from a misinformed premise and will miss out on the great opportunity to become intimate with the earth." 

"Start with one bed and tend it well."  Alan Chadwick

Test your soil.  Urban soil always runs the risk if being contaminated. If you desire a healthy garden, begin by getting acquainted with your dirt. Your soil may be completely healthy, but it helps to know exactly what you're working with to avoid confusion and disappointment later.   Visit the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service to locate soil testing in your area.

Find a sunny spot in your yard and design your garden beds.  Break the bondage of  spatial limitations! Using your imagination you can grow on hillsides, in tires, and perhaps an old lunch tin. As a coach, Deborah has helped many a wanna-be gardener bring life to an awkward space by considering unique containers, and both horizontal and vertical options.

Gather your compost. If you haven't begun to compost, begin now! Your soil needs to be nourished regularly with fresh, decaying, organic matter.  Purchasing a bag of organic compost will buy you some time.

Set up an efficient watering system.  Add a watering can and hose with an adjustable watering attachment to your gardening tool box." I prefer hand-watering to irrigation (or along with irrigation) if your garden is small enough to manage, so that you can pay better attention to how much water gets used."

Learn What Climate Zone You Are In. Knowing what growing climate you are in can help you determine your gardening possibilities and limitations. "For instance, someone gardening in Los Angeles, Zone 10, is able to grow different crops than someone gardening in the Sierra foothills." You can determine what zone you are in at http://www.garden.org/zipzone/.

Begin Attracting Beneficial Insects Deborah encourages attracting hungry, helpful insects to minimize your pest issues. Ladybugs, lacewings, and nematodes are examples of natural pest controllers. Practical tips on attracting these garden hands can be found here.

Once you have completed these tasks, you are well on your way to learning and implementing the four cornerstones of organic gardening: conserving water, properly caring for soil, building good soil, and integrated pest management.

This is a wonderful organic gardening resource: Gardens Alive

Read Part II of "The Tao of Organic Gardening"

Want hands on information? Attend one of Deborah Eden Tull's workshops.

ORGANIC BACKYARD GARDENING WORKSHOPS - held in Eagle Rock/Glassell Park at a private home, 1:30-4:30 pm, unless otherwise specified.
Saturday, March 13
Saturday, April 10th
Saturday, May 15th
Cost: $40, or $35 early bird special

BEYOND GREEN: Sustainability, Self-Reliance, and Mindful Living - March 6- March 27: 4-week course

We will meet every Saturday from 10:00am -12:30pm (3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27)
Cost: $120 (for the full series)
Topics include:
• organic gardening
• permaculture design
• composting/creative reuse
• the green kitchen and food sustainability
• personal lifestyle sustainability/saving money living green
• and mindful living

We will meet from 10:00am -12:30pm in Silverlake/Los Feliz Every Saturday in March (3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27)

Cost: $120 (for the full series)

For those who support the green movement and pay attention to the size of their carbon footprint, trips for business or pleasure are tough.  Out of our usual environment, it becomes difficult to practice even the simplest and smallest of green routines.

If your destination is Los Angeles, consider the four-star Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites.  Located in the Downtown area it is the first Green Seal certified hotel in the city* (certified in August 2009).

The Bonaventure started scheduled renovations early in 2009 and it proved to be a perfect time to accept the "Green LA" challenge.  The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau works with the local lodging industry to achieve an "Environmental Leadership Standard", and the Bonaventure is the largest hotel in the city and the first in the downtown area to get recognized through this program.

The Bonaventure received a "Silver" rating based on its green practices to minimize waste, recycle, use energy efficiently, conserve and manage energy, conserve and manage water use, eliminate hazardous substances and in environmentally-sensitive purchasing.

Changes that were made include switching to more energy-efficient light bulbs, sorting all solid waste to remove recyclables and organic waste from its waste stream, switching to green-certified cleaning products, encouraging guests to change towels and sheets only when necessary and printing or copying in double-sided mode.

The head chef uses only local produce and is steadily increasing the amount of organic ingredients.

The basic setup for conventions provides recycling bins in addition to waste bins, and water stations with pitchers and reusable glasses instead of bottled water.

Managing Director Michael Czarcinski has received feedback from guests and event organizers that selected the Bonaventure because of its green certification.

Staying at the Bonaventure or other green lodging, allows you to practice your personal green habits, to support a green business, and to support the green movement.  It's almost like being home.

Read more about staying green while on the road: "Living Green on the Go".

*LA got its second Green Seal certified hotel on November 19, 2009 in the Radisson Los Angeles Airport Hotel.

1. Do you have an energy efficient washer/dryer?  
2. Are you washing more loads with cold water?    
3. Are your products sustainable?                       
4. Are your clothes made of natural fibers? 
5. Are you using alternative cleaning methods between large loads
6. BONUS: Have you changed the lighting?

Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) are surfactants that belong to a class of hormone-disrupting compounds called alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs).  These are inexpensive, which makes them a popular choice, but derived from petroleum. When loose into the environment, these NPE's break down into nonylphenol, which is harmful to fish and difficult to eliminate during water treatment. 

Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS)( labeled as anionic surfactants) are used often in conjunction with NPEs. This surfectant strips oxygen from the water.

* Headaches
* Nausea
* Dizziness
* Irritation to skin, mucus membranes and respiratory tract

As a home-owner or apartment dweller, one of the largest concerns one need be wary of, is the ever-existent threat of fire. If you live in a dry, chaparral-heavy environment such as Southern California, that threat is doubly present.  Yet,

In 2003, California passed a state-wide ban on these controversial flame retardant chemicals, due to mounting evidence that these particular chemicals accumulate in human and animal fat tissue, and may lead to an array of health issues such as thyroid, liver, and brain toxicity. The ban covered two forms of PBDEs: octa and penta. According to Environment California, since California's ban of two types of PBDEs in 2003, several states have taken action against these chemicals, including Maine, Hawaii, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Maryland and New York. The European Union also passed a ban in 2002.  Now with a third ban lined up for the last remaining PBDE before the California state legislature, Californians will be left with little fire protection, as manufacturers will be forced to halt the inclusion of dangerous flame-retardant chemicals in furniture, electronics, and household items  that were previously required stipulations. So in the foreseeable future, California's furniture, upholstery, carpets, and electronics, while moving in an amiably less chemically-laden direction, will simultaneously create an entirely new public safety issue: how will we fire-proof our homes in a non-toxic and eco-friendly way?

Firefreeze Worldwide Inc., a New Jersey based company, manufactures completely non-toxic and eco-friendly fire retardants, suppressants, and extinguishers  with their Cold Fire product line. All Cold Fire products are made from mostly organic water and plant-based ingredients, and no components are listed in the NIOSH Recommendation for Occupational Health Standards of 1988, nor are they defined as hazardous by SARA, CERLA, or RCRA.  Cold Fire has also been listed by the United States Environmental Protection Program on their SNAP Program Vendor List (this list contains products that are considered acceptable alternatives to toxic products on the market today). Most existing fire extinguisher systems use halon as their main extinguishing agent - even though the 1994 Montreal protocol banned both its production and use. Halon is responsible for sharing credits in depleting the ozone layer, as it is also a great contributor to producing greenhouse gases. Cold Fire is listed by the US EPA under this program as a substitute for Halon 1211. The reason Cold Fire products stand out so significantly is because they are not only sustainable and non-toxic, but they are extraordinarily effective, even with ethanol-fires. Ethanol fires are notoriously some of the hardest fires to put out -The suppressants in Cold Fire use water as a catalyst to remove the heat as well as encapsulate and breakdown the hydrocarbons in the fuel source to extinguish the fire more rapidly, which is why they are now gaining international recognition as the world's leading environmentally friendly fire extinguishing agent, leading the way in fire fighting technology, and revolutionizing the way fire fighters combat fires (see news coverage on Cold Fire). The company is quickly gaining support from fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and speed racing tracks nationwide, as they are slowly converting to the company's non-toxic and markedly effective products. But the products are not just for commercial or professional use, they are also appropriate for in home use.  Click here to see a demo.

For fire prevention, the company manufactures a product called Fire Block. Fire

Block works to form it's own thermal insulation barrier to prevent dangerous flames from spreading. It also inhibits the development of toxic hydrocarbon smoke. It is so eco-friendly that it can even be put directly on clothing, carpets, upholstery, and furniture, as it is non-corrosive and does not stain (not to mention has NO toxic chemicals).

For fire suppressants, the company manufactures a product called Cold Fire Rapid Cooldown Spray. The product was designed as a safety tool for trade applications, as it is used to cool down hot surfaces rapidly. It is an excellent tool for plumbers, welders, roofers, mechanics, and all others who work with hot surfaces and open flames. But it will also work in the home for any plumbing, heating, mechanical, or roofing applications that may pose the threat of surface overheating.

For fire extinguishment, the company manufactures portable extinguishers that come in 1.5 and 2.5 gallon water extinguishing units for first response. One quart of Cold Fire is added to 8 quartz of water to equal a 10% solution (so the extinguisher is filled with mostly water). When applied to a fire, it quickly penetrates the hot surface and extracts the heat from a fire without steam conversion (water and foam extinguishers do not have the same penetration capability of Cold Fire). The tanks are even completely recyclable and reusable to boot! Click here to see news coverage of the company and product.

I think what I like best about this company is that there are no smoke and mirrors when it comes to testing standards, toxicity, or legalities. The company even offers to provide inquirers with MSDS & Toxicity test information upon request. So whether you choose to purchase one of these aforementioned products, or all three, know that you are providing your family with an invaluable gift: that of safety through fire prevention, as well as through the eco-friendly forethought you will have demonstrated by investing in a non-toxic, chemical-free fire-extinguishing alternative.

• conserves a non-renewable resource--oil

• eliminates presence of oil filters in landfills

• provides finer filtration for cleaner oil and less emission

• keeps used oil from contaminating water sources and soil

• fewer oil changes
• eliminates need to purchase new filters
• eliminates disposal costs