Pip's Blog

Natural Pest Control

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 06:17:00 GMT

Chemical pesticides are a serious danger to our health and the health of our environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, pesticides have been linked to cancer, nerve damage, birth defects and other medical problems. This article offers a few natural methods to keep your gardens very hungry caterpillars in check including some pictures of common garden pests to help you identify who’s eating you broccoli behind your back.

SLUGS AND SNAILS

Damage:

They like to eat plants in the cabbage family (broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, caulioflower), lettuce, potatoe, flowers and small fruit. They eat leaves at night, leaving a shiny slimy trail. They also like to feed on roots in winter time. Slugs have four noses.

Natural Control:

Putting small coarse materials like crushed egg shells, sand, coffee grounds or sawdust around your plants discourages slugs and snails as it irritates their skin.

Chooks, ducks and wild birds like kookaburras and magpies love eating slugs and snails so providing habitat for them or occasional access to your garden is a good way to keep slug and snail populations down. Ø

  Manually picking them off in the night and feeding them to your chooks or wild magpies. Ø

  Beer (or other sweet liquid) traps amongst your plants. Use an old dip container or tin, ½ fill it with your sweet liquid of choice and bury it in the garden up to the lip. These will need to be emptied and refilled every few days. Feed your marinated slugs to chooks or magpies.

An ‘espresso spray’ made from strong brewed coffee Ø

EARWIGS

Are dark brown, thin and long with a pair of "pincers" at rear. It runs more than flies and curves up abdomen and releases foul smell when disturbed. Looks like a beneficial Rove Beetle (which has no pincers). Earwigs are generally beneficial as they eat decaying matter and insect larvae of snails.

Damage:

Occasional infestations may affect flowers such as dahlias, carnations, chrysanthemums and marigolds and edible plants such as lettuce, celery, potato, beetroot, silver beet, beans and strawberries. Young earwigs can also eat seedlings and chew holes in the leaves of vegetables. The adults eat stamens, petal bases and ripening fruit. They feed at night.

Natural Control:

Earwigs can be trapped by putting tubes of rolled up newspaper or upturned pots stuffed with newspaper in your garden where they will hide during the day. You can then relocate them into your compost pile or feed them to chooks.

Providing protection to young seedlings such as a plastic bottle or milk carton cut in half with the bottom cut out and placed over a seedling so pests can’t get in but the sun and rain can.

Beer Trap –see slugs and snails Ø

  Vegetable oil with water or vinegar(1:2) in a trap the same as the beer trap. Ø

  Free ranging chooks or well trained magpies and kookaburras. Ø

CABBAGE MOTH- CATERPILLARS


Lays tiny yellow bullet shaped eggs on the underside of leaves, taking around 7 days to hatch. It hatches into a velvety green caterpillar with orange back stripe and broken yellow side stripe. It feeds for about 15 days before going into cocoon and emerging 10 days later as an adult White butterfly with 3 or 4 black spots on each wing.

Velvety green caterpillar with orange back-stripe, broken yellow side-stripe; feeds for about 15 days, then pupates.

Damage:

Likes the Cabbage family (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, kale, Asian greens), lettuce and nasturtiums. They eat large odd shaped holes in leaves and bores into cabbage heads. They also deposit their excrement on the leaves (green/brown pellets) so wash effected plants before eating.

Natural Control:

They are quite easy to see so handpicking off plants is a good option.

Sprinkle moist plants with wood ash, flour and salt mixture, sour milk or garlic infusion. Ø

Use garlic spray to deter.

SLATER

Damage:

They mainly feed on decaying organic matter and therefore help recycle nutrients back into the soil. Sometimes they can decide to have a go at our living veggies too. They feed at night and like to hide under mulch, rocks and logs.

Natural Control:

Use hollowed out orange halves or seedling punnets filled with potato peelings to trap slaters and distract them from your seedlings.

Protect seedlings with plant collars (old pots or plastic bottles with the bottom chopped out) for the first couple of weeks.

Free ranging chooks in the garden after harvest is a good way to clean up excess numbers too. Ø

APHIDS

Aphids are little insects that suck sap. They are usually only a few millimetres long and appear when the weather warms. Their numbers can build up very quickly.

Damage:

Aphids eat developing shoots and flower buds, piercing the plant's surface and sucking out the plant's juices, which can result in deformed buds, flower loss and even defoliation of the plant.

Natural Control:

Hosing them off the leaves of the plant Ø

Encourage ladybugs, hoverflies, lacewings and small birds which eat aphids in large numbers. Do this by planting tansy, yarrow, carrots, asters, Queen Anne’s lace, Cosmos, Fennel, lupins, candytuft, dill, tulips, lilies, geraniums and coriander.

Some Common Sprays

Make a spray out of garlic and/or chili. This involves chopping up a few good cloves of garlic and/or a few hot chilies, simmering in a few cups of water until the aroma is strong, then let cool, dilute and spray on any plants affected by leaf eating pests.

Soapy water sprayed onto insect eaten plants will also help to deter them.

Equal parts milk and water sprayed on plants affected by powdery mildew 3 times a week.

To treat fungal diseases on plants mix two tablespoons of baking soda into a liter of water and spray on affected areas.

Caution: any spray that kills or deters your pest will also kill or deter beneficial insects in your garden.

Ø = This symbol identifies those control measures that kill the mini beast. It is recommended that you try the other measures before these ones as all mini beasts (even if they are eating some of ‘your’ plants) are performing an important role in the intricately balanced ecosystem of your garden.

RESOURCES

The Gardeners Network

Ecological Agriculture Projects

Gardening Australia Fact Sheets

Suite 101: Natural Garden Pest Control

Earth Easy

Pips are sprouting everywhere

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 05:16:00 GMT

We just love seeing how excited people get about our seeds, and even more encouraging about our new venture... Our first childrens gardening book: Pip and Percy Sow the Secret to Nan's Tomato Soup
The book was first launched at the SLF festival in February and we are already on our second print run! It is selling in 12 book stores in Melbourne and Canberra, and also selling so well online. Thank you for your support! We can't wait to produce more PIp and Percy magical gardening adventures....

It has been so good to get out and about and see the enthusiasm on people's faces about planting our little pips. This month (May 11), we had the City of Stonnington Sustainable Living Festival and the East Bentleigh Autumn Fete. Some great enthusiastic energy blew in with the wind and the rain.

The Melbourne Sustainable Living Festival at Federation Square and the St Kilda Festival (Feb 11) also bought an abundance of new and fresh faces with varying hued green thumbs. Being a warmer it was all the more conjusive to network and talk all things green. We were interviewed on radio by Triple RRR and also subsequently nominated for the Peter Szental Environmental Entrepeneurship Award by the Unites Nations Association of Australia!

Go Pip...we look forward to meeting you soon at our upcoming events.

Pip goes to the Sustainable Living Festival!

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:39:00 GMT

It was hot and sticky but the folks still came out to stroll along the Yarra river and get excited about all the amazing eco freindly sustainability focused stuff that is happening in Australia and the world.

There was forums, talks and discussions, there was workshops galore, there was music (with the amplifiers powered by people riding exercise bikes), there was everything fairtrade from coffee to undies and there was even a permaculture garden.

Kylie and I set up a stall and had an amazing (if slightly exhausting) weekend talking our little heads of about seeds and growing veggies. It was so exciting to hear everyones gardening stories and swap tips and ideas for getting our patches thumping in Autumn. So many interesting people, so much to talk about. Thanks has to go out to our support crew (Dad, Julie, Mum, Claire and Andy) who helped us pack seeds, set up the stall, hand out postcards, stay hydrated and fed all weekend.

Sas at the SLF stall

There are heaps of interesting links from the 2010 Sustainable Living Festival Website to all sorts of ethical and environmental businesses and community organisations. Check it out…

The future of food

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:09:00 GMT

Another interesting youtube video about the histiry and future of our food systems. Based in America but relevant to the whole world. Here’s the low down:

There is a revolution going on in the farm fields and on the dinner tables of America, a revolution that is transforming the very nature of the food we eat. THE FUTURE OF FOOD offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade.
to watch it click here

Also, an interesting response from Vandana Shiva it is an excerpt from Seeding Deep Democracy in which Vandana Shiva explains how seed banks across India have saved farmers from debt and suicide. watch it here

MULCH MULCH MULCH

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:46:00 GMT

Summer is almost here. Some days it feels like it is here. The soil is going to dry out very quickly with a few hot dry days, so to protect our plants and all the lovely soil life we’ve built up over autumn, winter and spring, it is absolutely essential to MULCH!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t stress this enough.

Mulch not only breaks down over time, slowly feeding the soil and your plants but it also creates a barrier between the hot drying suns rays and the lovely moisture and life in the soil. Bare ground very quickly dries out, which means that you need to water the plants more often. In this day and age of water restrictions this isn’t always possible or ethical. So, it all comes back to MULCH!!!!!

For some more in depth info on mulch visit Pip’s Tips on mulching

Happy mulching….

Video on the Millenium Seed Bank

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:33:00 GMT

In this brief talk from TED U 2009, Jonathan Drori encourages us to save biodiversity — one seed at a time. Reminding us that plants support human life, he shares the vision of the Millennium Seed Bank, which has stored over 3 billion seeds to date from dwindling yet essential plant species.

Watch this video here

Produce Exchanges: Sharing the Love…

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:40:00 GMT

Produce exchanges are a great way to share the surplus from your own garden in exchange for the surplus from someone elses, to swap gardening tips and pick up a few yummy treasures along the way. The good news is they’re starting to pop up all over the place.

There is a monthly produce exchange held at my local farmers market which is growing in popularity each month, particularly as the spring rains and sunshine urge our gardens into a state of edible overlfow! Last Sunday I loaded up a box of scrummy harvest from my garden, strapped it to my bike trailor and headed on down to the exchange to see what tender delights I could swap it for.

The way it works is that Bree and Graham from The Food Garden (www.foodgarden.com.au one of our local freindly organic produce suppliers) set up a tent where we all bring our bundles of goodies to swap. We arrange the bounty in baskets on benches and at 11am we take from other peoples bundles what we think our bundles is worth. Honesty is the best policy and everyone always goes away ladden with much more than they bargained for.

This week I swapped my harvest for some parsley, mizuna and waragul greens seedlings, shallots, ruby red chard and local olives.
Yuuuumeeey!

Its a great way to meet fellow gardeners and swap tips and ideas. Its also a great way to ensure that you are eating fresh local produce and reducing the ‘food miles’ and carbon footprint of the food we eat. And the best part? Its totally free!

To find a Produce Exchange near you, contact your local farmers market or permaculture group and they will be able to point you in the right direction. If there isn’t one in your local area, produce exchanges are very easy to start. All you need is a table and some enthusiastic gardeners to bring their surplus along on a particular day.

Go forth and share the love…

SPUD-ARAMA

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:41:00 GMT

The Spud. That humble root crop that we all know and love. Whether you like to make big fat wedges out of them or a hot and steamy pot of potato and leek soup not much beats them for an easy to grow addition to the garden.

From now onwards is a great time to plant them in your garden. The shoots are frost tender , but hopefully if we get them in the ground soon by the time they are sending up their shoots the threat of frost will have passed.

Spuds grow from the roots underground. Simply buy some organic spuds from your grocer and leave in a cupboard until they start to grow shoots. You can then cut them up to ensure there is about 3 shoots per piece and plant them about 15 cm deep in loose well drained soil.

They can also be grown inside old car tyres, buckets, Hessian sacks and garden beds built up on top of the spuds. To do this first lay down a bed of compost or well rotted sheep manure, put the chopped up spuds down about 20cm apart and cover with a layer of mulch. As the green shoots start to grow above the surface keep adding layers of mulch (and tyres). Spuds will be ready to harvest at 16-20 weeks but you can start to dig up small ones after about 6 weeks. To harvest simply dig around where the shoots are with your hands or a fork.

Tip: If you dig the up when the soil is dry they will come out clean if the soil is dry.

go forth and Spud-ulate!!!

Fight those Winter Blues with Garlic

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:35:00 GMT

We’ve all used garlic in cooking before. But did you know it does more than just delight the taste buds? It is also fantastic for a number of medicinal uses. Garlic is in the same family as all the onions (the Allium family) and throughout history has been used as an aphrodisiac, plague repellant, to ward of vampires and demons and as an embalming agent.

Garlic can be used as a natural antibiotic by eating it raw, making a tea/broth with it or taking garlic tablets available at health food stores. This helps prevent and fight infections and colds. It is also good to eat garlic with oily or fatty meals as it can be used to help break down blood clots. It is very hypoglycemic which means that it helps lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. When garlic oil is rubbed into the skin it also acts as an insect repellent.

GROWING GARLIC

It can be expensive to buy good organic garlic at the market, but along with potatoes it is a very easy crop to grow.

Simply buy a few bulbs of organic garlic and split it up into its individual cloves. Plant each clove about twice its height under the soil with the pointy end pointing up. From each clove a whole bulb of garlic will grow beneath the ground and above ground long green leaves will grow. The bulb is ready to harvest when the green leaves have dried out completely. Lift out of the ground gently with a garden fork and pull out of the ground. Its best to harvest when the soil is dry to ensure clean bulbs.

Raising Seeds Tip #2: Warmth

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:42:00 GMT

A Cold Frame is a simple thing to make for your garden which can assist greatly in raising up seedlings in the winter or getting a head start on your spring seedlings. It is like a mini green house just for your seeds.

Here I’ve made one out of an old shower door I found at the local tip, leaning up against a north facing brick wall which gets sunlight all day and the bricks absorb heat during the day and slowly release it inside the cold frame throughout the long winter nights. I’ve sealed off the cold frame by stacking up rocks at either end and keep the seeds in trays inside.

For more info on building a cold frame visit the Pip’s Tips page.

Raising Seeds Tip #1: moisture

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:33:00 GMT

Hi all,

Our first post out of Pip’s Autumn Kit have been sent to all our Autumn subscribers. When you’re planting your seeds, whether its straight into your garden or in seed trays for transplanting later, there are a few things that are crucial to remember.

#1: Remember to keep the soil wet where you have planted your seeds. Not soaking wet as the seeds will rot or go mouldy, but moist like its just rained gentley on them. Don’t let the soil dry out at any point or the seeds may not germinate.

Seeds are like us, they need certain conditions to survive. Food, water, air, sunlight and the right temperature. Different seeds prefer different temperatures which is why many plants are seasonal and will only grow at a particuar time of year. Winter crops like cold spells whilst summer crops need it to be warm.

Waning Moon

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:32:00 GMT

The waning moon (time between full moon and new moon when the moon is getting smaller) is a great time to focus on preparing and renewing your soil. Make compost, mulch, use natural fertilisers such as worm juice or weed teas.

It is also a good time to transplant seedlings as plants are putting more of their energy into growing their roots at this time.

Root crops such as carrots, beetroot, turnip, parsnip, raddish, garlic and potatoes are best planted during the waning moon also.

Hi there, my name is Pip!

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:31:00 GMT

I am passionate about spreading seeds of knowledge and seeds of inspiration and watching them grow and grow.

I always plant the most natural seeds on earth. Seeds that have been grown traditionally for generations. Did you know that most of the seeds and seedlings that you buy from the shops arechemically treated and hybrid? This means that they won’t re seed and you have to buy them again and again each season. My seeds will remain true to type and produce the most healthy and abundant fruits with seeds that will continue to grow year after year.

I have a deep understanding and innate sense of what is right to be planted when. And I want to pass these seeds of knowledge onto you in time for each planting season to ensure that your garden is abundant through all the seasons.

My background is permaculture and sustainable living, and I have helped grow gardens all around Australia, India and Africa.

Please remember me, PIP, my name stands Pollinate Inspire Propagate.

And as a team we aim to pollinate communities with inspiration and resources and help them to propagate their own gardens to live more lightly on our planet.

PIP

We hope to meet you one day at our many market and festival appearances.

Kylie and Sas…