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Healthy Gardening

how to's  & Tips for your garden

Plant a Memory Garden - Planning Your Garden

3/30/2018

2 Comments

 
By Cindy Cloninger
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The best varieties of heirloom seeds and plants to put in your garden and flowerbeds.
A resurgence in heirloom varieties of flowers and vegetables provide a unique opportunity to add a bit of nostalgia and family connection to your garden and flowerbeds.
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Smells Like Nostalgia

Have you ever gone somewhere and smelled something and instantly you were transported to another place and time? So many of our memories are tied to smells.  Actually, researchers have discovered that smells travel through the nose, cranial nerve through the olfactory bulb to help the brain process smells. The olfactory bulb and amygdala are both part of the limbic system, the emotional center of the brain. This close relationship between the olfactory and the amygdala is one of the reason odors cause a spark of nostalgia.
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Dr. Ken Heilman, James E. Rooks Jr. Distinguished Professor Neurology and Health Psychology at the University of Florida and a member of AAN says,
Smells do bring back memories, smell goes into the emotional parts of the brain and the memory parts, whereas words go into thinking parts of the brain.      
Whether it’s pumpkin pie, freshly baked bread, or your mother’s perfume, smell can invite sweet memories into our lives is pleasant.  This got me thinking about all the things I have loved about my childhood home and sharing a backyard with my grandparents who enjoyed 4 acres of crops, blooms, and orchards.
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Plant a Memory

Like me, many of you may have fond memories of making your way up the walkway of your grandparents' homes and all of the vibrant colors and smells that invited you into their hearts and homes.  Join by remembrances of lessons taught by your grandfather as he pruned trees and bushes or taught tips for a good harvest in his overalls. I loved being in my grandparents garden and all of the yummy smells that are such a part of my childhood. Delicious raspberries, peaches, and lilacs. So much of what I have in my flowerbeds and garden have been influenced by generations past.
If every time you get your hands in the dirt or smell those long forgotten scents, memories come flooding back, you may enjoy planting a memory garden.
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Gardening in the Past

There is much we can learn from generations that have gone before about gardening.
I have been inspired by the wartime efforts of citizens in both WWI and WWII.
In March 1917, just weeks after the US entered WWI, the National War Garden Commission encouraged Americans to contribute to the war effort by planting, harvesting and donating from their gardens. During WWI a huge food crisis had emerged with Europe's crops turning into battlefields. The burden of feeding millions fell to the United States.
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Promoting "sow the seeds of victory" to housewives and become "soldiers of the soil" to school children, 3 million new garden plots were planted in 1917 alone, and more than 5.2 million were cultivated in 1918 Victory gardens.
Victory gardens were again promoted in WWII with the loss of laborers to fight in the war. Nearly 20 million Americans answered the call.The US Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 20 million victory gardens were planted. Fruit and vegetables harvested in these home and community plots were estimated to be 9-10 million tons, an amount equal to all commercial production of fresh vegetables. It's amazing what a few people working together in small ways can do!!
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Times Change

In the US alone, there are many varieties of flowers and crops that have gone out of fashion and have all but gone extinct. The reason for this may lie, in part, to the way our suburban lifestyles have changed through the decades.

1920's

During the 1920’s most homes didn’t have fences, but walkways and separation between houses were lined with perennials.  Popular choices included, Canterbury bells, irises, foxgloves, phlox, pyrethrum, coreopsis, hollyhocks, roses, columbine, delphinium, poppies, and carnations and annuals,  such as California poppies, cosmos, petunias, snapdragons, verbena, bachelor’s buttons, Centaurea (sweet sultan), strawflowers, marigolds, Drummond phlox, asters, etc.  Shrubs were boxwood, holly, yews, and abelia.
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1930's

In the 1930’s the Great Depression stifled many flowerbeds, but large rose gardens were still popular along with hostas, lilacs, and hydrangeas.
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Many in this era had their own compost piles to provide nutrient-rich soil for optimal growth and production.  Today, this practice is less common. You can still get those same organic benefits and reap the same harvest because we’ve taken the time-consuming process and done it for you. Soft Soil, Wild Valley Farm’s premium blend of topsoil and premium is ready and easily available to add to your garden. 
Buy Soft Soil Here
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1950's

With the booming economic and suburban growth in the 1950’s, consumerism made its mark.  Boxed hedges, gnomes & flamingos dotted landscapes, while garden flowers were over-sized, vibrant and colorful, for instance, large tea roses like Garden Party roses, Tiffany roses, and Chrysler Imperial roses were popular choices.
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Giant Zinnias were another popular choice for fence lines. This video shows how to grow them and a few other heirloom varieties. 

1970's

In the 1970’s Homeowners sought to do more with the land they had. As a result, vegetable and herb gardens, along with shrubs and trees that produced fruits became commonplace in home landscapes.
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While adding smell, beauty, and eye-catching design, that may not have been all that dictated some of the choices of flowers and plants in Grandpa’s garden.  Many in generations past understood some of the unique relationships held between plants. Often, plants can mutually benefit each other through pest repellent or environmental factors. This is known as companion planting. Learn more in our article Companion Planting for the 8 Most Popular Plants in Your Garden.
Time spent in our gardens and yard space can pay off in bountiful crops and hearty harvests. To ensure that end, focusing on the condition of the soil they are planted in is essential.  Gardens love our wool pellets, providing porosity for optimal and deep root growth while keeping away fatal crop pest like slugs and snail. Read more about wool pellets and the natural release fertilizer they release in 6 Reasons You Should Be Using Wool Pellets in Your Garden Soil.
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Heirloom Seeds And Plants

Have you already planted a memory garden or at least a few blooms into your flowerbeds? If so you are joining a movement that has been growing to bring back and keep from extinction many plant varieties.  This resurgence has created an industry of heirloom seeds and plants. If you are wondering where you can get your hands on some of these older and less common varieties, we suggest Heritage Flower Farm and Select Seeds. There are also many seed swapping groups that are worth looking into.
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Plant in a container

Give your favorite flowers a place of prominence by planting them in a Nutri wool pot. Different from most potting containers, Nutri Wool Pots are made of natural materials, that protect your plants from overheating and better insulate them from extreme temperatures.
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On Sale

On Sale

Nutriwool Pot

$8.99 - $17.99

1 Pot 25% OFF

3 Pack 50% OFF + Free Shipping

Nutriwool Pots are a 2.5 Quart fabric pot that are made in the USA. 


Nutriwool pots will help air prune roots and will hold water better than any other fabric pot. Are 100% bio-degradable and will help feed plants when pots are placed in the soil. 

You can transplant without taking your plant out of the Nutriwool Pot as the pot will breakdown when placed in the soil. 

Shop
PictureNutri Wool Pots are available for purchase at www.wildvalleyfarms.com
​We already know the benefits that wool can provide as it breaks down over time releasing the perfect amount of nutrients to your tender plants and the barrier to pests like slugs and snails.  Now you can have the added convenience of planting directly in these colorful Nutri Wool Pots. They look beautiful on any porch or balcony and because of their dense fibers, they hold the water making them the perfect container for your blooms and crops.
​An added benefit of the completely organic pots is the biodegradable factor. These little beauties can be planted directly in the soil when you are ready for making a more permanent home for the plants that grace the steps of your porch. The bright colored pots and beautiful smells from your flowers will bring sweet memories each time you step onto your porch. Read about other great container plants in 
15 Plants to Grow in a Nutri Wool Pot or Container.


Flowers from my grandparents and even great-grandparents that I have planted in my own garden are violas or Johnny jump ups, irises, and buttercups.  Each time I see or smell I am intrinsically tied to a time in the past and surrounded by sweet memories of those I love.
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Violas or Johnny Jump Ups
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Great Grandma Hill loved her Irisis
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Irises in purple, yellow, and white
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Buttercups for Great Grandma Jones
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Buttercups or Allamanda

What flowers or plants bring back memories to you? We’d love to hear from you!

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Cindy Cloninger

Virtual Assistant, blog manager, email & social media marketing assistant, web development. I enjoy hiking, fresh fruits & veggies, planting flowers, cooking great meals. But I love being a wife and mother the most.  When I'm not doing all of those, I love to read and try new things.   No matter the forecast, live like it's spring.

2 Comments

Companion Planting for the 8 Most Popular Plants in Your Garden

3/2/2018

4 Comments

 
By Cindy Cloninger
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Like all good friends, 'vegetable friends' help each other out. Did you know that onions & leeks repel carrot flies? Or that lettuce tenderizes summer radishes? Knowing which plants benefit the other is a secret to successful gardening. And who doesn't love hanging out with a good friend?
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There are lots of combinations of plants that grow really well together and have beneficial components for one another.  We’ve narrowed this overwhelming and sometimes confusing process down for you. We've compiled a list of the most common crops, with the most beneficial plants to put together to take the guesswork out of companion planting and guarantee you’ll reap the benefits.
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What is companion planting?

While you may not have tried it, companion planting is all around us. The most common practice today comes from industrial farming where it is a common practice to plant vetch or legumes in the fall after harvest.  Native Americans used this practice but called it, Three Sisters, planting corn, beans, and squash together.
So why go to all the trouble to plant next to each other or in the same space?  The main benefits of companion planting are to provide mutually beneficial outcomes in soil nutrients, erosion control, weed control, deterring or attracting insects, and providing shade.
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Tomato

Tomatoes grow tall and can provide shade for the more sun sensitive lettuce, cabbage, and other leafy greens. Basil repels common pests and if basil goes to seed will attract pollinators.
Other beneficial plants are carrots, asparagus, beans, celery, chive, cucumber, garlic, marigold, mint, onion, parsley, peppers.
​❌ Tomatoes do not like 
? corn, dill, fennel, potato, kohlrabi, and pole beans.
Tomatoes love our Terra Zest, it's our premium organic and all natural blend of manure, sawdust, and hygroscopic fiber (wool).  
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Carrots

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Carrots are a great friend to have around as they help tomatoes, onions, garlic, shallots, lettuce, leeks, and beans. They are loved in turn by those same plants in addition to chives, rosemary, wormwood, sage, and flax. Onions and leeks help out by repelling carrot flies.
​❌  But not friends with dill, parsnip, and radishes.
Naturally repel slugs and snails by mixing Wool Pellets into your soil. The microscopic wool fibers are little-barbed shields for all your garden plants.  Read 6 Reasons You Should Be Using Wool Pellets in Your Garden Soil to learn more.
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Lettuce

Lettuce loves tomatoes as we mentioned above, but lettuce and chives are a great combo too. The strong smell of chives will deter Aphids who would attack your lettuce.  Adding Asylum will attract those beneficial insects that eat those munching on your leafy greens.
Lettuce is a help to beets, beans, okra, radishes, onions, broccoli, and carrots.
Lettuce is helped by onions, beans, carrots, cucumber, strawberries, broccoli, dill, beets, thyme, and cilantro.
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​❌  But lettuce does not like ? celery, parsley, cress, and cabbage.
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Peas

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Cucumbers, carrots, beans, corn, radishes, early potatoes, lavender, and turnips are good friends to your peas.
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​❌ However, peas do not like ? garlic, onions, leeks, and shallots.
Giving your plants great friends is just one layer in the making of a plentiful garden.  If you really want to have success, you'll need to make sure the soil is prepped and giving the right nutrients.  Starting your plants in Soft Soil, a blend of premium topsoil & compost, your garden will thrive on the full range of nutrients needed to maintain root health.
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Cucumber

To repel cucumber beetles, sow cucumber and radish seeds together. Get the most from your cucumbers by planting them with marigolds, beets, garlic, celery, dill, carrots, peas, beans, sunflowers, and radishes. Cucumbers also provide benefits to beans, kohlrabi, and lettuce.
Cucumbers and squash spread fast and benefit from being planted in a nutrient-rich soil.  Learn how to soften your soil and the benefits and differences in compost in the articles. How Do I Soften My Soil? and ​Are There Differences in Compost and What are They?
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Our last three have been planted together for hundreds of years so we’ve kept them together.

Squash, Beans, & Corn

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Why not follow the tried and proven process engineered by Native Americans? 
The broad leaves of pumpkin and squash spread out reducing weeds and holding moisture. Beans ingeniously convert atmospheric nitrogen into a ready-to-use form for it’s plant friends. And corn gives the beans a place to climb.   
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Squash is also benefited by marigolds, radishes, and buckwheat which will flower and attract needed insects.
Beans are also enhanced by beets, cucumbers, carrots, cauliflower, marigolds, potatoes, rosemary, peppermint, and mustard.
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Flowers

Adding if flowers around the borders of your garden and in between can attract pollinators, insects that will eat those that are a nuisance, and add beauty and color to the overall appearance of your garden beds.

Watch this great little video to learn why marigolds, buckwheat, lavender, daisies, and hollyhocks are great in your garden. And what some of the best flowers you haven’t even thought of to plant in your garden are.

What are your favorite garden combinations?

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Recap the best vegetable friends with this quick slideshow:

Cindy Cloninger

Virtual Assistant, blog manager, email & social media marketing assistant, web development. I enjoy hiking, fresh fruits & veggies, planting flowers, cooking great meals. But I love being a wife and mother the most.  When I'm not doing all of those, I love to read and try new things.   No matter the forecast, live like it's spring.

4 Comments

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  • Home
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    • Home Garden Products >
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