Organic Gardening in the Recession (Part 1 – Recycling)

With bank accounts and wallets getting slimmer across the nation people are looking to cut costs where ever possible so where better to start than the garden? Recycling products and materials is an obvious idea but why not dabble in growing your own produce? A well kept garden is also a perfect setting for home entertaining such as BBQs and Garden Parties negating the need to eat out or socialise in a money draining establishment. Building recycling units such as compost heaps and rainwater butts can be a rewarding hobby which will get you exercising out in the fresh air (why pay for a gym?!) and the long list of benefits for the environment may surprise you! So let’s take a look at some of these ideas in more detail…

Part 1 – Recycling

Millions of tonnes of garden waste including leaves, grass and cuttings are sent to landfill sites every year even though they are an invaluable source of nutrients that could be returned to the garden as compost. A large portion of the average household bin can be recycled into compost including peelings and food waste, teabags, paper and cardboard. Not only that, but plastic bottles and glass jars can be used for insect traps, growing seedlings and birdfeeders – let your imagination run wild!

Build your own Compost Heap

The benefits to the environment are impressive;

1. The reduction in consumption of unnecessary products like specially bought compost and fertilizers with the added bonus of fuller pockets
2. The reduction in incinerating waste products means lower air pollution
3. Landfills are not filled unnecessarily
4. Natural compost means less chemicals which can be washed away causing water pollution

Build your own insect farms

Kids will be fascinated watching worms and ants in their natural habitats and these are so easy to produce using clear plastic 2L bottles or containers (See our article on getting the kids interested in gardening and wildlife for more ideas). These will teach them the importance of eco systems as well as the responsibility of looking after live creatures.

Building an ant farm is dead easy as the ants will do most of the work! Just add dirt and ants found in the garden, ensuring a ‘Queen’ ant (usually slightly larger than the others or with wings) is collected and they will begin work on their new home right away. Drop in some bread crumbs and small bits of fruit for food. Ants will obtain most of their water from their food, however it may be a good idea to drop in a cotton ball soaked in water every few days as necessary.

A worm farm can be just as interesting to a child watching the worms break down scraps into compost. On a larger scale, wormaries can yield some pretty fantastic composting results that can be fed directly back into the garden and again, these are simple to make on a budget.

1. Obtain an old plastic box or bin and drill some holes to ensure it is well ventilated. The larger the box, the more worms can be kept and more compost produced. Alternatively, stack some old tires on top of each other!
2. Fill with shredded newspaper, garden waste, dirt and moisten well before adding worms.
3. Remember, you can add kitchen scraps, teabags and even egg shells to your wormary and keep well moistened at all times.

For more detailed information on wormaries check out this website on how to make your own worm compost system

Plastic containers have other uses too!

Slugs love beer – Fact! If you currently have a slug and snail problem then why not try creating your own slug traps by filling a shallow plastic container with beer (stronger the better) and placing these around vulnerable plants and foliage. The slugs will be attracted by the smell and drown investigating!

Insect/fly traps – Fill a drinks bottle a third of the way up with water or lemonade. With the remaining 2/3rds, smear jam on the inside and drill a hole in the lid just big enough for flies and wasps to enter the bottle in search of the source of the sweet scent. As the insects feed off the jam they will eventually tire of flying around the bottle and drop into the pool below and drown.

Styrofoam trays from produce such as mushrooms bought at the supermarket are fantastic for makeshift seed trays. You can also use yoghurt pots for individual seedlings. These are just a few ideas and the possibilities are only limited to your imagination! As a gardener, you often get chances to stretch your creative mind so I am sure you will think of many others that we have not listed here. If you would like to submit any ideas that we could cover for the benefit of our audience then please email us at info@riversidegardencentre.co.uk. We are always updating and adding to our gardening articles database, so keep checking back for more ideas on optimising and enjoying your garden

Part 2 coming soon: Grow your Own Produce

Teaching Kids to Appreciate Garden Wildlife

 

By inviting wildlife into the garden, kids will learn responsibilities such as feeding and protecting other living creatures

By teaching our kids to appreciate the natural world and its inhabitants, we can ensure the welfare of our planet for generations to come. This may sound like a big claim but it all starts with something small like the garden, and there are many things you can do to interest your offspring into venturing into the garden and caring for the wildlife contained within. For most, the back garden of your home will be the first point of contact for your kids to the natural world and a chance for them to experience insects and animals in their natural habitat.

This can have many positive influences on your child particularly in the early years. Besides the obvious fresh air and exercise and increased concentration levels, the child will build a rapport with the wildlife and a tolerance to allergies such as hay fever. Also, the fact that they are constantly learning new things means their brain will develop quicker than if they were stuck in front of the TV for hours on end. There are a number of things you can do to solidify your child’s interest in caring for wildlife and the environment, some of which are outlined below.

Introducing brightly coloured and interesting flowers into the garden will encourage kids favourites such as bees and butterflies into the garden adding a visual element of life that will engage the child from day one. Sunflowers are a perfect example of this; the seeds are easy to handle and plant by kids and the heights they reach will give them an added sense of accomplishment and admiration. Even when the flower dies, the fun doesn’t stop there are kids can eat the seeds as a reward.

By mimicking natural habitats of other animals such as squirrels, hedgehogs and birds, the kids will get a feel for larger animals which will remove the notion of animals being a threat and may even negate the need for costly pets! Remember that for animals to feel at home, a sufficient food and water supply needs to be established, particularly during the colder months. High energy fat and suet feeds are especially recommended. Water supplies could be in the form of a pond, boggy area or a bird bath though make sure this is constantly topped up with fresh clean water so that algae does not form. Also check that this does not freeze over in frosty weather as this could cut off the only water supply to some animals.

Hands on projects and activities will keep the kids entertained while they learn. By allowing them to ‘own’ their own section of the garden to work on and plant their own plants and vegetation will heighten their sense of accomplishment when flowers flourish and vegetables grow. Kids tools are also available for purchase which will give the child a real sense of ownership, a vital lesson in life.

Building a pond or water feature is also an excellent way of attracting wildlife such as frogs and invites the possibility of introducing some goldfish, fascinating to watch from a kid’s point of view! Remember to have sloping sides where possible to allow creatures easy access into and out of the pond and add lots of plants which are not only visually pleasing, but are an excellent source of oxygen for the water.

Other activities could involve the child exploring the garden armed with a magnifying glass, a clear container or jar, a pencil and paper and really learning about the inhabitants and recording their findings through pictures and words. Helping them build a makeshift ant farm or wormery is an easy and satisfying task allowing them to get up close and personal with the insects.

The simplest way is to obtain a clear empty 2Ltr bottle and cut off the top. Poking holes in the bottom will allow excess water to drain and covering the top with kitchen roll will allow sufficient air to get through while stopping the creatures from escaping. Imitate the insect’s natural habitat and make sure sufficient food and water is available, then you are ready to introduce the creatures into their new home. Remember to release them after a week and replace with new ones if necessary as to not cause any distress.

Building birdhouses and feeding stations out of wood is another fun task that the child will really enjoy, however, this can be very dangerous if not supervised properly. Quality, cheap bird houses and boxes can be purchased from garden centres and the results can be very encouraging.

Although there is a lot of fun and learning to be had in the garden, there are also many hazards that need to be avoided where possible. Many of these are common sense and an additional learning opportunity for your child. Prickly and thorny plants should be avoided where possible or sectioned off as should plants with poisonous and toxic berries which may be appealing to young eyes. Water is always a big hazard and if you have or are thinking of introducing a pond then necessary precautions should be taken. This could be in the form of wire netting over the top or fencing around the perimeter making it inaccessible to unsupervised children.

One more thing to consider is visibility from the house as household tasks will demand attention meaning that you will be unable to spend all day supervising at close proximity. With this in mind, tying back or removing bushes, hedging and trees should be taken into consideration if it hinders the view of any part of the garden, though remember, these often provide the homes for many animals.

Above all else, have fun and enjoy your garden!