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There are some sources of
organic matter that we would not recommend:
Peat
There has been a lot of publicity
about peat bogs being destroyed in order to provide peat for
composts, mulching etc. Please try to avoid this material if
possible.
Calcified seaweed
Although it is an excellent fertilizer
and soil conditioner, especially for acid soils, it is obtained
from the temperate ocean equivalent of coral reefs, and is being
harvested in an unsustainable way.
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Spent mushroom compost
Just in case you were not aware
of it, this material is usually made from animal manures, especially
horse manure. It is also heavily polluted with all the chemicals
they use in growing mushrooms.
Coir
This is being used in increasing
quantities as a peat replacement. We feel that, although this
is an excellent soil conditioner, it should be left in the countries
where it grew in order to improve the fertility of their soils. |
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Liquid feeds.
Most, if not all, plants benefit
from being given concentrated feeds during the growing season.
Annuals, especially, benefit because they do not have the established
root system of perennials. It is possible to buy vegan liquid
feeds or you can make your own. The process is simple. You fill
a container, perhaps a dustbin, with plant material, pushing
it in tightly to get as much in as possible. You then fill the
container with water (and you will be surprised how much water
will fit in) and leave it for a week or two. It will by then
be very smelly, and you dilute it by perhaps 10 - 1 with water
and then pour it on the soil around the plants. Alternatively,
you can spray it over the leaves of plants, preferably in the
evening or on cloudy days. Some possible materials to use include:
Seaweed
You can either collect the seaweed from the beach, or buy liquid
seaweed from garden centres. Very rich in a wide range of minerals,
it is an excellent general feed.
Comfrey
A very good source of potassium,
it is especially good for potatoes and tomatoes. Nettles. Rich
in most minerals, and also providing some nitrogen, it is a good
general feed. Weeds. Just using a mixture of garden weeds will
provide a good general-purpose feed.
Pests and diseases.
There are many organic sprays
available for treating pests and diseases in plants. In general,
we feel that these should be weapons of last resort since they
will also kill other creatures, many of which are very beneficial
in the garden. If you feel it is essential to use such materials,
then you will need to read up on which material is best to use.
A read of a good catalog from an organic supplier will often
be sufficient guide. There are also various sprays that can be
made from plants growing in the garden. In general, you have
to be very knowledgeable before using these, since they are often
more harmful to wildlife than the sprays you can buy. If you
want to consider alternatives to spraying, then the following
are some options:
Chamomile and garlic
Add a crushed garlic clove and
a small handful of chamomile flowers to half a litre of water
that has just been boiled. Cover and leave to soak for 12 hours.
This will make an excellent tonic for plants that will help them
to fight pests and diseases. Mixed and companion planting.
Pests and diseases spread much
more easily when lots of plants of the same species are growing
together. Try to mix your plants more - you will find that this
will also help to produce higher overall yields from your ground.
By planting aromatic plants amongst your other plants you will
find that the incidence of pests and diseases will fall. Chamomile,
garlic and many of the Mediterranean herbs are very useful here.
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