Growing Hope: Frequently Asked Questions/title> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-15" /> <meta name="Description" content="Growing Hope, a non-profit organization initiating and supporting community gardens in Southeast Michiganof Ypsilanti Michigan" /> <meta name="KeyWords" content="Growing Hope, community garden, community gardening, farmers market, farmer's market, farmers' market, food security, school garden, school gardening, garden empowerment and education, youth garden, youth gardening, Ypsilanti Michigan, Washtenaw County Michigan" /> <script type="text/javascript"> // This is your call to flickrshow // The parameters are photoset ID, ID of target and colour // Repeat this call to have multiple flickrshows on a page fs1 = new flickrShow("72157602460558682", "fsDemo", "green"); </script> <style type="text/css"> @import "../styles/nsplus.css"; </style> <script type="text/javascript" src="../scripts/rollovers.js" > </script> </head> <body onload="preloadDetails('cp-2people');"> <div class="logo"> <a href="../index.shtml"><img src="../images/logo.jpg" alt="Growing Hope logo" border="0" /></a> </div> <div class="headera"> <img src="../images/headera.jpg" alt="" /> </div> <div class="headerb"> <img src="../images/headerb.jpg" alt="" /> </div> <div class="topnav"> <b><a class="subnavbutton" href="/projects/index.shtml"></b> </div> <div class="mainnav"> <ul> <li class="navbutton"><a href="/index.shtml">Home</a></li> <li class="navbutton"><a href="/about/index.shtml">About Us</a></li> <li class="navbutton"><a href="/projects/index.shtml">Our Programs</a></li> <li class="navbutton"><a href="/partners/index.shtml">Our Partners</a></li> <li class="navbutton"><a href="/helpusgrow/index.shtml">Donate</a></li> <li class="navbutton"><a href="/helpusgrow/volunteer.shtml">Volunteer</a></li> <li class="navbutton"><a href="/calendar/index.shtml">Calendar</a></li> <li class="navbutton"><a href="/blog.html">Blog</a></li> <li class="navbutton"><a href="/blog.html">Press & Publications</a></li> <li class="navbutton"><a href="/links/index.shtml">Links &<br />Resources</a></li> <li class="navbutton"><a href="/getintouch/index.shtml">Get in Touch</a></li> <li><span class="smaller">© 2004 Growing Hope<br /> non-profit web hosting<br /> by <a class="redacorn" href="http://www.redacorn.org/web-hosting.html" target="_blank">Red Acorn</a></span></li> </ul>  </div> <div class="mainbody"> <a href="http://www.guidestar.org/partners/networkforgood/donate.jsp?ein=74-3091845" target="_blank"><img class="topright" src="../images/donatenowlogo3.gif" alt="donate now" title="donate now" border="0" /></a> <div class="pagetitle"> <h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2> </div> <div class="maincontent"> <div class="fulltext"> <strong>This page is a new addition to our website and it's under construction! Please check back soon for new updates!</strong> <p><strong>My garden looks unhealthy. What could be the cause and what are some organic ways to keep my garden healthy?</strong> <p>Try these organic methods to rid your garden of animal pests that may cause it harm. Click on the links below for specific tips on management of common garden pests. First, here are some general tips from <a href="http://organicgardenpests.com/index.html">organicgardenpests.com</a>: <p>1. Learn about the plants and the weeds and bugs that affect them. <p>2. Choose the right plants. Plant native species whenever possible. Native plants are better protected by their own “immune systems” and their relationships with other plants and animals in the area. You may also look for plants that are pest-resistant. Diversifying the garden with a variety of plants will help the plants protect each other from pests. For example, small flowered plants like daisies, mint, and rosemary attract many insects that eat the pests. Check with a local garden shop or nursery for recommendations. <p>3. Maintain healthy, fertile soil by rotating your plants, adding compost, and mulching. <p>4. Plant early to avoid the worst bug season. <p>5. Allow growth of the pests’ natural predators. Ladybugs, ground beetles, and birds eat many pests, and fungi and moss can infect the pests naturally. Spraying chemicals often kills the beneficial bugs too. <p>6. Get out there and work with your hands! A hoe, spade, and your hands are the best tools to combat weeds. Getting close to your plants will help you identify problems and remove pests and damaged plants by hand. Tilling can eliminate many weeds as well. Pruning plants helps remove diseased parts, leaving the plant's nutrients for the healthy parts. Always prune back to a main branch or stem; leaving "stubs" opens a door for pests. <p>7. Keep a garden journal in which you record when you see pests, what they look like, what they have done to the plants, and the actions taken. In this way, you will learn what works and what doesn't while experimenting with new techniques. <p><strong>Beetles/Grubs/Japanese Beetles</strong> <p>information adapted from <a href="http://en.allexperts.com/q/Lawns-725/grub-control.htm">The All Expert Website</a> <p>Using beneficial nematodes. The nematode-powder (Bioquest®, etc.) can be ordered from biological suppliers and when mixed with water it is then sprayed on to the affected area. It is important to water immediately after application. Best results are still during the mid-summer months as this is when the grub populations are at their highest. <p>"Patio-Bug Light-Zappers" will help as it can trap and kill some of the beetles when these are active at night. There are also commercially available pheromone (bug hormone attractant) traps. These traps attract the insects over long distances and when combined with bug-zappers may do much to reduce local insect pest populations. <p>Hand-picking, crushing and disposing of live beetles anytime and anywhere you encounter them can greatly reduce egg-laying and grub populations. Youu can feed the beetles you catch to your chickens. <p>Attracting beetle feeding birds, toads, lizards, harmless garden snakes and bats to your property will do much to eliminate thousands of 'bad bugs'. Rodents eat the beetles and grubs too but should NOT be encouraged due to the other damage these mammals do to plants, crops and property and the diseases they can host. <p>Here’s a tip from <a href="http://heirloomgardener.blogspot.com/search/label/Pest%20Control">heirloomgardener.blogspot.com</a>: <p>1. Fill a jar with soapy water. <p>2. Hold the jar under any beetles that you see. <p>3. If you bring your hand close to a beetle, it will have a natural flight response of dropping to the ground--or in this case, into your jar. <p>4. Once they fall into the soapy water, they lose the ability to fly and quickly sink to the bottom; in 5-10 minutes, you can rid yourself of dozens of these pests. <p>5. As for the eggs, check the undersides of your leaves. They are sticky and difficult to remove, so it might be best just to tear off the leaves and stick them in the water too. <p><strong>Deer</strong> <p>Fencing can keep deer out of your yard or garden, but it needs to be sturdy, electrified or a combination of both. By building an eight feet or higher fence with an electric wire at the top, deer will learn quickly to move on. <p><strong>Groundhogs/Woodchucks</strong> <p>Your best defense against woodchucks is a fence around your garden that extends underground so that they can’t dig. Live traps, such as those found at <a href="http://www.havahart.com/">Havahart.com</a> are also an option for woodchucks and other small mammals. <p><strong>Rabbits</strong> <p>The best way to keep rabbits away is fencing at least 2-3 feet high, and buried several inches into the ground, or bent outward on the ground to prevent digging. <p><strong>Snails/Slugs</strong> <p>Buy ground ginger in bulk and spread it as a border on the ground around plants that maybe be susceptible to slug attack. <p><strong>Tent Caterpillars</strong> <p>Pull the nests off the trees as soon as you notice them. Evening is best when the insects return from foraging. Dunk the tents in a pail of water. <p><Strong>Weeds</strong> <p>Use Vinegar- spray it on weeds, and they will soon shrivel up and die. <p>Hot water will kill most plants. Boil some water in a kettle and take it outside and pour over anything you want to kill- it even works on dandelions with their long taproot. <p>Sites with other resources for biological control of pests: <p><a href="http://www.biconet.com/index.html">Biocontrol Network</a> <p><a href="http://www.beneficialbugs.com/">Beneficial Bugs</a> <p><a href="http://www.anapsid.org/pestcontrol.html">Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection</a> <p><a href="http://www.havahart.com/">Havahart Humane Pest Control</a> <div class="bottomnav"> <a href="/index.shtml">home</a> | <a href="/about/index.shtml">about us</a> | <a href="/projects/index.shtml">our projects</a> | <a href="/partners/index.shtml">our partners</a> | <a href="/helpusgrow/index.shtml">help us grow</a> | <a href="/viewgardens/index.shtml">view the gardens</a> | <a href="/links/index.shtml">our links & resources</a> | <a href="/calendar/index.shtml">calendar</a> | <a href="/calendar/blogs.shtml">news & announcements</a> || <a href="/getintouch/index.shtml">get in touch</a> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>