Consistent Maintenance

Applying a consistent effort every week to keep the walkways and garden areas clean is the best way to keep a clean and presentable area throughout the time you own the home. This is especially important in suburban areas or developments with homeowners associations. Using pressure washers is the quickest and most efficient way to keep the patio and other flat surfaces clean.

Minimal Garden Work

Once the work is done with the pressure washer, it does not take much effort to keep these areas clean. Be sure to have a rake and garden tools handy to upkeep the soil for the garden area. Fresh soil and clean walkway are the mark of a responsible and thorough homeowner.

Keeping the garden walkways and patio areas is easy work but still important in maintain a presentable appearance for the home. First impressions are made within seconds and the home is often judged from afar so take the time to tend to the details as well.

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Rooted in Chemicals
Although Monsanto’s marketing department touts it as a relatively new company, its roots date back to pre-World War I. Monsanto’s first product was saccharin; by the 1960s it was also producing such chemical niceties as PCBs, dioxin and Agent Orange – and there are dozens of Superfund sites across the country to prove it. By 1980 the company had figured out how to genetically modify plant matter. Barely three national election cycles later, Monsanto’s former chief counsel was nominated – and contentiously confirmed – as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. His name is Clarence Thomas. And a former Monsanto head lobbyist was named Deputy Food Commissioner at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. By 1994 he had returned to Monsanto, presumably with the FDA’s playbook under his arm.

Aggressive About Agriculture
Until 1980, one could not obtain a patent on a seed, since seeds were considered to be life-forms and not inventions. When Monsanto genetically engineered their seeds to resist Roundup weed killer (which is also made by Monsanto), they were granted a patent on their seeds as Genetically Modified Organisms – GMOs. For farmers, it meant they could use Roundup liberally without fear of crop damage. It also meant that they could no longer follow a custom as ancient as agriculture himself, known as “seed-saving”. Monsanto required every single seed to be returned to the company (necessitating the purchase of new seeds every year). Moreover, the company takes an extremely aggressive legal stance – even in the face of small farmers or small-town general stores – when it comes to protecting their intellectual property. Their reprehensible behavior includes hiring private detectives to conduct surveillance on small family farmers working their hardest to eke a living out of our nation’s breadbasket – out of their own land. The corporate giant has no problem litigating them beyond their means.

Nowhere to Hide
The fact of the matter, though, is that Monsanto products are already in nearly every household in America, even those dedicated to a “green” lifestyle that involves healthy nutritional choices. Ninety percent of American-grown soybeans come from Monsanto’s genetically-engineered seeds (soy is found in more food products than most people realize). With the abject surrender of the largest organic-foods retailer, Whole Foods, and the largest wholesaler, United Natural Foods, Monsanto alfalfa (complete with Roundup-resistant genetic modifications, whatever they are) will be fed to cattle which will eventually wind up on our grocery store shelves as beef products. Corn, cotton, sugar-beets and canola have all been subjected to Monsanto’s GMO engineering, which some scientists believe transfers to the very soil in which the plants are grown.

Bought and Paid For
Our friends and allies “across the pond” probably take no small measure of amusement from our plight, here in this proud Republic, where it was our freedom that was supposed to be iron-clad. Sure, they have genetically modified crops in Europe; they also have mandatory labeling laws, which don’t exist here and likely never will, given Monsanto’s appendages in our halls of government. So here we are, just 65 years removed from saving the world from monstrous tyranny, fresh out of the Cold War, with nearly all of our food production placed in the hands of a single monopolistic entity, one with a horrifying track record as a corporate citizen.

The Tipping Point: Citizens United
Ah, citizenship. Until the very recent Citizens United case, in which the Supreme Court (Clarence Thomas included) reversed a century’s worth of campaign finance law and bestowed “citizenship” unto corporations, that grand word referred to the people. You and me. Hearing Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney declare that “corporations are people” in Iowa late last year should have given those Midwestern farmers all the information they needed about the man, yet he won the Iowa caucuses. Corporations, like Monsanto, are people now. They are people who can dump money anywhere they please without so much as a kernel of disclosure, taking all the power from a self-divided government, with both parties now completely unaware of who is funding their opponents. Everyone serves the corporations. No wonder Whole Foods caved. Not even the United States government can stop them.

Corporations, unless and until a Constitutional amendment wipes out Citizens United, may have legally established their “personhood”. What the people at Monsanto and others like them can never achieve is humanity.

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Aphids

This common garden pest loves munching on plant foliage and leaves behind small holes. To get rid of aphids make sure that you drench your plants at least once a day with a strong burst of water. If Aphids persist you can insure that they will be eliminated by creating a mixture of insecticidal soap and water or mix water with garlic or summer oil. Once you’ve created your mixture, pray your plants liberally with it to insure Aphid demise.

Cabbage Loopers

This pest is a moth that has a V Shape on each of their wings. These pests love eating cabbage, other vegetables or plants with green foliage. You can eliminate them by inspecting your garden once a day and removing caterpillars, cocoons and buying predatory insects then releasing them in your garden.

Ants

Ants are a very common pest around the world but, they are easy to eliminate:

• Mix one teaspoon of Boric Acid with six tablespoons of sugar, dump the solution in water then dip cotton balls into the solution.

• Once the cotton balls are soaked you should place them in an old plastic milk jug.

• Use a nail to punch holes into the milk jug.

• Place the milk jug next to any ant holes. It will act as an “ant convenience store” where they will be able to get nice yummy, but deadly treats to bring back to their nests.

Japanese Beetles

This pest is blue/green in color, around a ½ inch long and has long legs. To eliminate them you should visually inspect your garden every morning and pull them off any plants that they may be attacking then drown them in water mixed with dish soap.

White Flies

White Flies are an annoying pest that gets in the way, especially when you’re trying to enjoy your garden on a nice evening. For pest control spray the infected plant with a water/soap mixture in the evening. This will kill the white flies naturally and not do damage to the plant.

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Organic cotton is grown with much the same care as organic bell peppers, allowing the cotton to retain its natural softness instead of using harmful chemicals in the growing process (which also require chemical softeners afterward). Companies that make organic clothing are also less likely to use strong dyes. Softer, nature-based dyes are not only better for the environment, they lend themselves better to clothing that is designed by nature.

A Shot in the Arm

It’s interesting that the choice of 100 percent cotton should seem like the “newest” thing in fashion, when in fact it was just about all that our grandparents ever knew. Much of our farming heritage (in all sectors of agriculture) has been mechanized and computerized to the point where the family farmer is all but extinct. With its focus on organic cotton, the increase in organic clothing’s popularity could provide a much-needed boost to small farms – and small farmers – across the country.

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As with any garden, nutrient rich soil is essential for healthy plants. Sand, however, isn’t exactly ideal for growing crops. The layer of rock hard calcium carbonate called caliche found underneath most North American deserts doesn’t help either. One way around this is to manually dig out the caliche and replace it with soil. This may prove to be difficult seeing that the layer of caliche may be between a couple of inches to a several feet thick. Another alternative would be to build a raised bed you can use to plant crops in.

Timing is also very important in growing a desert garden. Summer months can be brutally hot in many areas but they are exceptionally intense in the desert. The best time to start planting is after the frost season has past, before Summer sets in. Seasons and growing times vary from region to region so it’s important to do research for your location. Also, the cooling off period after Summer is another optimal time to go ahead and plant your garden.

Sunlight is also vital. Most fruits and vegetables require at least four to six hours of sunlight each day. Full exposure to sunlight is typically preferred when growing most vegetables. When planting your crops be sure to stay away from anything that could shade your garden. Also, tall crops need to be planted in the northern side of your garden so they won’t shade shorter crops as they grow taller. These taller plants can also act as a wind barrier for the rest of your crops.

The desert’s unique environment requires you to be careful when deciding what to plant. In the early spring cold, hardy plants are ideal. Some examples of these are spinach, onions, broccoli, celery and brussel sprouts. During the warm season vegetables such as tomatoes, lima beans, eggplant, and pumpkins do quite well.

More often than not, the key to a successful garden is simply trial and error. It also helps to check in with your local Cooperative Service office so they can give you advice on what plants grow best in the area. With a little preparation you can turn your little patch of desert into a thriving oasis.

Sources

http://www.freegardentips.info/3451/successfully-growing-a-vegetable-garden-in-the-desert/

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bella/2010/06/catherine_crowley_the_herb_lad.php

http://robert-dailey.suite101.com/planning-a-desert-vegetable-garden-a18959

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/gardening-by-region/desert-southwest/grow-desert-plants/

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With many countries pushing people to “Go Green” at home or in their businesses one of the easiest things that anyone can do to lower their carbon footprint and contribute to saving the environment is “Go Green” with their cell phone.

How is the Phone Manufactured?

Before choosing just any cell phone make sure that the phone that you pick is made from recycled plastic, like water bottles. One of the companies that are leading the way in manufacturing green phones is Samsung. This company manufactures their phones out of 80% recyclable materials and the casings of their typical phones are made from bio plastic. Samsung pay as you go might be a viable option.

Solar Panels

Many phones in this day and age are being produced with solar panels that will help to charge a phone if it’s left out in the full sunlight for a period of time. A solar paneled phone means that you won’t have to plug your phone in to charge it periodically and you can even charge it while you’re on the go.

Green Cell Phone Chargers

If you can’t find a solar powered cell phone, the next best investment that you can make is buying a solar powered phone charger. Solar powered cell phone chargers are affordable, will help to save you money and cut down your dependence on electricity.

Choose a Green Mobile Phone Company

One of the last and most important steps to going green with your cell phone is to choose a green cell phone company.

Make sure that you choose a cell phone company that uses renewable energy to power its servers and has a commitment to saving the environment just as much as you do.

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Technology Pitches In

Modern technology has improved the lots of both plumbers and their customers. For plumbers, digital cameras and other detection devices are used to track down the most miniscule of leaks and blockages, preventing larger and more damaging breakages from occurring later on. For customers, an array of products has been brought onto the market that can minimize water use while maximizing efficiency. Look no further than the humble commode – today’s models can flush a dozen golf balls down their gullets using just a gallon of water.

Carrying Water for the Environment

New laundry machines and dishwashers are designed to use as little water, and as little electricity, as possible. The same goes for solar-powered, or even tankless, water heaters. Over time, the savings they represent means that they could pay for themselves. Even something as inexpensive and easy to replace as a showerhead can reduce water usage by an astonishing amount. In some new commercial buildings, restrooms are even utilizing water-free urinals.

As the developing world continues to emerge, every drop of water will be needed, so it is essential for engineers to stay ahead of the curve. You may personally only be motivated by lower monthly utility bills, and that’s fine. However, if you have invested in green phoenix plumbing technology that saves water, you’re doing the Earth a favor in the long run – a reward unto itself whether you realize it or not.

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