Organic Home Growing Archives - Page 21 of 30

Ask Ruth: Rust on Apple Trees

by Ruth Gonzalez | Jun 24, 2013 | Organic Home Growing

Hi Ruth, It looks like we have some sort of orange fungus growing on our apple trees. What is the best way to fight this while keeping our apple trees organic? Thank you, Beth Dear Beth, The orange spots on your apple trees are a type of rust. Apples are susceptible...

Ask Ruth: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

by Ruth Gonzalez | May 27, 2013 | Organic Home Growing

Dear Ruth Stink bugs… Yikes they eat everything in sight. Besides picking them off daily what can I do? I have never seen so many!! Dianne Markham—growing organically for 32 years Dear Dianne, There are almost 300 kinds of stinkbugs in the USA, and some...

Ask Ruth: Smelly Bagged Compost & Home Composting Tips

by Ruth Gonzalez | Apr 29, 2013 | Organic Home Growing, Organic Living

Dear Ruth, Hi. I bought some Black Hen compost. The smell is pretty awful. I put it with some other compost on my garden that has spinach and other greens coming up. Why would the hen compost smell so bad? Does this indicate it is not thoroughly composted? Does...

Ask Ruth: Explaining Bt, Organic or GMO

by Ruth Gonzalez | Mar 26, 2013 | Organic Home Growing

Dear Ruth, I planted some cabbage and kale in my garden, and I am already seeing holes in the leaves. My friend suggested using Bt on the plants to prevent damage. I always hear about genetically-modified Bt corn in the news. Since Bt corn is GMO corn, doesn’t that...

Ask Ruth: Gardening with Kids

by Ruth Gonzalez | Feb 25, 2013 | Organic Home Growing

Dear Ruth, I hate housework, but I love gardening and working in my yard. I want to instill a love of gardening in my children. Do you have any suggestions that might get kids excited about gardening? Ella K., Asheville, NC Dear Ella, Love your thinking! This...

Ask Ruth: Starting Your Own Transplants from Seed

by Ruth Gonzalez | Jan 27, 2013 | Organic Home Growing

Dear Ruth, I want to start some of my own transplants this year. Do you have any seed starting tips? Thanks, Ella in Marshall, NC . . Dear Ella, This time of year invites dreaming about the magic of seeds sprouting out of the soil. Did you know that the smell of earth...