Recent scientific research confirms that gardening may be linked to higher rates of vegetable eating in older populations of adults. According to a recent report from Texas A&M University and Texas State University, older populations of adults who garden are more likely to eat vegetables than their non-gardening counterparts.

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This study, published in Hort Technology, surveyed adults over the age of 50. Over 250 questionnaires were completed by adults aged 50 years and older, over the course of one month. The online survey was created as an effort to encourage gardening among older adults, and was part of a program involving what the researchers called “gardening intervention.”

These gardening intervention programs were created as an outreach effort based on other research studies that showed the clear link between poor nutrition as a key cause for early mortality and morbidity in the elderly. In fact, poor nutrition has been shown to contribute to death rates just as much as cigarette smoking. And even though older populations report eating more fruit and vegetables than other age groups studied, the research shows that more than half of the U.S. elderly population does not get even the five fruit-and-veggie daily governmental recommendation. I would even go as far to recommend getting even more than five servings of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis.

Continue reading: “Gardening at Home Linked to Increased Veggie Consumption”

Anybody that has a composting bin or compost pile at their house knows that old apple cores, banana peels and potato skins can be composted. But many people who compost at home are unaware of the sheer vastness of every day waste that can easily be thrown in their compost bin.

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For example, did you know that you can compost an old tea bag? Old spices? Pencil shavings? How about sticky notes? Yes, each of those items can be composted!

In fact, there are many items that you can compost, and the following list will get you started with the first ninety-nine. And the best news? If everyone began to compost at home on a regular basis, the world’s landfills would be drastically reduced.

If you are composting for an organic garden use organic starting materials. Some of the items below I would not recommend for organic gardens. For clarity, I will specify those items below.

The Basics:

1. All organic vegetable and fruit matter including rinds, skins, shells, seeds, cores and peels
2. Old leaves & hay
3. Used coffee grounds
4. Paper coffee filters
5. Grass clippings
6. Egg shells

Continue reading: “99 Things You Probably Didn’t Know You Can Compost”

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There is no denying that there is a clear win-win situation that comes from regularly composting the planet’s organic waste. While it may take a little effort to set up your own at-home composting system, the results will be worth it. Composting is an important way that we can give back to the local community and our natural world.

Below I offer some of the many reasons why I think composting is a great technique for the healing of the planet.

1. Reduces Landfill Waste

A recent estimate from the Environmental Protection Agency predicted that up to one-fourth of all landfill waste could have been thrown into the compost. It’s amazing to think that a quarter of our waste could be turned into nutrient-rich soil. And that leads us to the next reason why we should compost.

2. Adds to the creation of new, nutrient rich soil

Composting organic waste creates an excellent, full-spectrum, nutrient-rich addition that enhances the overall soil quality of our organic gardens and farms. Adding compost to gardening soil can actually boost the production of both edible and ornamental plants.

Continue reading: “10 Reasons to Start Composting”

I wanted to post a few pictures of our new pyramid greenhouse we are currently building at Earth Harmony Organics Ranch. When completed, our greenhouse will be 18×18 feet at the bottom and approximately 26 feet high.

Through 30 years of experimentation with different shapes and angles, the Victory Garden Greenhouse was conceived by Tom Doutt Enterprise,LLC. This Greenhouse generates an energy field that allow plants to have a harmonic balance, that encourages exceptionally fast growth and abundance. We wanted to have a space to grow our own organic vegetables, without having to worry about the deer or Texas heat, and the Victory Garden Greenhouse was the perfect solution!

To enhance the energy and growth rate, the apex includes a quartz crystal sphere, 9 Concentric Rings and the Universal Generator. The 3-Point Zero Universal Generator emits an added energy level that is beneficial to and enhances plant growth. The Universal Generator is suspended within the 9 Concentric Rings at the top of the pyramid.

Photos of Our Pyramid Greenhouse:

Continue reading: “Photos of Our Pyramid Greenhouse at Earth Harmony Organics Ranch”

You only need to walk past a coffee shop in any American city to see that our country loves java. And with so much coffee being consumed on a daily basis, its exciting to learn that there is a productive use for all those grinds being tossed in the trash.

Simply save your coffee grounds, and add them to the soil in your garden. But before using coffee grounds as a fertilizer, I do highly recommend using organic coffee especially if you will be consuming the fruits or vegetables you fertilize.

In case you didn’t know, approximately 60% of the worlds coffee beans are sprayed with potentially harmful pesticides.

Coffee Grounds as a Mulching Agent

Coffee’s breakdown materials can be used as a mulching agent, as well as a fertilizing agent, for gardens. Aesthetically, coffee grounds can be used to make elegant black borders in flower gardens. The rich blackness offers a beautiful contrast to colored flowers and green herbs. For best results, don’t use the grounds alone, but mix with other forms of organic mulch.

When used alone, the coffee tends to create a rich sludge that prevents the necessary air and water to enter. Furthermore, composting with coffee also reduces unnecessary landfill waste.

Continue reading: “Are Coffee Grounds Good For Plants?”