HOW TO GROW LUSHER FLOWERS, FRUITS & VEGGIES

Since food harvested from nutrient-rich soil is more nutritious, composting is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself as well as the environment. For standard composting, nitrogen and carbon are key (approximately one part to 30 parts, respectively). The latter comes from “brown” substances like hay, dead leaves and wood chips and the former comes from “green” substances like fruit and vegetable peels, plant stems and leaves and untreated grass clippings.

composting is one of the healthiest things you can do

for yourself and the environment

A generous amount of both may yield just a modest amount of compost and be sure to keep the piles thoroughly moist, away from buildings and mix them regularly. Also, while you should avoid adding anything treated with pesticides or herbicides, you might consider adding some peat humus, coffee grounds and/or herbs, such as stinging nettles, chamomile, dandelion and even oak bark. (Herbal additions are also a part of biodynamic farming and some of these practices may be of further benefit.)

You might also consider sprouting some certified organic sprouting seeds. They can be very nutritious, are often ready to harvest within a week or less and simply require three (or more) thorough, daily rinses and shakes (to remove all of the water). Sprout the seeds in glass sprouting jars with strainer lids following a 15-minute soak in a cup of hot water mixed with two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, subsequent overnight soak (in fresh, filtered water) and another thorough rinse. Between rinses, angle the bottles mostly diagonally to allow the water to fully drain. Once the seeds have begun to sprout, place them in a sunny window to green and then quickly move them to the refrigerator.