New Product: Liquid Fence Tank Pump Sprayer 5 Liter

Why risk mixing any chemicals with your natural repellents, and fertilizers. Our sturdy and durable Liquid Fence 5-Liter Tank Sprayer, made from recycled milk bottles, allows you to use one sprayer for natural and organic products. Keep your other sprayers for non organic use. Your plants will thank you.

Capacity: 5lt


Features:
Made from recycled milk bottles!
Safety/pressure release valve
Locking on /off trigger
Easy to Pump, Easy to use
Sturdy enough for all of your spraying needs
Adjustable brass spray
1.5 meter heavy duty hose

Liquid Fence 5-Liter Tank Sprayer

New Product: Cow Manure Tea 3Pk

Haven's Natural Brew Cow Manure Tea conditions soil so your plant's root systems will better absorb rich nutrients needed to build a strong root base. Place Haven's Natural Brew Cow Manure Tea in a 1 to 5 gallon container of water and let steep for 1-3 days. Treat plants at least 4 times during the growing season. Your house plants, container plants, vegetable gardens, shrubs and lawns will thrive when you condition the soil with Haven's Natural Brew Cow Manure Tea

Raising Chickens…Backyard Fun

Chickens, that’s right, chickens are becoming America’s newest pet. People all over are raising chickens of all sizes and varieties right in their backyards. As the Green movement surges forward, consumers have been looking for ways to increase their sustainability level in their daily lives. Chickens are great for a number of reasons.
Chickens eat bugs! Lots and lots of bugs! Never again worry about fleas, ticks or mosquitoes! Chickens are also great for eggs, organic of course. They are inexpensive to purchase, baby chicks average $3.00 -5.00 a piece. And the chicken poo! What a great fertilizer for the lawn and gardens! Chicken manure is some of the best fertilizer, organic gardeners love it.
There are literally hundreds of varieties of chickens you can purchase. The Bantams are a smaller version of their original counterpart. Great if you have a smaller yard. To keep them from flying (yes chickens fly) just clip the end feathers of their wings, they won’t be able to take off. Chickens do need a Coop, and nesting boxes for laying eggs. You can buy chicken coops inexpensively or make a homemade one. They need shelter from the elements and a soft place to lay their eggs. Otherwise you will find them all over the yard, hidden under bushes, etc.
We let our chickens have the run of the yard. Free Range they call them. Chickens are much happier when they can run. And no bugs! We decided to get some chicks after several visits to my brother’s house. He lives on the water of a creek. His house has fabulous views, but at first it also had tons and tons of mosquitoes. His neighbor got 4 chickens and a pair of ducks. Since then, he has not had to spray chemicals to get rid of the bugs, put flea and tick chemicals on his 175 lb. Mastiff or spray himself. The chickens and the dog even coexist peacefully! The chickens have free run of the 2 neighboring properties, as they have no fences.
So now we have our own feathered friends. We have 5 kids, a dog and we live in the North East, so we chose a variety of Bantam that is friendly and can withstand the cold. Chickens are fun to have, the eggs are great and the benefit of all natural bug control is the best! Our neighbors don’t mind at all, because we have no Rooster. The chickens are generally quiet, unless they are alarmed by something. Much quieter in fact than my German Sheppard.
Keeping chickens is a great way to live Green and reduce our carbon footprint. Try it!

Save Water and Grow Healthy Plants

Plant Nanny products were developed to make plants healthier; most plants thrive when their roots are consistently moist. Watering globes support hardier root growth by slowly releasing water through a special Ceramic stake as the soil begins to dry. They are revolutionary due to the fact that the Ceramic stake stays in the soil. No clogging! And it releases water throughout the entire stake, not just one tiny area.

Plant Nanny Stakes come in several varieties, to match anyone’s taste.

Hand-blown glass watering globes are a simple solution to keeping your plants healthy. Most plants thrive with consistent watering. Since the stake remains in the soil the plant roots will actually grow around the stake and use water more efficiently. The water level is visible through the globe even at a distance, so you'll know exactly when to add water. There are the Clear Glass Globe, The Swirl (in 3 decorative colors) and the Globe with Finial (a gorgeous addition to any planter, in 2 colors). Just remove the Globe, leaving the stake in the soil, and refill with water, you can even add fertilizer if you choose! They are so easy to use!

For the wine lover and anyone who likes to be GREEN, recycled wine bottles & Wine Bottle Plant Nanny Stakes work together to water your plants. Made from a specially-engineered ceramic, our 7.5 inch Plant Nanny® Stakes are designed so that a wine bottle rests securely inside, providing a ready supply of water. Designed to water a larger container plant, these can be used indoors or on a deck or porch. Any long neck glass bottle will work, so you don't have to love wine to love this product. They work well outside, to keep your summer planters from drying out. And the size of the wine bottle means you wont have to refill everyday and the water won’t reach boiling temperatures in the sun.

The Add-a-bottle Nanny and the Vacation Nanny are great for any planter as well. They have the same great stake, only you use your recycled water or soda bottles instead. They are a great way to make use of water bottles and easily care for your plants. Decorate your bottles for a one of a kind look.

The Plant Nanny’s are also great in the ground! Use them to water newly transplanted shrubs or perennials! This will help to reduce transplant shock.

All in all the Plant Nanny has revolutionized the Watering Globe. By utilizing a stake that stays in the soil, they eliminate clogging of the globe and disruption of the plants roots. Your plants will grow healthier for it!

Check out this link for all the Plant Nanny products:

Plant Nanny Watering Stakes

Most Popular Green Products

As an online retailer of green products for home and garden, we at Green Nation Gardens pay close attention to what our customers want. "It's very gratifying to see that more people within main stream society are becoming interested in products that have some sort of positive affect on our environment", says Mark Pappas, Co-Owner of Green Nation Gardens. Listed, are just a few of the most popular products becoming widely accepted within the realm of "Green Living". Do you have a favorite "Green Product"? List it here

Wine Bottle Plant Nanny Set - Cone shaped stakes made from terracotta. Finally put those used wine bottles to work.

Odor Free Kitchen Caddy - Made from 100% recycled plastic. Collecting kitchen scraps is a must for organic gardening.

All Natural Coco Fiber - Coir Fiber made from coconut husk has numerous uses including potting medium.

My Two Favorite Fertilizers

Two of my favorite organic (that's all I use) fertilizers are TerraCycle All Purpose with Worm Poop and Merrill's Compost Tea.

I love them because they are 100% Natural Organic Products. These companies each make a product that is organic and beneficial from waste.

Milorganite has been around for over 80 years and is a by-product of Milwaukee's water treatment system. It is safe to use in any climate at any time of the growing season...even drought.

Milorganite contains no salts (that can burn turf) so it doesn't even need to be watered in to work. It relies on natural microbes in the soil to break down the nutrients.

Milorganite not only contains Nitrogen and Phosphorous, it also contains calcium, which is essential for nutrient uptake and Iron that makes everything a nice dark green. I use Milorganite on my lawn, trees, shrubs and perennials.

Merrill's Compost Tea is one of the most fantastic products I've ever used. They look like tea bags (don't drink them by mistake!). Keep an old gallon jug handy. Fill it up with tepid water and drop in one tea bag. Let it steep for an hour or so and then water your plants. I like to let my "tea" steep overnight. This is the best fertilizer for houseplants, annuals, roses and perennials. You can water as you normally would or foliar feed with a spray bottle. The first time I used this was in the middle of winter on my houseplants. The results were amazing! If they could have my plants would have jumped up and done a jig!

Both companies are committed to using natural resources and sustainable agriculture. These are truly earth friendly products. They are easy to use and inexpensive. The results will astound you!

Coconut Fiber...its sustainable and beneficial!

Coconut Fiber or Coir has many uses. It is totally sustainable and biodegradable. Coconut fiber can be used as a soil additive, in composters and worm farms.

Soil Additive - As a soil additive, Coir is generally used as a substitute for peat moss. It has better water absorption and has naturally occuring Trichoderma, a beneficial fungus that works simbiotically with plant roots to protect them from damaging pathogenic fungi. Coconut fiber also holds approximately 1000 times more air than soil.

Composters - Used as an additive in Composters it replaces other types of brown matter such as leaves, sawdust and wood pellets. It is sustainable, affordable and readily available. Coconut Fiber is also great to use in Compost Pails in the kitchen. It absorbs excess fluid, controls odor and slows down decompostition of food scraps before they go into the compost.

Worm Farms - In worm farms it is essential to have non-toxic, fluffy bedding that holds moisture well and allows air to circulate.

Coco Fiber is available in pucks or bricks. Put the puck or brick in a bucket, add water and voila! In about 30 minutes you have a light, fluffy beneficial additive with a number of uses.

Turf Diseases: Causes and Prevention

Turf Disease is a common problem that occurs in spring and summer and plagues lawn enthusiasts each season. Most people will run out to the local garden center and buy a bag (or two) of expensive fungicide to apply to the disease once it has started to take over. There is a better way.

There are a number of issues that contribute to the infestation of disease. By eliminating these problems, you can reduce the chance of the turf being attacked by disease greatly.

Water - watering deeply and less frequently, the roots of the grass will grow deep into the soil keeping drainage at its optimum. Watering often and for short periods of time keeps the roots at the surface creating a barrier that does not allow the water to drain properly. The root system also dries out fast as the top surface of the soil heats up from the sun quickly. When you water also matters greatly. The best time to water is in the early morning hours. This will allow the turf to absorb the water it can, and the water that is left on the surface will be evaporated by the sun. Watering in the late afternoon or evening is a big cause of disease. The lawn will absorb what it can, and what is left, stays in the thatch and on the blades of grass until the morning. This is like inviting disease over for dinner.

Aerate - Aerating the lawn brings necessary oxygen to the roots of the plants. It also reduces compaction of the soil allowing the roots to grow more easily and healthier. A gas powered lawn aerator, aerating shoes, and/or reducing foot traffic will help to reduce soil compaction.

Thatch- Thatch is a layer of dead matter that forms between the turf and the soil. This is where many diseases originate. Water cannot easily pass through thatch, therefore creating a wet layer at the base of the grass. Use of a Thatching machine or thatching rake will reduce the amount of thatch in the lawn. It will also help the turf to grow thicker and healthier. If you have heavy thatch and thin turf, once you thatch the lawn (Use a gas powered thatching machine, it will save you hours and hours of backbreaking work) be prepared to overseed the lawn. The best time to thatch and seed the lawn is in the fall.

Fertilizer - Fertilizing with high levels of nitrogen and using fertilizers that are not balanced, (ex: 32-4-8 or 25-3-5) can encourage lawn fungus. Use a fertilizer that has a slow release nitrogen in it, or better yet use a balanced organic fertilizer. Chemical based fertilizers generally have a high nitrogen content for that quick green effect. Although Nitrogen can be helpful to certain diseases is can make others grow and spread. Use of an organic fertilizer will give you the same dark green effect by using a balance of many nutrients. You will also fertilize less often with organic products, as they have a slower release.

Fungicides - Fungicides work best as a preventative. By applying a fungicide at a preventative rate (usually half) you can stop a problem in its early stages. When you have full blown disease in the turf many things occur. Disease is rampant, the turf is thin and stressed and now the fungicide must be applied at a curative rate (heavy rate) to stop the disease. Fungicides can actually hasten the return of new healthy grass.

Shade - Shady lawns have a tendency to stay wet for longer periods of time. Most turf grasses also require full sun. This is why it is so hard to get a nice thick turf in the shade. Thinning of large trees and shrubs will allow more light to the turf, helping to reduce disease.

By taking these preventative measures, the lawn will be healthier naturally. By implementing natural care practices we can reduce the amount of chemicals being applied to our lawns, reduce the leaching of these chemicals into our waterways and keep our hard earned money where it belongs, in the bank.

Vera Pappas is author of several articles on organic gardening and environmental issues and is owner of
Green Nation Gardens, suppliers of unique and eco-friendly garden supplies. Visit www.GreenNationGardens.com today.

Planting

Well, yesterday was a great day for planting. I spent about 6 hours on my knees planting Hot Pink and White Vinca. What a striking contrast and I know that the hours of my hard labor will turn heads for the rest of the summer. But my knees are paying the price. They are sore! I guess there is something to be said about knee pads or kneeling cushions. And all this was done the old fashioned way, with a shovel. So much fun! It was a good day.

Glorious Weekend

This year spring has been slow in arriving..at least here in the North East. Is been chilly and rainy for about a month now. Finally the sign of spring I've been waiting for! A warm, 75 degree, sunshine filled weekend!

Even the sesonal allergies that have me and everyone else in New Jersey sneezing and popping antihistamines can't bring me down.

I've had piles of organic leaf compost and shredded mulch in my driveway since mid-March...today is the day! I can get started on my vegetable garden, clean out my flower beds and make everything look fresh and new again, a much awaited, longed for task.

Other People's stuff

Re-using, re-purposing and recycling other people's stuff...it's an amazing feeling. We are always on Craig's List looking for articles we may be able to use and keep out of a landfill. Most recently, we got a free pool! More than having a great pool for our kids to swim in this summer, we kept a huge amount of materials from being thrown into a landfill. We are reusing a huge amount of previously manufactured materials.

Sure, we could have gone out and bought a new above ground pool and built a large wood deck, using all new virgin materials, but at what cost? Manufacturing, transporting and storing all of these materials is a huge contributing factor to the degradation of the environment.

There are literally thousands and thousands of items that still have lots of usefulness left in them, that end up in the garbage, because they are unwanted by their current owner. The old addage, "One man's trash is another man's treasure" has never been so true and important.

I am very grateful to the family that thought enough of the environment to see their unwanted, but still very useable pool and deck, go to a family who would recycle it and enjoy it for years to come.

Just about anything can be re-used, re-purposed or recycled from one person to another. Cars, clothes, toys, furniture, decorations, plants, the list can go on and on. We believe it is important for our future to reuse and recycle whenever possible, it's a gratifying feeling to make something new again. Try it!

QUICK FACTS ON PLASTIC POLLUTION

A plastic milk jug takes 1 million years to decompose.

A plastic cup can take 50 – 80 years to decompose.

Recycled plastic can be used to make things like trash cans, park benches, playground equipment, decks and kayaks.

A plastic soda bottle begins to decompose in 700 years.

Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.

Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean kill as many as 1 million sea creatures every year.

Recycling plastic saves twice as much energy as burning it in an incinerator.

If plastic bottles are thrown into incinerators they release toxic gases.

Today, Americans generate 10.5 million tons of plastic waste a year, but recycle only 1 or 2 % of it.

An estimated 14 billion pounds of trash, much of it plastic, is dumped into the world's oceans every year.

The worldwide fishing industry dumps an estimated 150,000 tons of plastic into the ocean each year, including packaging, plastic nets, lines and buoys.

About 1,200 plastic soft drink and salad dressing bottles could carpet the average living room.

It takes 1,050 milk jugs make a six foot plastic lumber park bench.

Every year we make enough plastic film to shrink wrap the state of Texas.

NEARLY EVERY PIECE OF PLASTIC EVER MADE STILL EXISTS TODAY!

Made in "Green" China

Today, more than ever, our products are manufactured in China. It's cheap. Even companies that are pushing "GREEN" products are having them manufactured in China. That seems like a giant oxymoron to me.

China is a polluted country because of all the manufacturing. Everyday more pollution is produced in China than anywhere else in the world. Waterways are polluted, in some cities residents have to wear masks just to leave the house. People are getting cancer at alarming rates. How can anything made there be green?

Companies that manufacture "GREEN" products also want to save a buck. They use recycled or recyclable materials in items such as composters, pots and planters, wall paper, etc. and have them made in China. But are they being manufactured in an environmentally friendly way? Some products say, "maufactured under our strictest guidelines". What is that supposed to mean? A broad statement that is supposed to make us feel good about the product we are buying, but doesn't really mean crap.

Products that are made from recycled or recyclable materials are a good thing and automatically will reduce our footprint when we purchase them and not items made from virgin materials. I wouldn't mind buying eco-friendly products made in China, if I knew they were really being manufactured in a responsible way. Chinese manufacturing plants do not have the best track records for being safe and environmentally responsible.

We as a whole, (Americans and Chinese) are suffering the effects of poor manufacturing safety standards and guidelines in China. The chinese are suffering ill health and disease, poor working conditions and low pay. We Americans are suffering from a poor economy, lack of jobs, lead poisoning in our children and the list goes on and on.

We need to choose our products wisely, think about what they are made of, where they were made, how they were made and... do we really need them? We are a society of "Must Haves". We Americans have lots of stuff. Lots. Lots of stuff goes to waste, in our basements, garages, and landfills.

We as a people have the power to change how things are made. Buy responsibly. If we don't buy products made irresponibly from virgin materials made in China, there will be no need to make them anymore. If we start buying responsibly made products made in America (and other countries), the manufacturers will be forced to make changes.

CHANGE IS GOOD! I do believe Ghandi said it best,

"YOU MUST BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE"

WE CAN DO IT!