]]> http://blog.groorganic.com/2012/05/23/gardeners-come-from-all-walks-of-life-from-the-gro-o-collection-of-odds-and-ends/feed/ 0 http://blog.groorganic.com/2012/05/23/gardeners-come-from-all-walks-of-life-from-the-gro-o-collection-of-odds-and-ends/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/groBLOG/~3/Z8uSH2dHuyI/ http://blog.groorganic.com/2012/05/22/re-envisioning-furniture-discarded-items-and-gardening-tools-in-the-garden-gro-o-asks-whats-the-most-unusual-thing-youve-used/#comments Wed, 23 May 2012 03:10:55 +0000 Lydia Pulido http://blog.groorganic.com/?p=4426 Continue reading →]]> While tooling (sorry) about town, we often see curbside castoffs and the thought of repurposing them in the garden takes hold.  More often than not, the items are pieces of furniture, especially couches.  We came across this sofa piece transforming a vacant lot into a thinking spot.

We commend those who have the vision to think out of the box.  However, personally, all I can think of is: how many bedbugs are in that couch?

Repurposing and recycling items isn’t new.  There are countless websites, blog posts and magazines about this topic–Flea Market Garden magazine, for example.  So, what can you repurpose as functional pieces in your garden?

A steel rake head organizes tools (from Better Homes and Gardens – diyideas.com)

an old wheelbarrow becomes a container garden 

old bed springs are turned into trellises

image: Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

Potted Store (Atwater Village) -- contest winner: Jay Burns

Etsy store: havenvintage

Old tea kettles, shoes, chairs, dresser drawers, bird cages, suitcases, cans, bathtubs, barbecue grills, mail boxes

even cars!

Community Vehicular Reclamation Project--Kensington Market--Ontario Canada

– the possibilities are endless.  Everything old is new again!

birth moms

expectant moms

surrogate moms

adoptive moms

step moms

grandmoms

foster moms

and

a special remembrance for
moms in heaven

The rose speaks of love silently,
in a language known only to the heart.

Better Homes and Gardens is a co-sponsor of this event.  Just sign-up on their website for a voucher good for 2 free admissions to a participating public garden — for example: Callaway Gardens in Georgia, Denver Botanic Gardens in Colorado, The Botanic Gardens at Kona Kai Resort in Florida, just to name a few.  (Check the entire list for the garden in your neck of the woods.)

Some of these public gardens also feature edible gardens.  Get your nature fix and some ideas for your own garden.

[from a 3-1/2 year old] You take care of our garden?  Are you a garden nanny?
Are you guys coming again?  This is so much fun.  Can we plant some more?
How do I harvest the lettuce?
How do you spell zucchini?

Simone a bit skeptical about this wiggler.

Curious kids can hone their skills of observation while gardening.  Let them use kid-sized trowels to dig for worms. See how they react to butterflies, pillbugs or snails.

Growing a garden is good for physical and mental activity. Children caring for plants will also gain an appreciation of nature, the environment, the lifecycle of plants–how they change throughout the season.  And they’ll learn just what it takes to grow the food we eat.

Also, scientists have found that spending time with nature helps control ADD and ADHD, while increasing concentration.  This whole process teaches patience in a world full of immediate gratification.

Lots of kids are quite sophisticated and techno-savvy.  OK, maybe they can use a smart phone better than some adults.   But investing in raising book smart, street smart and garden smart kids, is just plain smart.

Whether it’s a home garden, community garden or a school garden
(gro-O offers hands-on programs and curriculum),
lessons learned from the vegetable garden make a lot of difference.

How about growing some nature-loving,
vegetable-appreciating,
digging in the dirt
champions of the earth!

For more information about the groO School Gardening Programs, please email us at info@groO.com or call 855-LetsGro (855-538-7476)

“I would love to be able to grow organic vegetables and strawberries right in my back yard.  I rent my home and cannot have the yard dug up. You have a great product that allows anyone to create a garden no matter where they live.”

Wonder what veggies and herbs Melissa will plant?  Perhaps some of these below?  We’ll be checking back with her to see how her garden gro‘s.

Stay tuned for future contests and giveaways.

Super heroes Iron Man, Hawkeye, The Hulk, Thor, Captain America and Black Widow are all very impressive in their attempts to fight crime and evil.   We can boost our own powers by eating these super foods that fight disease and bad eating habits.

Alliums is the botanical family that includes leeks, onions, and garlic. They can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and also have antibiotic properties. Research suggests they inhibit the growth of prostate, stomach, and colon cancer cells.

Beans are loaded with insoluble fiber, which helps lower cholesterol, as well as soluble fiber, which fills you up (helping in weight management) and helps rid your body of waste. Beans are a low-fat source of carbohydrates.  They are also high in antioxidants, protein, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and zinc. Eating beans regularly may decrease the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and colorectal cancer.

Beets are high in fiber and beta-carotene and are a good source of folate, which guards against birth defects, colon cancer, and osteoporosis.  Beets contain the pigment betacyanin, which gives them their vibrant color.  This is just one of several disease-fighting phytonutrients found in beets.

Berries (fresh or frozen) contain anthocyanins which attack cancer-causing free radicals and can even block the growth of tumor cells.  Studies have shown blueberries help ward off urinary tract infections, reverse age-related memory loss, help soften dry skin and boost your brain.  Strawberries help fight bad cholesterol, are an excellent source of the anti-oxidant Vitamin C which boosts immunity, and helps to improve skin’s elasticity and resilience.

Cruciferous vegetables—cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli rabe—contain super heroic disease fighters. One in particular, sulforaphane, may increase enzymes that lower the incidence of colon and lung cancers.  Broccoli  is a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and bone-building vitamin K.   It also has plenty of fiber to fill you up and help control your weight.  Broccoli also lowers the incidence of cataracts and fights birth defects

curly kale

Dark, Leafy Greens such as spinach (decreases the chance of cardiovascular disease and age-related macular degeneration), kale, and swiss chard are an excellent source of iron (especially important for women).  They are also a good source of vitamin A, lutein for eye health, and Omega-3s (found also in seaweed, which is why they are concentrated in fish).

oregano

Oregano is super rich in antioxidants. Oregano also is able to act as an expectorant, clearing congestion, and can also improve digestion.

Tomatoes contain lycopene, the antioxidant phytochemical that helps prevent heart disease and cancer (particularly prostate cancer).  They are also a good source of vitamins A, C, and E raises the skin’s sun protection factor.

Super charge your diet …

Super foods to the rescue!

broccoli flowers

The allure of flowers is nearly irresistible and could lead one to pluck the blossoms for a little bouquet.  In fact, a pre-school student at one of the school gardens we planted, picked a pumpkin flower to give to her teacher.   Oops!  A sweet gesture, though much to her teacher’s surprise and dismay.  However, it did lead to a teachable moment on the importance of pumpkin flowers.

As pretty as flowers are, don’t pick them from these plants if you want fruits and veggies.  Tomatoes and tomatillos, eggplant, melons (cantaloupes, honeydews, et al), peas, strawberries, beans, cucumbers, squashes (zucchini, pumpkins, etc).

When cool weather veggies (and some herbs)  start to flower (aka bolt), it’s time to say farewell.  It’s a signal from the plants that their mission is accomplished and it’s time for the production of seeds — to reproduce (reminder, Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13)

The pretty white blossoms of the cilantro plant produce seeds known as coriander.

Other pretty flowers in the garden –

borage

arugula

nasturtiums

It’s a great time to be gardening with your family.  And a raised planter garden is a great Mother’s Day gift.  Visit our online store and place an order. 
Or call us at 1-855-Letsgro 
(1-855-538-7476)