Since we are on the topic of fish, I thought it time I blog about fertilizing with fish emulsion and/or fish meal. As gardeners, we know that soil fertility is key to promoting vigorous plant growth and development. When it’s time to replenish nutrients to my garden soil, I grab my purse and head to my favorite garden center (always looking for an excuse to pop in and see what’s new). This is after, I have applied my compost and still have a nutrient deficiency. Garden centers have a huge selection of either inorganic or organic fertilizers. Fish emulsion and fish meal are often sold as organic fertilizers.  Most of my garden friends, myself included, fertilize with a combination of both, organic and inorganic. When following label directions and applying correctly, both inorganic and organic fertilizers are safe for plants and the environment.

I want to address a misconception that organic fertilizers are safer than inorganic fertilizers. Misuse of any fertilizer, organic or inorganic, can contribute to pollution, nutrient deficiency, and plant burn. So choosing organic fertilizer does not mean that this is the safest, most environmentally friendly option. The safest option is to know your soils fertility (soil test) and to add the proper product, at the proper rate, and at the proper time.

Fish emulsion and fish meal contain the nitrogen, phosphorus and a few micronutrients needed by plants. Fish emulsion is made from the fluid remains of processed fish (sadly, our little beta fish has some fluid remaining). Fish meal is made from whole fish, fish bones, and fish innards. It’s a powdery material that remains after the fish oil and water have been pressed and ground out of the fish.

Using fish as fertilizers was practiced by the Native American Indians. As the Pilgrims settled here, the Native American Indians taught the Pilgrims how to increase their crop yields by incorporating fish in the soil. Take a lesson from the Native American Indians, next time you have a fish floating in the tank, consider it a source of plant nutrients and not gross!

The phrases “Go big or go home” and “Bigger is better” are not always true.  In fact, cell phones, student loan debt, and my terrarium would disagree.  In my case, I missed having a garden since I moved to Washington, D.C. six months ago.   As the proud new owner of a balcony for a “backyard” and a hallway for a “front yard,” I began to miss gardening on day two of being in my new home.  Sure, I made jokes about not having to weed anymore, but the truth is that I missed nurturing something and the responsibility of good stewardship.  I knew I needed a garden outlet when I kneeled down at the metro bus stop to pick dead blooms (deadheading) of the spindly chrysanthemum bush- my boyfriend asked me to please stop and standup — “How about I buy you a plant for your office?” he offered.

That night on the phone, after assuring my mother that I still had my pepper spray in my purse, I began telling my mom about how the city owes me landscaping fees because of my pruning at the metro bus stop.  As an avid gardener herself, she instantly understood my problem.  Coming from the lady who has turned wood pallets into artistic planters, my mom urged me to try more than a house plant – a terrarium.

A small little garden was just the thing to add interest to my office, but it would be a classy complement to any living room, bathroom or library as well.  The University of Missouri Extension Services suggests that before purchasing plants, “Decide on a theme for the terrarium: woodland, tropical or desert. When making this decision, consider the temperature and light where the terrarium is to be located. Select plants that suit the location.”  After a little research, I headed to a local supermarket with a small garden center.  This project was very inexpensive – about $25 total.  The glass jar, found in the kitchen storage department, was $12.99.  Moreover, the gorgeous curves of an apothecary glass are lovely, if you are willing to spend a little extra money.  Setting up your little world is simple; you will need a small amount of potting soil, a handful of charcoal and pebbles, a few small plants and some rocks or other items for points of interest.  If your container has no lid, that’s fine, the open air will cause it to dry out more frequently, and it will need to be watered more often.  If the container has a lid, choose plants that prefer humidity, because of the micro-climate you are creating.  After washing out your container, put a layer of charcoal and pebbles to help with drainage and keeping toxins under control.  Next, you are ready to add plants and fill in with soil.  Any plant you choose should prefer indirect light and, obviously, be an appropriate size for your container.  Potting soil for indoor plants contain enough nutrients to get the plants growing and will not need additional fertilizer for six months to a year after planting.  Leafy tropical plants are ideal for most terrariums, but they take up plenty of nitrogen, which will need to be replaced.

Prior to the meeting starting, my husband and I visited the Dole Pineapple Plantation. In full disclosure, I am a huge pineapple fan!  In fact, I even own one of those special pineapple cutters from Pampered Chef, because I buy whole pineapples weekly at the grocery store.  I was curious to see how pineapples grow, so while others were on Waikiki Beach, I was touring the pineapple fields, and I had a blast!

As it turns out, pineapples are grown similarly to others fruits and vegetables: on raised plastic beds with drip tape for irrigation and nutrients.  The farm gives small train tours to visitors out to the field and does a nice job explaining its growing practices.  In addition to their roots, they take nutrients through their leaves.  They require liquid nitrogen and iron, often sprayed directly onto their leaves.

Armed with this information, I contemplated could I possibly add pineapples to the crops I grow on my Virginia farm…and the answer it turns out is absolutely not! Oh well, it was nice to dream about the possibility of fresh and juicy pineapples available at moment’s notice.

Beyond pineapples, Hawaii has some beautiful and unique flora, and yes, they have some wonderful beaches too! Now to tackle that plane ride home…

Bronson High School FFA was the repeat winner in Florida.

“I believe in the future of agriculture…” begins the creed of the National FFA Organization. Memorizing the FFA creed was one of the very first things I completed as a freshman in agriculture science class. Twenty-some-odd years later (you didn’t think I would give away my age, did you?), I still believe in the future of agricultural and the National FFA Organization. Today, there are 540,379 FFA members, in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

I am where I am today, because of my education and experience as a high school FFA member. It provided me a first rate agriculture education, and access to careers in the field. High school agricultural education students “learn by doing” and are exposed to an innovative, ever-changing industry.

At Nutrients for Life, we know the value of a sound education. We also believe in the future of agriculture and are investing our resources in the youths who will be leading our industry.

FFA chapters in California, Florida, Idaho and Iowa competed in the Nutrients for Life Foundation’s Helping Communities Grow program during the 2010-2011 school year. Students in participating FFA chapters developed and executed community-based education programs based upon the Nutrients for Life Foundation curriculum, Nourishing the Planet in the 21st Century. The program encouraged FFA students to help the public become better informed about plant nutrients and related agricultural issues. During the project, students gained skills in leadership, public speaking, team building and community awareness while increasing knowledge of soil science and agricultural issues. During the present school year (2011-2012), Ohio and Washington FFA chapters are eligible to participate in the program.

“Hands-on activities help students dig deeper into each lesson,” Nutrients for Life Foundation Executive Director Harriet Wegmeyer said. “The FFA chapters who earned these awards learned about the importance of fertilizers in the cycle of life and they inspired others around them to learn as well.”

In each state, FFA chapter Helping Communities Grow projects, are judged and awarded in the following manner:

Grand Prize           $5000

Second Place        $3000

Third Place            $1000

Participation           $500 for every chapter with a completed project

I am proud to share with you what the FFA chapters completed last year through this program. You will read how they are preparing for a future in agriculture!

California

Buena Park High School’s FFA Chapter won first place with a powerful project that brought the fundamentals of gardening to an urban low-income community. Middle school students learned about places and ways to grow food and increase production with nutrients and fertilizer.

Le Grand FFA members centered their education efforts on a community garden. Chapter members worked with the local garden club and the Master Gardeners on planting and garden design.  Le Grand locals will enjoy the fruits of the FFA’s labor in this beautiful garden for years to come.

El Capitan FFA in Lakeside, Calif., won third place with its efforts to produce quality oat hay, which is used by local horse ranches and feed stores.

Nutrients for Life blogger, Dee McKenna, in her FFA jacket her freshman year of college.

Florida

Bronson High School’s FFA Chapter was the first place winner of a $6,000 grant for the second year in a row. The Bronson Senior High Chapter’s winning program featured multiple activities that made a great impact on the local community.  Students got busy with school gardens, teaching 41 high school agriculture students and 90 fourth-grade elementary students about plant nutrients and fertilizers, and a wall mural tribute to the late Dr. Norman Borlaug, the father of the Green Revolution.

In second place, students in award-winning Dixie County High School in Cross City, Fla., educated faculty members and parents about agricultural Best Management Plans designed to improve nutrient use efficiency and crop yields, while protecting water quality. In this sophisticated project, the FFA students described the 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles (Right Source, Right Rate, Right Place, and Right Time) with the Dixie Soil and Water Conservation District. They also taught second graders and 10th grade biology classes about plant uptake of fertilizers.

In Zephryhills, Fla., FFA students at RB Stewart Middle School earned third place with their study of the nutritional needs of plants, the effect of fertilizers on plant growth and crop yield in hydroponic systems, which also imparted lessons about meeting the world’s food demands while conserving land.

Idaho

Hansen FFA in Hansen, Idaho, repeated as first-place winners with its eye-catching educational highway billboard and Fertilizer Education Day held in conjunction with Arbor Day. During the Arbor Day celebration, FFA students spread the word on fighting world hunger through fertilizer and gave informative presentations on gardening.

Malad FFA members’ second place project focused on educating middle school students about plant nutrients, how plants take in and use nutrients, as well as sharing with elementary students the role of plants as a means to feed the world.  Additionally, the FFA chapter hosted a community gardening day to highlight these concepts to the younger students.

Cambridge FFA took home third place honors by teaching fertilizer education lessons to elementary students in conjunction with the school greenhouse. FFA members studied plant nutrition throughout the year, using various types of crops, fertilizers and testing procedures.

Iowa

North Linn FFA Chapter in Tory Mills, Iowa, won top honors with an innovative project that incorporated technology with food production and agriculture.  Student used aeroponic chambers to growing over 200 plants in less than 8 square feet.  This innovative technique could easily lend itself to areas with few agricultural space options.

Harlan FFA members learned about vegetable plant varieties, how to plant seeds and about proper fertilizer techniques for maximum production results. Students experimented with different fertilizers and learned about their importance, as well as completing the Nourishing the Planet in the 21^st Century curriculum.

Oelwein High School FFA members organized a community event to raise awareness about Nutrients for Life and the agricultural industry.

Two FFA Students from Hansen, Idaho make a presentation on their Helping Communities Grow project at the World Fertilizer Conference in Chicago, IL.

World Famous French Fries

Go ahead and judge me…we eat McDonald’s…often. I know, I know! I have to give the mega franchise credit for being convenient and affordable. You know the scene, we are running errands, and the whines from the backseat are getting louder. The cries for “food break, mom” so she pulls under the golden arches. I know I am not the only mom swinging in the drive thru for a quick meal, because they sell approximately 4.2 million hamburgers a day (yep, a day) in the United States. That’s a lot of beef! However, my favorite McDonald’s indulgence is the french fry. McDonald’s restaurants report that they buy 3.42 billion pounds of potatoes each year. Hmm, looks like I am in good company and not the only one craving their french fry.  My point: McDonald’s is a large consumer of American agriculture.

McDonald’s has recently released three commercials highlighting real American farmers who are producing the raw ingredients (beef, lettuce and potatoes) for their menu. As an advocate for agriculture and the fertilizer industry, I am glad they have put a face to their food. As consumers, we want to know where our food comes from and how it is produced. Potato farmer, Frank Martinez, talks about his potato farm, “It starts from the seed, the soil, climate, and water. If you grow the best potatoes, you’re going to have the best french fries. When you make something with pride you can taste it.”  Mr. Martinez did not talk about the fertility of his soil, but all farmers would tell you that he could not raise one-thousand acres of potatoes year after year without replenishing the nutrients.

The videos allow you to meet the hard working passionate farmers behind your McDonald’s favorites. Very few Americans know how their food is produced, except through the media, which has not always portrayed the agriculture industry fairly. If I were still teaching in the classroom, I would use these videos to highlight farming careers and give my students an opportunity to see how farmers are taking care of the land, while producing some of their favorite foods. Very few field trips are allowed these days, if you are unable to bring students to the farm, bring the farm to the classroom through these the short videos.

I have to admit, after watching the videos; I was craving a french fry.

McDonald’s Potato Supplier, Frank Martinez: “Dream Come True”

Growing perfect potatoes takes the right amount of water, rich soil and, in Frank’s case, a lifetime of experience.

McDonald’s Beef Supplier, Steve Foglesong: “Raising Cattle and a Family”

Three generations of Foglesongs work together every day to raise the kind of high quality beef that make some of the most iconic hamburgers in the world.

McDonald’s Lettuce Supplier, Dirk Giannini: “Field to Fork”

Growing fresh, high-quality lettuce is more than a job. For Dirk Giannini, it’s a family tradition.

Exterior shot of a McDonald’s in Dallas, Texas shaped like a Happy Meal box.

Images courtesy of McDonald’s Image & Video Library

The beauty of the first daffodil and the taste of the first homegrown tomato are fresh in my memory. I can’t control the weather or rid the world of grasshoppers (however, I will try), but I will start the year off with high aspirations for a weed-free, fertile garden. I long for spring to arrive and as I wait for the change of season, I write my garden resolutions for 2012.

1. A weed-free garden! Ha, there I said it! I will stay on top of the weeding and will recruit all willing and unwilling hands to help my cause.  Weeds are not just unsightly, but they deplete essential nutrients, leaving the desired plants slow-growing and unhealthy.
2. Maintain soil fertility. Following the results of my fall soil test, I will apply the correct amounts of N-P-K to our garden beds. Soil is the main ingredient to the entire garden season’s success.
3. Garden all four seasons. I know this is a lofty resolution, but I still have visions of the winter garden in Williamsburg, VA and aspire to have the likes of it. I’m not going to stop planting. When a plant dies from disease, insect, or change in temperature, I am going to yank it out and plant something in its spot.
4. I want to eat my veggies all year long. I’m like a yo-yo when it comes to freezing/canning my vegetables. This year, I will not let any go to waste and will be sure to get them preserved before they rot in the refrigerator.
5. Compost garden and kitchen waste. Two springs ago, we removed our compost bin because of its location and have yet to build a new one. I have missed having fresh compost to add to the garden and feel it is a necessary component to anyone with a garden. I will have a new compost system in place by spring (weather permitting).
6. Build two new gardens. Not in my yard but for my friends. There are a lot of people who want to garden but have no idea how to get started. In one afternoon, I can help a family start a garden that will grow healthy, fresh produce. With some guidance, we can turn a brown thumb into a green thumb.
7. Teach.  A garden is a great place to “grow my children.” There are lessons to be harvested, memories to cultivate, fertile minds to nurture, and mouths to feed. The garden will continue to be a family activity where we will play in the mud, laugh, and bond.

I’m curious, what are your garden resolutions for this year? Please share with me and our readers.  Until then, I best begin reclaiming our house from the Christmas chaos.

1. Compost bin tumbler. It would fit nicely in our small backyard and it appears that it  would be easy for my little gardeners to turn.
2. The Founding Gardeners by Andrea Wulf.
3.  A good pair of garden gloves. I like the gloves with rubber palms, they have great grip and can be easily washed.
4. Pruning shears. I have two pair, and I think I need another one because I can never find them when I need one.
5. Garden magazines. They are all great. Each filled with pictures and garden advice.
6. A Garden Gnome. Ever since I sat in the theater watching Gnomeo and Juliet with our three girls, I have thought I need to add them to our landscape.
7. Rain barrels. We used to have rain barrels on the southeast corner of the house, for some reason or another, Mr. Claus thought they needed to be moved to the front corner of the house…so maybe this one should be on the honey-do-list instead of my Christmas wish list.
8. Gift certificate to my favorite garden center. When spring rolls around I will need to purchase seeds, transplants, mulch, fertilizer, and whatever else catches my eye.
9. Red wiggler worms. Two summers ago, we had a worm bin that provided fabulous castings (poop) for our garden. Except, I left them in the garage too long and they froze. I’m ready to try again.
10.  Cash donation to our school garden. I believe in the educational value of school gardens and would be honored to have a donation in my name.  The long-term value will benefit my children and future generations.

As he reads this blog, hopefully Mr. Claus and his three blue-eyes elves will see how easy it is to shop for a gardener… and maybe even share the list with other nature enthusiasts south of the North Pole!

You may recall that the first winter in the New World was brutal and deadly for the Pilgrims. They were poor, hungry, and not equipped to survive. Squanto spoke English and was able to teach them how to get sap from maple trees, what plants had medicinal powers, and among other things, how to grow food. He showed the Pilgrims the Native American way of growing maize (corn). This is now known as the planting of the three sisters: maize, beans, and squash. Several corn seeds are planted in a mound of soil with a fish in each mound.  As the fish decays, it provides fertilizer to the plants. After the corn was six inches tall, the bean and squash seeds were planted. It is really quite brilliant! The corn stalk provides a place for the beans to grow up. The beans also provide nitrogen to the soil and the squash vine spreads out to provide natural mulch that protects the soil from the heat of the sun and deters weed growth.

Squanto led the Pilgrims to their first successful harvest and ultimately to their survival. Today I am thankful that the harvest continues to be bountiful, as the farmers, who now cultivate the land, know as Squanto did, that soil fertility is essential in feeding the New World. The New World, as well as, the entire world population has grown. There are now seven billion hungry souls and we cannot feed them without fertilizing the soil.

There is a new video circulating that encourages us to thank a farmer this Thanksgiving (as I did in last year’s blog: Thank a Farmer). Please view and be thankful!

Thankfully, there are talented teachers who pick up where mom left off and continue to answer the curious kid’s questions. My colleague, Julie Buratowski, met several of these talented teachers at the National Science Teachers Association regional conference in New Orleans.  I asked Julie to join this blog and share her experience with us.