Does Hydroponic Mean Organic

Environmental Working Group answers the question of hydroponic vs. organic.

Starting an Indoor Vegetable Garden

Environmental expert Michael Fritzen shares some great tips on HGTV for starting an indoor vegetable garden.  This project is great for those who don't have the space to create an outdoor garden or as a learning activity for kids.



What you need:
A variety of seeds
Shallow dish or bowl
Napkins or paper towels
Cookie cutter
Water

Steps:
1. Put a heaping tablespoon of seeds in a shallow dish or bowl, fill with water and soak the seeds overnight.

2. Place a folded paper towel or napkin on a plate and position the cookie cutter in the center of the paper.

3. Scoop the soaked seeds out of the water and deposit them in the middle of the cookie cutter. Spread out the wet seeds until they fill in the shape. You don’t want the seeds to build up too thickly in any spot. They will take longer to sprout and grow raggedy and out of control. Make a nice even layer.

4. Gently remove the cookie cutter.

5. Do not pour water directly on the design. Ladle water in carefully with a spoon.

6. Spritz seeds with a spray bottle twice a day. You will see growth in about two days. Keep it in a cool, dark space. The sprouts should be ready to harvest in five days.

How To Set Up A Grow Light

Whether you've already purchased your lighting supplies or are still planning your indoor garden, this video tutorial on how to set up a grow light is sure to help.  As you can see it takes just a few minutes and very little space.  See the links below to purchase the products shown in the video.

Sun System Yield Master II Supreme Reflector
1000 Watt Harvest Pro Elite Switchable Ballast
1000 Watt Ultra Sun HPS Grow Lamp

The Insects in Your Garden

It can be difficult to know which insects are beneficial to your plants and garden from those that are destructive.  Use the following list to make sure you are keeping the good and avoiding the bad!

pH - Why It's Important

The pH scale, from 1 to 14, measures acid-to-alkaline balance. The number 1 is the most acidic, 7 is neutral, and 14 most alkaline. Every full-point change in pH signifies a ten-fold increase or decrease in acidity or alkalinity. For example, soil or water with a pH of 5 is ten times more acidic than water or soil with a pH of 6. Water with a pH of 5 is one hundred times more acidic than water with a pH of 7. With a ten-fold difference between each point on the scale, accurate measurement and control is essential to a strong, healthy garden.

Fresh Basil: A Summer Favorite

One of our favorite herbs to grow is basil. Perfect for the summer, it smells good, is super tasty and easy to grow. Bon Appetit recently shared their favorite recipes using basil and here are our picks:

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