#EarthDay - Growing Green: Get your garden ready for spring

Start your Garden this Earth Day Weekend!
The recent warm spell across the country has prompted many to start thinking towards summer gardens and itching to start spring planting.  The most important requirements for starting an organic garden are fertile soil, quality organic seeds, proper timing and adequate temperatures, sunlight and water.

Soil: An great eco-friendly alternative to peat moss for planting and potting soil is a coconut fiber growing media.  Traditionally used peat moss is extracted from peat bogs that take thousands of years to form and years to recover and therefore is not a renewable resource. Coconut fiber is a renewable resource, made from the husks of coconut and is very suitable as a soil additive to increase aeration and water retention. It is also light weight so it is perfect for roof gardens and large containers.  I found this great product on Amazon called CocoFiber - it is a dehydrated coconut fiber brick that when placed in a bucket with water expands to fill the bucket.  Since I have a totally containerized garden, I used it recently to amend my potting soil to improve aeration and water retention.  It also makes a great mulch! Check it out:

Coco Garden cocofiber is a completely renewable resource made from 100-Percent natural recycled fibers of the coconut husk. Cocofiber's micro sponge effect dramatically increases the water retention of soil and improves aeration, ensuring optimal root growth and maximum water and nutrient uptake for lawn grasses and container and garden plants. Cocofiber is excellent for use as a seed starter, planting seedlings and transferring plants. Can be added to dry soil conditions to improve water retention and also for soils high in clay to improve aeration and root growth. Coco Garden compresses its cocofiber into a convenient light weight package that expands several times its size when placed in water. When compared to conventional potting mixes compressed cocofiber lasts longer, requires significantly less packaging material and has a lower shipping weight and volume which greatly reduces its impact on the planet.

Seeds:  Choose organic seeds as they were produced without the use of chemicals.  My favorite organic seed companies are Botanical Interests and Burpee (who sell both traditional and organic).  Since I plant only in containers (since I do not have a yard), I really like the Botanical Interests Container Garden Collection.  This collection is a lot cheaper than buying individual packets and have enough variety to grow a vibrant garden in a small area!  This makes a great gift as well (Mother's Day, maybe?!). The seeds are all veggies, herbs and flowers that will do well in shallower growing conditions or containers - Lettuce, Cilantro, Basil, Chives, Radish, Carrots, and Peppers.

Burpee has a wonderful selection as well and you can purchase both seeds and ready to plant established root stock (and they will ship at the correct time for planting in your zone).   http://www.burpee.com/organic-gardening/

If you want to get started early outdoors, start with cold hardy plants like radishes, peas, lettuce, broccoli, beets, spinach, parsely and other leafy greens.

Timing and temperature:
Certain plants require a minimum temperature for seeds to sprout and some plants are killed by frost and freezing.  The best way to find out approximate dates for planting outdoors is to first consult the USDA Plant Hardiness Map, which was just updated earlier this year.  The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature.

Next, based on the hardiness zone you live in, determine what plants you can start outdoors and which ones you should start indoors.  One of my favorite resources for listing what do in your garden when, broken down by zone, is Organic Gardening's Gardener's To-Do-List - http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/gardeners-april-to-do-list.  Sign up for their mailing list and you will get a monthly update on what garden tasks you should do that month.

Whether you start your seeds indoors or out, keeping your seeds moist until sprouting is important.  I usually mist my indoor seeds/sprouts with a squirt bottle every couple of days or when the soil is dry.  The same thing should be done outdoors with a garden hose if it hasn't rained enough - but water gently so you don't disturb the fragile sprouts.

So for Earth Day this year, do something good for the earth and good for you by planting or getting seeds started. If you need supplies, check out Amazon's great selection of garden equipment and Earth Day Specials:

#Ecomon Post: Recycle Containers to start your Seeds!

Reuse household trash to start your spring sprouting!

A few nice warm sunny days in the early spring is all it takes for many people to start itching to plant or start seeds.  I got my herbs started several weeks ago as I am impatient to have fresh basil again!  If you have a sunny window it's easy to grow herbs and start many seeds indoors.  You don't even need to have fancy pots or specialty "seed starting" boxes or kits - there are many things you can reuse to start seeds - here is a short list:

• plastic jugs (like half-gallon milk jugs) - just cut the top off and pierce a few small holes at the bottom; you can also use the top part as a scoop for your dirt!  No waste here!
• yogurt cups/containers
• egg cartons - perfect for seedlings that you plan to transplant outdoors
• egg shells - when using eggs for cooking, gently break only the top part of the shell with a sharp knife to keep most of the shell in tact, wash it out well, let dry.  These are also perfect to start seeds then they can be planted - shell and all! into your outdoor garden
• cans - any cans like empty coffee cans, cleaned out food cans, even soda cans - just make sure to punch holes in the bottom for drainage
• take out coffee cups
• you can even create little seedling pouches by making soil balls using old shirts, cut into small circles or squares, then place dirt inside and enclose bundle by tying with string or twine.  Cut a small area out and plant seeds.
• To keep the soil moist to promote better seedlings, reuse your plastic bags or zip lock bags - I find that old zip lock bags (large or small) work really well to create a mini-greenhouse by fitting them over the top of planters
• You can also get creative and decorate your containers - get the kids involved - have fun!

What ideas do you have for reusing containers for gardening?  I'd love to hear from my readers so leave comments below.

Thanks and Happy Gardening!

~Sprout

Grab Bag Giveaway! Ends 4/22

Since I have not been good about keeping up my blog lately, I am offering another giveaway to bring my readers back!  This will be a quick, easy giveaway so enter now and enter often - and spread the word around!

The prize this time will be a grab bag filled with samples of many brands (mostly for women and mom's)... see photo for included items.  I'm cleaning out closets this weekend so I'll include any other great samples I find! Many of these samples I have received multiples of, some are items that I don't use so instead of throwing them away, I feel it is better to "recycle" by giving them away!

How to enter:
Mandatory - You must follow me on GFC (Google Friend Connect) or Networked Blogs - please leave a comment below stating that you do with your email address to contact you if you win.

Giveaway ends Sunday 4/22 at midnight EST.  Winner will be selected by random.org.

Extra Entries (each one = 1 entry unless otherwise stated):

• Follow me on Twitter (@sprout5) - leave a comment with your twitter name
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment below with your post address (tweet once every 6 hours only - don't want anyone ending up in Twitter Jail!) Sample Tweet:  @sprout5 Grab bag #Giveaway!ends 4/22 enter now: http://sprout5.blogspot.com PLS RT

• Like Sprout's Green Family on Facebook  and leave a comment on this blog... feel free to write on my wall too!
• Sign up for my email newsletter (on right sidebar) - leave a comment stating you did along with your email address
• Follow along on Networked Blogs (if you used GFC as your mandatory entry) - leave a comment stating you are with your profile name
• Follow me on Blog Frog - leave a comment stating you are with your profile name
• Follow me on Pinterest  - leave a comment stating you are with your profile name
• Comment on any other Sprout's Green Family post (see right sidebar for posts and labels lists) and leave a comment telling what you commented on (1 entry per comment)
• Refer a friend! Have your friend sign up to follow Sprout's Green Family on GFC and leave a comment with your friends GFC name - worth 2 comments! 
• Purchase anything from Sprout's GREEN Store and leave a comment tell what you purchased - worth 6 extra entries!!! (just leave 6 separate comments stating what you purchased and number each one)

Winners will be chosen from the comments and randomly selected using random.org.  All comments will be reviewed for compliance and winners will be notified by email.

Disclaimer:  I did not receive any compensation for this giveaway or review of product - this is just me trying to boost my blog by giving away free stuff!  If you have a product you would like me to review and/or have items to giveaway, I am  more than happy to discuss with you - please contact me by email

Thanks much!
~* Sprout

Here are a few great deals not to miss this month:
Clearance on Leapster2 games! Get up to 40% off on select games. Offer valid now through April 30th!
Free Shipping on Accessories for LeapPad, Leapster Explorer, Tag and more! Excludes accessory bundles, batteries and battery recharger packs. Not valid for App Center purchases. Use promo code ACCESSORY.

How to Green your indoor air! #NLAM #landarch

Many of us spend so much of our day indoors - especially in the winter time.  It is obvious that the air indoors is not as "fresh" as outdoors but do you know that there are many chemicals and toxins that prevent us from getting really fresh air indoors?  Synthetic materials release many volatile organic chemicals (VOCs)  into the air - chloroform, ammonia, acetone and formaldehyde, just to name a few. These toxins are found in almost every item in the home from furniture and carpet to cleaning solvents.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution as one of the top five threats to public health.  On their website, the EPA also states: Children are more susceptible to air pollution because they breathe a greater volume of air relative to their body weight. To make matters worse, schools tend to be at a higher risk of poor indoor air quality because they can have 4 times the occupants as a regular office building for the same amount of floor space and generally less maintenance making air quality in schools an area of a particular concern.

Poor indoor air quality can lead to or contribute to a host of problems including irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, sinus congestion, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, respiratory infections, allergies, and asthma.  If you already suffer from any of those symptoms, entering or residing in a room with poor air quality can cause you to become more sensitive to allergens, dust, and VOCs.  Learn more about Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) at the EPA's website: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html 

So...What do we do to control or reduce indoor air pollution and improve air quality?  Grow Plants!

Plants remove air-born toxins through tiny openings in their leaves called stomata as they absorb carbon dioxide then release oxygen in a process called photosynthesis.   Plants also emit water vapor that creates a pumping action to pull contaminated air down around a plant’s roots, where it is also converted into food for the plant.  This was studied in the late 1980s by NASA, lead by Dr. Bill Wolverton, and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) when they researched to find ways to purify the air for extended stays in orbiting space stations. The conclusions of the study not surprising proved that the plants did clean the air but what was groundbreaking was that the plants also were greatly successful in reducing the high levels of toxins found in closed environments (sealed buildings) - the study showed that many houseplants remove harmful elements such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde from the air. Formaldehyde is used in many building materials including particle board and foam insulations and can be found in furniture, carpet and drapes. Additionally, many cleaning products contain this chemical. Benzene is a common solvent found in oils and paints. Trichloroethylene is used in paints, adhesives, inks, and varnishes.

The advantage that houseplants have over other plants is that they are adapted to tropical areas where they grow beneath dense tropical canopies and must survive in areas of low light. These plants are thus ultra-efficient at capturing light, which also means that they must be very efficient in processing the gasses necessary for photosynthesis. Because of this fact, they have greater potential to absorb other gases, including potentially harmful ones.   Dr. Bill Wolverton highlights the NASA / ALCA study as well as the best plants for removing toxins in his book, "How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office". 
I highly recommend this book if you are interested in the study and want to learn more about the cleaning abilities of houseplants.

Bamboo Palm

Based upon Wolverton's book, here are the TOP 10 plants most effective in removing:
 Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Carbon Monoxide from the air:

Bamboo Palm - Chamaedorea Seifritzii
Chinese Evergreen - Aglaonema Modestum
English Ivy Hedera Helix
Gerbera Daisy Gerbera Jamesonii
Janet Craig - Dracaena "Janet Craig"
Marginata - Dracaena Marginata
Mass cane/Corn Plant - Dracaena Massangeana
Mother-in-Law's Tongue - Sansevieria Laurentii
Pot Mum - Chrysantheium morifolium
Peace Lily - Spathiphyllum
Warneckii - Dracaena "Warneckii"

These plants are all pretty common and can be found at your local florist or plant store.

Wolverton recommends having two or three plants in 8- or 10-inch pots for every 100 square feet of floor space to successfully remove toxins and provide enough fresh air for living comfortably.  I will highlight several plants in the coming weeks along with my own experience with these plants.
Stay tuned!
~Sprout

The added benefits of Valentine's Day flowers

Flowers that clean the air and warm the heart!

Giving flowers on Valentine's day is a long held tradition as a token of love, friendship and thankfulness and Roses are the most common flower given on this holiday.  But there are 2 other flowering plants that deserve more attention as a true sign that you really care - about the air you breathe.... 

The Florist’s mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) is readily available all year round and did you know it is also proven to help clean the air in your home or office? Potted florist's mums are one of the best flowering or seasonal plants for removing formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia from the atmosphere - three chemicals found in every home to some degree.  Mums also help to increase humidity levels in a room especially this time of the year when most homes fall well below the recommended humidity levels of 35-60% because they have a high transpiration rate (the rate at which water evaporates from a plant's leaves).

Mums are also very long lasting - potted mums can bloom continuously for about 6-8 weeks (way longer than your average cut roses that only last for 4-5 days in cool conditions).  Mums are very easy to care for too: just keep them in a cool location in a bright room and keep the soil slightly moist.  They prefer being near bright windows, but keep them out of direct afternoon sun and heaters as the heat will age the blooms quickly.  They will thrive in room temperatures of 60-65 during the day, 45-50 at night but they will do ok in a room slightly warmer.  If it gets too hot, the flowers will wilt and the plant becomes susceptible to mold.  To keep your blooms coming, cut the spent blooms and new buds will appear.

 

Mums come in a great variety of colors, shapes and styles.  They come in all shades of red, pink and purple as well as yellows, oranges and white.  There are single petal varieties (looking more like daisies) to multi-petal resembling little pom-poms to lacy, fluffy types.

Did you know according to Fung Shui principles, chrysanthemum’s bring laughter and happiness to your home?  Another added bonus to bringing home mums!

Another great potted flowering plant that is extremely effective at removing harmful chemical vapors is the Gerbera Daisy, commonly known as the African Daisy.  The gerbera daisy is on NASA's list of indoor-filtering plants, which can help improve the quality of the air in your home - the are rated as the top flowering plant to remove formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia from the atmosphere, and they help to increase humidity levels.  These cheerful flowers come in a variety of colors from deep reds to pale pinks, from brilliant orange to soft yellow and white.

Gerbera Daisies are easy to care for - just keep them moist but not soggy and locate them in bright sunlight but away from heat. Cut the spent blooms and new buds will appear soon - a potted Gerbera Daisy can last all winter long!  Put them outdoors in the spring and they just might last even longer!  They prefer indoor temperatures between 60-70 during the day, 45-55 at night.  The biggest culprit of their untimely death is root rot so do not overwater!  Give them a light watering about 1-2 times a week. 

You can also purchase large Gerbera Daisies as cut flowers - they look best simply by themselves (maybe with the addition of some simple greens) and you can go with a single color or mix it up for added cheerfulness.  Remember that cut flowers don't last as long as potted plants, but sometimes a colorful bouquet in a tall slender vase is just the perfect thing for the office or dining room table.  Just a few Gerbera Daisies can go a long way too, since they are larger flowers so if you are in pinch, you can really get more bang for the buck with these beautiful flowers!

Gerbera daisies can mean innocence, purity, and cheerfulness.

So next time you are at the florist, think about purchasing a plant that is not only colorful but really shows that you care with flowers that last long AND purify the air.  Stay tuned... I am doing a very extensive post about plants and clean air soon!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Giveaway Winner! Plus enter more Low Entry giveaways...

Thank you to all who entered the Green Flash Drive Giveaway!  I really appreciate gaining new followers and the continued exposure from those who already follow me.

Our winner is:
Comment #10 - April from Frugally Green Mom

I have notified April by email.  Thanks again for following and look out for more giveaways soon!


I would also like to thank fellow blogger, Tight Wad in Utah for the awesome giveaway linkup - many of my new followers came from that site. Be sure to continue to visit their site for more great giveaways to enter!  

Thanks again and have a great GREEN day!
~ Sprout 

Share Memories and Save 40% this Valentines week

Don't miss out on this fantastic deal from Shutterfly - 40% off photobooks until February 16!  Shutterfly makes it so easy to create a beautiful memory book in a snap!  They now have so many styles, colors, backgrounds and embellishments that you can easily create a personalized scrapbook quickly!  Parents, Grandparents, relatives and loved ones LOVE getting photo books - they make the perfect gift any time of the year but with 40% off, now is a great time to share your love this Valentine's Day!  I just created a cute birthday book for my daughter and it shipped very quickly!  I sent one to my Mom as well since she lives so far away.

Share the love this week and create your own memory book now!
Take 40% off photo books from Shutterfly.com with promo code BOOK40. Offer valid 2.9-2.16




PS - don't forget to enter my current giveaway: http://sprout5.blogspot.com/2012/02/giveaway-green-flash-drive-ends-212.html

Green your Tailgate - it's Superbowl Sunday!

We are very excited for the Super Bowl game tonight here in NYC (go Giants!) and are ready for the festivities in a Green way!  We won't be using paper plates and napkins - this party is stocked with reusable plates and cloth napkins.  And of course, all bottles and cans will be recycled at the end of the game.  For food, we have organic chips and veggies, homemade guacamole, organic/hormone free chicken wings and... local beer!

For more ideas on making your Super Bowl party or tailgate GREEN (no matter what color team you root for), then check out one of my favorite blogs on my favorite "Go Green" website, Practically Green:  http://blog.practicallygreen.com/2012/02/superbowl-special-green-your-tailgate/

Oh, and don't forget to enter my current Giveaway... Green your files with a Eco-friendly 8GB Flash Drive!  http://sprout5.blogspot.com/2012/02/giveaway-green-flash-drive-ends-212.html

Thanks and enjoy the Game (and commercials!!!)

*~ Sprout