Tips
Tips to Help Your Garden Flourish
EMILIANO CAMARGO | Master Gardener
Emiliano Camargo (AKA: Nourishing Papi) is a permaculture designer, educator, and holistic nutritionist. He believes that sustainability and health are two concepts that need to be deeply interconnected to improve our way of life. With a background in anthropology, environmental education, and holistic nutrition, he has the skills and knowledge to establish edible systems that consider the cultural and nutritional needs of each individual person, family, and community.
Tip #1
INTERACT WITH THE GARDEN! THAT MEANS COME OFTEN AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY.
Tip #2
LOCATION MATTERS! PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE YOU PLANT YOUR CROPS IN RELATION TO EACH OTHER AND RELATIVE TO SUNLIGHT, WIND, POSSIBLE PREDATORS, AND WATER SOURCES.
Tip #3
MAKE SURE YOUR SOIL IS ALIVE! IT SHOULD BE MOIST, DARK, AND FULL OF LITTLE CREATURES THAT LIVE INSIDE. ADD ORGANIC FERTILIZERS AND COMPOST. ENSURE IT’S PROTECTED WITH A COVER OF GRASS CLIPPINGS, HAY, OR MULCH.
Tip #4
IDENTIFY YOUR “GROWING ZONE” AND MAKE SURE YOU PLANT ACCORDING TO YOUR AREA’S SEASON & LOCAL CONDITIONS.
Tip #5
IDENTIFY PLANT DISEASES, WEEDS, BENEFICIAL INSECTS, AND PESTS. GOOD SOIL FEEDS THE PLANTS WELL ENOUGH, SO THEY DON’T GET SICK. IF YOUR PLANTS ARE SICK, REMOVE BUDS OR USE ORGANIC PESTICIDES, CUT OUT SICK LEAVES, AND ADD COMPOST AND NUTRIENTS TO YOUR PLANTS. MAKE SURE THEY AREN’T OVER OR UNDER WATERED.
Tip #6
PRUNE & TRELLIS PLANTS AS NEEDED. PRUNE YOUR PLANTS WITH THE PROPER TOOLS SO THEY HAVE CLEAN CUTS.
Tip #7
THE BEST TIME TO HARVEST IS EARLY IN THE MORNING. HARVESTING YOUR PLANTS ON TIME PREVENTS DISEASES AND PESTS.
Tip #8
NEVER ADD SYNTHETIC FERTILIZERS AND CHEMICALS TO YOUR GARDEN. THESE CHEMICALS WILL END UP IN YOUR BODY AND CAN CAUSE DISEASE. REMEMBER, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.
Tip #9
WORK WITH NATURE BY MAKING YOUR GARDEN AN ECOSYSTEM. INVITE BIRDS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS, PLANT TREES AND NATIVE PLANTS NEARBY, CREATE MICROCLIMATES, AND ADD WATER FEATURES. THE MORE YOU WORK WITH NATURE, THE LESS WORK YOU HAVE TO DO ON YOUR OWN. THE MORE VARIETY OF PLANTS, THE HARDER IT IS FOR PESTS TO TAKE OVER.
Tip #10
BE PATIENT AND LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES. A GREEN THUMB ONLY GROWS FROM DIRTY HANDS.