Page 32 THE VILLADOM TIMES II, III & IV • June 9, 2010 Spring Home Improvement (ARA) There was a time when it was the norm to go out in the yard and pull fresh vegetables up from the soil. At some point over the years, we moved from the goodness of home-grown vegetables toward processed foods and microwave dinners. Now consumers are becoming more aware of the financial value of growing their own vegetables, and how doing so can bolster the health of their families and of the earth. Vegetable gardening might sound intimidating, but new technologies can make your thumb greener than ever. Combined with good old-fashioned growing techniques, your garden can be healthy and yield a good crop with less effort than you would imagine - all while being good for the earth. Here are some tips for a garden that is doubly green. Water, water everywhere, but not too much A fine balance needs to be struck when it comes to watering your vegetable garden, especially during drought conditions. You want your plants to get adequate moisture, but overwatering can be bad for plants and a wasteful use of a precious natural resource. Because it’s better for both your crops and the environment, careful water use is essential to being a truly green gardener. Installing an irrigation system is a good way to keep water use at the ideal levels. Plus, you don’t have to plan a How to grow your own earth-friendly vegetables Decorating & BEST PRICES...BEST SELECTION OF 2010 WEBER GRILLS THERE’S A WEBER GRILL MADE FOR YOU! Open Sunday 9-3 C n and emonstratio Event D ales Truckload S WEBER ook-Out See the WEBER Grill in Action • Taste the results Saturday - 11am-3pm We carry the complete line of 2010 WEBER Grills. Come see them all. WHY BUY YOUR WEBER GRILL AT HOME HARDWARE? ������� ����� ������� We do WEBER Grill Repairs • Best Prices • Friendly, Helpful, Knowledgeable Staff • Full Line Of Accessories & Replacement Parts • On Premises Propane Fill Station, Year-Round • We Are The Area’s WEBER Warranty Servicing Dealer 27 Franklin Turnpike • Waldwick 201-652-5666 www.homehardwaresupply.com MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED FREE Propane Fill-Up with purchase of assembled grill of $599 or more (Tank sold separately) With coupon only. FREE Mon-Wed 7:30-6, Thurs & Fri 7:30-8, Sat 8-5, Sun 9-3 Propane Filled 7 Days A Week With coupon only. Assembly with WEBER Grill Purchase FREE (With Grill Purchase) With coupon only. Standard Delivery of Any Grill of $599 or More schedule around when you need to water. There are userfriendly, affordable solutions like Mister Landscaper’s new drip irrigation vegetable kit, which connects to an outdoor spigot. It’s a great way to ensure that your plants get the water they need, without wasting or over watering. The kit is drought approved in most areas. Watering timers can also make the job of watering even easier. Keep in mind that it’s best to water in the early morning, when the sun is lower in the sky, for 30 to 60 minutes, every other day. One person’s garbage is another’s fertilizer Ever feel guilty about throwing out vegetable and fruit peelings, rinds, or scraps? Your intuition might just be telling you that there’s a better way to handle those leftovers. Composting is a great way to make use of organic matter that might otherwise just get thrown away. Building a compost heap is relatively easy, and it will keep giving back to your garden and the environment. The four necessary ingredients for composting, according to California’s “CalRecycle” program, are nitrogen (from sources like grass clippings or those throwaway veggie scraps), carbon (from sources like sawdust or twigs), water, and air. Once your compost is at the ideal level of decomposition (it will be uniformly dark brown and crumbly), spread it on your garden to give plants a nutrient boost. Get growing – organically From the moment you start planning a garden, think organic. The most basic - and fun - choice of all is deciding which plants you will grow. Choose organic seeds and starters so you know you are buying into an earth-friendly business venture. There is the added bonus of knowing that your plants won’t be tainted with harmful chemicals. When it comes to maintaining your garden, you’ll probably need things other than just compost. Look for products that are recognized as organic by respected organizations like the USDA or the Organic Materials Review Institute – you will be able to find an ever-growing supply of products like pest repellent or soil amendments. Growing your own vegetables at home has many benefits: It saves money, allows you to control what your food is exposed to, and provides a fun and easy activity the whole family can enjoy. When you follow these green gardening principles, you will also be doing something good for the earth. 5-5-10 Ester from Janine HomeHardWeberTruck5-5-10(4x9)