California and Organic

Hi
I am new to DG so forgive me if i missed something ..there seems to be a California forum and an organic forum but nothing about being organic in California!
I am trying with all my might to avoid the miracle grow and the systemic rose stuff so i need support!
Thanks!
Annie

hiya Annie,

I'm drdon, a Berkeley gradschool alum, and another organic gardener. The organic gardening forum is frequented by other Californians and there are a numerous places here to gain some very valuable knowledge. BTW, Welcome!, to DG.

Best,
Don

Hi Don
Thanks for the nice welcome. My HB is a 4th generation cal grad !
What is your favorite brand/form of organic fertilizer ? What is your preferred form of insect control? Do you have a worm composter ? Do you grow roses ? (LOL)
Some one else,please reply to this thread or i will think i have made a huge DG faux pas !
A

So I guess California gardening is one thing and Organic another
sigh

hiya BerkeleyAnnie,

Here I mix all of my own organics from materials I either make or grow myself, get from Peaceful Valley or our local feedstore. We do use a lot of fish emulsion. My favorite insect controls are beneficial insects. We only spray with even the most benign of materials as a last resort.

Yes we grow a ton of roses and I just completed a new rose garden for my wife Pam. Check out the thread in the Garden Art forum entitled living with a rose addict..lol.

We also vermicompost in a big way. We have 27 horses on our ranch with another due any minute so we feed the manure/ bedding (about a half ton per day) to the wormies and produce about 150-200 tons of vermicompost per year for use in our gardens and we sell a bit or share it with our neighbors.

No faux pas', post what you will, where you will. Sorry for the delay in responding I wasn't watching this thread very much. If I can help in any way, just let me know.

best,
Don

Hi BerkeleyAnnie, welcome to DG!

Try browsing around at the Classic Threads here:

http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/archive/

or here's a search on organic fertilizer:

http://davesgarden.com/forums/search.php?q=organic+fertilizer

or a search on organic pest control

http://davesgarden.com/forums/search.php?q=organic+pest+control

These are broad searches across all forums -- another way to search DG. Good luck!

hi, annie, welcome to DG! i live across the pond from you. don and kaperc, thanks for the links.

annapet

What I am using as a substitute for pesticides:

-- Hydrogen peroxide diluted with water and sprayed on foliage (this has been AMAZING...more effective than any poisons, excuse me pesticides, for rust, mildew and white flies)

-- Pro-tec garlic plugs (I did not have any aphids this year and no deers munching on my blooms)

-- Newest find: EM -1 (effective microorganisms) I have not been using this long enough to comment on it's effectiveness, although the concept is sound (after all we are healthier with ample amounts of acidophilus, etc.)

zippy, What is the ratio of peroxide to water? Sound interesting and easy!
Where can We get this Pro-tec?
Thanks for the help,
Annie

Annie, I found a post by zippity near the end of this thread. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/486297/
BerkeleyAnnie, notice that this last thread is in tomatos, but speaks to what you are looking for. All forums are fair game for anything (almost.) Have you met this other Berkeley Annie? http://anniesannuals.com/default2.asp

My, Oh My, What A Wonderful Day!

Thanks for the info!!
Annie