Rice hulls and perlite are among the top choices for hydroponic growing mediums. Rice hulls offer a sustainable, biodegradable option that improves drainage, while perlite, a volcanic mineral, is excellent for aeration and moisture retention. Both mediums support strong root growth, helping plants thrive in hydroponic systems. Choosing the right medium can make a big difference in your setup's success! 🌱

My friend and I are trying to research organic farming and are trying to figure out the problems organic gardeners face. We were also thinking of how it could be made easier for regular farmers to transition into organic farming.

We would appreciate it if you could fill out the form:

https://forms.gle/GYTyVNCEN9r3ieNo9

Does anyone have any other insights to share to learn more about organic gardening in general and the mistakes made in the beginning that you would tell other people to avoid?

Hydroponics allows you to grow fresh, organic produce indoors, no matter the season. By using nutrient-rich water instead of soil, you can cultivate a variety of plants with less water and space. Enjoy homegrown vegetables, herbs, and greens all year round, even in harsh climates. It's a sustainable and efficient way to produce food while minimizing environmental impact. 🌱

Let me start by saying that I am a woodworker, not a gardener. Forgive me if I get some wording wrong as I ask my question.

I want to build some tools (e.g. rolling row markers) for my son, who has a goal of having his garden eventually become USDA Certified Organic.

I plan to use untreated, solid wood. No plywood or products that contain resins. My question relates to the adhesives (wood glue, epoxy, etc.) and finishes used during the building of the tools.

How do I determine if a given adhesive or finish is considered "certified organic" vs "food safe"? There are lots of glues and finishes used for cutting boards and bowls that are listed as "food safe once cured" but I don't know if that labeling is a high enough standard for a Certified Organic operation.

Any advice that you can offer would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hey everyone! I’m working on a Kickstarter project to start a Black Soldier Fly farm focused on sustainability and waste reduction (turning organic waste into healthy food sources). Part of the process creates dried frass (aka insect manure), which I’ve heard is amazing for gardening.

Has anyone here used dried frass in their garden? How did it affect your plants? Any tips for best results?

I’m super curious to hear about any experiences with this natural fertilizer, especially from folks who love organic gardening or sustainable growing methods!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/recyclingfarm/transforming-waste-to-organic-food-black-soldier-fly-farming?ref=6mwd8q

Check out https://www.facebook.com/share/g/gHbvht25sGgKjFmY/?mibextid=K35XfP for free daily educational content on organic growing methods.

Hello

I am a new homeowner with a garden (yay!) however the garden is in a sorry state (oh no!). I want to make it a thriving zen environment and it would be great if someone could help me as a total noob.

It’s clay soil. It’s negatively graded. It’s about 30 sq meters.

There are other gardens that drain into it, I think the water is stopped by my house.

The garden itself is mostly slate gravels with a weed membrane underneath. The soil under this membrane is PACKED TIGHT and smells awful, all the way to the perimeter of the house. There are raised beds around the perimeter of the garden.

The garden faces 330 NW in the UK. The neighbours have totally concreted theirs, I want to make mine beautiful.

So there’s clearly inadequate drainage. I’m willing to put a bit of money into putting this right. Where does this subs wisdom suggest I start?

Saw this caterpillar on my dill today, curious what it is? I have more dill than I need so inclined to just let it be unless there’s a specific reason not too.

I am trying to grow microgreens for the maximum health benefits (without oxalates). Please let me know which of the following to exclude? I only want to grow the healthiest varieties:

• Alfalfa
• Arugula
• Broccoli
• Cilantro
• Cress
• Quinoa
• Peas
• Rapini
• Tat Soi
• Sesame

Was putting the beds to sleep for the winter and found this massive diakon. We planted them mostly as a cover crop to add biomass into a bed row we're preparing for our mini orchard.

Any New Englanders in here that have advise for best practices closing gardens down? Wondering if I should put a layer of fallen leaves and twigs on top of the soil and putting some cardboard or plywood to cover it over the winter.

Dozens of times i've tried propagating oregano cuttings. Whether in water, soil, with plenty or little watering - they always rot. Why? Videos make it look so easy.

Hi all! I have a mandarina tree that is being cultivated as organically as possible. Now the fruits are in, and they taste delicious, but not only for me :) The worms are also loving these, and now that I have discovered them in the fruits, I am not sure if it's ok to even eat those pieces of fruit. Can someone please answer if those are safe, if I accidentally don't remove some of them and end up eating them?

Also, is there a way to prevent these going into the fruits?

Much appreciated for any help on this one!

When I started growing organic foods in my home garden, I did not try companion planting for my vegetable garden. But almost 7 years ago my grandpa (85) showed me his veggies plants and they were organized with other plants.

I was amazed that he was planting

• Vegetables with other veggies
• Flowering plants with vegetables
• Herbs with vegetables
• Even berries with vegetables

And believe me, all of those were performing a lot better than my garden. My first thought was maybe he was taking better care than I was caring for my plants and it has nothing to do with planting them together.

I returned home and searched the internet for information. At the time, there were fewer resources available, and I came across a few university websites and scholarly articles. The topic seemed to be somewhat controversial, with some researchers arguing that companion planting offers no scientific evidence of benefits, and others claiming it does, and promotes mutual support between plants.

I decided to try it myself and it was the moment, I started loving planting vegetables with other plants.

It took me almost 6 and a half years to test all the plants if they work together or not.

Finally, I wrote an article on this, if you are interested you can check my companion planting guide from here: Best Companion Plants for Vegetables - Complete Guide

If anyone here doing companion planting leave your feedback in the comments. I would like to hear your experience growing vegetables with other plants.

Any suggestion or sharing more insights on this will be highly appreciated.