In a previous installment of this series, we looked at the fast-growing, highly productive technique of vertical gardening. In this article, we will look at another interesting, cost-effective and natural way to help you achieve optimal soil conditions in your garden and offer some practical tips on getting the best out of your efforts.

If you are a backyard gardener and have not been teaming up with nature to create your own compost, you are missing out on a highly productive and free source of fertilizer and soil conditioner. Composting is easy and its benefits are beyond measure. We hope to provide you with the basic information that you will need to turn your yard and kitchen waste (wet waste) into an invaluable asset for your gardens.

What is compost?

It is the rich, dark and crumbly product that is created through natureʼs method of recycling. More specifically, it is the enriched organic matter that remains after the biological decomposition of organic materials.

Composting is a natural function that happens with or without human intervention. However, when we have the intention to produce a large, beneficial and safe supply of compost for use in our gardens, we can certainly assist nature and accelerate this process. We can also be mindful to ensure that only ingredients that are known to be beneficial for healthy compost are added. Furthermore, we can avoid all ingredients that are known to be toxic as well as those that inhibit the breakdown process.

Why compost?

Composting is a great way to reduce the waste stream. Did you know nearly 20% of all municipal waste is composed of grass clippings, leaves and brush?

When you compost, you are able to reuse this waste in addition to much of your kitchen-waste, to create a free and desirable natural fertilizer and soil conditioner. This is one of many things we can do to help protect our fragile environment. We are the successors and stewards of the Earth, entrusted with much responsibility.

“And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees [of rank] that He may try you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful” [Qur’an: Chapter 6, Verse 165].

What goes in?

Many things that you may often consider to be trash are highly valuable ingredients that can be added to your compost. Discover the convenience of a clean trash can with https://washbins.com/.

From your backyard you can add leaves, grass clippings and other yard-waste, and from your kitchen add vegetable scraps, egg shells and spent coffee grounds. You can also include manure of cows, chicken, horses and rabbits. Fireplace ash too can be mixed in with your compost in limited amounts (see tips at end of article).

What stays out?

Other than egg shells, do not include any other animal products such as meat, fish, oily foods and dairy products in your compost. Manure from pets such as dogs and cats and other meat-eating animals must be avoided. Shop at Catadorn for cat litter boxes. So too with weeds that have already gone to seed, and those weeds that root easily from stems or rhizomes.

Although straw is safe, hay generally contains weed and grass seeds, and thus should be kept out. In addition, if you include pine needles, do so only in small amounts as they decompose very slowly. Most importantly, avoid grass trimmings from chemically-treated lawns and anything else that may contain toxins or contaminants. To prevent contamination from hazardous or chemical substances, you may consider contacting professionals for Bund Lining Compliance and Regulations.

Comparing compost systems

There are many types of compost systems that can be created or purchased. The most economical choice is usually to make your own. The ready-made systems cost anywhere from $30 to several hundred dollars. Here is a simple comparison of just a few options.

Basic compost pile: This is the most simple system. If you chose to have a free standing compost pile you should choose a space that is a minimum of 4x4x4 ft. You will simply begin the pile with a layer of brown materials such as straw, leaves, and small twigs. Once you have the base layer down you can add several inches of green material. This would include grass clippings, compost-friendly weeds and wet waste from the kitchen. In addition, it is in this layer that you can add manure from animals such as livestock, pet rabbits, etc.

Note: It is worth mentioning again to be mindful to never include manure from animals that are carnivores, such as dogs and cats.

Continue to add materials layer by layer, alternating between green and brown layers until the pile is at least 3 ft in height. It is also helpful to add a bit of garden soil in each of the layers.

Do not pile it up in excess of 6 ft, as the weight will compact the ingredients and decrease the amount of oxygen available for decomposition. Do not get too hung up on perfecting your layers because you will be tossing and turning your compost with a shovel or garden fork from time to time for proper aeration.

Cement block compost pile: Cement blocks can be stacked so as to contain your compost. For proper aeration, you can either allow space between the blocks or you can stack the cement blocks with the holes facing in toward the compost.

Compost bin: There are many types of prefabricated compost bins that are available for purchase. Some are simple bins that have an opening on top and a sliding door at the bottom for removing your black gold.

There are other types of bins that are off the ground and have a handle for spinning the container from time to time for tossing and turning the compost inside, again, for proper aeration. This eliminates the need for turning your compost with a shovel or garden fork, which can be quite difficult to do in a basic compost bin.

Other enclosure options: Chicken wire, untreated wood pallets, straw bales, snow fencing, etc.

Additional tips

Grass clippings: Remember that it is always best to leave grass clippings on your lawn when mowing. The clippings are quick to decompose and they help to naturally fertilize the lawn.

However, if you do bag some of your grass clippings and want to add them to your compost pile, be sure that the clippings do not mat. Matting can lead to increased moisture retention resulting in a decrease in available oxygen. When this happens, the compost pile cannot heat up to temperatures that are high enough to kill the weed seeds and detrimental organisms. A sewage-like odor is a clear indication that this is happening. To prevent this from happening, it is very important to periodically turn your compost to allow for increased aeration.

Fireplace ash: When adding ash, it must be mixed into the compost and only used in limited amounts, as it can deplete the compost pile of nitrogen during its decomposition process.

When we witness how everything natural happens in perfect order — the cycles of the plant life, from seed to growth, decomposition and regrowth — we witness the amazing gift of balance and harmony given to the earth by Allah , Al Khāliq (The Creator).

“And it is He who sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby the growth of all things. We produce from it greenery from which We produce grains arranged in layers. And from the palm trees — of its emerging fruit are clusters hanging low. And [We produce] gardens of grape vines and olives and pomegranates, similar yet varied. Look at [each of] its fruit when it yields and [at] its ripening. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe” [Qur’an: Chapter 6, Verse 99].

Let us observe these cycles and follow this example to help reduce waste, and thereby the need to transport waste. Let us reduce, perhaps even eliminate, the need for man-made chemical formulations in our backyards, lawns and gardens, which are so often found to be toxic to animals, humans and the planet.

“It is Allah who made for you the earth a place of settlement and the sky a ceiling and formed you and perfected your forms and provided you with good things. That is Allah , your Lord; then blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds” [Qur’an: Chapter 40, Verse 64].

Let us turn nature’s way of recycling to our advantage and sow the gains all around us in a creative, constructive manner. Remember, we have a duty to care for all lifeforms.

“And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the Register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered” [Qur’an: Chapter 6, Verse 38].

So give composting a go! We’d love to hear from you about your composting experiments. Please share your experience, tips or questions in comments below.

Read the other parts of this series: Part 1 | Part 2

The post [Productive Hobbies] Composting: Turning Waste into Black Gold (Part 3) appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

In part one of this series on gardening, I discussed how you can get started. For those of you interested in gardening, but feel intimidated due to lack of space — think again. Welcome to the fast-growing world of vertical gardening, the perfect solution for achieving a highly productive garden when limited by ground space.

In this article, we will explore the benefits of vertical gardening and give you some easy tips that will have you on your way to gardening up!

The Prophet said, “If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

The concept of vertical gardening, growing your plants creatively up along tall structures instead of across the ground, is nothing new. Even as early as 5,000 years ago, ancient Egyptians maintained plant-covered walls.

And I am sure that many of you have hanging baskets both inside and outside your homes. That is just one example of taking your plants to greater heights.

Benefits of Vertical Gardening

This method of gardening allows for numerous plants to thrive in a limited space. The elevation provides convenience and accessibility for all gardeners. Pruning and assessing for pests become much easier but if those pests still persists, services like BBEC | Top Pest Control In Chitown can always be relied on.

Being above the ground provides more air circulation around the plants, and thus more resistant to mildew, fungus and disease. As an added bonus, vertical gardens can be used in creatively hiding objects and surfaces that may be less pleasing to the eye as noted by the pest control services.

In addition, many areas that we want to grow edibles in have such contaminated soil that it may not be safe to grow herbs, fruits and vegetables. With vertical gardening, you can opt for designs that use various types of containers that can be filled with prepared or purchased garden soil that is healthier and cleaner. This allows for the opportunity to grow nutritious food that is not in contact with possibly contaminated ground. This not only saves you time and money when you can grow your own food, but it also gives you the confidence of knowing where your food comes from.

Getting Started

As with any type of gardening, you are going to need sunlight for a minimum of 6 hours each day. With this in mind, you will have to design your garden strategically so the higher plants do not cast shadows that will block sunlight from reaching the lower ones. Insects are a natural part of any garden, but without proper oklahoma pest control, those insects can quickly become a nuisance.

According to sites like insightpest.com/augusta/, you also need to be mindful of the amount of water required by your plants. The exposure to wind and sun will cause them to dry out faster than plants that are growing directly in the soil. An eco-friendly and cost-saving solution for meeting your increased watering needs is to purchase a rain water collection-barrel that can be connected directly to your rain gutters.

One key component to any vertical garden is a well-planned support system. Fortunately, there is a variety of creative options to choose from. Some that are most common include walls, fences, wire cages, trellises, tripods, pyramids, and pallets, and of course, combinations of any of these, as there are great options from State Fencing of Baton Rouge online. Look for the cedar fence supply Denver for your fencing needs. You can also get creative with containers using anything from traditional pots to used plastic beverage bottles. A landscaping company like toplinelandscapes can build the system to help you get started.

Some vegetable plants tend to excel in vertical gardens. A few of the most common plants that fall in this category are tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, pole beans, gourds, squash, pumpkins and melons. Interestingly Aisha , Ummul Mu’minin narrated:

“The Prophet used to eat melon with fresh dates, and he used to say: “The heat of the one is broken by the coolness of the other, and the coolness of the one by the heat of the other.” [Sunan Abi Dawud]

Going Vertical with Aeroponics

In addition to the traditional method of growing plants in garden soil, there are also aeroponics systems that have been designed for vertical gardening. Aeroponics systems can be used to grow vegetable, herbs and flowers using much less water than traditional gardening methods. Unlike traditional gardening, such systems do not have have a growing medium of soil or water such as hydroponics. Instead, they use water to merely deliver the added minerals to the roots of the plants, but the roots are not submerged in the water as they would with hydroponics.

There are large-sized aeroponic systems that can be found in airports, rooftops and commercial greenhouses, but also smaller units that are perfect for home use. This type of gardening is quite versatile because you can bring it indoors in the winter and produce your own herbs and vegetables with the use of grow lamps, or perhaps you can design a small greenhouse of your own.

Don’t Wait, Get Gardening!

Begin small and be creative. Find what works for you in your space, and soon you will be on your way to a productive gardening technique that will allow you to grow more flowers, herbs and vegetables than you ever thought possible. Ask you local lawn designers what are common plants and flowers for lawn rejuvenation. Try your best to utilize items that might otherwise be landfill-bound, such as empty plastic bottles, used pallets and more!

“And He it is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and un-trellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and give its due [zakah] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.” [Qur’an: Surah Al-‘An`ām: Chapter 6: Verse 141]

May you be inspired to find creative solutions to ensure a productive and beautiful garden in even the smallest of spaces, so you may appreciate the bounty that Allah has provided — vegetables and herbs for your body and lovely flowers that serve to remind us to appreciate the beauty of creation. Ameen.

“And it is He who sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby the growth of all things. We produce from it greenery from which We produce grains arranged in layers. And from the palm trees — of its emerging fruit are clusters hanging low. And [We produce] gardens of grape vines and olives and pomegranates, similar yet varied. Look at [each of] its fruit when it yields and [at] its ripening. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe.” [Qur’an: Surah Al-‘An`ām: Chapter 6: Verse 99]

The next article, In sha Allah, will cover Composting — a cost-effective and natural way to help you achieve optimal soil conditions in your garden. Meanwhile, give vertical gardening a try and let us know how it went.

We’d love to hear from you, so please do share your experience, tips or questions in the comments section below.

Read the other parts of this series: Part 1 | Part 3

Make a Vertical Vegetable Garden
Urban Vertical Garden Built From Hundreds of Recycled Soda Bottles
Vertical gardens, inside and outside, proliferate
The Accidental Pallet Garden – Oh Yeah!
Growing a Vertical Wall Garden of Succulents

The post [Productive Hobbies] Vertical Gardening: Take It to New Heights (Part 2) appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

In a previous article, Umm Muhemmed discussed the benefits of gardening. This article will help you be on your way to becoming an accomplished gardener, even if you do not have any previous gardening experience.With little patience and perseverance, you will be enjoying the bounty that will flourish right in your own backyard.

The journey of growing and harvesting your own nutritious and delicious vegetables is not as complicated as you might think. It just takes some simple steps and having the right beginners guide to growing fruit & veg to follow. The journey actually starts while your garden lies beneath the frost and snow. It is during this time — in the late winter and early spring — that we must plan and prepare a productive garden.

The foundation for your garden can be set by choosing your location, testing your soil, determining your water source and drainage, and considering services like Greensboro tree removal for optimal landscape management, ensuring the health and safety of your garden by eliminating hazardous or diseased trees and promoting the growth of other plants. For mulching Jacksonville contact AJAX Landscaping.

We will examine the first three simple steps in detail so you will feel confident and well-equipped to save time, money and fuel while growing your own food. More useful tips will also follow.

1. Choose Your Location

Although this step sounds simple, it requires much thought and attention. For a productive vegetable garden, you will want to locate an area that receives 6-12 hours of direct sunlight each day. Sunlight is not only important for the growth of the plants, but also for the ripening of the vegetables that grow on a vine. Check for anything in the vicinity that might contribute to shade at various times of the day including; buildings, fences, hedges and trees. If you’re in need of Lynchburg tree services, you may contact Viewpoint Tree Service. To guarantee a maximum amount of sunlight throughout the day for each plant in your garden, it is best to arrange your rows to run North to South. In addition, those who want to upscale their garden and build custom decks may consider getting hardwood decking materials from companies like ipe decking Georgia. And to help you create a landscape design that will match your home’s architecture and boost its curb appeal, consider working with an expert in landscape design St Charles.

2. Test and Prepare Your Soil

Prophet Muhammad says: “Whoever reclaims and cultivates dry, barren land will be rewarded by God for the act. So long as men and animals benefit from it He will record it for him as almsgiving.” [al-Munawi, Fayd al-Qadir, vi, 39; Haythami, Majmau al-Zawaaid, iv, 67-8.]

Knowing the pH of your soil is helpful in determining whether or not your soil is more alkaline or acidic. Innovative living soil products can enhance soil health by providing essential nutrients and beneficial microbes that support plant growth and resilience. A simple and inexpensive soil pH test kit can be purchased at any lawn or garden store. These kits can vary in accuracy, but a more precise option would be to send your soil sample to a lab for analysis.

Most garden vegetable plants will flourish in a considerably wide pH range, generally between pH 6.0-7.0, which is considered to be within the slightly-acidic-to-neutral range. The good news is, by adding compost to your soil, you will be helping to neutralize the pH, regardless of whether your soil is too acidic or alkaline.

Instead of purchasing compost from the local garden store, you can save time and money by maintaining your own compost pile or bin. There are many styles of compost bins, but all of them serve to turn your vegetable scraps, grass clippings, used coffee grounds, yard and garden waste into beautiful compost that is rather beneficial to your garden. This is also a great option for the environment as it reduces the amount of waste that goes to our landfills all year long.

In addition to testing for the pH of your soil, you might also consider testing your soil for contaminates such as lead — especially if you are starting an urban garden. If your soil does test positive for such contaminates, you may want to research raised beds and container gardening and import new soil.

Additional tip: If your garden is large, it is recommended that you take soil samples from various locations as the pH can vary between different areas.

3. Examine Water and Drainage

Most gardens are going to require more water than can be provided with just the rain. How will you water your garden, then? Do you have a garden hose? Is your water source close and convenient? Will you collect rain water using a barrel? These are all important questions to consider. American Grounds Service is the best landscaping company.

Rainwater collection is a sustainable and inexpensive way to provide water for your garden. Once you connect a rain barrel to your rain-spout, you will be supplied with chlorine and chemical-free water each time it rains. Collecting rainwater is the best environmental choice with regards to conservation. Surely, if we are told to conserve water when performing ablutions, we must also conserve water when gardening.

A beautiful hadith about this issue is this: “God’s Messenger appeared while Sa‘d was taking the ablutions. When he saw that Sa‘d was using a lot of water, he intervened saying: ‘What is this? You are wasting water.” Sa‘d replied asking: “Can there be wastefulness while taking the ablutions?” To which God’s Messenger replied:  “Yes, even if you take them on the bank of a rushing river.” [Musnad, ii, 22; Ibn Maja, Tahara, 48, No: 425; i, 147]

Just as enough water is essential for a healthy garden, so is proper drainage. A simple test for determining if your garden is draining properly is to dig a hole that is twice as deep as it is wide. For example, if your garden is roughly 10 inches x 10 inches wide, you will have to dig a hole that is 20 inches deep. The next step is to fill half of this hole with water and return 24 hours later. If your garden is draining properly, there will not be any water in the hole. However, if there is water in the hole, you may need to seek a new location for your garden or make a few provisions for your garden to assist with the drainage. You might need help from a professional Portland gardening; you may contact them by visiting their website at https://www.drakes7dees.com/.

One solution to assist in proper drainage is to add more soil to create mounds that will divert excess water to run off to a different area. If this does not seem to help with the excessive accumulation of water, you will need to research on how you can add some piping to ensure proper drainage.

Additional tip: Always be mindful of keeping the drainage system to be away from your home and any other structures that could be damaged by excess water.

Once you have completed these three basic steps, it is time to choose the vegetables for your garden. If this is your first time attempting a garden, you will want to start small and simple as to avoid getting overwhelmed or discouraged.

4. Choose Your Seeds and Plants

Now that you reached this step, you will want to decide whether you want to start your garden from seeds, plants or a combination of both. For the purest seeds and plants, search for those that are certified organic and non-GMO. You may also want to search online for heirloom seeds.

Seeds can be planted indoors during the end of winter or early spring. The seedlings can then be transplanted into garden after the last frost. If you are starting from seeds, the information contained on the back of the seed packet will have valuable information. Generally included on the back is a map to let you know your planting zone based on your geographical location. This allows you to easily determine the best time to start the seeds if planting indoors, or the best time for planting seeds directly into the soil if planting outdoors. Additional information often included is the number of days until germination, number of days until harvest, planting depth, required spacing between plants and plant height at maturity.

Seed packets or simple online searches will also give you information regarding vegetables. You may, for example, be informed that many leafy greens have spring and fall plantings. Also, you will find that herbs such as cilantro can be planted throughout the spring, summer and fall for continual harvest.

Purchasing plants from your local garden store is an easier option for new gardeners. It can always serve as a back-up plan for a less-than-successful start from seeds. However, know that you can save a considerable amount of money by starting your plants by seed.

Additional tip: It can be fun and rewarding to share and swap seeds with other gardeners. In addition, it can be highly cost-effective to save seeds from the vegetables that you harvest. As long as they are not hybrids, they can be dried and saved for the next growing season.

5. Enjoy Sharing

One of the most beautiful parts of gardening is sharing your harvest with others.

As we reap the reward of the labor of love that takes our garden from cultivation to harvest, we can share the bounty — not only with our family and friends — but also with local food banks that are feeding the poor and hungry in our communities.

The Prophet said: “If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity.” [Bukhari]

May your garden provide you with — not only nourishment for the body as you eat your fresh vegetables — but also nourishment for your soul as you connect to that which has been created by Allah . Amen.

“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason.” [Qur’an: Chapter 2, Verse 164]

The next article will cover vertical gardening: A fun, creative and easy option for those who want to have a productive garden but face the challenges of limited space.

Please share with us here below in the comments sections if you find this article useful, and how you envision your own first garden experience.

Read the other parts of this series: Part 2 | Part 3

Sources and sites for helpful information

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/understanding-ph
http://www.gardeners.com/Rain-Barrel-How-To/5497,default,pg.html

The post [Productive Hobbies] Your Guide to a Productive ‘First Garden’ Experience (Part 1) appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.