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Organic Gardening
How to Create a Hot Compost Pile
Question: I have a compost pile and nothing I do heats it up. What could be the matter with it? Answer From Pat: If you have already read and are following the instructions on compost in my book (pages 97 to 99 and other references in index. Also the...
My mission in the Kalu Yala
Question from Chris: My name is Chris Garcia, I am not a beginner gardner but I am definitely not at your level yet. I am on a mission to gain as much knowledge as possible regarding organic gardening, I am seeking an internship of sorts in Panama to...
Organic Snail Control
Credits: Genevieve Schmidt & Ester the Chicken Question from Tressa: I love your month by month gardening book and have read it almost cover to cover. My problem is armies (literally of snails) I live in Claremont, Ca. (new Pomona not San...
Gray scaly bark on Crape Myrtle
Question from Jonnie: My crepe myrtle was purchased with a gray scaly bark = it looks like fungus. What organic spray can I use to rid the plant of this fungus. What kind of soil would you use to put in ground for the crepes? Answer from Pat: Without...
Terr-O-Vite
Question from Trinidad: Where can I purchase this product? Nobody seems to know about it. I live and work in Encinitas, CA. Places I have checked are Grangettos, Home Depot, Hydroscape… Please help. Answer from Pat: Terr-O-Vite is no longer available....
Brunfelsias
Question from Trinidad: I just read on one of your books that Brunfelsias can take two shots of high nitrogen fertilizer in December and January. What kind of fertilizer do you recommend? Do I do a soil drench or spray on leaves? I care for a garden that...
Organic Solutions: Rhizobia, Yeoman’s Plow, Carbon Sequestering, and Earthworms
Question from Mary: I read the link you sent on coffee grounds. It’s not the paper I originally read, but delivers the essentials. The fact that coffee grounds are not acidic was news to me, too. We just created a compost pile yesterday using them,...
Organic Solutions: Manure, Compost, Rhizobia, CO2 Sequestering
Question from Mary: Shortly after visiting your web site, I ordered your book. When it arrives, I know I will so enjoy reading it from cover to cover. I am delighted over the serendipitous connections, like with the McEvoys, as well! I am so very sorry...
Spent Brewery Grains as Compost or Soil Amendment
Question from Ica: My friend is a brewmaker and has tons of the filtered barley grains they use to make beer. Would this be a good soil admendment? Also should it be composted or can it be added directly to the garden? Answer from Pat: Spent brewery grains...
Raised Bed Planting
Question from Chad: I am just installed a raised 13 1/2 foot by 5 1/2 foot veggie bed in mu back yard that will get great amounts of south facing sun. I have filled the bed with good quality organic soil. I am using a soaker hose that is hooked into...
Early Blight on Tomatoes
The company that makes Probiotics 4 Plants Defensor Bacterial Inoculator told me they have temporarily taken their products off the market while they create a new marketing strategy for the general public. I suggest you use Serenade(r) Garden Disease...
Clover Attracts Ladybugs
Question from Olivia: Ladybug Do you think Lady Bugs are attracted to clover? I am a landscape designer and landscaper. I have a client in Clairemont, California. I just finished her garden. She told me that her garden was overgrown and not taken...
Terr-O-Vite vs Organic Fertilizers
Question from Dave: Your book recommends the use of Terr-O-Vite for so many things. I live in Thousand Oaks and can’t seem to find it. I don’t even see it on the internet. Can you recommend a source to buy it, or can you recommend a...
