ORGANIC GARDEN CARE:

Want a lush, healthy garden, for real?   Everyone loves a beautiful garden but many people are wary of the damage that chemicals cause to the soil.  Catch some Organic Garden Care Tips that will help keep your garden a happy, healthy place:

•  Fertilizers make it possible for you to plant in naturally poor soil - but synthetic fertilizers can pollute water supplies, may decrease soil fertility, and can even "burn" plants if used incorrectly!  In addition, there is a very high energy consumption required to produce these chemical products. For a healthy garden substitute these with environmentally friendly, non-synthetic fertilizers, such as organic compost, fish emulsion, manure, bone meal, seed meal, or peat compost. Some shops actually sell environment friendly fertilizers. You just have to ask!

What if you have a weed problem? 

Clove oil is an organic weed killer. Apply directly to weeds.

Try this Vinegar Recipe:

• 120 mls (4 ounces) Lemon juice concentrate
• 1 liter (1 quart) white or cider vinegar
• Simply mix the two ingredients together in a spray bottle, spray directly on weeds. You can also use the vinegar left over from a jar of pickles.

Or try these GREAT green alternatives!

Pull them! Try watering the area around the weed to soften the ground first.

Pour hot water on them. A bit of scalding water will shrivel weeds in a couple of days.

Smother them. Cover low-growing weeds with several layers of newspaper (it's biodegradable); the lack of sunlight will get rid of them. You can cover the newspapers with mulch to help the soil retain its moisture.

Eat them!  Many weeds are edible - the young greens of dandelions, dock, and chicory can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach.

 

VERMONT MAPLE SYRUP FUN FACTS:

Did you know...?

• Vermont produces more maple syrup than any other state
• The flavor of maple syrup, like that of other natural products, can vary from region to region and even from year to year. 
• Maple Syrup is a 100 % natural product. To make maple syrup, water is removed from the sap, but nothing is added

NUTRITION

Good news - Maple Syrup is good for you!  

• Maple Syrup has the same calcium content as whole milk. 
• It's rich in minerals such as potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron; and vitamins  B2, B5, B6, niacin, biotin, and folic acid.
• Maple Syrup is fat free.

 CREATIVE USES:

Not just for pancakes

• Pour it over vanilla ice cream and plain yogurt.
• Use it as a substitute for sugar in baking.
• Add  it as a sweetener for coffee or tea.
• Make maple candy or sugar-on-snow.
• Use as a flavoring in cakes, pies, or pastries.
• Glaze it over meats such as ham, chicken, or pork.
• Use it on grapefruit, hot cereals, and granola

Looking for delicious maple recipes? (Are there any other kind?)

Check out Vermont Maple Recipes