HOW TO

on a Shoestring

Grow Organic

2. Make your own  compost bin.

If pests are a problem, add a lid that is well secured with a device intended for that purpose, such as a strong hook or bungee cords.

3. Make your own  liquid fertilizer.

Once you have a sufficient supply of well-decomposed compost, you can brew your own organic liquid fertilizer in the form of compost tea.

5. Make your own  potting mix.

Combine 5 pounds each of blood meal, rock phosphate, and greensand with 11 bushels each of peat moss and perlite.

7. Make your own organic weed killer.

Better yet, pull or hoe weeds yourself rather than applying weed killers of any sort.

9. Make your own horticultural oil.

Horticultural oil works well for smothering a variety of harmful insects. However, the University of Nevada lists oil-sensitive plants to avoid using this on, namely junipers, cedars, maples, redbuds, smoke trees, and spruces.

10. Make your own  flower plot to attract beneficial insects.

Instead of purchasing undiscriminating killers such as assassin bugs, which eat “good bugs” as well as “bad” ones, bring beneficial insects to your vegetable garden the natural way by growing flowers or herbs that will attract them.

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