Garden Culture Magazine

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Can Mushrooms Save the Bees?

Rich Hamilton

The bees are dying and in massive numbers, a tragedy, given their importance to the ecosystem. It is estimated that one-third of the food that we consume daily relies on the pollination of honeybees. Globally, there are more of them than any other type of pollinating insect, making them the most important pollinator on Earth.Pollinators strongly influence ecological relationships, ecosystem conservation and stability, genetic variation in the plant community, floral diversity, specialization, and evolution. In tropical forests, woodlands, mangroves, and deciduous forests, many species of plants and animals will not survive if bees disappear. The production of many food sources such as seeds, nuts, berries, and fruits are all highly dependent on insect pollination.

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Cannabis and Chronic Pain: The Endorphin Connection

Guest Author

Humans have used cannabis for pain relief for a thousand years, but only recently have we garnered evidence from controlled, experimental studies regarding its efficacy for treating and helping those with chronic pain.

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Dandelions: Medicinal Weeds of Gold

Caroline Rivard

This article was originally published in Garden Culture Magazine UK30, & US28 In our modern western culture, where perfect green lawns have been worshipped for so long, the dandelion is generally seen as one of the most disgraceful weeds. We have been taught that it is an invasive plant that we must eradicate, usually targeted…

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Detox with Fruit And Fasting

Evan Folds

We might live longer, but do we live better? The developed world eats more than ever, and yet, we grow sicker. We grow plenty of food, yet people go hungry. The U.S. spends more money on health care than any other country, yet we rank towards the bottom in results. We are more connected through the computers in our pocket, yet lonelier than ever. Something big is wrong.

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Easy Ways To Create A Bee-Friendly Garden

Anne Gibson

Bees help fertilize up to 90% of the earth’s major food crops, including what you likely put on your plate every day. These hard-working insects are suffering from many pressures globally including chemical herbicides, viruses, mites, genetically modified crops, and harsh weather conditions. Many urban gardeners are noticing a decline in bee populations in their backyards and balconies, producing lower yields and reduced quality, size, and flavor of the food grown.

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Fungi – The Key To A Successful Food Forest

Guest Author

This article originally appeared in Garden Culture Magazine UK29 & US27 It’s not something we think of that often unless, perhaps, you are Paul Stamets, but the mycelium superhighways under our feet are a critical part of our environment. There is growing evidence that fungi drive their environment, influencing what type of ecosystem builds and…

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Latest Posts

Home Garden Tips: Bulbs And Tubers

For those of us who live in colder climates, the next outdoor growing season is several months away. Still, it’s never too early to begin planning the first blooms that will celebrate the end of a long winter.  Fall is the perfect time to get spring-blooming bulbs into the ground. Think daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths.…
November 18, 2019

How To Compost In The Winter

With the cooler weather here, it’s time to put the outdoor gardens to bed for another year. But what about the compost heap? Not so fast! Composting in the winter is possible, it’s just a slower process than it is in the summer. It’s slower because the heap won’t ever be hot enough to get…
November 13, 2019

Programs Helping People Build Pollinator Gardens

There is a lot of emphases these days on gardening organically to protect our soil and important pollinators. Many people are jumping on the bandwagon, and towns and cities across North America are backing gardeners making eco-friendly choices.
November 8, 2019

Book Review: Grow In The Dark

This book review originally appeared in Garden Culture Magazine UK31 & US29 The summer growing season is over; time to bring the outdoors in! But venture away from a sunny windowsill, and homes can lack the appropriate lighting many houseplants need to thrive.  Grow in the Dark: How to Choose and Care for Low-Light Houseplants…
November 6, 2019

Control Garden Weeds With These All-Natural Recipes

Many chemical remedies used against garden pests can have severe effects, not only on our health but also on the natural ecosystems around us. Here’s a list of alternative forms of weed control that save the Earth, our time, and money. You likely already have most of these ingredients at home!  Drizzle Vinegar Plain vinegar…
November 3, 2019

“Don’t Rake The Leaves And Nature Will Thank You”

It’s the time of year when many homeowners have closed their gardens up for another year and are preparing their properties for the winter ahead. And while raking leaves might be good exercise, is it really necessary?  Your heart and inner ‘type A’ personality might say ‘yes’, but some environmental groups are saying ‘no’. The…
November 1, 2019

5 Cool Ways To Use A Pumpkin After Halloween

Halloween isn’t complete without the perfect pumpkin! Around the world, many families continue the tradition of picking an orange squash, carving a face into them, and then, unfortunately, throwing them out. A 2018 study in the UK found that 8 million pumpkins go to landfills after Halloween. In the US, 1.3 billion pounds are thrown away,…
October 30, 2019

Unclear Labels A Driving Force Behind Food Waste

You may not know it, but there’s a good chance you’ve thrown perfectly fresh food into the garbage. A recent study by Ohio State University has found misunderstood food labels drive today’s food waste issues.  Published in the journal Resources, Conservation & Recycling, the research focused on items typically found in American refrigerators, including fruits,…
October 25, 2019

How To Use Herbs For A Perfect Cup Of Tea

This article appears in Garden Culture Magazine UK31 & US29 The colder months are for getting cosy by the fire with a warm cup of tea. While bags are easy and convenient, you don’t get as big a bang for your mug.  According to The Herbal Handbook For Homesteaders, storebought teabags often contain only dust;…
October 23, 2019

Regenerative is the New Sustainable

This article originally appeared in Garden Culture Magazine UK30 & US28 What do you think; are we doing our humanity justice?  For everything that humanity has going for it, do you think we could be doing a better job? In some ways, we are not smart enough, but in others, we’re too smart for our…
October 21, 2019

“Fall Harvest: Roasting Pumpkins”

Fun pumpkin fact: the world’s heaviest pumpkin ever recorded was grown in Belgium in 2016, weighing in at 2,624 pounds! A Connecticut man recently came close to breaking that record; his pumpkin weighed in at 2,294 pounds at the Topsfield Fair in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, there are many not-so-fun facts about pumpkins out there too, like…
October 17, 2019

#StoptheWaste Campaign Tackles Food Waste And Hunger

Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern has created a recipe for a Thai Coconut Salmon Soup that uses salmon heads and other pieces of fish you would usually throw away. It’s his way of helping to fight the problem of food waste and world hunger. Zimmern takes parts of the fish that typically never make it onto…
October 10, 2019

Top Signs Your Plants Are Starving For Nutrients

Sometimes it’s challenging to understand what’s going on in the garden, even when we think we’re doing everything right. But are all of your plants’ needs being met?  Some symptoms will be more apparent than others, but all of them are signs that your garden is being deprived of essential nutrients. When that happens, you…
October 9, 2019

Product Spotlight

Anden Dehumidifiers

BETTER. FASTER. SMARTER.

Designed and built for professional cultivation with components proven to perform in the grow room environment. Setup is simple, and humidity is continuously controlled to help prevent crop disease and pests. Anden grow-optimized industrial units come with a 5-year warranty and customer service that can’t be beat.

The unit removes up to 3 liters per kilowatt-hour, for maximum energy efficiency. Reaches peak power for maximum moisture removal—reducing humidity spikes. Most intelligent dehumidifier in its class, with onboard and remote monitoring, sensing and diagnostics.

Built for Grow. Visit ANDEN.com for more info.

Rapid Stack – Stackable Pots!

Quick and easy transplanting with no root shock to the plant. When the plant outgrows its container, the bottom is easily and cleanly removed, exposing the roots. Then, stack it onto another pot (or the ground). The roots will naturally grow down and out to fill the new space provided. With Rapid Stack, you can transplant in seconds with no mess, and they can be reused!

Visit Biofloral.com to find a store near you.

Active Air Portable Air Conditioner

This 14,000 BTU AC unit is a breeze to move on its four sturdy built-in casters, providing portable cooling power for growers who don’t want to invest in pricey ductwork or central AC installation. “Smart” system features backup memory and internal battery, 3-speed control panel, and remote control for regulating temperatures between 62℉ – 90℉ in areas up to 800 cubic feet. The unit includes a built-in condensation tray, window kit, exhaust hose, intake hose, and hose adaptors.

For more information, visit Hydrofarm.com

APTUS

Exclusively Available from Hydrofarm

Bringing lessons learned through years of internal commercial agriculture research into the home, hobbyist, and commercial greenhouse production environments. Created by plant scientists in the Netherlands, the result is the unique APTUS brand whose products incorporate natural ingredients and proprietary processes. The APTUS Premium Collection, a range of ultra-concentrated bio-stimulants that can work with traditional inorganic or organic-based fertilizers, epitomizes the focus on education and enhancing plant health without the use of harmful synthetic chemicals.

Ask more from your garden and get it with Aptus Plant Tech products with industry-leading concentration, ease-of-use, and remarkably visible results.

Check out Hydrofarm.com for more information.

TRIMPRO DRYPRO

Developed at the request of producers looking for yet another gentle, efficient, and high-quality TRIMPRO product designed for those drying their flowers before trimming. With its adjustable-speed motor, leaves are trimmed by the stainless steel grates’ movement on each other. The angled construction and latched front gate makes retrieval extremely simple, allowing perfectly cut flowers to exit the upper cylinder while the machine is still running.
DRYPRO has the best return on the market with a trimming capacity of up to 12lbs/hour.

Visit TRIMPRO.com for trimming solutions for any size operation.

iL5c from ILUMINAR

A full-cycle, tuned spectrum perfect for all stages of growth, including seedlings that require a lower μmole output.

The iL5c has excellent uniformity over a shared 5×5 space as well as a pure growing power with up to 825 μmol/s. IP65 certified for damp locations with an efficacy of 2.5 μmol/s.

This LED grow light has a quick and easy installation and the ability to daisy chain several fixtures in a row. Backed by a 5-year warranty and a team of lighting experts available when you need them, ILUMINAR always delivers quality manufacturing, 24/7 customer service, and expert lighting design.

Visit ILUMINARlighting.com for all the technical info.

HYDROID

This is the Droid You’ve Been Looking For!

HydroLogic Purification Systems is proud to present the world’s first compact commercial reverse osmosis hydroponic water filter: The Hydroid. This plug and play, turn-key commercial system is designed for performance AND convenience, capable of up to 3,000 GPD of pure RO water (4,500 GPD blended/customized TDS water). The plug and play pre-filter and two RO membranes are easy to replace, operating at a remarkable 66% recovery (2 parts product to 1 part water), high-end features impossible to find in systems selling for twice the price. Other standard features include: Microprocessor RO controller with auto flush function, dual TDS monitors, pre-filter capacity monitor, low-pressure/high-pressure switches, stainless steel, multi-stage centrifugal pump (110v standard plug,10.6 A draw) for continuous operation, liquid-filled pressure gauges and flow meters, all on a compact, rolling steel frame that easily moves as you need it to. For commercial growers looking for an affordable solution to step up their pure water game, nothing beats the performance, value and cutting edge technology of The Hydroid!

Visit HydroLogicSystems.com to find out which water filtration solution is right for your application.

Lighthouse Controlled Environment™ 2.0

Grow Your Favorite Plants Indoors!

Available in five popular sizes, the Lighthouse Controlled Environment™ 2.0 now features improved pole connections for ease of assembly and an even stronger frame! These grow tents are strong, lightweight, and built to last, with an ultra-bright reflective interior, waterproof liner, and premium zippers. Each tent includes a viewing window, adjustable ports for vent fans/ducting, screened vent panels with covers, and an adjustable power cord port.

Check out Hydrofarm.com for all the details.

FoxFarm Cultivation Nation

A highly concentrated nutrient system designed to support your garden at all stages of growth. Cultivation Nation VEGGIE and FLOWER is a two-part soluble powder for soil and soilless gardening applications. The three-part liquid program includes Cultivation Nation GROW, MICRO, and BLOOM, and is designed for use in soil, soilless media, and hydroponic or aeroponic systems. Both the powder and the liquid products can also be used as stand-alone fertilizers.

Go to Hydrofarm.com to find more great FoxFarm products.