Edible Garden AG Inc.’s Post

Our program to empower women and girls through sustainable home gardening involves providing them with the tools, knowledge, and resources to grow their own nutritious food while fostering economic independence. Our initiative focuses on teaching women how to cultivate a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs using eco-friendly gardening practices such as composting, water conservation, and organic pest control. By equipping women with practical skills in sustainable agriculture, the program helps them improve food security for their families, ensuring access to fresh, healthy produce year-round. Home gardening also offers an opportunity to generate additional income by selling surplus produce in local markets. Beyond economic benefits, sustainable home gardening promotes environmental stewardship, as participants learn to conserve resources, improve soil health, and reduce waste. This holistic approach not only addresses immediate needs like hunger and poverty but also empowers women to take control of their futures by fostering self-reliance, enhancing nutrition, and contributing to community resilience and environmental sustainability. https://lnkd.in/dsWudnJD

It is World Bee Day again and this year we thought that we would share our love of bees and other pollinators from the perspective of our resident beekeeper! Helen and her husband keep two apiaries (bee hives) in their garden and are best placed to explain why bees and other pollinators are important. Initially, they started to keep bees to help increase the yield of their pollinated vegetables but then they learnt the importance of keeping bees due to dwindling populations. Did you know that ‘three out of four crops across the globe producing fruits, or seeds for use as human food depend, at least in part, on bees and other pollinators’ (source UN)? The next time you bite into an apple or pear just think that it wouldn’t be possible without a bee or pollinator! The greatest threat facing our bee and pollinator populations comes from human activity, including intensive farming practices, land-use change, mono-cropping, use of pesticides and higher temperatures associated with climate change. On a positive note, the population of our honeybees has increased over the past twenty years due to the rise in popularity of beekeeping. However, the populations of our native bees, of which there are over 270 different species in the UK alone, are sadly declining. Did you know that the UK Government takes beekeeping so seriously that it has its own National Bee Unit? They collect data on beekeepers, the location of apiaries and their health and well-being. Indeed, Helen and her husband were audited by the National Bee Unit a few years ago and passed with flying colours! So, what can you do to help? Well, if you fancy keeping honeybees the best place to start is to find your local Beekeepers Association, they offer courses and other events to help ease you into beekeeping. Alternatively, you can look at how you keep your garden. It is ‘No Mow May’ this month which encourages gardeners to let their lawns grow long to provide food sources for pollinators. The rest of the year you could keep an area of wildflower or longer grass to offer habitats and food sources for pollinators throughout the year. If you do not have the space for a wildflower area, then you could plant wildlife-friendly plants. Bug or bee hotels are also a welcome addition to any garden as these offer habitats and overwintering opportunities for bees and other pollinators. If you can also reduce the use of pesticides within the garden and perhaps opt for organic or natural alternatives instead that will help with local populations. #ACDEnvironmental #WorldBeeDay

This research from RHS shares that gardening is more than just a hobby but also a powerful tool against climate change. Presented at the Hampton Court Garden Festival, the study reveals how gardens can significantly contribute to carbon sequestration, helping to mitigate global warming. This emphasizes the importance of plant selection and sustainable gardening practices. By choosing native plants, reducing lawn areas, and composting, gardeners can enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and reduce carbon footprints. Let's embrace sustainable gardening #ClimateChange #Biodiversity #EcoFriendly

Why are we told not to put weeds in our compost? Because then we’ll spend lots and lots of money on things like: 🌱 weedkillers (often killing the soil) 🌱 garden waste removal (with trucks clogging the roads using lots of fossil fuels) 🌱 if we’re not making our own compost then we’ll buy more of it from the garden centre, along with potting mix (in single use plastic, often with suspicious slow release fertilisers that generate even more profit for the BigAg chemical companies) Basically, most of the companies working in the gardening sector want you to fear weeds. At yesterday’s compost workshop in Tuakau at the Museum, we talked through an hour’s worth of questions about composting, bit by bit simplifying every aspect of it, until these three participants were ready to head home and apply new enthusiasm to making soil. Some of them had travelled more than an hour! Let’s hope it spreads into the community, and we see some impressive ‘sustainability’ budgets include compost education to help address the problems caused by the gardening sector. 🌱🌱🌱 Blue Borage: empowering home gardeners to build closed loop systems and be independent of commercial gardening products. 🌱🌱🌱

 🐝It's #WorldBeeDay! Bees and other pollinators, are not only key to ensuring foodsecurity, without them, entire ecosystems would collapse. Learn about our work in Zimbabwe revolutionizing local gardening by harnessing the power of pollinators: https://bit.ly/3WNLcbI 

The Power of Companion Planting in Organic Gardening Companion planting is a smart and natural way to boost your garden's health. By pairing plants that support each other, you can create a thriving garden without needing synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. For instance, planting marigolds next to your veggies can help keep pests away, while beans can enrich the soil with nitrogen, benefiting other plants. This method not only saves space but also promotes a healthier garden environment. Using companion planting techniques helps build a more resilient garden, encourages biodiversity, and supports sustainable practices. It’s all about letting plants work together to create a balanced and productive ecosystem. Let’s embrace companion planting and make our gardens healthier and more sustainable! 

🐝🐝🐝 Bzzz...Guess what? Today, we're buzzing about beekeeping! 🍯 Beekeeping is not just about producing honey. It's not just about raising bees, either. It's about understanding the significant role these tiny creatures play in our ecosystem and aligning ourselves to contribute positively to their survival. It's about understated eco-warriors blending a passion and a day job! Here's why we believe everyone should give beekeeping a look: 🍯 Beekeeping Benefits: • Honey - Obviously, right? Not just the sweet taste, but raw, local honey has renowned health benefit too. And who doesn't want a golden jar of pure honey direct from their backyard? • Improving crop yield - Bees are pollinators, and good pollination can increase crop yield by up to 24%. Gardening fan? The bees got your back! • Bee Wax - A source of eco-friendly candles, lotions and balms. So, how do we integrate the brilliant buzz of bees into our lives? 🐝 Getting started: • Education - Arm yourself with knowledge. Understand bee behavior, the difference between a queen, worker, and drone, why bees swarm, and how to prevent it. • Equipment - You need at least a hive, bees, protective gear, a hive tool, and a smoker. • Commitment - Beekeeping requires effort. Regular inspections and interventions are necessary, but the rewards? Priceless. So, whether you live in the city, suburbia or the rolling countryside, keep in mind, bees can basically thrive anywhere there are flowering plants. Let's help elevate these tiny champions of our ecosystem a bit higher on the ladder of life. As stewards of The Lost Garden, we genuinely believe that a healthier environment starts right at home. Whether that's through gardening, recycling, or yes, even beekeeping. One small buzz-a-rific action from each of us and before you know it, we've created a hive of positive change for our planet. 🌍💚🐝 Who's buzzing with us? #savethebees #beekeeping #sustainability

According to research by (MTU, 2022), A study on Seaweed Harvesting in Ireland aimed to provide information on the increasing number of indigenous companies working in the seaweed sector, developing and supplying high-value products from harvested seaweed into international markets. 28% of Seaweed-containing products produced in Ireland fall under the categories of tillage, horticulture, and amenities. At Hygeia, we're passionate about promoting sustainable gardening practices. That's why our Nature Safe brand leverages the natural benefits of seaweed, hand-harvested from the pristine Connemara coastline. Here's why seaweed is a game-changer for your garden: 🌱 Enhanced Nutrient Uptake: Seaweed is rich in essential minerals and nutrients that boost plant health and growth. 🌿 Improved Soil Structure: Organic seaweed helps retain moisture and enhances soil structure, promoting healthier root systems. 🌼 Stronger Plant Immunity: Regular use of seaweed in gardening boosts plant immunity, making them more resilient to diseases. 🌍 Eco-Friendly: Our Nature Safe products are 100% organic, ensuring a safe and sustainable choice for your garden and the environment. We offer a comprehensive range of 20 Nature Safe products, each designed to cater to different gardening needs, from lawn feeds to pest control solutions. By choosing Nature Safe, you're not just nurturing your garden, you're also supporting a brand committed to natural gardening methods. Discover the difference that seaweed can make in your garden. Experience vibrant, healthy plants with Nature Safe! #NatureSafe #Hygeia #Seaweed #OrganicGardening #SustainableGardening #GardenHealth #EcoFriendly #Connemara #PlantCare #GardeningTips

Lessons and Sustainable Gardening in Ypsilanti (2022-2023)

Bees are the gardeners of the earth, planting life wherever they go. 🐝🌍 Saving the bees is essential for maintaining biodiversity and supporting healthy ecosystems, as bees are key pollinators for many plants that provide food for humans and wildlife. Here are some ways you can help save the bees: 1. Plant bee-friendly flowers and plants. Choose a variety of native plants that bloom at different times of the year to provide bees with a consistent source of nectar and pollen. Flowers like lavender, sunflowers, wildflowers, and herbs such as thyme and rosemary are excellent options. 2. Avoid using pesticides. Many pesticides are harmful to bees. Opt for organic or natural pest control methods and encourage others to do the same. 3. Provide a water source. Bees need water for drinking and cooling their hives. You can help by placing a shallow dish of water with pebbles or stones in your garden, allowing bees to land and drink safely. 4. Create bee habitats. Leave areas of your garden undisturbed with wild grasses, or create a bee hotel by drilling small holes into untreated wood, providing shelter for solitary bees. 5. Support local beekeepers. Buy honey and beeswax products from local beekeepers who practice sustainable beekeeping. This supports their efforts and helps maintain healthy bee populations. 6. Educate others. Spread awareness about the importance of bees and what can be done to protect them. Education can lead to broader community efforts to create bee-friendly environments. 7. Reduce lawn mowing. Allow part of your lawn to grow wild, especially with clover and dandelions, which are great food sources for bees. 8. Support bee conservation organizations. Donate to or volunteer with organizations that focus on bee conservation and research. By taking these actions, you contribute to creating a safer and more sustainable environment for bees to thrive.