The Urban Farmer, Issue #037 * June,
2011: Bounce those gnats! * Window Farms *
Where to grow?
“A garden
is a friend you can visit any time.”
~Anon.
DRYER SHEETS AND FUNGUS GNATS!!
Several years ago, a fellow Master Gardener showed
up to work in our display garden with a dryer sheet tucked in his hat brim. He
said it kept away insects, specifically those incredibly annoying, tiny gnats
that cluster and swirl around your head. I’ve tried it off and on, to mixed
success.
The other day I read in the American Horticulture Society’s “American Gardener”
magazine that professor Raymond Cloyd and colleagues at the Kansas State
University Department of Entomology had done experiments using Bounce® dryer
sheets (Outdoor Fresh Scent™) to repel fungus gnats on indoor plants. Five
studies were conducted and in all 5, there were fewer fungus gnats in the
compartments with dryer sheets than without. According to Cloyd. “This study is
the first to demonstrate that Bounce® original brand fabric softener dryer
sheets repel fungus gnat adults under laboratory conditions.” (As reported in
the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science).
Even more interesting is the compound they suspect is doing the repelling –
linalool. It has a floral fragrance and is naturally present in plants herbs
like lavender and marjoram. There were also high levels of citronella, rose
geranium and lemon balm. Hmmm… try it in your hydro garden if fungus gnats
rear their ugly little heads.
By Marie Iannotti, About.com Guide
Other uses for dryer sheets:
Keep bugs away: Tuck some in your picnic basket or under
lawn furniture to repel bees.You can also rub a sheet directly on your bare skin
to discourage would- be buggers from leaving their mark.
Repel rodents: Use dryer sheets to keep out mice, skunks,
squirrels, rats, etc from your basement, garages, boats, campers, and
clubhouses.
VERTICAL HYDROPONIC WINDOW FARMS
Intrigued by the photo of the window
garden above? Read on…
Maybe it’s a sign of the times that home
gardening is on the decline. Before, people would spend their time in the
back yard. Now, they spend their time in their virtual back yard — the
Internet.
Britta Riley is merging the two by creating
The Windowfarms
Project, and she appeared on “Good Morning America” to talk about her
program.
On her website, Riley has a do-it-yourself
manual posted that over 10,000 people have downloaded to create their very
own individual vertical hydroponic window farms.
CLICK HERE to go to the website for the how-to manual.
You don’t even need soil. All you do need
is time, a little patience, some love, and an easy kit which you can either
make yourself or buy from the website. And pretty soon you will have your
own edible vertical hydroponic garden.
Hydro Tip of the Month
Where to grow?
You need to give some thought to where you’re
going to put your new garden. Is it going inside or outside? Consider these
options for your home hydroponics garden:
- An inside garden (with moderate to good
window lighting)
- A closet or small grow-room (few or no
windows)
- A patio garden
- A hydroponic greenhouse
More info to help you decide can be found at:
Home Hydro .
We hope you have enjoyed this issue of The Urban Farmer Ezine. Each month, we will bring you another inspiring photo, gardening quote or idea, plus fresh new hydroponics news, techniques & products.
Insiders tips to get you growing…
~Stella and Simon from
Hydroponics-Simplified.
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