DREAMING OF HAVING BOTANICAL GARDEN OF AT LEAST ONE ACRE

Doing gardening on such small scale has been so much fun - it's healing/health  - any symptoms in my body, I go to the mini- garden and there's something to pluck and take for rejuvenation. 

Well, it's been a whole lot of mini-researches - so many, if not all plants in nature are so very useful - not surprising as the Almighty God doesn't create junks. 

Everything health-boosting from from head to toe including eye- health, oral health, anti-poisoning remedy, antu-cancer etc can be grown in a garden. 

I dont intend to use eye-glasses  even in very ripe old age so I am exploring the natural ways of keeping the eyes healthy and sharp. 

I will be sharing these findings in books very soon by the grace of God. 

How I wish there could be a field of medicine called Agricultural Medicine. Why not? There is already Naturopathic medicine I know but I think there should be a field of human medicine based specifically/directly on  agriculture. 

Africa should have comparative advantage in that but grateful for the scientific advancement by the Western.

I thank God and my family for the opportunity of having that basic university education to study agriculture - I almost didn't go through university due to stupidity but for the grace of God and support provided by my family.

Even while dreaming of a much bigger garden, I am still excited at this very little one.  

I said sometime ago that I didnt actually plant potatoes but often use the peels and remnants of potatoes in manuring the soil but the potatoes would still sprout.

 

I just usually cut the leaves and feed the snails I keep for observation on snail-rearing. So I didn't expect potatoes to grow.

 But recently, I sighted potato in the soil. I gave that potato raw to the snails - they chopped it ehhn!!

I will be checking in the New for more potatoes and cocoyam in the sacks.of soil . 

The ewedu in another sack is now calling for plucking  - the snake tomatoes (natural tomato paste) are blossoming even at this period.

 If you have those in your garden, you can use in enriching your Christmas Jollof rice😘. 

As for the  snake tomato seeds, I have used for medicinal purpose but I will not give details until there are more  structured researches.

 There's so so much in this body of knowledge which I have chosen to call Agricultural Medicine!  So even with a mini-garden, I have become absorbed in Agricultural Medical Researches...

#agriculturalmedicine

#Harmattan 

#GardeningduringHarmattan 

#growingcropsinsacks

#growingmaizeinsacks

#growingokroinsacks

#growingtomatoesinsacks

# growingsnaketomatoesinsacks

#spaceconstrainedgarden

#gardeningincementedpremises

#gardeninginsacks

#growingplantsinsacks

#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening 

 #minigardening  #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces  #spaceconstrainedurbangardening

#intercropoinginsoilsack

WISHING YOU A VERY HEALTHY, MERRY CHRISTMAS

From Farm Cafe: Agribusiness Information Services to you...

GETTING PEPPERS, ROUNDED TOMATOES TO FRUIT DURING DRY SEASON WITHOUT GREENHOUSEi

Last year November  I planted peppers in two sacks. I just poured the peppers not used into the sacks. They started growing.

 I think by February/March this year the plants started fruiting - very few numbers and tiny sizes initially but towards the end of July/August the sizes were a bit bigger and there were more pepper fruits on each plant. - hardly enough to blend for stew but these my garden  peppers  are so very spicy- in fact using them is one of the SECRETS   of delicious cooking- I would cut or dice them and use in boiling meat, seasoning fish, egg or any food. The peppers bought in the market don't have same effect for obvious reasons - they are not as well-tended as garden peppers. Secondly if the peppers you buy are from highly commercialised farms where they are grown with chemical fertilizers and sprayed with inorganic pesticides, they certainly wouldnt be as tasty as these garden peppers and there's also some human health hazards in consuming such chemically-grown peppers, tomatoes and other crops.

By November ending/December this year,  my pepper plants from last year started drying off.  I thought it was goodbye - at least I had planted new peppers and rounded tomatoes in other sacks. 

But I just decided to keep manuring  the soil in the old sacks  with kitchen wastes and watering - guess what? some of the plants made a come-back and are fruiting again!

 I am going to apply same principle of manuring most with nitrogenous kitchen wastes to the rounded tomatoes to get them to fruit in dry season- snake tomatoes fruit and ripen anytime of the year with minimal support. But those rounded tomatoes we commonly buy have been tough fruiting in this garden. Let's see how it goes with the ones I just planted less than one month ago.

Meanwhile I reserved some snails during this dry season in December to see how they'll fare. I have been feeding them  some corn harvested in the mini-garden - seems they like it just that the corn are dried and hard. But even at that see the pictures snail is clinging to the hard grain of corn😄

 I have soaked the one I will give next in water to make it easier for the snails to eat. 

One of the advantages of a mini-garden - you can do Agric practicals and  gradually learn the ropes of farming  - that is another cap to your feather🤣 sorry another feather to your cap I mean. 

#Harmattan 

#GardeningduringHarmattan 

#growingcropsinsacks

#growingmaizeinsacks

#growingokroinsacks

#growingtomatoesinsacks

# growingsnaketomatoesinsacks

#spaceconstrainedgarden

#gardeningincementedpremises

#gardeninginsacks

#growingplantsinsacks

#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening 

 #minigardening  #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces  #spaceconstrainedurbangardening

#intercropoinginsoilsack. 

///////////5

DESPITE HARMATTAN DRYNESS, SOME PLANTS DO WELL

A gardener in Western clime shared how her gardening and all farming activities is completely suspended every year for about two months  due to winter.

Some gardeners  in this clime are somewhat  apprehensive that the Harmattan especially if intense would adversely affect their plants.

But do take comfort in this - some plants actually thrive during Harmattran especially if getting needed care, regular wetting with water and removal of weeds.

Important note- those edible plants that still grow well during Harmattan contain essential nutrients needed for good health during the period. 

I will be observing plants that do well and those that don't during Harmattan  - hope other gardeners would do same so we can compare notes.

Last year, my Stevia (plant sugar) crop dried during the Harmattan, made a  struggle to revive after the Harmattan  - I think in February/ March but died completely before onset of rainy season despite regular wetting. 

But take note that certain crops such as lemon grass, mint leaves, waterleaf, ewedu, snake tomatoes still survive and could thrive in Harmattan.  I am watching to see if this maize plant in the picture will do well during Harmattan- I have been giving it Tender loving  Care😆

It's just about two weeks and the ewedu I planted have started emerging for plucking- meanwhile ewedu which is one of the cheapest  veggies is now so expensive! Reason - farmers here generally depend on rain-fed farming so any additional effort put in to grow crops means they will be so at higher prices.

So gardeners, over to you....understandably, space is a constraint but do try to grow something - it would not meet your food needs but just small quantities of such garden crops can meet your health needs. 

I had to go sort out my internet issues today so shortly after wetting the plants and manuring, I had to leave the garden- so couldn't do the usual garden reels - but its so exciting to know that not even the dryness of Harmattan can completely stop farming/gardening in my clime.

So we can still get some fresh crops even if not much- as mentioned earlier - seasonal edible crops contain  health boosting nutrients particularly essential for good health during that season. Our garden can be our closest pharmacy. 

#Harmattan 

#GardeningduringHarmattan 

#growingcropsinsacks

#growingmaizeinsacks

#growingokroinsacks

#growingtomatoesinsacks

# growingsnaketomatoesinsacks

#spaceconstrainedgarden

#gardeningincementedpremises

#gardeninginsacks

#growingplantsinsacks

#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening 

 #minigardening  #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces  #spaceconstrainedurbangardening

#intercropoinginsoilsack. 

Some 

DRY SEASON PLANTING ONGOING AFTER TILLAGE

I do the tilling of the soil in one sack   at time - to show respect for my back😂. I honour this body my Creator gave me while I make it do what is needful.

So I'm able to till one or two soil sack in a week.  After tilling each sack, I plant immediately. 

Apart from transplanting of mango seedling and Aloe Vera each in a sack, I have so far planted ewedu, peppers, rounded tomatoes, okro in four sacks altogether - I intercropped them in each sack. 

I don't know yet if the mango seedlings can grow to a fruit-bearing tree in the sack. Even if not, mango leaves are so very useful - it can be boiled as tea. I have also started using mango leaves in washing my hair.

 I am researching on how to include it in one of my home-made cosmetics. I use the Aloe Vera in my bathing soap. It's also good for hair. Planting them is to be sure the plants I use are not grown with chemicals. 

Garden fruits and vegs are the real deal - it's just the space constraint that's limiting but better grow something than nothing. 

The garden tomato I included in the cocoyam porridge I cooked some days ago gave the meal an exotic taste! That is one of the ways to enrich simple meals - meals can become rich even if not costly  if you know how to apply garden secret!

#growingcropsinsacks

#growingmaizeinsacks

#growingokroinsacks

#growingtomatoesinsacks

# growingsnaketomatoesinsacks

#spaceconstrainedgarden

#gardeningincementedpremises

#gardeninginsacks

#growingplantsinsacks

#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening 

 #minigardening  #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces  #spaceconstrainedurbangardening

#intercropoinginsoilsack. 

DRY SEASON PLANTING ONGOING AFTER TILLAGE

I do the tilling of the soil in one sack   at time - to show respect for my back😂. I honour this body my Creator gave me while I make it do what is needful.

So I'm able to till one or two soil sack in a week.  After tilling each sack, I plant immediately. 

Apart from transplanting of mango seedling and Aloe Vera each in a sack, I have so far planted ewedu, peppers, rounded tomatoes, okro in four sacks altogether - I intercropped them in each sack. 

I don't know yet if the mango seedlings can grow to a fruit-bearing tree in the sack. Even if not, mango leaves are so very useful - it can be boiled as tea. I have also started using mango leaves in washing my hair.

 I am researching on how to include it in one of my home-made cosmetics. I use the Aloe Vera in my bathing soap. It's also good for hair. Planting them is to be sure the plants I use are not grown with chemicals. 

Garden fruits and vegs are the real deal - it's just the space constraint that's limiting but better grow something than nothing. 

The garden tomato I included in the cocoyam porridge I cooked some days ago gave the meal an exotic taste! That is one of the ways to enrich simple meals - meals can become rich even if not costly  if you know how to apply garden secret!

#growingcropsinsacks

#growingmaizeinsacks

#growingokroinsacks

#growingtomatoesinsacks

# growingsnaketomatoesinsacks

#spaceconstrainedgarden

#gardeningincementedpremises

#gardeninginsacks

#growingplantsinsacks

#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening 

 #minigardening  #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces  #spaceconstrainedurbangardening

#intercropoinginsoilsack

USING TANGERINE PEELS TO MANURE MAIZE (CORN) PLANT

Whether it's curiosity or my science  background or my aspiration  into agromedicine or foodomedicals😁, I keep experimenting in this mini-garden.

So this morning  I am using tangerine peels to manure few maize crops planted in sacks and bucket in the garden.

I have so far avoided using any citrus peels to manure the maize plants due to their sharp taste - I don't want the taste to reflect in the corn😁.  I use them to manure some other plants.

But this set of tangerines I got for N200 are so very delicious (I suppose they allowed them to mature well on the tree before plucking). So I think the peels would contribute to sweetening the few out of the not-many maize plants  - I am aiming for sweet corn😁 so experimenting and critically observing.

I read that citrus peels drive away pests - Big time farmers - take note! This would be good as pesticides even in  commercialised Organic farming.

Citrus peels also have other uses - for example,  after cutting and squeezing juice from lime, I used the juiceless lime  as air freshener at home by placing them in some corners - the fragrance lasted for about two to three  days before the lime got dried.

Let's keep exploring -  some things may appear so little and insignificant now but could be much more beneficial later on.

#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening
#minigarden #urbangarden #mixedgardening #minigarden #minigardening  #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces
#urbangardening #spaceconstrainedurbangardening
#growingmaizeinsacks #growingmaizeinbucket
#manuringwithwastes
#usingtangerinepeelsasmanure
#usingcitruspeelsasmanure
#manuringmaizeplantswithtangerinepeels

TUMERIC PEELS OR BARK AS MANURE

When you peel turmeric, the bark or back is seen as waste, so it's  usually discarded but it is actually USEFUL.  It could also be that you have not used the Tumeric at all but they have stayed so long, they are too dried and can't be processed for normal usage. Your initial thoughts might be to discard them but please don't. They can be used! 

As what? There are quite a number of uses of Tumeric and even the peels i.e. the bark but today I am pinpointing on using it as manure in your garden - I have tried it  on pepper plant and the effect was good - that is not surprising- Tumeric is a spice and pepper also is spicy-  the pepper fruits are ripening well -  nicely reddish as they ripen. 

Even though food wastes  are generally good for manuring garden plants, we need to be cautious - some wastes may be better than others in manuring some plants and  some may not be good, perhaps toxic. 

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) (Family: Zingiberaceae) can be used as condiment, dye, drug, cosmetic etc.

It has been found that Turmeric contains Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium (NPK). It is very rich in nutrients and the orange flesh when used as paste or powder boosts immunity in humans and animals. 

The powder or paste solution  can be sprayed in the garden to prevent pests. 

But to get the fine orange paste or powder,before blending, you need to peel. So these peels which are normally wastes are also beneficial.

 . So you can minimise your expenses using Tumeric wastes. 

#tumeric #tumericpeels #tumericpeelsasmanure #usingtumericwaste

#innovativegardening

#manuringwithwastes

#manuringmaizeplantwithmaize

#spaceconstrainedgarden

#gardeningincementedpremises

#gardeninginsacks

#growingplantsinsacks

#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening 

 #minigardening  #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces  #spaceconstrainedurbangardening

USE OF BLOOD LEAVES AS MANURE

Today I want to share with you another discovery in gardening -
the use of blood leaves (Amaranthaceae) to manure your plants. I have used  it on at least two  crops - maize and pepper to boost growth.

Last week I noticed that the blood leaves  stems or branches  in my mini-garden were spreading.

So  I decided to prune. I was almost going to trash them when it occurred to me that the leaves may be good in manuring plants.

So I decided to use in manuring some of the maize plants in sacks or bags and pepper plant in one bag.

Unlike two or three  other pepper plants that have been fruiting very well, this particular pepper plant  was struggling with fruiting.

Over the weekend,  after manuring with blood leaves, I noticed that more pepper fruits had emerged on the struggling plant - I was able to pluck some for the very first time in months on this plant.

Also the corn or maize plant I manured with blood leaves brought out tassels (not ears) few days later.

The only bag  of soil I didn't put the blood leaves  had  two maize plants and they  didn't bring out tassels (not ears).

So today, this sunny October 3rd morning I applied the blood leaves on the soil in that bag with the two maize plants and some soya chaff as well.  So  the two maize plants can also get some boost.

I keep learning new things o - almost everything is usable. My five-year bachelor  of Agriculture degree course  and career in agricultural journalism did give me much knowledge.

Nothing however compares with putting some things into practice  - I may also write books from my learning on this to increase knowledge for students.

But right now I am just encouraging  gardeners  that almost everything  is useful - II am thinking  some weeds that we remove and discard or trash may be good for manuring - just cut off the roots so they won't sprout but decompose. I am going to be trying out weeds or plants yet unidentified in my garden for manuring. This mini-urban gardener is thinking deep o!

Public holiday is sure a good time to rest but if  you take a bit of the day to do some gardening, you will likely find the day much more refreshing

You can use containers - bags or sacks, buckets, basins, pots, drums if the ground you have is cemented or tiled.

#usingbloodleavesasmaure
#minigardenresearch
#growingmaizeinsacks
#urbangardenresearch
#experimentingmaizeprocessedwater
#useofmaizeprocessedwaterinwettingsoil
#wettingmaizeplantwithmaizeprocessedwater
#manuringwithwastes
#manuringmaizeplantwithmaize
#spaceconstrainedgarden
#gardeningincementedpremises
#gardeninginsacks
#growingplantsinsacks
#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening
#minigardening  #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces  #spaceconstrainedurbangardening
#growingmaizeandokro
#growingmaizewithotherplantsinsacks

TREE SPINACH- EFO IYANA IPAJA OR UGWU JERUSALEM IS SUPERFOOD

 

Scientific name: Jatropha tanjorensis

You see this vegetable in the photos - it's a Super food I.e. it is delicious with lots of nutritional/health benefits. In fact, it is medicinal. 

When I started growing it in my garden, I initially cringed at the idea of eating it. Why? Because it was terrorising my skin once  my body makes contact with the leaves. So why was I growing It? I wanted to provide shade for the snails that I started rearing for practical knowledge. 

I also wanted readily available leaves I could cut for the snails to feed on. This plant is not seasonal like many other crops, it sprouts  easily and grows all year round.  It is an evergreen, drought-resistant shrub growing up to  2metres to 5metres tall. 

It is also ornamental - it adds some beauty to the garden. I plant them in sacks and  water regularly.

Some gardeners kept telling me it was nice to eat. I kept thinking 'No way. How can I possibly eat something that itches my skin so badly when working in the garden?'

 I would have to rush to get my Organic lotion to apply on the part of my skin it touches for relief. If not it could itch so badly and that part of the skin could even swell up. 

But when I started researching information on this vegetable, and found out the nutritional benefits, I decided to try using it to cook vegetable soup. 

I first learnt how to do the cooking of course.

You need to be careful when plucking it so it doesn't touch your skin. 

Soak the leaves in hot water for at least 15 minutes or more or boil for at least 3 minutes and drain off the water.

Cut the leaves and cook like you would cook other vegetables such as the well-known Ugwu leaves. I added some bit of bitterleaf and basil- scent leaves. Bitterleaf  prevents purging. 

When cooked, Efo Iyana Ipaja is  really tasty! 

#efoiyanaipaja #ugwuJerusalem #efoJerusalem #uguoyibo #Catholicvegetable #treespinach  #hospitaltoofar

The vegetable is very rich in Vitamin A and C,

excellent source of protein, other vitamins such as B1, calcium, iron, folate and ascorbic acid, fibre as well as a potent antioxidant.

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TREE PLANTING IN SMALL FLOWER BED

Do you know it's actually possible to plant a tree in a small flower bed even with the base cemented? Watch the video:
The root of a tree will grow in the direction it finds least resistance - the soil of course provides least resistance. If it grows downwards into the soil in an open field, and there is a fence or building over the part of the ground the tree is growing it may affect the fence. But if the base of the soil is cemented, rather than grow down the root will look for the place of least resistance.

So what you can do is to control the growth of the root by removing the resistance in the direction you want the root  to grow. This will provide more opportunities for people living in towns and cities to grow trees if they want to. Already people are growing trees in containers.

But if you already have tree(s) in your compound, try to channel the movement of the roots in the direction(s) you consider appropriate to prevent damages to structures  you need to preserve.
I am going to remove the slab which I call pillar in the video and put soil - sand so the root of the NEEM  tree- Dongoyaro tree can grow in that direction.

See more details on video here:
https://youtu.be/6PxynKAvaYw

#trees #urbantreeplanting  #preservingtrees #GLF
#Landscaping
#GlobalLandScapeForum
#environment
#staygreen #liveingreenery

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