spring
2013
The Media Guide to
Smart Modern Living
Editorial Content for Editors, Writers, Producers,
Show Hosts, Art Directors and Bloggers
www.HomeGardenandHomestead.com
Welcome to
Home, Garden and Homestead
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Contents • Spring 2013
Feature Stories ......................................................3
Household Products..............................................6
Natural Personal Care...........................................8
Natural Pet Products...........................................10
New Vegetable and Fruit Varieties.....................12
Non-GMO Seeds...................................................14
Fruit Trees and Bushes.......................................15
Growing Containers.............................................17
Perennials and Flowers.......................................19
Natural Pest Controls and Fertilizers................22
Garden Tools and Accessories...........................24
Greenhouses and Season Extenders.................27
Power Tools and Equipment..............................29
Chickens and Poultry..........................................31
Home, Garden and Homestead is published by Schultz Communications
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Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 2
Feature Story
Plants grown in biodegradable pots
eliminate transplant shock
MADISON, OH – It’s one small step for plants, and—just maybe—a giant leap for Planet Earth.
Bluestone Perennials, a top mailorder and web source for garden plants is the first
perennial nursery to com­pletely banish the use of plastic growing pots. Think of it as a
green industry leader that has gone green.
Bluestone Perennials now offers its entire line of
plants all grown in coco pots—100% biodegradable containers made from coconut husk fibers (coir). The new
coco pots measure 3.5 inches square and 4 inches high,
and are 2.5 times larger than the small plastic pots that
Bluestone had previously been using.
“The coco pot’s exceptional permeability to water
and air allows plants to quickly grow a robust root
system,” said William Boonstra, President of Bluestone
Perennials. “In traditional plastic pots, plants tend to become root-bound with a tightly interwoven root mass at
the bottom of the container. When grown in a coco pot,
the same plant grows healthy roots throughout the entire pot. The roots spread out in
all directions and air prune as they exit the pot. A plant with healthy roots grows bigger
and faster, and that means lots of healthy, vibrant foliage and ear­lier flower production.”
Because coco pots are 100% natural and 100% biodegradable, the pots can be planted directly into the ground. As a result, plants suffer minimal to no transplant shock.
Rather than spending precious time recovering from shock, coco pot-grown plants can
immediately focus on establishing themselves in the garden—and outpacing plants
grown in plastic pots.
The ecofriendly coco pots are a renew­able resource that require little energy to
make, and they naturally break down to become part of the soil structure. Plus, there
are no leftover pots to recycle or throw away.
“The new coco pots also enabled us to improve our packaging, which en­sures that
our plants arrive at the peak of health,” said Boonstra. “The new packag­ing even lets us
banish those annoying and messy packing peanuts. The new shipping containers, combined with 100% biode­gradable pots that can be planted directly into the ground, make
unpacking and plant­ing a breeze. Our plants are ready to grow right out of the box.”
All of the plants sold by Bluestone Perennials are backed by a full one year 100%
guarantee. If a Bluestone plant does not thrive, the company will replace it free or refund
the purchase price. To receive a free Bluestone Perennial catalog call (800) 852-5243. To
view the catalog and purchase online, visit www.bluestoneperennials.com.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 3
Feature Story
Protect electrical cord connections
from water and weather
ORLAND PARK, IL – For as long as there have been extension cords, people have been
plugging the cords together and trying to figure out ways to keep those exposed connections protected from water and weather. Now they can forget about wrapping those
extension cord plug connections in duct tape or plastic bags.
“I finally got tired of seeing my wife duct-taping our
holiday light cord connections together, which always
failed to keep the lights on,” said Bryan Nooner, inventor
of a new product called Twist and Seal. “Leaving extension cords exposed to the elements isn’t safe and taping
them just does not work, so it was time someone solved
that problem.”
Nooner is a self-proclaimed “science guy” who was
a high school biology teacher in the 1980s. Since then
he became a successful businessman who owns several construction-related companies. He started doing
sketches of a product that would snap over the junction
of two electrical cords. The sketches became product
prototypes, then CAD renderings, and then manufactured product samples.
The product’s name—Twist and Seal—was derived from the way the device works.
The foam on the inside of the unit is slightly larger than the plastic housing on the outside. As you push the shell together around two joined extension cord plugs and twist
it, the foam compresses down to create a radial compression around the cord.
Even though Nooner had never brought a product to market before, he learned that
the National Hardware Show, an industry trade show held every May in Las Vegas, was
the place to introduce the product. He loaded up his Chevy Suburban with product
samples and drove from Chicago to Las Vegas, not knowing what to expect.
The reaction to Twist and Seal was swift and extremely positive. Twist and Seal
won the Silver Award for the Most Innovative Product of 2012. The inventor was soon
talking to product buyers from Home Depot, Do It Best, Ace Hardware and many other
top retailers.
Why was Twist and Seal the hit of the National Hardware Show? Twist and Seal provides outdoor weather protection for electrical cord connections all year long. It’s perfect
for keeping cord connections safe and dry in any outdoor setting, including near pool
pumps, ponds and water fountains. Using a Twist and Seal keeps electrical connections
dry during the holiday lighting season. At construction sites and in any remote power
situation, using a Twist and Seal will keep extension cord connections safe and dry.
The heavy-duty, weather-proof Twist and Seal sells for $8.95 at participating Walmart,
Do It Best, Ace Hardware and other fine stores, or order online at www.twistandseal.com.
For more information, call (888) 945-4545.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 4
Feature Story
Botanical Interests continues
commitment to being GMO-free
BROOMFIELD, CO – Gardeners are generally a calm, even contemplative, group of
people. Their passions are ignited by a sweetly scented flower or a great-tasting tomato
variety. But one recent issue has turned their passion into vitriol and turned the calm of
the garden into a brewing storm of controversy. That issue is GMOs – or, more precisely,
genetically engineered (GE) seeds.
The term GMO, or genetically modified organism, is a broad
term that includes GE seed, the ones causing all the controversy.
They have their DNA manipulated in a laboratory, in ways that
nature could not likely reproduce, and are often a mix of two incompatible species that couldn’t breed naturally. The effects and
consequences of these genetic changes are not fully understood.
Judy Seaborn, co-founder of Botanical Interests seeds stated,
“We have always believed that informed and educated people
make decisions they feel good about and with GMOs the jury is
still out, so we steer clear of them.”
Judy Seaborn and Curtis Jones built Botanical Interests on
foundations vital for any business: customer service, ethical
business practices, and great products. And, because Seaborn
and Jones have spent their lives in the green industry, from university to garden center and from shopper to salesperson, they
know that people appreciate having all the information they need to make good choices.
It was this belief that led them to create the most informative seed packet in the
industry and to continuously provide a selection of the best home gardening varieties
available. It also led them away from GMOs. “The GMO issue is highly charged and the
available information seems incomplete, confusing, or misleading. It’s hard for people to
fully understand everything involved,” said co-founder Curtis Jones.
“We want our customers to have all the information they need to make the best
choices for their gardens, their families, and the environment,” said Judy Seaborn. Providing seeds that have unknown or unintended consequences contradicts the core principles of Botanical Interests. These same principles guided them to join the Safe Seed
Program and sign the Safe Seed Pledge from the Council for Responsible Genetics, which
states, in part, “We pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered
seeds or plants.” Jones and Seaborn take the pledge one step further and state that they
do whatever it takes to be sure they don’t EVER buy or sell genetically engineered seeds.
According to Seaborn and Jones, “The choice to steer clear of GMOs was more than
a business decision, it was a personal one. We are a company of gardeners. We all try to
do what is sustainable, natural, and environmentally responsible. GMOs don’t fit with
the way we want to live and our customers have told us they agree. So, we are committed to being GMO free.”
www.botanicalinterests.com
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 5
HOME
Household Products
Today’s modern homes—and modern homeowners—are getting smarter about
cleaning, re-cycling, painting, reusing and generally taking a less-toxic approach to all
kinds of daily chores and duties.
Why toss a zipper-lock freezer bag in the trash when it can easily be washed and
reused? Every time you throw away a plastic bag that could be reused, you are literally
throwing money (and resources) away.
Why use a paint that contains a high VOC content? VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are solvents that get released into the air as the paint dries. VOCs can cause
acute symptoms, including headaches and dizziness. The long-term effects are less
certain, but according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, some VOCs are
suspected carcinogens.
Why use a chemical-based cleaning product when more eco-friendly (and human
friendly) choices are available? Instead, use these smart choices:
New kitchen product makes reusing
freezer bags easy
The BagDri was designed for the busy
family that likes to save money and recycle. This simple new invention gives
you a convenient way to easily dry out
plastic freezer and sandwich bags so you
can reuse them over and over again. Just
unfold the BagDri, set it on a countertop,
and place the bags upside down over the
BagDri’s posts. The Air Dri Wings™ help to
keep bags open for faster drying.
The BagDri is also great for drying
rubber gloves, sports bottles, winter gloves and mittens. The BagDri is only 3.6 inches
thick when completely folded down, so it fits easily in almost any drawer or cabinet.
Take it out and put it away quickly and conveniently. The BagDri is made in America,
and it will quickly pay for itself in the cost of a few boxes of zipper freezer bags alone.
The BagDri sells for $17.99 at www.bagdri.com.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 6
A cold glass of milk paint anyone?
Paint has been used by mankind since before recorded history. In fact, the oldest
painted surfaces on earth were colored with a form of milk paint. Milk painting can
give unfinished furniture a distinctive antique look—a finishing method that was popular a century ago.
Since its establishment in 1974, The Old Fashioned
Milk Paint Co. has been safely producing the old look of
this unique milk-based paint that is completely biodegradable, with no VOCS, HAPs or EPA-exempt solvents
added. It is as safe to drink (not that you’d want to, of
course) as whole milk! Environmentally safe and nontoxic, it is ideal for children’s furniture and toys, or in
the homes of those who are allergic to modern paints.
Milk Paint (for use on wood and masonry) and Safe
Paint (formulated for walls) are available in 20 colors and one gallon sells for $45.95.
Purchase or find a dealer near you at www.milkpaint.com.
Help for high-traffic wood floors
It’s difficult to keep wood floors looking their best year after
year, especially in areas of high traffic and use. This routine wear
will eventually become visible on your most-used wood floors—
and even on other wood surfaces such as tabletops and benches.
Besides the unsightly timeworn appearance, high traffic and high
use areas on wood surfaces make those surfaces more susceptible
to spotting or staining. Liquids like red wine, coffee or mustard can
penetrate the wood and leave behind stains that are difficult, if not
impossible, to remove.
Renewing wood surfaces with AURO Care Oil No. 106 or Care
Wax No. 107 will ward off these signs of wear and provide a brilliant
finish that is dirt and water repellent, breathable and anti-static.
Use these easy care protections on all oiled and waxed wooden furniture and floors. A
one liter bottle of Care Oil or Care Wax sells for $30.40. See the full line of AURO products at www.AuroUSA.com.
Home, Garden and Homestead is published by Schultz Communications
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Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 7
Natural Personal Care
Modern life takes its toll on hands, faces and bodies. Sunburns, dry skin and sore
joints are all common results from gardening, outdoor activities—and just plain everyday living. As awareness of the synthetic chemicals that flood today’s health and
beauty market grows, more people are turning to botanicals and minerals for their
needs. The beneficial properties of these herbs and oils help nourish, heal and soothe
as nature intended without the need to compromise on quality.
Today’s more natural and holistic approach towards personal care has increased
the demand for products that are free from harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients.
The natural personal care products below include a selection of the best safe and nonsynthetic skin, body and muscle remedies.
Rejuva Minerals introduces
organic facial oil treatment
Pure botanical oils readily absorb into skin, leaving it plump and
healthy. Botanique Naturels Luscious Berries Facial Oil from Rejuva
Minerals contains 100% organic cranberry, red raspberry and jojoba
seed oils, which are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids to help promote a healthy complexion and prevent signs of aging.
This natural oil won’t clog pores and has a natural light berry
scent. Use Luscious Berries Facial Oil as a moisturizer under Rejuva
Minerals line of celebrity-endorsed natural makeup, which is free of
toxic ingredients and common skin irritants such as mica, bismuth
oxychloride and titanium dioxide. Their best-selling Soft Rose Blush
and other loose powder products are blended with organic pomegranate and grape and infused with fragrant crushed red roses. Luscious Berries Facial Oil ($16.95) and the entire award-winning line of Rejuva Minerals
makeup and skin care products are available at www.rejuvaminerals.com.
Soothing relief for muscle aches and pains
Muscle aches, pains and bruising can find soothing relief with natural salves and
liniments. Arnica Liniment from The Super Salve Company is deep penetrating and oil
free, and it uses the natural healing properties of Arnica flower (Arnica montana, also
known by the common name Leopardsbane). Arnica is popular for treating muscle
strains, injuries and bruises, and it is an excellent remedy for any sports bag or first
(continued on next page)
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 8
Soothing relief for muscle aches and pains (continued)
aid kit. Arnica Liniment provides soothing relief for muscle
aches and pains of all kinds because it is fast acting and helps to
increase circulation. Arnica Liniment sells for $9.95.
The Super Salve Company, located in beautiful southwestern
New Mexico, uses the highest quality ingredients in its unique
line of 100% natural skin care products. Super Salve’s botanical
plant-based infused oils and liniments have moisture-retaining
abilities and naturally occurring vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The result is healthy, vibrant and beautiful skin. For more
information, visit www.supersalve.com or call (575) 539-2768.
Chemical-free sunscreen provides broadspectrum protection
Everyone knows that using sunscreen will help protect against
skin cancer, but according to The Environmental Working Group,
some brands contain harmful chemicals that can absorb into the
skin. Badger Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Aloe Vera Sunscreen Lotion
is a safe, chemical-free and 100% certified natural sunscreen that’s
perfect for everyday use on your face and body. (It can even be
worn under makeup.)
This easy-to-apply, non-greasy lotion provides broad spectrum
protection from UVA and UVB rays using the mineral zinc oxide.
The soothing aloe vera base contains no added scent, and Badger
sunscreen is dermatologist approved as non-comedogenic (which
means it won’t clog pores). Badger is a small, family-owned and
family-friendly company nestled on the banks of the Ashuelot River
in rural Gilsum, New Hampshire, that proudly formulates blends of
the finest organic ingredients available anywhere in the world. A
four-ounce tube of Badger Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Aloe Vera Sunscreen Lotion sells for $17.99. Visit www.badgerbalm.com to see
the complete line of Badger healthy body care products.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 9
Natural Pet Products
Pets are big business—especially in America. The U.S. alone accounts for 38% of
the global market for pet food—$19.85 billion of the $56 billion global market in 2011,
up to $20.54 billion in 2012, and as much as $26.6 billion by 2015. (Source: Pet Food
Market Assessment 2013, released by PMMI.)
“The pet-food market has defied most of the predictions…. Despite economic
downturns, consumers are still showing a willingness to invest in their family pets.
They’re continuing to try new products and pay premium prices, and even organic
products and functional foods are seeing growth,” says Jorge Izquierdo, vice president
of market development for PMMI.
Natural pet food isn’t the only growth area in the pet industry. Consumers who are
buying natural and organic food for their dogs and cats are also trying other natural
pet products, including healthy dog treats, vitamins and supplements, shampoos, and
more.
Mother Nature’s tricks are even being used to make it easier to train a puppy where
to “go” in the yard. Here’s a roundup of some new, natural products for dogs.
DoggieDuty™ makes “potty training” easier
Now it’s easier than ever to train a dog where to go to
relieve itself in the yard. Summit® DoggieDuty™ Trainer
utilizes a dog’s natural instinct to cover the scent of another canine outdoors to mark and establish its territorial
boundaries. DoggieDuty™ Trainer tablets contain concentrated coyote urine that dogs will naturally want to cover
up with their own scent.
Placing a DoggieDuty™ Trainer gel tablet in the yard
where you want your dogs to go will keep them from going
in areas of the yard that you want to keep free of dog urine.
The unique DoggieDuty™Trainer gel-tablets will encourage
dogs to confine their waste to specific areas in the yard,
thereby protecting areas near patios, porches, outdoor
living spaces, vegetable gardens and other sensitive landscape areas. While odorless to humans, the active ingredient in DoggieDuty™ Trainer gel-tablets attracts dogs and
encourages them to urinate. The active ingredients are natural and biodegradable.
Just drop a gel-tablet in or around the preferred waste area. Your hands will never
come in contact with the active ingredients. DoggieDuty™ Trainer gel-tablets will last
for 30 days, even in rainy or snowy conditions.
Summit® DoggieDuty™ Trainer is available in three package sizes—20 tablets,
40 tablets and 100 tablets. Visit www.summitresponsiblesolutions.com for additional
information.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 10
Natural food for vibrant, happier and
healthier pets
The name almost makes it sound as if Spot’s Stew
Wholesome Chicken, made with the finest natural ingredients available, is good enough for people to eat. But this
dry food, from Halo Purely for Pets®, is definitely for dogs.
Foods that are full of unnatural or adulterated ingredients
can harm pets by introducing unhealthy substances into
their systems. Spot’s Stew Wholesome Chicken is made
with butcher-quality chicken, whole egg and a bounty of
farm-raised vegetables. This easily digestible home-style
recipe also provides natural sources of soluble and insoluble fiber, and it contains no corn, wheat or wheat gluten.
Halo is the only major brand with no chicken meal or
other rendered animal parts. Premium quality ingredients and commitment to holistic
pet care are what separate Halo from many other pet care companies. Nutritional experts at Halo have spent more than two decades researching pet health and nutrition
in order to provide the very best for pets. To purchase Halo Purely for Pets® products
or find a retailer near you visit www.halopets.com.
Natural shampoo for itchy dogs
Many people don’t realize just how sensitive a dog’s skin really is. A
dog’s skin is only about 3-5 cell-layers thick, while we humans have skin
that is about 10-15 layers thick. So, harsh shampoos with lots of chemicals and those that aren’t pH balanced may be irritating to a dog’s skin.
Now there’s a gentle, effective, all-natural shampoo that can help
keep dogs clean and their skin itch-free. KissAble Oatmeal Shampoo
contains colloidal oatmeal, one of the most effective natural ingredients
for canine itch relief. The formula also includes chamomile and aloe,
both of which are renowned for their soothing properties, plus rosemary to help relieve soreness and discomfort.
A 16-ounce bottle of KissAble Oatmeal Shampoo sells for $10.99 and
will make your best canine friend fresh, clean, comfortable—and oh yes,
way more kissable! KissAble Oatmeal Shampoo is available online at
www.happytailsspa.com/Kissable/OatmealShampoo.html.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 11
GARDEN
New Vegetable and Fruit Varieties
Every year, horticulture experts around the world cultivate new and exciting plant
varieties to enhance the diversity and productivity of gardens everywhere. Not just for
show, most new varieties of fruits and vegetables offer improved yields and hardiness,
and they thrive right alongside the tried-and-true varieties.
Gardeners always love to grow the newest varieties of their favorite plants, and the
ones listed below are sure to be crowd-pleasers. Resulting from years of experience
from established companies and garden enthusiasts, each of these unique varieties
has something special to add to the garden. Increased disease resistance, more compact growth habits and unusual-colored fruits are all reasons to consider adding one of
these new varieties to your garden.
Burpee introduces “world’s largest
sauce tomato”
Burpee is known for bringing new vegetable varieties to American gardens for 136
years—including the first white sweet corn, the legendary ‘Big Boy’ tomato, and ‘Sweet
Seedless,’ the first ever seedless tomato. For 2013, Burpee has introduced SuperSauce
Hybrid Tomato, “the world’s largest sauce tomato.”
SuperSauce is the new superhero of tomatoes. The first ripe fruits tip the scale at
up to 2 pounds, measuring a whopping 5.5 inches tall and 5 inches wide. SuperSauce
produces gallons of luscious, seedless sauce from
a single plant harvest—one tomato fills an entire
sauce jar. The easy-to-grow, indeterminate, diseasefree plants yield a summer-long supply of exquisitely
flavored marinara, tomato gravy or meat sauce. But
wait! It gets even better. With its large segments of
meaty and delicious flesh, SuperSauce is the only
paste tomato that doubles as a sandwich slicer. Try
it on a hamburger or tomato sandwich and you won’t
believe the taste bonus over a horizontal slice of
beefsteak.
Tomatoes are the nations favorite backyard garden fruit because they are easy to grow, are prolific
producers and have unrivaled summer flavor. SuperSauce Hybrid Sauce Tomato is
already one of Burpee’s best-selling tomato introductions ever. A packet of SuperSauce
Tomato seeds sells for $6.50 or 3 garden-ready plants sell for $14.95, exclusively from
Burpee, (800) 888-1447 or www.burpee.com.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 12
Grow “Condo Mangos” on a porch or patio
Mangos are prized worldwide for their sweet, delicious fruit. Unfortunately, full-sized mango trees grow
too large for small yards and containers. A new variety
of mango called ‘Cogshall’ is nicknamed “condo mango” because of its dwarf growth habit and ease of growing in a pot. Known by the botanical name Mangifera
indica, the tree matures to about 8 feet tall and will
bear a crop of mangos every year once it reaches fruiting age (in 3-4 years). The sweet, fiberless fruit has a
yellowish-orange skin with a red blush and ripens in
mid-to-late summer.
Mangos are self-fertile so a single plant will bear fruit. Allow the fruit to fully ripen
on the tree for maximum sweetness. Grow in full sun in well-drained but evenly moist
potting soil. This variety is cold hardy to USDA Zone 10, so bring it inside when the
nighttime temperatures drop to the low 40s. Available in a 6-inch pot for $39.95 from
Logee’s, (888) 330-8038 or www.logees.com.
Rosella Purple Tomato is the perfect
container variety
Rosella Purple is a new dwarf tomato variety that produces fruits similar to Cherokee Purple but on short plants, making this variety ideal for container gardening. Bred
by the Dwarf Tomato Project, an international group of tomato enthusiasts devoted
to breeding short tomato varieties with great flavor, Rosella Purple fruits weigh 6-10
ounces and feature a delightful deep purple color. The productive plants grow to about
36 inches tall and benefit from some staking to
keep them upright and to protect the fruits from
sunscald. These determinate plants produce fruit
65 days after transplanting.
Rosella Purple originated from a cross between Budai (a small red-fruited dwarf) and
Stump of the World, made in 2006 by Patrina
Nuske Small in Australia. A subsequent selection
discovered by Craig LeHoullier led to Rosella
Purple—after other members of the Dwarf Tomato Project (www.dwarftomatoproject.com) made
their own contributions. A packet of seeds sells for $3.25 from Southern Exposure Seed
Exchange, www.southernexposure.com, (540) 894-9480.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 13
Non-GMO Seeds
For many gardeners, growing plants and eating fresh garden vegetables is all about
feeling closer to nature. In order to grow seeds as nature intended and get back to the
roots of gardening (literally), more gardeners are choosing to avoid genetically modified seeds and instead are growing the proven heirloom varieties that have remained
unchanged for decades.
Unlike GMOs or hybrids, traditional heirloom plants produce fertile, true-to-type
seeds that can be saved for planting in the next growing season. The stories and
unique history that many heirloom flowers and vegetables carry also makes them
worth planting. Some heirlooms were developed by early settlers, while still others
have only been recently rediscovered.
The companies listed below offer hundreds of traditional, non-GMO varieties of
vegetable, fruit and flower seeds, including many regional favorites. Try planting some
of these special flowers and vegetables for yourself and watch living history sprout
and thrive in your garden.
Botanical Interests offers almost 600
non-GMO seed varieties
Botanical Interests has been providing gardeners with the best selection of high
quality seeds since 1995. Because of their commitment to quality and service, they
have assembled an eclectic assortment of seeds that meets the
demands of gardeners everywhere. These choices include certified organic, heirloom, open-pollinated and responsibly produced vegetables, herbs and flowers—and all of the seeds from
Botanical Interests are GMO-free.
By offering almost 600 different seed varieties, the Botanical
Interests selection is more comprehensive than competitive offerings. Botanical Interests has varieties that are perfect for every region of the country, special interest and gardening niche.
Wildlife gardeners will love large, mixed-flower seed collections
such as Bring Home the Butterflies, Hummingbird Haven, Save
the Bees and Songbird’s Delight. Gourmets will love Botanical
Interests’ large selection of sprouting and micro greens seeds,
including Sprouts Sandwich Mix Organic Seeds and Micro Greens Mild Mix Seeds.
Flower gardeners will love the more than 200 varieties of flowers and flower mixes for
every purpose from brilliantly colored for bedding to sweetly scented for cutting and
anything else imaginable. Vegetable gardeners will appreciate over 300 varieties of
seeds carefully chosen for their appeal, flavor and performance. Everyone will appreciate Botanical Interests’ environmentally friendly approach to gardening and their commitment to being GMO FREE. To order seeds online or request a printed catalog, visit
www.botanicalinterests.com.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 14
Seeds for an old-fashioned, healthy garden
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange offers more than 700
varieties of vegetable, flower, herb, grain and cover crop
seeds—none of which are genetically modified or chemically treated. Southern Exposure specializes in heirloom seeds
(open-pollinated, non-hybrid varieties that were developed
before 1940) and organic seeds because it believes that
“people, vegetables, and the communities that encompass
them will all be healthier if we step back towards the older
system.” Located in the rolling hills of central Virginia not
far from Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange emphasizes
seed varieties that perform well in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, although gardeners
and farmers from all over the USA and Canada are happy customers. Included in its
latest catalog are many unusual Southern heirlooms including peanuts, southern peas,
naturally colored cotton, collards, okra, roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), turnip greens,
corn for roasting and meal, and butterbeans. To request a printed catalog, download a
PDF version of the catalog, or place an online order, visit www.southernexposure.com,
(540) 894-9480.
Fruit Trees and Bushes
There are few pleasures in life that can compare to picking and eating fresh berries,
apples and other fruit grown in your very own backyard orchard. Many trees and berry
bushes bear so heavily, in fact, that you can’t eat all the fruit fresh—so canning and
preserving is a great way to enjoy an orchard’s bounty all year long.
The stories below feature quality fruit-bearing trees and bushes ranging from fig
trees and cherry trees to historical heirloom apples and improved berry varieties. Any
of these productive trees and bushes can be great additions to the garden. Adding a
new fruiting tree or bush will add beauty and structure to the landscape—and can feed
you and your family for years to come.
Nature Hills offers hundreds of fruiting plants
Looking for a cold-hardy fig tree? Desert King Fig
(Ficus carica ‘Desert King’) is a good choice for cooler
climates because it’s hardy to USDA Zone 5 and produces large, sweet figs with strawberry-red flesh. How
about an early-ripening cherry variety that’s perfect for
pies? ‘Early Richmond’ Cherry (Prunus cerasus) ripens
in late spring and the bright red fruits are excellent
for cooking. Perhaps you’d rather grow raspberries.
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Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 15
Nature Hills offers hundreds of fruiting plants (continued)
Raspberry ‘Brandywine’ (Rubus idaeus ‘Brandywine’) is a cross of red and black raspberry plants, and it’s been called the best purple raspberry available.
All of these fruiting plants—and hundreds more—are available from Nature Hills
Nursery. This online-only retailer offers more fruit trees, berry bushes and other
edible-producing plants than any other website. Nature Hills Nursery proudly calls
itself “America’s Online Garden Center” because it also offers a full line of shade trees,
perennials, fertilizers, pest controls, tools and even gift items. Visit www.naturehills.
com or call (888) 864-7663.
Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry® outproduces traditional varieties
The typical blackberry bush produces 1-2 gallons of berries per plant each year. Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry® is variety that yields 10-20 gallons
of sweet, vine-ripened berries every summer. That’s
10 times the production of a normal blackberry
bush—plus there are no painful thorns. The fruit
sets in bunches of 10 to 30 large, sweet berries that
ripen over a 6-8 week season in the summer. Doyle’s
Thornless Blackberry® is a trailing variety that
grows best on a trellis. The plants need two years to
establish and then the disease-resistant plants start
producing sweet, delicious, healthful, antioxidantrich berries that are great to eat fresh, in beverages and deserts, or frozen for later
use. Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry® plants grow successfully throughout the USA and
Canada in USDA hardiness zones 2-10. Potted plants sell for $20 each or $17.50 each in
quantities of 10 or more. Call (812) 254-2654, see customers’ comments and pictures at
https://www.facebook.com/doylesthornlessblackberries, or visit the web site at www.
fruitsandberries.com.
Grow a famous apple tree
Did you know that when Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity he was sitting under
an apple tree? It was a variety named Flower of Kent. Thomas Jefferson had many
dozens of apple trees at Monticello, but the very flavorful Esopus Spitzenburg was his
favorite. And the most famous apple trees of all are those planted by Johnny Appleseed. All three of these special apple trees are available from Raintree Nursery—plus
many old-time and new varieties of fruit trees and berry bushes.
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Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 16
Grow a famous apple tree (continued)
Raintree Nursery owner Sam Benowitz got
bonked on the head by a Flower of Kent apple
at Woolthorpe in England.
“Growing great fruit and vegetables at
home is a way for people to learn the self
sufficiency that previous generations took
for granted,” said Sam Benowitz, who has
owned Raintree Nursery for 40 years.
Raintree Nursery offers more than 800
varieties of fruit trees, berries and vines,
each selected for flavor and disease resistance with the home fruit grower in mind.
Raintree Nursery offers the best new varieties from research stations from around the
world as well as the best of the heirloom
varieties. To place an order, request a
catalog or get more information, visit www.
raintreenursery.com or call (800) 391-8892.
Growing Containers
Growing your own garden is a satisfying project to undertake, whether you live on a
50-acre farm or in a downtown apartment. For many would-be gardeners, however, the
idea of growing vegetables in a tight space can seem daunting. Luckily, many fruits and
vegetables can thrive in containers, allowing urban gardeners to grow their own food
in the smallest of spaces. Not only is container gardening convenient, it is also more
accessible, often eliminating the need to bend over or kneel while doing garden work.
Today, the idea of container gardening is catching on and patio, windowsill and
rooftop gardens are popping up in virtually every town and city. As the popularity of
container gardens grows, more companies are offering new and creative products to
help make growing your own food easier than ever. The unique containers listed below
help simplify the gardening process and can support a surprisingly large harvest. Perfect for beginners and experts alike!
A new way to garden from Nature’s Footprint
The UrBin Grower™ is a compact, self-watering organic growing system that’s
perfect for the urban family. It can be used almost anywhere—a patio, porch, balcony,
backyard, greenhouse or sunroom—to grow healthy produce, herbs or flowers. The
innovative design of the UrBin Grower™ allows for portability and a bountiful harvest.
With careful planning, you can extend your growing season with three crops such as an
early spring planting of peas, a summer collection of lettuce and greens, and a late fall
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Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 17
A new way to garden from Nature’s Footprint (continued)
harvest of kale or broccoli. Instructions
include how to grow vegetables vertically,
including squash, cucumbers, beans and
pea—plus strawberries, ornamental plants
and more.
The UrBin Grower’s sub-irrigation
watering system waters plants the way
nature intended—from the bottom up and
also supplies air to stimulate root development. Pouring water into the UrBin
Grower’s visible reservoir allows you to monitor the water much more effectively
than in many self-watering containers, in which you must water through a tube into a
hidden reservoir. An all organic soil mix comes with every UrBin Grower including 5
cups of vermicompost containing millions of living microorganisms and a new plant
food which produces an explosion of these microbes with an effect similar to compost
tea. A collection of soil amendments including volcanic pumice and coir with trace
minerals finish off a truly unique organic soil mix designed to last for years.
Included in the complete UrBin Grower™ kit are a 16-page illustrated instruction
book, quick start DVD, seed starting tray and organic mulch all for $39.95. Also available is organic compost for an additional $10. For more information visit the website at
http://www.naturesfootprint.com/media-hgg.
EDITOR’s NOTE: A media kit that includes high resolution images can be found at:
http://www.naturesfootprint.com/media-hgg
Gardening as easy as
“Planting by the Numbers”
Forget about digging up the yard this spring. A new patio garden makes vegetable
growing as easy as planting by the numbers. The GrowBox™ container garden fits
neatly on any patio or deck and features a cut-out planting guide that shows “newbie”
gardeners exactly where and what to plant. The GrowBox™ then automatically adds
the right amount of water and fertilizer 24/7. Best yet, the entire system can be set-up
and growing in about 15 minutes.
The heart of the GrowBox™ system is the patented Nutrient Patch™ cover that
automatically adds fertilizer as the plants need it. Developed by commercial tomato
farmers, the home gardener simply lays a Nutrient Patch on top of the soil and plants
tomatoes, peppers, beans, salad greens or any other plants at the numbered slots.
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Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 18
Gardening as easy as “Planting by the Numbers” (continued)
Inside the planter, a 4-gallon water well adds water at
the correct rate so there’s no guessing about maintenance. “This system actually gives novice gardeners an advantage over expert growers,” said Monte
Schroeder, Agricultural Nutrition Specialist.
With today’s skyrocketing food costs, even a
small garden can save hundreds of dollars per year in
grocery bills. The GrowBox™ planter was designed
for busy homemakers, seniors, individuals with disabilities and people who just want a convenient home
vegetable garden without all the work.
The GrowBox™ planter comes complete with
fertilizer, simple instructions and a handy planting
guide. It’s available on the web for $29.95 + S&H at
www.agardenpatch.com, or by calling 1-800- 519-1955.
Discounts are given for schools, clubs and multiple quantities.
Perennials and Flowers
Beautiful and often deceptively easy to care for, perennials and flowers provide
more than just color to the landscape. A very important aspect of a productive and
healthy vegetable garden lies in the selective planting of flowers. Although many aren’t
edible (but a few are), flowers attract beneficial insects, birds and pollinators to the
garden, where they provide valuable assistance—from setting blooms into fruit to
keeping pests at bay. At a time when the bee population is in decline and many song
birds are becoming scarce, a perennial flower garden offers a safe place for these creatures to rest and feed, helping to keep their populations stable.
Perennials are versatile plants that grow well in formal plantings or simply in
spaces that need color and vegetation. In large, vacant areas, grow wildflowers and
self-sowing perennials to naturalize the space and create a colorful meadow that needs
minimum upkeep. No matter where you plant them, healthy perennials and flowers are
sure to be beautiful and beneficial additions to the garden.
The perennials and flowers listed below are excellent garden performers, selected
for their showy blooms, lush growth and ability to withstand less-than-ideal conditions.
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Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 19
Perennials and Flowers (continued)
Delphinium Black Eyed Angels leads new
flower varieties
Bluestone Perennials is known for its impressive selection of flowing perennials, and
its new offerings for Spring 2013 are especially
delightful. Delphinium Black Eyed Angels is
a stunning new white-flowered variety with a
small, dark “bee” in the center of each flower.
The frilly double flowers stand on 3-4 foot tall
stalks during the summer, and the plant is surprisingly heat resistant. Delphinium Black Eyed
Angels is a butterfly and hummingbird magnet.
Plants sell for $9.95 each.
Azalea Bollywood is a new variety with colorful flowers that would be right at home in a
Bollywood movie. The glitzy neon-rose blooms are set against the perfect backdrop of
leaves with cream-colored margins. This plant attracts hummingbirds during the growing season and stays evergreen during the cold season for year-round color. Plants sell
for $14.95 each.
Echinacea Twilight is one of the best of the new wave of echinaceas that boast new
colors and flower forms. Echinacea Twilight flower petals are a cross between a traditional pink and orange, the result of crossing two Echinacea varieties, E. purpurea and
E. paradoxa. This variety is heat and humidity tolerant, sturdy stemmed and fragrant.
Plants sell for $12.95 each.
Bluestone Perennials now offers its entire line of plants all grown in 100% biodegradable containers made from coconut husk fibers (coir). The new coco pots are 2.5
times larger than the plastic pots that Bluestone had previously been using. Coco pots
are biodegradable, so the pots can be planted directly into the ground and plants suffer minimal to no transplant shock.
To receive a free Bluestone Perennials catalog call (800) 852-5243 or visit www.bluestoneperennials.com.
Invite ‘Cleopatra’ Echinacea into your garden
For Spring 2013, Wayside Gardens has added more than 60 new plants to its selection of flowering perennials. Cleopatra Echinacea Coneflower is named for the European butterfly Gonepteryx cleopatra because the flower’s petals are exactly the same
shade of yellow as the butterfly. ‘Cleopatra’ is the brightest addition you can find for a
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Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 20
Invite ‘Cleopatra’ Echinacea into your garden (continued)
sunny perennial border, with nonstop summer blooms
that begin in early summer and continue all season.
This radiant plant sets lemony yellow blooms by the dozen all over compact plants just 15 to 18 inches tall and
18 to 24 inches wide. Bees and butterflies love the flowers. Cleopatra Echinacea Coneflower loves full sun and is
cold hardy in USDA Zones 5-9. Plants sell for $16.95 each.
Another stunning new flowering perennial is ‘Pardon My Pink’ Bee Balm (Monarda didyma, which ushers in a new era for Bee Balm with a compact, heavyblooming plant that demonstrates terrific resistance
to powdery mildew. ‘Pardon My Pink’ sets full-size flowers on ultra-compact plants.
Measuring 2½ to 3 inches wide, the brilliant pink blooms are magnets for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The blooms begin in midsummer and continue through
the remainder of the season, topping the handsome, healthy dark green foliage on neat
little plants just 10 to 12 inches high and not quite as wide. Plants sell for $14.95 each.
In addition to flowering perennials, Wayside Gardens offers roses, trees, shrubs,
vines and climbers, bulbs and edibles. For more information about the new plants
described above or the hundreds of plants available from Wayside Gardens, visit
www.waysidegardens.com.
New ‘Sunfire’ water lily boasts colorchanging blooms
Water gardeners with a new lily on
their wish list this season just got their
wishes granted thanks to hybridizer
Mike Giles. Nymphea ‘Sunfire’ is a prolific
bloomer that can vary from shocking deep
red-pink with orange center petals to hot
red-pink with yellow center petals—or
even almost all yellow or almost white.
Soil, fertilizer, sun exposure, local climate
and water conditions all contribute to the
variations in flower color. As a result, no two plants will look exactly alike.
Sunfire is an excellent bloomer that starts early and blooms non-stop until most
other lilies have long given up for the year. This medium-sized lily does well in
cramped, low fertility conditions, so both novice and experienced water gardeners will
enjoy its colorful blooms. The flowers tend to open more fully toward the fall and the
colors don’t fade, making Sunfire a great late-season plant. Sunfire plants are $49 each,
exclusively from Lilypons Water Gardens; www.lilypons.com, (800) 999-5459.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 21
Natural Pest Controls and Fertilizers
Don’t diss Mother Nature.
That’s what an increasing number of homeowners, gardeners and homesteaders
seem to be saying when it’s time to choose pest control products and fertilizers. Millions of homeowners are choosing natural products for use in their yards and gardens,
rather than the chemical-based products that were commonplace in previous decades.
The increasing demand for less-toxic, natural and organic products has resulted in a
dramatic increase in eco-friendly product choices. (A recent Google search for “natural
pest control” yielded 18.1 million results.)
One of the biggest-selling mosquito control products uses a naturally occurring bacterium (called B.t.i.) to kill mosquito larvae before they can grow up to become flying,
biting, disease-carrying adults. A popular snail and slug killer uses iron phosphate to
kill the plant-eating pests—and the product can be used safely around pets and wildlife.
And the list of natural and organic plant foods and fertilizers seems to grow every week.
Mother Nature’s mosquito control
Homeowners looking for an effective way to control pesky, disease-spreading mosquitoes don’t have to resort to harmful chemicals. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs
in pools of standing water, so the first step
in controlling mosqui­toes is to eliminate
standing water wherever possible.
“In warm weather, mosquitoes can
develop from eggs to adults in a little more
than a week in just a few ounces of standing water,” said mosquito control expert
Jonathan Cohen. “It’s important to empty
out birdbaths, pot saucers, kids’ swim­ming
pools and unclog rain gutters to reduce the
areas where mosqui­tos can lay eggs.”
Where standing water remains or can
collect after a heavy rain, there is a natural
mosquito killer that attacks only mosquito larvae. It’s a naturally occurring bacterium
called B.t.i (short for Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), which is deadly to mosquito
larvae but harmless to other living things.
B.t.i. is the active ingredient in Mosquito Dunks®, the top-selling biological mosquito control in North America. The B.t.i. in Mosquito Dunks® kills mosquito larvae
before they can become flying, biting, dis­ease-spreading adults.
Just float biodegradable Mosquito Dunks® in ponds, bird­baths, outdoor tubs,
water gardens or wherever water collects and remains for periods of time. Mosquito
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Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 22
Mother Nature’s mosquito control (continued)
Dunks® are approved for use in organic production, and they are also approved for
use in fish habitats and animal watering troughs. Each Mosquito Dunk® will treat up to
100 square feet of surface water for about 30 days.
Mosquito Dunks® are available at home centers, hardware stores and garden centers. For more information visit www.summitresponsiblesolutions.com.
Kill snails and slugs—effectively and
organically
Looking for an organic way to control slugs
and snails? Monterey Sluggo® snail and slug bait
is now OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute)
Listed for use in organic gardening. Sluggo® contains no metaldehyde so it can be used confidently
in organic vegetable gardens, and it is safe around
family pets and any wildlife visitors to your yard or
garden. A one-pound shaker can of Sluggo®, which
will treat 2,000 square feet and remain effective for up to four weeks, sells for $19.00.
This easy-to-use pellet formulation is now available in a one ounce packet size for use
in smaller gardens with fewer plants to protect. This smaller size covers between 4-5
square yards and sells for $1.90 per packet. Sluggo® is available at garden retailers and
at www.montereylawngarden.com/products/organic/#sluggo.
Natural fertilizer for vegetable gardens
Bradfield Organics® Veggie is a premium natural fertilizer designed
for use in vegetable gardens and potted plants. Veggie fertilizer helps
support production and produces delicious vegetables full of homegrown flavor. The guaranteed 2-3-6 analysis of Bradfield Organics®
Veggie (2% nitrogen, 3% phosphate, 6% potash) provides the perfect
natural balance for most vegetables.
For best results, broadcast spread 20 to 30 pounds of Veggie fertilizer per 1,000 square feet of garden area before planting. Then till the
fertilizer into the garden area to thoroughly mix it into the soil. When
planting, make a furrow or planting hole twice as deep as you normally
would, then place a generous amount of Veggie fertilizer in the bottom of the hole or
row and mix with soil. Cover lightly with soil and follow the regular planting instructions. Bradfield Organics® Veggie natural fertilizer is available at garden centers, or
visit www.bradfieldorganics.com for more information.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 23
Garden Tools and Accessories
Gardeners love the tools, accessories and other new items that help make gardening easier and more productive. The right tool can make all the difference when
it’s time to remove weeds or prune back an overgrown tree. The right accessory can
ensure that outdoor extension cord connections stay safe and secure. A great pair of
work gloves can protect hands during gardening and other outdoor chores. And gardeners always love the new accessories and technology that helps plants to grow.
In gardening, as in so many things in life, a well-designed tool or implement can make
all the difference. No matter how many “can’t live without it” tools and accessories a
gardener has in his or her tool shed, most gardeners and homeowners are always willing
to consider adding something new that will enhance the gardening experience.
Here’s a selection of some of the best new gardening and outdoor tools and accessories.
A new way to keep extension cords
snug and dry
Now you can forget about wrapping extension cord
plug connections in duct tape or plastic bags to protect
them from water and weather. Twist and Seal is a new
product that provides outdoor weather protection for
electrical cord connections all year long. It’s perfect for
keeping cord connections safe and dry in any outdoor
setting, including near pool pumps, ponds and water fountains. Using a Twist and Seal keeps electrical connections
dry during the holiday lighting season. At construction
sites and in any remote power situation, using a Twist and
Seal will keep extension cord connections safe and dry.
The product’s name—Twist and Seal—is derived from the way the device works.
The foam on the inside of the unit is slightly larger than the plastic housing on the outside. As you push the shell together around two joined extension cord plugs and twist
it, the foam compresses down to create a radial compression around the cord. The
plastic housing is large enough to accommodate cord plugs of any size, from smaller
holiday lights plugs to commercial-grade extension cords.
Each Twist and Seal is made of a tough UV ray resistant and weather resistant commercial grade plastic that will withstand many years of exterior use. The heavy-duty,
weather-proof Twist and Seal is available in four colors—white, green, orange and blue.
It sells for $8.95 at participating Walmart, Do It Best, Ace Hardware and other fine stores,
or order online at www.twistandseal.com. For more information, call (888) 945-4545.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 24
Wonder Grip® garden gloves fit and feel better
It’s only been a year since Wonder Grip® gloves
were introduced in the United States. The “shockingly sheer” Nearly Naked™ garden gloves won an
Innovation Award at the 2012 National Hardware
Show, and enthusiasm continues to grow for the
entire Wonder Grip® line which includes gardening
gloves, work gloves and gloves for kids.
Nearly Naked™ Wonder Grip® Garden Gloves
offer hand protection so sheer, flexible and unrestricted that hands feel nearly naked. These gloves work hard, too. Fine-gauge nylon
knit liners are reinforced on palms and fingertips with revolutionary Wonder Grip®
micro-porous coating that breathes, keeping hands cool and maintaining its superior
grip even when wet. Offered in three pastel colors in sizes XS to L.
Nicely Nimble™ Wonder Grip® Garden Gloves are slightly less sheer but still wonderfully light and flexible. Comfortable, seamless knit nylon liners in vivid floral colors
protect hands with tough, anti-slip Wonder Grip® micro-porous coating on palm and
fingertips. Available in three bright colors in sizes XS, S, M and L.
New for 2013 are size XXS and XS Wonder Grip® gloves for kids in the same vibrant
pink, purple and blue colors as the popular Nicely Nimble gloves. These tiny gloves
are sure to appeal to kids (and their parents and grandparents!) and the tough, flexible
Wonder Grip® coating will protect their hands.
Wonder Grip® gloves are available at garden centers and hardware stores throughout the US and Canada. Visit www.gloves.lfsinc.com for more information.
Use Negative Ions to Boost Plant Growth
iGrow uses patent-pending technology to increase the growth and production of virtually any
plant that has a green leaf. iGrow generates negative ions that slightly charge the plant and allow it
to maximize photosynthesis. The slight negative
charge allows plants to more easily absorb the positively charge nutrients in the soil, thus increasing
growth and discouraging insects and disease.
The ion shower created by iGrow also counteracts the effects of pollution. The solar-powered
iGrow dramatically increases plant growth and fruit
yield. Simply hang a compact (4” x 4” x 3”) iGrow unit 9 to 12” above plants. The iGrow
increases plant growth within 3 feet of the unit, and within weeks you will be amazed at
the increased growth, vitality and production of your plants. The solar-powered iGrow
never needs batteries, and it is all natural for people and pets.
The iGrow sells for $29.99 at www.igrowinfo.com.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 25
Cool tool for weeding and cultivating
Gardeners love tools that make it easier to dig in the dirt. So
it’s no surprise that the CobraHead® Weeder and Cultivator a favorite among gardeners. The all-purpose CobraHead blade is like
a steel fingernail® that weeds, cultivates, digs, plants, transplants
and does other handy gar­den tasks. The blade cuts through
tough soil—even heavy clay and weed-choked garden plots.
Every CobraHead® tool is proudly made in the USA (CobraHead LLC is a family business based in Wisconsin). The shorthandled CobraHead® Weeder and Cultivator features a handle
made from a mix of recycled plastic and agriculturally grown
flax fiber—making it the “greenest” garden tool available. The comfortable blue handle
is molded around the unique blade to ensure years of hassle-free use.
The CobraHead® Weeder and Cultivator hand tool sells for $24.95. For more information visit www.cobrahead.com.
Every Story in this Guide is
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Home, Garden and Homestead is the media resource guide to the growing
marketplace of products that enhance independent and natural living. HG&H
was designed to be a source for editorial information and photos that editors
and writers can use in stories about homes, gardens and homesteads.
Think of it as a giant news release.
You are encouraged to use all of the text and all of the photos in your media
stories, blogs posts, columns, Facebook posts, or whatever way you choose to
disseminate it. You can use all of the photos, too.
Each category is it’s own round-up story, with an introduction and several
mini-stories about new products. The Feature Stories in the front of the guide
make great stand-alone stories, too.
If you’re reading this guide as a PDF file, please feel free to visit us online at
www.HomeGardenandHomestead.com. Click Media Room and you’ll find down-
loadable photos in web and high-resolution sizes.
Need anything else? Contact us at 505-822-8222 or [email protected].
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 26
HOMESTEAD
Greenhouses and Season Extenders
Not everyone is fortunate enough to live in a climate where food can be grown and
harvested all year long. In northern climates, winter’s chill brings planting and harvesting to a halt for millions of gardeners. A family’s food needs, however, don’t stop after
the fall harvest ends.
Rather than hang up the garden tools and depend entirely on food trucked to the
grocery store, why not extend the growing season? By using one of the structures
listed below, you can add weeks to the spring and fall growing seasons, and in most
climates, you can even grow cool-season crops in the middle of winter. In addition,
greenhouses and season extenders protect tender plants and fruits from both severe
weather and pests. From the sturdy and roomy greenhouses to the light and compact
row covers, these season-extending solutions are easy to set up and use, and they are
durable enough to last for years.
Backyard greenhouse offers 12-month
growing season
Now you can grow your own locally
produced organic food all year—affordably and in a small space. The Early
Bloomer Greenhouse is a functional,
durable and affordable starter greenhouse kit for anyone who wants to
enjoy year-round growing. Measuring
8 feet wide and 8 feet long, the Early
Bloomer Greenhouse offers plenty of
room to grow everything from heirloom tomatoes to salad greens, and
it fits nicely even in small yards. The center height of 6-feet 3-inches is ideal for tall
plants or even small fruit trees.
This greenhouse features a Solexx brand corrugated plastic covering that diffuses
light to create ideal inside growing conditions and prevent leaf burn. The covering also
provides the highest insulation available in hobby greenhouses. The extremely strong
base along with the Solexx corrugated plastic greenhouse covering makes the Early
Bloomer Greenhouse sturdy enough to withstand powerful winds—unlike many small
greenhouses. Yet the entire greenhouse is light enough to pick it up and move it to the
best sun exposure, or even relocate it right over your existing garden to get an early
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Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 27
Greenhouse offers 12-month growing season (continued)
start planting seeds and extend the harvest in the fall.
A large 19-inch by 30-inch greenhouse vent assembly is included to maintain plenty
of air circulation for healthy plants. (A solar-powered automatic opener is optional.) Two
full-length, easy-access hanging rods at a convenient height run the entire length of the
greenhouse and support 200 pounds each to overwinter your favorite hanging plants.
The Early Bloomer Greenhouse sells for $1,270 from The Greenhouse Catalog, (800)
825-1925, www.greenhousecatalog.com. Delivery is free within the 48 contiguous states.
Garden tunnel kits extend your
gardening season
Plant your garden an extra 10 days earlier, or
grow lettuce and greens into the late fall and early winter with Ken-Bar’s new Garden Tunnel Kits.
By warming the soil in the spring, garden tunnels
help plants mature up to two weeks earlier than
normal. The extra heat can increase yields and
protect crops from garden pests. In the fall, tunnels protect plants from frost and wind damage,
so you can harvest later. At the Harris Seeds test
garden in western New York, lettuce kept growing
into December—even after 12 inches of snow!
To create a tunnel, simply place support
wires every 5 feet and stretch the covering over
the supports. Place soil along the edges of the
cover to secure it to the ground. The 50-foot
Garden Tunnel Kit, which sells for $29.95, includes 12 54-inch-long support wires made
of heavy-duty 10 gauge wire. The 100-foot kit includes 24 wire supports and sells for
$49.95. Replacement covering is available in 100’ rolls. Available online at:
http://www.harrisseeds.com/storefront/p-14538-row-cover-tunnel-cover-wire-100-ft-kit.aspx
www.HomeGardenandHomestead.com
[email protected]
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
Page 28
Power Tools and Equipment
Whether you have a modest suburban backyard or a homestead that encompasses
many acres, sometimes you need a little more power. Power, as in power tools and equipment, that is.
Power tools can make almost any big job easier—and they can also help with the
smaller jobs, too. Do-it-yourself, gardening, home improvement and landscaping jobs
can be downright back-breaking without the right piece of power equipment to lighten
the load.
Take digging out a plot of ground for a garden, for example. Sure, you can do it with
an old-fashioned manual shovel, but that’s a lot of work. A small but powerful Mantis
Tiller can make the job go so much faster.
Check out this great outdoor equipment, and put some power to work for you.
World’s best-selling tiller packs lots of
power in a small package
The Mantis Tiller/Cultivator is the world’s bestselling tiller, with over 2,000,000 sold worldwide. The
Mantis Tiller is powerful and durable, yet it’s light
enough to carry to the garden with one hand. The
patented “serpentine” tine design, paired with a powerful engine and specially engineered transmission,
results in the power to break through hard soil and
even clay. The Mantis Tiller’s transmission is virtually indestructible with a low-maintenance, one-piece
cast aluminum gear box for added durability.
There is a Mantis Tiller model for every gardener,
from the Classic two-cycle and electric models to
the new Deluxe two-cycle (pictured) and four-cycle
tillers. The Deluxe models feature the light weight
and power of the Classics plus several new ergonomic and fatigue-fighting comfort
features. For maximum power and extended tilling width, Mantis offers the Deluxe XP
Tiller, featuring a 35cc four-cycle engine and 16” tilling width.
Optional attachments are also available, including a lawn dethatcher, lawn aerator,
plow, crevice cleaner, and more. Every Mantis Tiller is backed by a one-year money
back guarantee and a five-year consumer warranty—and the tines are guaranteed for
life against breakage. Mantis Tiller prices start as low as $299. Call (888) 240-4765 or
visit www.mantis.com.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
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High weed mower boasts commercialgrade performance
The Billy Goat High Weed Mower is powerful enough to
easily cut through overgrown weeds and knee-high grass,
yet still provides a smooth cut for a perfectly manicured
lawn. This high torque unit is perfect for cutting knee-high
grass and weeds. It’s a favorite of homeowners and homesteaders—and even municipalities, street crews, school
districts and rental yards. For power and durability, the Billy Goat High Weed
Mower (model #HW651HSP) features a commercial-duty
Honda engine. The floating 24” mowing deck is adjustable
in ½” increments from two to four inches. A heavy-duty
three-speed shift-on-the-fly transmission delivers safe and easy operation. The large
16-inch-high rear wheels smooth out uneven surfaces and add stability on hillsides.
The 24-inch cutting width is adjustable for a finished cut of between 2-4 inches. Other
features include a high-torque cutting blade and operator-friendly controls. Visit http://
www.billygoat.com/Product-Categories/Detail/high-weed-mower-residential-commercial for more information and to find a dealer near you.
Tough small tractors perform heavy chores
John Deere is the most famous name in large
farm tractors, but the company also makes
tough sub-compact tractors that perform heavy
chores at homes and homesteads. The 1 Series
tractors from John Deere have the power and
flexibility to do jobs such as mowing, snow removal, hauling and plowing.
The John Deere 1026R tractor has a 25.2 HP
three-cylinder engine and a hydrostatic transmission for on-demand power. Both four-wheel drive and power steering are standard
equipment, giving the tractor easy-to-operate maneuverability. Optional AutoConnect
mowing decks connect to the 1 Series tractors without ever leaving your seat. Simply
drive over the deck ramps, listen for two clicks as the deck attaches, and you’re done.
Front-end loaders also attach quickly for turning small mountains into molehills.
But the 1026R isn’t just about power—it’s also a pleasure to use. The deluxe suspension seat has moveable armrests, and great back support. For more information or
to find a local dealer, visit www.deere.com.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
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Chickens and Poultry
Chickens are hot. In cities, towns and suburbs, chicken coops are sprouting in record numbers.
Why are so many people suddenly raising chickens? A survey of comments on
www.backyardchickens.com reveals a host of reasons. Here are just a few:
“A friend of my mom’s had been raising chickens for
about a year, and after visiting her and doing some research, we decided to get some of our own.”
“I wanted to create meaningful memories for our
grandson. I thought how fun it would be to raise chicks
together.”
“The best choice for starting with farm animals is
CHICKENS!”
“Chickens were perfect because they honored my
grandparents’ farm, gave us fresh eggs and were pretty simple to care for.”
“I’ve seen that every chicken is like a person. They have their own personality and
it is fricking funny and absolutely amazing to see them brighten my day.”
If you’ve got a hankering to start raising backyard chickens so you can harvest
your own fresh eggs, here are some helpful resources.
A starter home for your hens
You’ve decided you want to raise your own chickens. Once you’ve decided on your chicks, you will
need a new home (or coop) for them. The Winscombe
Chicken Coop is based on classic hen house design to
provide hens with ample space, plenty of ventilation,
molded nest areas and elevated roosting areas. This
starter coop has a floor size that measures 34 inches
by 19 inches, making it perfect for small yards. It’s
made from 100% recycled plastic for a minimum carbon footprint and easy cleaning (the removable roof
panels and droppings tray can be pressure washed).
Eggs can be collected easily via a convenient, large back door.
Each coop is delivered in a flat pack and can be assembled quickly thanks to the
unique Coop-Clip assembly system. A sturdy 3.5 by 6 foot welded mesh steel run is
available as an additional option. The Winscombe Chicken Coop sells for $600.00 from
www.strombergschickens.com.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
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Baby chicks—delivered to your doorstep
If you’re thinking that it might be fun to explore the
world of backyard chickens because you simply love the
idea harvesting eggs, you might not know where to buy
baby chicks—or what kind to buy. For over 95 years, Murray McMurray’s family-owned hatchery has been supplying the small farmer, rural egg producer and chicken
enthusiast with a wide variety of day-old baby chicks, pullets, ducklings and much more. Murray McMurray’s offers a full line of different breeds
of poultry and chickens to satisfy chicken lovers of every age.
Using Murray McMurray’s proprietary and easy-to-navigate Chick Selector, you
simply choose the characteristics of the chickens you are most interested in or are
best suited for. With just a couple of clicks, you will soon be watching your chicks grow
from newly hatched babies to adults. Visit www.mcmurrayhatchery.com to see their
weekly listing of currently available chicks, ducks, geese and other birds.
Watch for the Fall 2013 edition of
www.HomeGardenandHomestead.com
in September 2013
Home, Garden and Homestead is published by Schultz Communications
phone 5 0 5 - 8 2 2 - 8 2 2 2 • email i n fo @ s ch u l t z p r. c o m • web w w w. s ch u l t z p r. c o m
If you would like your company’s products to be featured in the Fall 2013
edition of HG&H, call Randy Schultz at 505-822-8222.
Home, Garden and Homestead — Spring 2013
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