Ken asks…
How much would it cost to educate people in Africa to grow your own food?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Lots of Africans have problems growing food. Providing education about good agricultural practices would help in a lot of areas, but telling them how to grow food is not the main obstacle to increased African food production. Here are four reasons that contribute:
1) Inadequate access to machinery, fertilizer and quality seed.
2) Lack of money to purchase capital, such as the above, and the lack of financial institutions to provide loans.
3) Unsuitable land for available food crops.
4) Subsidies paid to local farmers by entities such as the US and EU, which artificially lower world food prices, making it much less profitable for an African with relatively high costs to grow food.
As for the cost of education itself, I’d guess no more than $200 million, just off the top of my head.
Sharon asks…
Does anyone know the name of the device that allows you to grow your own food (ex. vegatables)?
I saw a commercial for it and I was wondering what the name of it was?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Aeorgarden, available from Gardener’s Supply Company in Vermont. Is that the one?
Linda asks…
The most important skills any human can have is to be able to grow your own food, carpentry, engineering etc.?
So why aren’t any of these vital skills taught in all schools? How would we all survive otherwise? Do the governments purposely remove these skill and knowledgable trades from curriculums in order to keep people stupid and their minds filled with rubbish so they are then reliant on a corrupt system of greed and unscrupulous powers?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Love your parents and freinds is the most important
jane
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James asks…
What is your favorite vegetable variety to grow in your own garden?
This is my second year vegetable and herb gardening at home. I’d like to know what varieties others have had luck with, and enjoy growing. I’m in Zone 5, but I’d like to hear from other locations as well!
GardenersCardiff answers:
I purchase my seeds on line from Johnny’s Selected Seed out of Maine. I use only organic seeds and plants in my garden. I have to say that I grow a little of everything. I have what I call y salad garden, lettuces, spinach, grape tomatoes, celery and cucumbers. Then I have a small herb garden, sage, rosemary, lemon thyme, dill and of course parsley and cilantro. In the main garden I grow peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, green and yellow beans, broccoli, carrots and Brussel sprouts. I also have a winter squash garden.
I have a large grape vine, a peach tree, apple tree, pear tree and butternut tree. All in all, I would have to say we’re pretty self sufficient in produce. My sister lives across the street from me, she raises chickens so we have plenty of eggs and meat too. Ya know, I was just thinking, I have a pretty large flower garden as well. Until your question, I don’t think I ever really thought about how good I have it. Thanks for making me take stock in what I grow.
Richard asks…
How do you create your own recipes?
Well, I want to become more experienced in food and more knowledgeable about the different flavorings a certain ingredient develops. I want to grow my own herbs and incorporate them into my food. I want to be able to walk into the kitchen without a recipe, and off of the top of my head, create a scrumptious, decadent dish. I want to learn about plating, flavor, and anything a chef needs to know. I am fifteen years of age and went through many years of deciding to become a chef or a surgeon. I now want to become a surgeon, because I have more background in that field. I would like to sub-specialize, if possible, in culinary arts. I have such huge passion for both occupations. Where do I start? Thanks for your information and answers. God Bless.
GardenersCardiff answers:
This is a common question. Only few can meet the challenge. Many are called, but few are chosen. Either that or date rachel ray and steal her recipes while she’s woofing down donuts.
Nancy asks…
What’s the best place in the garden for growing herbs ?
I live in NE Scotland and just bought some potted chives, parsley and mint. I quite liked the idea of growing my own, I was told they would grow well in my garden but now I am wondering where I can put them. Do I have to put them in a well maintained garden or will they grow in the rough areas ? Do they have to have a lot of sunshine ? Do I have to water them a lot? How rapidly or not will they grow? Can I plant them next each other?
Looking forward to your green fingered tips 
Andy
GardenersCardiff answers:
The chives and parsley will go in full sun … Nice soil, not rough … And the mint needs a cool, shady area for part of the day at least … It sounds as tho’ you have only bought a little …they probably will not keep up with your kitchen needs if you cook a lot ..but enjoy them anyway….and the chives if not used will make a pretty lavender-colored flower head since it will be trying to make seed …
I’d just run back to the store and buy more ….you will be surprised how quickly you can grow accustomed to having fresh supplies of herbs … And you might like to add basil to your collection …it is a little late to grow any of them from seed, considering where you live …but the plants will be fine..
Love, Lakshmi
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Ken asks…
what do you find awkward in the garden?
For example: keeping beers cold when mates are round, picking up what your dog curls out, or getting the football out of the hedge.
Please list anything garden related that causes annoyance or that you feel could be made easier some how- don’t be shy, anything is absolutely fine. If it gets on YOUR nerves, it gets on other’s.
Cheers for helping!!
ha ha, I can see those things REALLY annoy you! And I agree. If i had it my way, rock music would be blaring from every speaker across the globe, while stunning a neighbour mows and rakes in the sun
Although my project is really about personal difficulties or hassles that affect a garden user directly… things that you physically dislike doing or find inconvenient to carry out.
Imagine a typical day in the garden… perhaps you’re hosting a bbq, having a water fight, or simply sitting with your feet up enjoying a cuppa.
What problem are you likely to face… and what could be done about it? I want to know how peoples lives can be made easier or more enjoyable- that’s my angle.
A couple of examples are things like flies on your food, sun glare in your eyes, spilling your drink etc.
Small but significant issues that can be remedied. Thanks- keep ’em coming, I know you can give me absolute gold!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Having a gnat trying to fly up my nose and getting in my ear.
Then there is the mosquito that buzzes around the ear. And a mosquito bit me on the rear. Then another mosquito came along and it felt like it bit in the same hole that the other mosquito bit in. They are snicky coming from behind.
Dogs across the street bark as soon as I open the door and bark all the time I am in the garden.
Bad thoughts come into the mind that I have to fight about the dogs.
The cats leave land mines on the ground to be cleaned up.
A spider fell out of a tree and landed on top of my head.
Another spider landed on my chest. A little squirrel looks down at me and chatters. She wants her food. I think that is cute.
It is annoying when a car comes by real slow turns around and goes back by real slow with their boom boom box on real loud.
A leaf fell into my coffee.
There are some weeds that just won’t die. And some tomato vines that ants and bugs will not leave alone.
Some birds flew over and dropped some purple stuff on a white chair. I moved the chair to another spot to get it out of their flight
A middle age woman next door stops in the street with her music blaring in her car and checks her two mail boxes and goes by real slow and stinks her nose up in the air because she has a lot of material things and her dogs can bark all the time and that is alright. She could drown on a rainy day. She has 8 barking dogs, 3 horses, a crowing rooster, chickens, birds in the house and about 6 cats in the house. All that litter goes into the trash cans and the cans from the dog and cat food too. Then she has the nerve to complain about our cats.
I just threw the above in. I do not let her bother me.
Ruth asks…
Does anyone have a “pepper spray” recipe that can be made at home to discourage my dog from chewing my plants?
I saw on the P. Allen Smith Gardening Show that I can “Make your own” pepper spray to mist my philodendron to keep my dog from chewing the hanging tendrils. I know they can be bought commercially at pet places or Walmart,….but why buy when making at home is always easier and surely CHEAPER . Does anyone know how to “Make” a homemade pepper spray…..(not to be confused with the stuff you keep in your purse to defend yourself against attackers). Hope some gardener or pet person can help me. Thanks…Judy in Pittsburgh
GardenersCardiff answers:
WELL TAKE THE JUICE FROM A JAR OF HOT PEPPERS, MIX WITH SOME VEG OIL OR OTHER OIL, ADD SOME WATER TO MAKE IT MORE FLUID, PUT IN A SPRAY BOTTLE , SHAKE WELL AND SPRAY THE LEAVES. TRY THIS AND IF YOUR DOG CONTINUES MAKE THE PEPPER OIL A BIT STRONGER. HAVE SOME ICE WATER HANDY IN HIS BOWL. IF IT TAKES MORE THAN 2 TIMES FOR HIM TO LEARN, WHICH I DOUBT. MOVE THE PLANTS IF YOU CAN.
Donna asks…
For native speakers……I need help!!!! Could you correct this exercise, pleaseeee??? ? It’s easy (for you)?
Hi, everyone! I’m italian…I’ve found this exercise and i’d like to solve it. Here it is:
Present perfect simple/continuous
-Past Perfect simple/continuous.
1.Last night I was exhausted. I had been digging…… (dig) in the garden all afternoon.
2.It was the second time we had been…… (be) to the same hotel in Rome
3.President Kennedy hadn’t been……. (not be) president long when he was shot in 1963
4.We had been climbing … (climb) for five hours when at last we reached the top of the mountain
5.I was very pleased when my son found my watch yesterday evening because I had been looking……(look) for it all afternoon
6.I could see that Tommy’s eyes were red. He had been crying….(cry)
7.They have been building….(BUILD) that bridge since last year and they haven’t finished (not finish) yet
8.I have been taking…. (take) dance lessons for many years and I still love it!
9.You are speaking nonsense, have you been drinking……………….(you/drink) ?
I’ve already filled in the blanks, but i’d like to know if it’s right or wrong. If I’ve made a mistake, could you explain it to me?
Thanks in advance!
GardenersCardiff answers:
No mistakes, go you woooo! I’m proud!
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