Agromin Blog

Agromin Helping Beat Childhood Obesity With Teaching Gardens

2010-04-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

On Monday, March 22, Agromin's Premium Soil was used in helping launch a 1,000 school initiative against Childhood Obesity. Thus far, our 50/50 soil blend has been used in two SOCAL school's vegetable gardens (Kelso Elementary, Will Rogers Learning Community School).

On hand at Kelso Elementary were were Gabrielle Reece, Derek Fisher, Cat Cora and Tobey MaGuire.

The Teaching Garden is a place where teachers and principals with community partners from the entertainment, sports and food industries, the Farmer-Veteran Coalition and GrowingGreat come together to create a real-life garden laboratory. In this garden, students through the simple process of putting a seed into the earth, nurturing it and ultimately harvesting the food, learn about effort and results, delayed gratification, and cause and effect. The ultimate goal: hands-on exploration of life sciences that leads to one’s positive choices for health and fitness.

Read More: http://www.takepart.com/teachinggarden

Garden Park Elementary Students Receive Soil and Seedlings to Start Their Own Herb Garden

2010-04-30T13:19:00.000-07:00

Students at Garden Park Elementary School in Garden Grove will soon be tasting an assortment of herbs including basil, mint, oregano and parsley--all grown in their own backyards. Agromin, a maker of premium soil products, gave each student a bag of organic planting mix and a packet of herb seedlings as part of the school's Earth Day celebration.

Gary Gerstner, principal, was excited with the donation of 270 bags of soil and seeds. "This will be such a great way for our students to tend their own gardens and directly see the results of their efforts," says Gerstner.

Students were shown how the soil bag could also serve as a planter by poking small drainage holes in the bottom while the top is open and used to plant seeds.

Earlier this year, Agromin donated three tons of compost for the school's garden where radishes, mustard, green beans and flowers are now growing. Some of the vegetables will be served in the school's salad bar.

Agromin produces more than 200 soil products from green materials collected from numerous communities in Orange County. The soil products are then used by farmers, landscapers and consumers.

Trees, Oak seedlings and Agromin compost at Simi Arbor Day

2010-04-29T12:27:00.000-07:00

Simi Valley Arbor Day is this Saturday, May 1 beginning at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Plaza in Rancho Tapo Community Park (3700 Avenida Simi). It will be giving away free trees, oak seedlings and Agromin compost. Come early because it's first come, first served! http://bit.ly/cnXz3s

Lee Elementary School Gets One Ton of Gardening Mix From Agromin

2010-04-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Students at Lee Elementary School in Los Alamitos received a one-ton donation of vegetable gardening mix from Agromin, a premium soil manufacturer and green materials recycler. The school put the soil to good use by creating its own school garden.

Renee Keeler, Lee Elementary second grade teacher and avid gardener, spearheads the garden project. Keeler says that Agromin's all natural soil is the much-needed foundation for a healthy garden area. Already, students have planted a butterfly garden, and fruits and vegetables that they will ultimately eat. Vegetables include sweet peas, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, broccoli and strawberries. Students are responsible for all watering and weeding.

A bed of sunflowers was planted and students will track their growth as part of their science program. "The students enjoy the hands-on learning experience and take great pride in what they are growing," says Keeling. "Students like working in the garden because they say the area smells good and they grow food that is good for them."

Above Average April Rainfall Means Super Garden Growth in May

2010-04-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

Above average rainfall in April means Southern California plants and trees have absorbed plenty of nutrients in their roots to jump start garden growth in May.

Plant Flowers: Now is the time to plant warm-season annuals including begonias, chrysanthemums, geraniums, marigolds, petunias and verbena. Their beautiful flowers will bloom well into summer. For more permanent additions to your garden, plant perennials such as daisies, iris, goldenrod, fuchsia, delphiniums and lavender.

Plant Vegetable Seeds: Plant seeds from corn, sweet potatoes, broccoli, green beans, radishes, sunflowers, melons, squash, cucumbers and okra. Since the weather is warming, you can plant the seeds directly in the ground without using starter plants indoors.

Plant Herbs: One of the greatest "returns on investment" in the garden is herbs. Herbs are expensive at the store and sometimes go bad before they can be eaten. Planting herbs such as basil, chives, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage tarragon and thyme will assure a bountiful supply of just-picked herbs for cooking. Plus, the cost of planting and caring for herb plants is only a fraction of the cost of purchasing herbs continually at the store.

Naturally Reduce Weeds: Plenty of chemical weed killers are available to consumers, but if you want to avoid spraying potentially harmful substances around your vegetables and flowers, apply a two-inch layer of mulch (i.e., wood bark) around your garden. The mulch acts as a natural barrier to weed growth and keeps in water and nutrients.

Thin Fruit Trees: By now, fruit trees are producing blossoms and the first signs of fruit. More fruit is produced than most trees can fully grow to maturity. Weaker blossoms and fruit will fall on their own in May. Thin the remaining smaller fruit from the branches. As a result, stronger fruit will grow larger and smaller fruit won't weigh down tree branches.

For more gardening tips, go to www.agromin.com.

Agromin To Give Away 20 Tons of Compost at Santa Clarita Earth/Arbor Day: April 17

2010-04-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

Soil manufacturer and green materials recycler Agromin will be giving away 20 tons of compost to Santa Clarita residents during the Saturday, April 17 Earth/Arbor Day Celebration at Newhall Park (24933 Newhall Avenue, Newhall). Agromin is a sponsor of the festival.

Volunteers from the Conservation Core will place the mulch into one cubic foot-sized bags and distribute the bags to residents.

Agromin is the green materials recycler for Canyon Country, Castaic, Newhall, Saugus, Santa Clarita, Stevenson Ranch and Valencia. The green materials are collected from residents and businesses and delivered to Agromin's Newhall Ranch processing facility. The material is cleaned, chopped and naturally composted. Agromin's products are free of animal waste and sludge.

"Here's a chance to help the environment while providing healthy soil for your spring garden," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CEO. "If the green materials were not recycled into nutritionally-rich soil products, they would end up in landfills emitting greenhouse gases. Introducing this mulch into your garden gives your plants and trees a natural shot in the arm--without chemical fertilizers."

Camarillo says that spring is a good time for residents to make an extra effort to put all grass clippings, leaves, brush and wood into their green recycling barrel. "Once these materials are cleaned and chopped, in about 45 days, they are transformed into mulch that is used by farmers, landscapers and consumers," explains Camarillo. "It's an easy way for residents to do their part to help close the recycling loop."

Agromin is one of the state's largest green material recyclers. It receives and processes more than 365,000 tons of wood and green materials each year. Agromin then uses a safe, organic and scientific system to formulate its more than 200 soil products.

Santa Clarita's Earth/Arbor Day Celebration hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For information on green material recycling, visit www.agromin.com. For more on Earth/Arbor Day go to http://www.greensantaclarita.com/earthday/.

Camarillo Community Garden Reaps Its First Harvest

2010-04-09T12:07:00.001-07:00

Gardeners at the new Camarillo Community Garden harvested their first crop of vegetables. The garden, at Antonio and Ponderosa in Camarillo, began last year by a group of dedicated volunteers. The plots are all full. A second garden is in the works. For more info, go to http://bit.ly/3mIIIt.

Join Agromin at Oxnard's Earth Day!

2010-03-31T17:49:00.001-07:00

Join Agromin at the City of Oxnard's Earth Day celebration, Saturday, April 10 at Downtown Plaza Park. Hours are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Enjoy live music, food, community displays and children's activities And, while supplies last, Agromin will be giving away 5 quart bags of premium potting soil. For directions to Plaza Park, go to http://bit.ly/beDbpI

Plant Vegetable Garden in April for Spring Harvest

2010-03-30T08:57:00.000-07:00

Nothing tastes better than garden-grown tomatoes or fresh-cut basil. The time to plant summer vegetable plants is in April to assure a bountiful harvest by July and August, say experts at Agromin, an Oxnard-based manufacturer of premium, earth-friendly soil products made from recycled green materials from over 50 Southern California communities.

Plant Your Vegetables: Plant most all types vegetables including tomatoes, squash, beets, corn, sunflowers, spinach, cucumber, melons, okra, peppers and zucchini. Plant either from seed or from starter plants. Before planting, revitalize your garden soil by adding compost especially designed for gardens.

Rotate Your Crops: Maximize plant growth and health by rotating your crops (i.e., plant tomato plants where peppers were grown last year). Planting similar vegetables in the same location year after year pulls the same nutrients from the soil to feed the plants. Rotating crops to different locations in your garden means less stress on the soil. Crop rotation can also reduce the buildup of soil-based diseases and pests. Certain pests prefer specific types of plants. By rotating your crops, pests and diseases won't have easy access to the plants they prefer. Relocate crops at least 10 feet from their previous location.

Plant Your Herb Garden: Basil, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, cilantro, thyme, chives, dill and tarragon are just some favorite, easy-to-grow herbs that should be planted in April. Be sure to pinch back flowers that bloom from the herbs to extend the harvest season.

Color for Summer: Summer-blooming bedding plants should be planted in April. Annuals that bloom all summer include alyssum, bedding dahlia, gloriosa daisy, marigold, petunia, verbena and zinnia. Summer shade plants include begonia, forget-me-nots and impatiens. Bulbs planted last fall will begin growing in spring. Throughout spring and summer, remove dead flowers and brown foliage to build strength for new blooms.

Pinch and Prune: Pinch back new growth on chrysanthemums and fuchsias to keep the plants bushy. Bougainvilleas also benefit from pruning to shape and restrain growth. Prune roses to where stems are at least as round as a pencil. Although not very attractive now, pruned rose bushes will be thick with leaves and in full bloom within a month

Plant a Garden for FOOD Share: Grow potatoes, tomatoes, celery, onions, broccoli and citrus and donate your harvest to FOOD Share, the county's food bank. The effort is part of its Garden Share program (www.foodshare.com).

For more gardening tips, go to www.agromin.com.

Download Pounds for Produce Contest Flyers

2010-03-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

Pounds for Produce contest flyer: http://bit.ly/dpmWKR
For School Gardens: http://bit.ly/buGIrm
Plant those gardens! Contest ends 7/15/10

Agromin at Booths 366 & 373 at VC Home & Garden Show

2010-03-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

Agromin's display is all set for the Ventura County Home & Garden Show, this weekend, March 19 - 20, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Hours are Friday, noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, Children 12 and under are free. Stop by Agromin's display in spaces 366 and 373 and pick up a free bag of soil!

Don't Forget Ventura Home & Garden Show This Weekend

2010-03-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

Make sure to stop by the Ventura Home & Garden Show this weekend, March 19-21, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura. Agromin will be there to pass out free bags of soil and offer soil tips for spring gardens. bit.ly/9sUhJB

Free Food, Free Soil & "Pounds for Produce" Contest Info--Ace Hardware, Oxnard, Sat., Feb. 27

2010-02-25T13:53:00.000-08:00

Come down to the Ace Hardware in Oxnard (816 N. Ventura Rd.) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 to learn about FOOD Share's "Pounds for Produce," a gardening contest to see who can grow and donate the most vegetables to help feed the hungry in Ventura County (www.foodshare.com).

You'll also get a free lunch of hot dogs, burgers, chips, dips and soda on Saturday. Plus, bring in any three non-perishable food items and receive 15 percent off your entire purchase. As an extra bonus, while supplies last, everyone will receive a free, 5-quart bag of Agromin's Organic Harvest Potting Soil. For more info, call Ace at 805-278-1600 or FOOD Share, 805-983-7100.

Spring Planting Season Has Arrived in Southern California

2010-02-24T17:05:00.000-08:00

Signs of spring are beginning to show. Nowhere is this more evident than on the trees and bushes in Southern California yards as they bloom and sprout new growth. March is the time to prepare gardens for a successful growing season.

Determine Your Garden's Soil: The dirt in your backyard is primarily two types--sandy or clay. Sandy soil contains large particles and will not hold together easily even when wet. While it quickly drains, its porous nature does hold water or nutrients necessary for plants. Clay soil is dense and sticky when wet. Although it drains poorly, it holds in nutrients and water. Adding compost to either type of soil solves problems associated with each. The decaying materials found in compost allow air and water to traverse through the soil to reach plant roots. Microorganisms and earthworms in the compost naturally reinvigorate and enrich the soil.

Prepare Your Planting Beds and Garden Area: Add compost throughout the planting area--before planting begins and when replanting existing gardening beds or lawns, dividing perennials or repotting container plants. Use a rototiller if possible and till in compost about two to three inches into the soil.

Fertilize Trees Including Citrus and Avocado trees: Now is the time to give your garden a shot in the arm with nitrogen fertilizer. Plants usually need to be fertilized only once in March, at the beginning of the spring growing period, and again in September. For fruit trees and roses, wait until the first sign of new leaves before fertilizing.

Plant Vegetables and Herbs From Seed: after the last chance for frost (around mid-month) and the soil warms, plant warm-season vegetable seeds including tomatoes, peppers, green beans, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, onion, potatoes, spinach, turnips and corn. It's also the time to plant herbs from seed such as basil, mint, oregano, parsley and rosemary. You can still plant cool-season vegetables including broccoli, lettuce, cabbage and kale. Good crops that can be planted year round are carrots, beets and radishes.

Plant Summer Flowers: Garden centers offer a variety of flower seed packs--a much better variety of flowers to choose from than with already-blooming flowers. Plant marigolds, petunias, alyssum, lobelia, dianthus, flox, verbenia and impatiens from seed in March.

Mow Lawn to the Right Height: cool season grass (bluegrass, ryegrasses, fescues) should be kept about two inches high. Mow regularly to keep weeds at bay and to promote thicker lawns. When the weather warms considerably in the summer, increase grass blade height to three inches. Warm season grass (Bermuda, St. Augustine and zoysia) should be cut at a steady two-inch level throughout spring and summer.

For more gardening tips, go to www.agromin.com.

February is Time to Plant Bulbs, Bare Root Trees in So. Cal.

2010-01-29T13:48:00.000-08:00

Whether February brings buckets of rain or drought conditions to Southern California, there is much to plant now for beautiful spring and summer gardens, says experts at Agromin, an Oxnard-based manufacturer of earth-friendly soil products made from recycled green material from more than 50 Southern California communities.

Summer Bulbs: Time to pull out summer bulbs from the refrigerator and plant them. These bulbs include tulips, crocus, gladiolus, calla lily, caladium, amaryllis, daffodils and delphiniums. Stagger your gladiolus planting so you will get new blooms throughout summer. Some bulbs can be purchased and planted without the chilling process and should be in stock at nurseries. They include Dutch iris, lily, gladiolus and begonia. Bulbs may start to grow early if the winter is mild. Don't worry--growing bulbs can withstand cold and even freezing temperatures.

Last Chance to Plant Bare Root Trees: February is typically your last opportunity to purchase and plant bare root trees, including roses. For existing rose bushes, prune to encourage fuller springtime growth. Using a sharp tool, begin at the base of the bush and cut limbs at 45-degree angles, one-fourth inch above a bud. Make sure the cuts are clean, not jagged. Strive to open the center of the plant to let in light and air circulation. Remove dead branches and straggly branches.

Deciduous Trees: Deciduous trees require cold temperatures during winter to produce flowers and fruit in spring and summer. These trees include hardwood such as poplars, birches, maples and oaks, and fruit trees including apricots, peaches, plums, apples, pears and cherries. If rain is light during February, make sure the trees are well watered. Water is needed now so they can begin to produce leaves and blossoms March.

Pop in Color: Fill in garden bare spots with spring color plants already in bloom in four-inch or quart pots. Pansies will last until summer. Violas and primrose, snapdragons, calendulas and primroses provide good winter and spring blooms.

Plant Tomatoes: In warmer inland areas plant tomatoes at the end of February. You can expect to see fruit by Memorial Day.

Plant an Herb Garden: Mild winters enable Southern California gardeners to begin planting herbs in February. Plant chive, cilantro, dill, fennel, mint and parsley even if more rain is in the forecast.

Upgrade Your Gardening Equipment: Gardening equipment upkeep is sometimes neglected during the prime growing months. Winter is a good time to clean and sharpen shears and replace belts and oil in trimmers and lawn mowers so your tools are ready to go for spring.

For more gardening tips, go to www.agromin.com.

New: Buy Agromin soil products in bulk at Green Thumb in Ventura

2010-01-08T15:11:00.000-08:00

Need soil amendments, mulch or bark to enhance your landscape? Green Thumb in Ventura now offers Agromin mulch, garden humus, bark and soil amendments in bulk. Stop by Green Thumb (1899 South Victoria Ave.) to order and have the soil products delivered directly to your home. For smaller projects, Agromin products are available at Green Thumb in bags.

Agromin soil products are made from recycled local green materials so you'll not only enjoy great-growing trees, flowers and vegetables, but you'll be doing your part to help the environment!

Green Thumb
1899 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93003-6505
(805) 642-8517
Open daily: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Green Thumb has been a fixture in Ventura County for over 30 years. Ventura County Star readers voted it as the best place to shop for garden needs.

Agromin Helps Create Beautiful Floral Setting at Servants of Mary Convent

2010-01-04T09:43:00.000-08:00

Agromin recently donated three tons of soil material to the Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick convent in Oxnard, Calif. The soil was placed at the entrance of the convent where beautiful poinsettias and other flowers were then planted. Agromin is honored to have helped this wonderful organization whose congregation's mission is to care for the physical and spiritual needs of the sick.

Las Colinas Middle School Students Grow Their Garden & Spruce Up Their Campus

2009-12-07T17:46:00.000-08:00

The Las Colinas Middle School garden, maintained by student's from Laura Whittington's special education class, is producing a bounty of fall vegetables. They include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, onions, sugar peas, radishes and four types of lettuce. The class will be harvesting most of the salad vegetables and making salads, not only for the classroom but also for the staff at the Camarillo school. Soil used in the garden is made from locally collected recycled green material processed at Agromin.

Two months of hard work has also created a beautifully landscaped front area of the school. Agromin donated the wood bark that helped complete the project. B&B Do-It Center and the Muklevicz family also donated products for the project. Spearheading the planting and landscaping is Dianne Polen, the campus beautification and Life Lab chairperson. Her dedication is instrumental creating a wonderful learning environment for the students.

These projects teach kids about nutrition and eating healthy, as well as the environmental benefits of using soil from recycled green materials. It's a sustainability lesson that we hope will stay with the students for a lifetime.

Lincoln Elementary School Receives 2009 Green School Award

2009-12-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

Ventura Mayor Christy Weir and Agromin CEO Bill Camarillo presented Lincoln Elementary School in Ventura with the 2009 Green School Award for achievement in environmental excellence. Agromin is the award's official sponsor.

The November 16 presentation at Ventura City Hall Council Chambers included Agromin's donation of a check to the school for $500. The school was recognized for its recycling collection system that helps fund the school's art program and an impressive gardening program.

Green School Awards was created three years ago by the City of Ventura to encourage schools to become more environmentally aware. Agromin partners with Ventura to recycle its green waste into soil products available to residents, landscapers and farmers. It was a natural fit for the city and Agromin to join forces. Kids "get" the importance of recycling--hopefully it will be a life-long habit!

How to Winterize Your Lawn

2009-11-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

A healthy lawn needs care and attention all year long. Winterizing your lawn is especially important so the lawn can thrive the following year. This is particularly true in areas where snow is likely to cover the grass for long periods. If you live in an area where there is little or no frost, these tips work just as well and will help keep your grass healthy through winter. Many people assume lawns die during winter; actually, they are just "napping" through the cold. If your lawn isn't thriving to begin with, winterizing is that much more important for its health.

Be careful not to winterize your lawn too early. Doing this can rob the lawn of its ability to collect and digest the last of the nutrients available before the ground freezes.

1) Rake leaves, grass clippings or other debris from the lawn. This allows winter sunlight and nutrients into the soil. Raking will result in better aeration, resulting in greener grass when spring arrives. Raking also keeps disease and mold at bay.

2) Remove weeds. Weeds allowed to produce seeds in fall and winter are guaranteed to flourish and wreak havoc in spring. Also remove thatch, (living matter, mostly roots and dead grass between the green grass blades and soil) if it is 1/2 inch or thicker. Heavy thatch can harbor pests and block out nutrients, water and oxygen from roots, preventing lawn growth.

3) Lay down compost over the lawn that is specifically formulated for winterizing. This compost, fortified with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, will penetrate into the roots and will mean a quick start for spring growth.

Time to Get Creative in Your Vegetable Garden

2009-11-20T14:19:00.000-08:00

Think of planting vegetables and most of us envision traditional summer fare: squash, beans, corn, peppers, tomatoes and melons. It's fall and now is the time to think outside the box and become adventuresome in your garden. In fact, in areas of little or no frost, fall represents a completely new planting season for gardeners. Well-known vegetables do best when planted and cultivated in fall: beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, onion, parsley, peas and spinach. All will do well through the fall and winter months when planted from seed or from transplants. But how about the not-so-well-known vegetables? If you're itching to plant something different, fall is the ideal time to try your hand. By planting the vegetables below, you'll not only grow something new, you'll also get to try all the great recipes that call for these vegetables.

Collards - a southern favorite, the leaves are often added to a pot containing salt pork or ham hocks.

Endive - leaves can be used in salads, sautéed or served in a hot dish

Kale - a member of the cabbage family, kale is often used in soups and stews.

Parsnip - long and slender like a carrot, they can be mashed like potatoes or added to soups and stews.

Rutabaga - like a turnip, they are mashed, or are boiled or eaten in stews or casseroles--and even taste delicious in pie.

Camarillo Community Garden Project Takes Off

2009-11-09T15:12:00.000-08:00

A great group of volunteers are transforming a dirt lot once filled with garbage to a wonderful garden oasis. Follow their progress at http://bit.ly/3mIIIt. Agromin is doing its part by donating 12 yards of amended soil and 15 yards of compost to get the garden off to a successful start.

KEYT-TV Visits Agromin

2009-11-09T12:49:00.000-08:00

KEYT-TV, the ABC affiliate in Santa Barbara, visited Agromin to learn about green waste recycling. Agromin CEO Bill Camarillo walked reporter Tracy Lehr through the recycling process--from collection, to grinding, to composting to finally the finished soil products. Check out the interview at: http://bit.ly/1B2uxr.

Juvenile Justice Garden Reaps Rewards for Kids & Seniors

2009-10-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

The County of Ventura Probation Agency and the Area Agency on Aging recently created a vegetable garden site at the Juvenile Justice Complex in Oxnard. Kids at the complex were responsible for planting, growing and caring for the garden. The recent inaugural harvest was just picked and the garden-fresh vegetables were distributed through the Senior Lunch Program, on-site at the Juvenile Justice kitchen and at local food banks. The garden was made possible through contributions and support from Agromin and other businesses and community-based organizations. The first crop of tomatoes looks great!

Help FOOD Share/Learn Gourmet Cooking Tips

2009-10-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

Learn gourmet cooking tips at the Taste of Home Cooking School & Expo, Wednesday, November 4. The free expo is from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with the cooking school from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Location: Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard.

Tickets are $15, $20 and $25. One dollar of every ticket purchased will go to FOOD Share, Ventura County's food bank.

Four more information, got to www.vcstar.com/tasteofhome.