• Visit Agromin at the Ventura County Fair - Aug. 5 - 16 - Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 4:26 PM
  • Learn how the proper use of soil and mulch in your garden can save on water usage while helping your plants grow larger and healthier by checking out Agromin's display at the Ventura County Fair. Agromin will be in the fair's Flora Culture garden area. The fair runs from August 5 through August 16 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (off Highway 101 in Ventura at the corner of Harbor and Figueroa).

    Last year, Agromin was a blue ribbon winner in the education category. Agromin showed how it recycles green materials collected from residential green recycling bins and turns the materials into soil products. This year, the Agromin's display will tell a water conservation story--particularly timely, as cities are requiring residents to conserve. Watering landscapes make up the bulk of residential water use.

    Here's your chance to learn water saving tips for the garden from the experts at Agromin!

    For more information about the fair go to www.venturacountyfair.org.

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  • - Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 5:09 PM

  • Agromin is the blue ribbon winner at this year's Ventura County Fair in the education category. The Agromin display tells the story of green waste recycling from the curb to the final application. The self-directing display includes descriptive signs and photos that follow the recycling process from start to finish.

    The Ventura County Fair Board of Directors recently recognized Agromin's Brian Critchley for his more than 10 years of dedicated volunteer service. Brian can be found every year as the fair nears offering suggestions to young Future Farmers of America as they ready their fair displays. Agromin often donates high quality bark to these displays to help give them a finished look.

    Agromin is dedicated to recycling. The pine rounds that circle this year's Agromin display will be donated or recycled. The banner sign in the middle of the display is made from biodegradable cloth. Even the signs and photos contain organic ink.

    The fair runs now through August 10 and is open from 11 am Monday through Friday and from 10 am on Saturday and Sunday. Come visit the Agromin display ar the fair's Flora Culture garden area.

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  • Gardens Love Organic Mulch - Friday, July 18, 2008 at 10:12 AM

  • Organic mulch offers tremendous advantages when placed around your garden flowers and vegetables. A 2" layer of mulch prevents moisture from evaporating, so less watering is needed. Mulch blocks weed growth and reduces the amount of insects and other pests.

    Mulch acts as an insulator to protect soil from extreme heat or cold so a layer of mulch around your plants is a smart idea year round. Plus, mulch makes an attractive groundcover. Mulch comes in a variety of colors from blond to red to dark brown (depending on the source wood). The size of the materials ranges from 1/4" to 3".

    Organic mulches contain only natural wood materials. Depending on the blend, mulches can include fir, buckwheat hulls, redwood bark, evergreen boughs, hops, ground corncobs, sugar cane and cottonseed hulls. Avoid buying mulch that contains hay, manure and straw. These types might contain weeds.

    Mulches that contain more wood will provide fewer nutrients and decompose slowly. Softer mulches will provide more nutrients but decompose more quickly.

    How to Lay Down Mulch

    1) Apply a 2" to 4" layer of mulch over the planting beds of already established plants. Leave a 5-inch radius around each plant. Do not put mulch over recently planted seeds because it will hinder their growth.

    2) Rake the mulch every so often to expose new mulch.

    3) The mulch will decompose over time. When only a thin layer is left, add more.

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