• Growing Season Just Beginning for Many Plants & Vegetables in November - Friday, October 23, 2009 at 2:46 PM
  • OXNARD, CALIF.--While many flowers and deciduous trees become dormant in November, others are just starting their growing season and will keep gardeners busy throughout the fall and winter, says Agromin, an Oxnard-based manufacturer of premium soil products that are made from recycled green material.

    Native Flowers: Native California plants are on a different clock than non-native plants. They thrive in cooler weather when the rains come, bloom in spring and become dormant-like during the dry, hot summer months. Most are drought tolerant Plant native flowers now including Ceanothus (perennial blue flowers), Monkey Flower (perennial orange flowers), California White Sage and California Poppy. Also, consider planting wildflowers from seed. The California Native Plant Society (www.cnps.org) identifies native California vegetation so you can choose the flowers to fit your garden. It also lists nurseries specializing in native plants.

    Planting Trees: Fall is one of the best times of the year to plant trees. The bigger the tree doesn't mean the tree is healthier and will do well when planted. Transplanting younger trees, with a smaller branch system can mean less stress on the root system. Select the tree location carefully before choosing the tree. Do you want a deciduous tree with leaves that change colors or one that stays green all year long? How tall and wide will the tree become at maturity? Does the location have enough room to accommodate the tree's root and branch system? Once those decisions are made and the tree is selected, amend the soil before planting and surround the tree with mulch (six inches or more from the trunk) to keep in moisture and prevent erosion.

    Still Time to Plant Cool Season Vegetables: While the variety of cool season vegetables is less abundant than their summer counterparts, enjoying the taste of homegrown vegetables can't be beat. Plant broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, peas and spinach. Water as needed. If rains are frequent, no watering or once-a-week watering is all that is required. If hot, dry Santa Ana winds kick up, water once a day until the hot weather passes.

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

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    About Agromin:

    Agromin manufactures premium soil products for farmers, landscapers and consumers. Agromin is also the green waste recycler for over 50 Southern California communities. Each month, Agromin receives and processes thousands of tons of urban wood and green waste. Agromin then uses a safe, organic and scientific system to formulate its soil products from the processed recycled green waste. The result is more vigorous and healthier plants and gardens, and on the conservation side, more room in landfills and less greenhouse gas emissions. Agromin is the U.S. Composting Council's "Composter of the Year."

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  • 21st Century Victory Gardens Benefit Today's Hungry - Monday, October 5, 2009 at 3:38 PM

  • FOOD Share, Agromin encourage community to grow produce through Garden Share program, initiate call to action for neighborhoods to help feed our hungry.



    VENTURA, CALIF. (October 5, 2009--During WWI and WWII, growing Victory Gardens became a necessity to supplement community food supplies.

    Decades later, the idea of sustainable backyard and community gardens is again at the forefront. A program from FOOD Share, called Garden Share, is a new community-based effort that encourages neighborhoods to grow produce to help feed the hungry.

    FOOD Share and Agromin, the official sponsor of Garden Share, have made it fun and easy to get started through a free Garden Share member program that includes incentives, discounts on soil to start a garden, and how-to tips and support to get you started on the path to helping feed those in need.

    "Adding fresh, often organic, produce for our fellow food pantries to distribute is an amazing gift to people who so often go without," said Bonnie Weigel, FOOD Share CEO. "Whether you have a single container on the patio or a row in an acre of farmland, everyone can get involved to help with Garden Share."

    Agromin is one California's largest organics recyclers, diverting green materials collected from every community in Ventura County and converting them into more than 200 types of sustainable, eco-friendly soil products. It is offering its soil products at a special discount to volunteers who sign up to grow vegetables for Garden Share.

    "Agromin believes strongly that as a community we should help each other and help our environment," said Bill Camarillo, Agromin CEO. "Garden Share does both by feeding the hungry and by using soil made from locally-generated recycled green waste. Garden Share provides an opportunity for all of us to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors and to make the environment we live in cleaner and more sustainable."

    POUNDS FOR PRODUCE
    Agromin and FOOD Share will select winners of a Pounds for Produce contest based on the amount of produce grown in one of six categories: potatoes, tomatoes, celery, onions, broccoli, and citrus. The contest is free to enter and open to everyone through July 15, 2010. Top producers in each category will win free soil from Agromin on a pound-for-pound basis, equal to the total weight of produce donated to FOOD Share.

    GET GREEN AND GET GROWING!
    Get started with a free Garden Share membership that includes incentives, discounts on soil from Agromin, how-to tips, and support to help grow your garden. To sign up and become part of the FOOD Share family, visit www.foodshare.com or www.agromin.com.

    For more information, call Meg Horton at FOOD Share, (805) 983-7100, ext. 105.

    About FOOD Share
    A major food bank distributing millions of pounds of food annually to those in need throughout Ventura County, FOOD Share collects and receives food year-round, distributing to more than 150 partner agencies throughout Ventura County and serving over 41,000 friends through its Oxnard headquarters.

    Its Brown Bag and Snack Attack programs provide supplemental nutrition to about 2,200low income seniors through 31 agencies and healthy nutritious after school snacks to approximately 1,800 children though 12 agencies countywide and provides food to more than 40,000 people each month. Information: (805) 983-7100 or www.foodshare.com.

    About Agromin
    As a United States Composting Council Composter of the Year Award-winner, Agromin, headquartered in Oxnard, manufactures premium soil products for farmers, landscapers and consumers, and is a green waste recycler for more than 50 Southern California communities.

    Each month, Agromin receives and processes thousands of tons of urban wood and green waste. Agromin then uses a safe, organic and scientific system to formulate its soil products from the processed recycled green waste. The result is more vigorous and healthier plants and gardens, and on the conservation side, more room in landfills and less greenhouse gas emissions. For more information: www.agromin.com.

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  • Gardeners and Gardens Enjoy Cool Fall Weather In October - Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 1:29 PM
  • October finally brings relief from summer heat, allowing both gardeners and gardens to enjoy a temperate climate for planting an array of cool season vegetables, trees and shrubs, says Agromin, an Oxnard-based manufacturer of premium soil products and one of the state's largest green materials recycling companies.

    Plant Bedding Plants: Plant now for colorful blooms by Thanksgiving. Use nursery six-packs instead of costlier annuals in larger containers. In fall, smaller plants grow bigger and will flower longer than their larger counterparts.

    Landscape Trees and Shrubs: Plant drought-resistant trees and shrubs so they have the long, cooler winter months to establish themselves before summer heat. Avoid frost-sensitive plants and those best suited to summer planting. Drought-resistant trees and shrubs include Eucalyptus, California pepper, California sycamore (drought tolerant once established), coast live oak, Italian buckthorn and oleander.

    Let Roses Rest: Stop fertilizing roses, water sparingly and don't cut dead flowers. This will let plants make rose hips (fruits) to allow a smooth transition to winter dormancy.

    Plant cool season vegetables: Pull out summer vegetables that have stopped producing. Buy six packs of seasonal vegetables including cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, peas, spinach, Brussels sprouts, lettuce and rutabaga. Plant them in well cultivated and amended soil.

    Spruce up perennials: Thin out perennials including Shasta daisies, callas and yarrow. Prune overgrown and dead stems, preferably almost to the ground. When the plants grow back, they will fuller with a less straggly appearance.

    Herb season: Hardy herbs that can be planted in fall include garlic, oregano, parsley, rosemary, chives, cilantro, dill, fennel and thyme. Basil goes to flower in fall so harvest and dry the leaves and use them for winter cooking.

    Cut back on watering: Unless we experience unusually strong and prolonged hot Santa Ana winds, gardeners can reduce the amount of water for their lawn, garden, trees and shrubs. Make sure water timers are shut off when it rains.

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

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    About Agromin:

    Agromin manufactures premium soil products for the farmers, landscapers and consumers. Agromin is also the green waste recycler for over 50 Southern California communities. Each month, Agromin receives and processes thousands of tons of urban wood and green waste. Agromin then uses a safe, organic and scientific system to formulate its soil products from the processed recycled green waste. The result is more vigorous and healthier plants and gardens, and on the conservation side, more room in landfills and less greenhouse gas emissions. Agromin is the U.S. Composting Council's "Composter of the Year."

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