The Fayette Citizen-Lawn & Garden Page
Wednesday, October 7, 1998, 1998

Lawn & Garden

Consumer Q's

Q. What is a simple basic compost recipe?

A. The basic recipe for efficient decomposition combines lots of carbonaceous material (dry leaves, woodchips, twigs and straw) with fresh yard timmings, grass, vegetable and fruit peels and coffee grounds. Mix then "cook." This happens through the energy generated by the microorganisms, which heats a compost pile to 150 degrees at its core. If you add about half brown to half green, your pile should start cooking. Good compost should be ready in 60 to 90 days.

Q. Why do farmers use pesticides?

A. Farmers rely on pesticides to protect their crops from disease and damage, and to ensure that high quality crops will be available year-round to consumers. Pesticides control pests such as harmful insects, molds, fungi and weeds. Many molds and fungi can cause illness in humans; as well as damage the food. Using these crop protection products can maintain the quality of food as well as reduce the illness from food. Many farmers are using an agricultural practice called "Integrated Pest Management" (ISM), a system that uses the latest agricultural technologies to control pests and other crop damage.

Q. I would like to have a garden, but my space is limited. How large an area do I need?

A. If your garden space is limited, use fences or garage walls to support trellises for melons, cucumbersm squash, beans, and tomatoes. To keep the fruits from weighing down the vines, make cradles of netting or pantyhose slings, or make temporary shelves beneath heavier fruits.

Q. I realize that bug sprays and the chemicals used to control insects in my garden and yard are pesticide products. But are there other products I use that are pesticides and I don't know it?

A. A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. Pests can be insects, mice and other animals, unwanted plants, fungi, or bacteria and viruses. Some of the most commonly used products which consumers incorrectly assume are not pesticides are kitchen, laundry and bath disinfectants and sanitizers, some swinning pool chrmincals and products that kill mold and mildew.

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