en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/357750 Comments by Greg Seaman http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/5-secrets-to-a-%e2%80%98no-work%e2%80%99-garden/#IDComment249395575 Thanks for your comment John. I like your description of mulch in nature as &quot;God&#039;s blanket&quot;. Once we understood the value of mulch our garden became much more productive, and we could focus on growing things instead of weeding. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:36:23 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/5-secrets-to-a-%e2%80%98no-work%e2%80%99-garden/#IDComment249395575 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2010/09/how-to-use-seaweed-to-mulch-your-garden/#IDComment249392273 I think any of the three options you mention will be of benefit to your garden. In winter, during the rainy season, we put new amendments such as seaweed into the compost. This is to ensure the rain doesn&#039;t wash away the valuable nutrients we&#039;ve worked into the soil. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:30:33 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2010/09/how-to-use-seaweed-to-mulch-your-garden/#IDComment249392273 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/01/when-to-turn-off-your-lights/#IDComment240960701 Yes, this will save energy. Frequent on/off cycling does not reduce the effeciency or lifespan of LEDs. Sun, 18 Dec 2011 17:29:25 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/01/when-to-turn-off-your-lights/#IDComment240960701 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/12/christmas-bird-count-december-14th-january-5th/#IDComment237518406 I like the idea of having the count area be your back yards and gardens. This makes it easier to get more people involved, and is an opportunity for people to discover the natural wonders at their doorsteps. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:28:46 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/12/christmas-bird-count-december-14th-january-5th/#IDComment237518406 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/12/are-you-feeding-your-kids-twinkies-for-breakfast/#IDComment237204047 Good solution. Mix in Cheerios or other low sugar brand to dilute the sugary ones. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:06:37 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/12/are-you-feeding-your-kids-twinkies-for-breakfast/#IDComment237204047 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/01/healthy-cookware/#IDComment237197092 A dutch oven can stand in well for a crock pot. Yo can can use it on the stovetop on hot days when you don&#039;t want to heat up the kitchen for stews, potroast, corned beef, as well as in the oven. In the oven you can leave it and walk away for hours, as you might for the crockpot. Dutch Ovens can be also used for casseroles for large groups or pot luck suppers. We stock a beautiful enamel on cast iron dutch oven that is a workhorse for any kitchen: <a href="http://eartheasy.com/green-home/green-kitchen/5-5qt-oval-dutch-oven-with-lid-by-michelle-b" target="_blank">http://eartheasy.com/green-home/green-kitchen/5-5...</a> Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:53:28 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/01/healthy-cookware/#IDComment237197092 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/garden-as-if-your-life-depended-on-it-because-it-does/#IDComment234347131 Thank you Dan for your interesting comments. The word &#039;empowering&#039; is spot on, and this is the real gift of gardening. I have learned that first time gardens often are very productive, since non-gardened soil usually contains nutrients and minerals that have built up over time. It is successive years that gardening skills are needed to produce successful yields. We believe that focusing on soil improvement is key. This is not difficult, it just requires tending to. Rotate crops, use green manures, add peat to heavy soil, keep the ph in balance, use mulches liberally. With rich, light soil your plants will be so vigorous that gardening becomes easier and the plants are much more productive. I encourage you to folllow your intuition to a simpler life. Wed, 7 Dec 2011 21:48:37 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/garden-as-if-your-life-depended-on-it-because-it-does/#IDComment234347131 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/01/what-is-healthy-for-the-person-is-healthy-for-the-planet/#IDComment233870876 Well said, Zemella. Thank you. Tue, 6 Dec 2011 22:16:33 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/01/what-is-healthy-for-the-person-is-healthy-for-the-planet/#IDComment233870876 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/06/grasscycling-%e2%80%93-the-easiest-way-to-nurture-your-lawn/#IDComment233442523 Great points you make John. I particularly appreciate your comment about the best way being the laziest. This is one of the fundamental points of One Straw Revolution which has influenced me in gardening and yard care, as well as other pursuits. I have come to treasure the simple solutions, such as mulching to combat weeds and grasscycling to improve lawns. Tue, 6 Dec 2011 03:57:26 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/06/grasscycling-%e2%80%93-the-easiest-way-to-nurture-your-lawn/#IDComment233442523 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/03/global-warming-climate-change-what-we-can-do-about-it/#IDComment233439473 Charles, I very much appreciate your perspective. Well said! Tue, 6 Dec 2011 03:50:13 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/03/global-warming-climate-change-what-we-can-do-about-it/#IDComment233439473 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/5-secrets-to-a-%e2%80%98no-work%e2%80%99-garden/#IDComment232806866 Thanks John. I agreee with you. The drip system is a bit more work to set up, but well worth it once installed. We use a drip system for one of our gardens, and soaker hoses for some beds (tomatoes lend themselves to soakers since the foliage stays dry). And a drip system, like soaker hoses, can also work on timers, which is very helpful. Sun, 4 Dec 2011 22:49:34 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/5-secrets-to-a-%e2%80%98no-work%e2%80%99-garden/#IDComment232806866 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/11/holiday-candle-sense-%e2%80%93-how-to-enjoy-the-flame-without-the-pollution/#IDComment232305721 I felt the same way. Researching information for this article was quite eye-opening, and I tried to not overstate the hazards with each type of candle. I am switching to beeswax candles. Sat, 3 Dec 2011 20:52:39 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/11/holiday-candle-sense-%e2%80%93-how-to-enjoy-the-flame-without-the-pollution/#IDComment232305721 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/5-secrets-to-a-%e2%80%98no-work%e2%80%99-garden/#IDComment231144500 You can buy plastic or metal &#039;Y&#039;s which enable you to add hoses. They are available at home supply, irrigation or gardening centers. We use these ourselves, and our preference is the black plastic ones. They cost a few dollars each. Thu, 1 Dec 2011 17:03:52 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/5-secrets-to-a-%e2%80%98no-work%e2%80%99-garden/#IDComment231144500 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/10/why-tv-for-children-under-two-is-a-bad-idea/#IDComment223442925 I agree entirely. Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:14:42 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/10/why-tv-for-children-under-two-is-a-bad-idea/#IDComment223442925 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/5-secrets-to-a-%e2%80%98no-work%e2%80%99-garden/#IDComment222464804 Hi Lauren, You can apply any finish to the outside of the bed. We like tung-oil based finishes because of their low toxicity. Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:10:19 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/5-secrets-to-a-%e2%80%98no-work%e2%80%99-garden/#IDComment222464804 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/01/healthy-cookware/#IDComment222395803 We chose to offer the Michelle B line of enameled cast iron cookware from Fagor because of the combination of quality and price. As you probably know, cast iron cookware can be very expensive. The Lite offers comparable value, and we may carry this soon. Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:19:11 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/01/healthy-cookware/#IDComment222395803 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/5-secrets-to-a-%e2%80%98no-work%e2%80%99-garden/#IDComment221048220 I hear you about the straw. It has to be clean to avoid introducing new weeds to your beds. If you cannot take any beds out of production, then you will have to use amendments in spring to fluff up the soil and add nutrients. Peat is commonly used to lighten the soil, and we use canola meal as a fertilizer. (Store canola meal where mice can&#039;t get it!) Have you tried over-winter crops of brassicas? We have no problems with kale, purple sprouting broccoli, chard, beet greens and sometimes parsley and arugula can overwinter. We have harversted broccoli from under the snow. And in spring there are usually some volunteer starters ready to go. If you are not going to plant overwinter crops, and cannot grow green manure, then cover your beds with black plastic sheeting - this will reduce soil compression and loss of nutrients. We planted fall rye in September and it&#039;s now a few inches tall. It is slowing down but should pick up in early spring. These beds will be for late spring planting. With rye, be sure to cut it before seed heads appear or it becomes woody and difficult to turn in. &quot;Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades&quot;, by Steve Solomon, is a terrific resource for gardeners in this region. Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:03:25 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/5-secrets-to-a-%e2%80%98no-work%e2%80%99-garden/#IDComment221048220 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2010/12/cancer-causing-chemical-found-in-drinking-water-of-31-u-s-cities/#IDComment220997967 Water utilities are not required to test for hexavalent chromium. You should be able check your annual water analysis to see if your local water utility tests or reports results for hexavalent chromium. Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:08:19 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2010/12/cancer-causing-chemical-found-in-drinking-water-of-31-u-s-cities/#IDComment220997967 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/01/when-to-turn-off-your-lights/#IDComment219892412 I think you should consider LEDs for your future lighting replacements. There have been problems associated with CFLs, such as inconsistent manufacturing standards, the mercury issue, and loss of efficiency through frequent cycling. We do not sell CFLs for these reasons. The cost of LEDs is steadily declining and approaching the tipping point of broad market acceptance. Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:00:17 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/01/when-to-turn-off-your-lights/#IDComment219892412 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/11/fall-is-the-season-for-mulching-with-leaves/#IDComment218231778 It&#039;s never too late Chris! Mon, 7 Nov 2011 17:43:29 +0000 http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/11/fall-is-the-season-for-mulching-with-leaves/#IDComment218231778