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May 2008
Organic
Gardening
Growing
Grasses Indoors
Ceylon
Cinnamon
Question: Organic
Gardening
I would like to grow an organic garden and am wondering
how to go about it. Thanks.
Answer:
Thanks for your question. The following links will introduce you to
organic gardening:
http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca/Article.Organic_Gardening.htm
Many more articles by various
authors are included in this section:
http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca/Gardening_For_The_Soil_Articles.O.htm
This link connects to articles
on composting and lawn care:
http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca/Ask_Gwen.May_June_2007.htm
If you wish, you can go to
Google search box on this site; search organic gardening, and Google will
pull-up numerous resources.
Question:
Growing Grasses Indoors
Is it possible to grow grasses
indoors?
Answer:
Thank you for your question. Grasses have become popular as indoor
plants. They're easy to start from seed and require little maintenance once
established. You can grow
just about any grass indoors and seed is available at nurseries, garden
centers, feed stores, or co-ops.
Bamboo can also be grown
indoors. Here is a link with
instructions for growing Bamboo: http://www.americanbamboo.org/GeneralInfoPages/GrowingBambooIndoors.html
Practical
Steps To Growing Grass Indoors
1)
Container. Grasses look good in flat containers such
as clay (terra cotta) pots. Place some broken pottery shards in the bottom of
the pot to cover the drainage hole and prevent the potting mix from washing
out. If you prefer, you can plant
grass seed in baskets. Line the baskets with plastic sheeting to prevent them
from ruining your tabletop. A garbage
bag cut to size makes a good a liner.
After fitting the liner, place pottery shards or gravel in the bottom
for drainage.
2)
Potting soil. Plant them in fast-draining potting soil
that's been amended with sand. Add
amended potting soil to the saucer, stopping 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the rim of
the saucer to allow room for watering. Level the potting soil in the saucer,
and sprinkle seed over the surface.
3)
Seed.
4)
Moisten the potting soil
using a spray-mist bottle to water the seeds. If you're growing a grass pot outdoors, sprinkle a 1/4 inch (6
mm) layer of potting soil over the seeds to prevent birds from eating them.
Label the seeds with a waterproof marker, noting the name of the seed and the
planting date. Keep the seedbed moist by misting until the grass germinates.
5)
Sprinkle enough seed so
it covers the entire surface of the soil and press the seeds firmly into the
soil.
6)
Lightly water the seeds.
It's important to keep them moist, so wrap the entire container with plastic
wrap.
7)
Once you start seeing
blades of green, remove the plastic wrap.
8)
Keep the container in a
sunny location.
9)
Trim the grass with
scissors as needed, which spurs new growth and keeps the plants looking
good. Remove the cuttings to prevent
the build-up of thatch.
Question: Ceylon
Cinnamon
Do you have any idea where I
can purchase Cinnamon from Ceylon in Edmonton, or Calgary, Alberta?
Answer:
Thank you very much for
contacting me regarding purchasing Ceylon Cinnamon
(C. zeylanicum). I have included some information from Wikipedia
related to the differences between Ceylon Cinnamon and what is commonly
called Cinnamon in North America, which is actually Cassia.
The
name cinnamon is correctly used to refer to Ceylon Cinnamon, also
known as "true cinnamon" (from the botanical name C. zeylanicum).
However, the related species Cassia (Cinnamomum
aromaticum), Saigon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum loureiroi) and Cinnamomum
burmannii are sometimes sold labeled as cinnamon, sometimes distinguished
from true cinnamon as "Chinese Cinnamon", "Vietnamese
cinnamon" or "Indonesian cinnamon." Ceylon cinnamon, using only the thin inner
bark, has a finer, less dense, and more crumbly texture, and is considered to
be less strong than cassia. Cassia
has a much stronger (somewhat harsher) flavor than Cinnamon and is generally
a medium to light reddish brown, is hard and woody in texture, and is thicker
(2–3 mm thick), as all of the layers of bark are used. All of the powdered cinnamon sold in
supermarkets in the United States is actually Cassia.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon
These
are some sources for purchasing spices in Calgary and Edmonton. I wasn't
able to find an on-line catalogue so I am not sure if they carry Ceylon
Cinnamon.
Classic
Foods Customer Service Phone: (403) 279-6267 ext. 201 Fax: (403)
279-6515 custserv@classicfoodsltd.com
Continental Food 3253, 34 Ave, NE, Calgary AB Ph (403) 250-2448
Desi Bazaar Bay # 143, 5120 - 47 th St, NE, Calgary, AB T3J 3R2 Ph (403)
285-2446
India Bazaar 4514, 118 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta Ph:(403) 539-5100
OK General Food Stores 3250, 60 St NE, Calgary AB Ph (403) 293-1168
Millwoods Spice Center 3930 - 91 St, Edmonton, Alberta Ph:(403) 463-5877
Spice Bazaar 9236 - 34 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta Ph:(403) 988-5684
Spice Center 9217 - 34 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta Ph:(403) 461-5724
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