Mixing Apples with Oranges is a GOOD Idea

   Time to think about where and what to plant.  We should be able to start setting plants out in about three weeks.  Potatoes and onions are already planted.  Strawberries and herbs are growing: chives, sage, thyme, oregano and volunteer cilantro.  The garden moving project is coming along.  (See 'Bringing Dreams to Life')  Half of the plots are tilled.  We will add compost and till again the second week of May.
     So, now, who will be happy living together?

   Companion planting is not a new idea to the gardening world. There is evidence of farmers using these same techniques dating back to ancient Roman times. Many people like to plant in neat, organized  plots and rows.  By planting only one crop or separating crop by type, you are actually creating a situation that requires a dependence on pesticides or herbicides.  It is not very interesting, visually, either.
    A companion planting plan integrates natural traits into your choice of crops. If you examine a  wooded forest lot or a marsh that is still the way God created it, you will see an interrelated system that works in natural harmony within itself. There are bugs that feed the birds, small mammals that maintain a manageable level of ground growth, and larger mammals that manage the level of smaller ones; the system requires no external inputs. This is the type of environment that can be created in one's garden space, making it harmonious for the birds and the bees, while providing a peaceful retreat for family and friends to enjoy.

    Some underlying techniques in companion planting can be found in many places on the internet.  Here are a two links that I like.
    I print out the chart and keep it with my garden tools for easy reference when I am in the garden.

http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/complant.html#chart

http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html

Have fun and don't be afraid to mix apples with oranges    =^..^=