Learning to Grow
Our journey growing our own food and designing solutions to support a more sustainable life.
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Milkweed Assassin Bug
What is this bright little red and black bug? The assassin bug, Zelus longipes. By its name you can probably guess that this is an insect that eats other insects. Thus, the name assassin. Predatory insects are very beneficial in the garden because they will usually munch on other insects such as aphids and ants…
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Always wear gloves
What is the best way to protect yourself from the nasty sting of a Solenopsis invicta (fire ant)? Wear gloves. Many of us wear gloves when we are gardening. Of course! Thorns and slivers and blisters all compel us to wear gloves, especially folks like me with soft office hands. So, on a typical…
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Why is the store named Okra Garden Supply?
Why did I name my little store Okra Garden Supply? The Okra flower is the reason. The Okra plant has so many things that to love, however, it was an easy choice. Plus it is a short, unique work. Maybe you found us (me) on the internet? Maybe that was because so few listings start…
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Who Should Garden? Everyone!
Do you eat? Then you ought to try and put a seed in the dirt and see what happens. Good morning. Gardening is such a wonderful hobby I hope you will consider it. Does it seem like the only people that garden are those that learned as children or grew up on a farm? There…
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DIATOMS – How did you hear about them?
DIATOMS, what are you? What do you do? There is a scrap of information that flows among the like-minded folks of the south. That scrap of information is; use DIATOMS on ant piles. The information is usually revealed in the following way: New Southerner: “Oh my, we don’t have these Fire Ants where I…
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Can Fire Ants Swim?
Fire ants are not fish. They do not like to be submerged in water. Therefore higher parts of your garden are most at risk for fire ants. This is often why mounds are observed at the base of trees and sadly, raised beds. Rainy weather can be tricky for working in the garden. Often times…
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Ebay Round 2
As there are many steps required to establish a secure and functioning website where Okra Garden Supply.com can sell you something securely via credit card, we are selling on Ebay for now. Although I should be able to get the shopping cart ready to accept payment by check or money order. Hum. Well, the Diatomite…
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Want to Garden? Start with Collard Greens
Here is a raised bed with Collard Greens. If you live in the south and want to start gardening, start with Collards. They will come through for you. Look how well the collards below turned out despite growing in the middle of an ant pile and remaining in their 4 inch pots. Amazing! The corner…
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What is Solenopsis invicta?
Solenposis invicta is the red imported fire ant. This ant is a native of South America that arrived in Mobile, Alabama in the early part of the 20th century. It is a master of utilizing disturbed areas so as the southern portion of the United States was transformed from small rural farms to a more…
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Solenopsis invicta video
Here is the video of Diatomite being applied to the pile documented in yesterday’s post. The best part of the video is around 27 seconds. Enjoy!… *Imagine a Video Here, Can’t upload because video too large” Ok, well the next thing will be to figure out how to load the video. I think that it…