As we enter into December climate change remains an overwhelming issue. All hands on deck, as they say. But the #vegan population keeps on growing and soon will double. The word “vegan” has now entered into the vocabulary of mainstream society, something that seemed like an impossible dream just a few short years ago. The evidence keeps mounting that a plant-based diet is the way forward for humanity. Even some major corporations are on board with this vision of the future. We are seeing the rise of a Go-Green culture around the world, even in China.

There are numerous sound reasons in favour of veganism, all of which are duly notable. LORAX Community is one of very few charitable alliances comprised of conscious vegans working toward a common goal of self-sustainability and planetary health for ALL living beings.

We are grateful to you for sharing this journey with us!

Happy ThanksVEGAN! In grateful recognition of both ThanksLIVING & 'Throwback Thursday', we re-offer this sublimely simple raw/vegan Butternut Squash & Apple Soup recipe kindly donated by RawVeganista to our Kitchen blog.

http://loraxkitchen.wordpress.com/2013/03/14/raw-butternut-squash-apple-soup/

For all who would also like to share Ahimsa/sattvic/plantbased (vegan or raw vegan) recipes to share via the LORAX Community Kitchen or VeganDIY blogs, please tag us in your original posts or drop us an email via LoraxCommunity.org.

Homegrown “yellowstone” variety carrots! 🌿 According to this months issue of National Geographic magazine: “Carrots were once largely yellow, red, or purple. Today’s orange colour dates only from the 19th century.” #cool #organicgarden (at Sunshine Coast, BC)

The squash hill has taken off so quickly! Also a sunflower with my house and the ridiculous giant block of an apartment behind us. A pile of tomato vines that exploded, lemon blossoms, the cabbages we are slowly harvesting, and a blanket flower I rescued that’s finally perking up.

Fascinating!  Have you ever wondered why we bury seeds? +MIgardener has some answers! ▼ Reshared Post From MIgardener ▼ Why DO we bury seed when we plant? http://click-to-read-mo.re/p/7fAI/53110fc7

Tomatoes, marigolds, basil (purple and globe) and green garlic: great companion plants.  The garlic and basil improve the tomatoes’ flavor and help repel pests, while the marigolds’ scent confuses tomato loving insects, plus look swell. 

How cool is that: these plants which go so well together on the plate, or in the pot, also enhance each other’s well being in the ground?  Amazing.

Scenes from the cold frame

We built this for under $150 with new materials last year, and it could easily be built even cheaper with salvaged materials. If you want to build something similar and want me to draw up the plans for it on paper, or on google sketch-up, let me know!

Right now it is chock-full of many varieties of pepper, tomato, and pepino dulce. After I harden off the larger plants among these, I will be able to start my aubergines, ground cherries, and some more cucumbers.

#greenhouse #DIY #garden hacks #seedlings 

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More like this:

 Veggie Bed #1 — Veggie Bed #2 — straw bale gardening — The art of the mini greenhouse (1,2) — recycled gardens — self-watering planter — newspaper seedling pots

The art of the mini-greenhouse - 3 

Previously: Mini greenhouses 1,  2, and “the cold frame”

No one has used the tire swing in years, so I am re-purposing the structure for the season with leftover plastic sheeting and a staple gun.

As of yet it is not finished, but it will host tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.

Cost = $0.00

#greenhouse #DIY #garden hacks #seedlings #upcycle

The art of the mini greenhouse (1, 2)

Things other people were throwing away:

Somehow, all this trash has all fit together to make an easy little greenhouse for my pumpkins and squashes. I was amazed to find the screen and aquarium fit together perfectly: now the birds can’t eat my seedlings.

The bale faces south to absorb as much heat as possible during the day, an (in principle) releases more heat at night as it ferments, warming my little friends in the aquarium. On cold nights I put a plastic sheet over the top to discourage heat and humidity loss.

#greenhouse #DIY #garden hacks #straw bale gardening #seedlings #upcycle

The art of the mini-greenhouse (1, 2)

Many of you folks are working without a proper greenhouse, much like me!

Here is a small tour of the little things I have built in my garden in order to create warm and sheltered micro-climates for my plants, against the Danish seaside weather I cope with daily.

The most important features of all of these are protection from wind, and retention of heat.

Protection from wind is provided by glass, plastic, or whatever I can find that allows the sun to shine through.

Retention of heat is provided by mulch, fire bricks, using black paint, or proximity to decomposing straw bales.

#greenhouse #DIY #garden hacks #straw bale gardening #seedlings

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What do you use to fend off the cold in your garden?

Raised beds are great, we all know it.  Here are some cool ways to make them out of stuff you might already have laying around!

info and pics from organicgardening

Words of wisdom: Please ENJOY, don't destroy.