Potting Soil Mix

Hello Gardeners,
I have uploaded a video about how to mix your own potting soil mix. Hope you like this Episode 4 on Gardening in Dubai.

Episode 4, Gardening in Dubai, Potting Soil Mix

Happy Gardening

Yana

Grow Your Food Contest is BACK

Grow your food contest organized by Dubai Municipality is back in it's second season. If you didn't participate last time now is your chance. Growing your own food (at least part of it) is important. I am very grateful to God for blessing me with a house (and a big backyard that come's with it) and the ability to grow my food. And I am thankful to the government for organizing such a contest. It's not about the prize money. It's about the community and the spirit of being a part of something bigger.  A mere few years ago I only drooled over the contests and such events and activities overseas that I saw on the Internet. I didn't imagine we'd have something like this in here. As young woman I often felt weird because gardening (and sewing and  crocheting and other things I do) was looked upon by some to be old fashioned and I didn't find much support let alone a circle of like minded individuals. Most of the people I knew were concerned with things like fashion, make up and parties (I did that too though it wasn't an obsession or way of life). So I didnt care and I did what I like anyways. I would garden and I would tell people about it without feeling embarrassed (though I have been on occasions attempted to make feel so, but I am not discouraged easily). Over time I started meeting people who were into gardening too (and sewing and crafting). And then the contest happened. It was such a positive experience and I am so glad it's back this year. The notable addition to this year's contest are workshops that will happen every Saturday. So here is the link to the contest website and I hope to see you at the workshop on Saturday In Sha Allah  (I learnt recently this is how it's supposed to be spelled.
Grow Your Food Contest

Happy Gardening
Yana

Kid's Veggie Grow Kits

Gardening is not only for adults if you ask me. Kids like to get involved too and I think it's important to let them do so. I believe in order to raise our kids into responsible young people we need to expose them to various environmentally responsible activities and gardening is one of them. Gardening teaches kids where food comes from, how it "comes" and importance of food among other things. This in turn teaches them about food wastage, hunger and other concepts (provided you turn them into the right direction).

Wonderful people at The Planet Greeners have come up with the Veggie Grow Kit. They even distribute a limited number of these to schools for free to help them start a veggie garden. The kits are sold for 30 dhs each and contain 4 grow bags, seedling tray, compost (to fill the seedling tray), basic instructions and seeds. Seeds vary from pack to pack to keep the excitement up. I think these kits are a good way to start a vegetable garden even for adults. 

The Planet Greeners is a landscaping company and they get involved in the community a lot. The have various programs that they conduct to give back to society.  Me and Yasmeen, she's the agriculturist of the company, had a little chat and she told me about her intent to conduct gardening workshops. I will post more info for you about it later once the details are finalized. In the meanwhile here's what the grow kits look like.

Happy Gardening

Yana