I love this post by tclynx. I use cardboard all the time. Been known to 'steal' it out of the trash. But is it up to 'organic standards'? It was made by companies who spew chemicals into the atmosphere and water supply. Newspaper is the same. Therefore, I could argue quite convincingly that the use of cardboard is not up to organic 'standards'. So is it organic? You bet it is! We are trying to live in harmony with our environment. We don't run around spraying DDT on every bug we see. We cut down on waste in the land-fills. We grab that cardboard when we see it. We raid the neighbors' trash to mulch our plants. The thing a lot of people seem to not realize, is that "certified organic farming" is a whole lot different than organic gardening. I call myself semi-organic because I will not even hesitate to hit a severe infestation of 'bad' bugs with an 'organic' poison. I actually have more fun picking them off and sticking them in the soapy water. Then I toss them in the compost. Along with the soap that was made by a huge chemical company.

"What is a hoe?" A hoe is a garden tool with a thin flat blade usually on a long handle that is used especially for weeding and/or loosening and breaking up soil around plants. Hoes with short handles are often called "hand hoes." "How do I use a hoe?" Hoeing works best when weeds are small and haven't yet begun to bloom and set seeds. Use the hoe to sever the tops of weeds from their roots just below the soil surface. Carefully scrape the soil with the hoe, it's blade will barely enter the soil and will cut the stems of the weeds. Young severed weeds may be left on the ground to wilt and break down where they are. "How do I clean the hoe after use?" Brush off any loose soil from a hoe, then wipe it with an oily rag to keep it from rusting inbetween usage. When not in use store the hoe in a shed or garage with the blade edge facing the wall. "How do I sharpen a hoe?" A hoe is a cutting tool. It works best when it's blade is kept sharp. To sharpen a hoe: Use a flat general-purpose file to sharpen the blade of the hoe. Hold the file at a 45 degree angle on the edge of the blade. (It may help to place the handle of the hoe in a vice-clamp to hold it securely while you sharpen the blade.) *Sharpen the hoe using strokes going in only one direction, do not use "back and forth" motions. Only a few strokes should be neccesary to sharpen the blade of the hoe.

"What is intensive planting?" Intensive planting is a way to grow plants by placing them close together in a garden. Their spacing is generally closer together than traditionally recommended distances. "How does it work?" As the plants mature their leaves begin to shade the ground. This helps to control the growth of weeds. Airborne weed seeds won't be able to take hold in a clear patch of ground. Weed seeds won't receive adequate sunlight for germination. Young weed seedlings will be crowded out or smothered by the leaves of larger growing plants. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I usually space young transplants about six inches apart. As the plants mature they grow in very tightly, filling any space between them, and that shades the ground reducing the amount of weeds I have to pull. Intensive planting combined with a layer of mulch has been very successful for me in reducing my weed chores! I love it! Trudi

Vinegar is a penny-wise and environmentally-safe means for killing weeds. It is easy to use and will not harm the environment. Simply place some undiluted household vinegar in a mister/sprayer bottle and spritz weeds to saturate their leaves. Usually within 6 to 48 hours the plant growth will wither and die. Young seedlings less than two weeks old will be killed entirely, older weeds will have their top-growth killed but may still resprout from the roots. What is vinegar and how it it made? The word vinegar comes from two Latin words: *vinum* meaning wine and *acer* sour. Vinegar can be naturally made by the decaying of plant parts in anaerobic situations. Acetic acid (often called ethanoic acid) is created by the fermentation of alcohol. Common household vinegar has about a 5% acetic acid concentration and is prepared from grapes (wine), apples (cider), or grains (malt). Fermentation creates vinegar when sugars are converted into alcohol and carbon-dioxide....the alcohol reacts with air and specific bacteria to make vinegar. Concentrated acetic acid created by synthetic processes is not considered organic and is not used by the organic agricultural community. Vinegar (made from plant sources) with high acetic acid concentration created by distillation or freeze-evaporation process is deemed acceptable for organic garden use. Will the acetic acid in vinegar harm my soil? It can temporarily reduce the pH of soil but this effect typically lasts only a couple of days. Acetic acid rapidly breaks down in water and so for the best results do not spray weeds just before a storm. The rains will dilute the vinegar and greatly reduce its effectiveness. Is there some research data available on this? The United State Department of Agriculture is currently researching the use of vinegar as an organic herbicide at their research facility in Beltsville, Maryland. Results so far are very promising and have shown that using vinegars with 10, 15, or 20% acetic acid concentrations have had an 80 to 100% kill-rate with many common weeds. Common household vinegar (with a 5% acetic acid concentration) has successfully killed the top-growth of Canada Thistle, one of North America's most noxious and widely spread weeds. However, regrowth from the roots did occur. To achieve the best results in eliminating Canada thistle spray very young plants every couple of weeks with household vinegar (5%). Where can I buy high concentration acetic acid vinegar? Look for it at Farm Supply Stores. Vinegar sold specifically for Home-Canning purposes also has an acetic acid concentration higher than five percent. Do I need to use high acetic acid concentration vinegar for weed control on my home property? I don't want to use anything that is caustic. Young weeds will be killed by spraying with plain household vinegar (5%), older weeds may require some additional spraying for effective control. Wear protective clothing and eye shields while using high concentration vinegars. Skin irritation from contact, lung irritation from fumes, and very severe and permanently damaging eye irritation from splashes are all possible. This might also be helpful: Will boiling water kill weeds? Newspaper as weed control? Organic Gardening Forum