Grow Something Naturally
How about starting with Oregano. The first step to growing Oregano naturally is to have a small , but sufficient garden. There are three steps in making a little garden feel big.
1. Take the eyes upward: Use arbors, fencers, shrubs, small trees and vines, such as sky vine, coral vine, Dutchman’s pipe and passionflower, to add a vertical dimension.
2. Create a gardening room: A row of small spaces separated by a wall of living plants makes you think more is around the corner.
3. Put in some raised beds: Even if they are small ones, include them in your garden. It helps create a sense of largesse.
Oregano is easy to grow and it can be incorporated into anyone’s cooking or even an already make dish bought at the store. Here is the plant profile for oregano.
Oregano: Origanum spp.
Botanical background: It is a member of the mint family. There are 42 species native to the Mediterranean or Eurasia. Mostly found in the wild in Cyrus, southern Turkey, western Syria and Lebanon.
Description of Oregano: Perennial, grows to a height of 2 to 3 inches to 3 feet or more. Aromatic leaves; small purple, pink or white flowers that are highly attractive to pollinators such as bees, butterflies and even some ladybugs.
Hardiness or Oregano: Common oregano (O.vulgare) and its subspecies and varieties are hardy to Zone 5 or 6. Turkish oregano (O. onites) and Sweet marjoram (O. Majorana) are grown only as annuals.
Oregano needs full sun: well drained soil and a neutral to alkaline soil base. When harvesting, cut ranches back by half just before they start to bloom.
Here are some oregano varieties to start you on your way:
• Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum)
• Common Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
• Sweet Marjoram ( Origanum majorana)
• Dittany of Crete (Origanum dictamnus)
• Turkish Oregano (Origanum onites)
• Mexican Oregano (Lippia graveolens)
Many of the oreganos are in near danger of being extinct in the wild due to over harvesting and the destruction of the plants’ natural habitat. The main fact is that oregano is difficult to raise commercially outside the Mediterranean. As they adapt to their new environment, their oil content and quality eventually decline. Growing your own means helping to safeguard a few oreganos in the wild.
*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Reuse and recycle: Put those unwanted CDs and DVDs you receive in the mail to good use by using them in your garden. String them up on the limbs of your fruit trees to help scare away the birds from your orchard.
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