John J. Pascarella
I have been gardening, off and on, for most of my life. I have been serious about gardening for the last 20 years and gardening organically for 15. At the top of my gardening experience, I gardened in a 1000 square foot plot, and that was just my vegetables.
I've recently inherited the home I grew up in and plan to start a new garden come spring. I am planning to have another large garden, sharing what I grow with my mom and my new neighbors.
My organic philosophy is based in Integrated Pest Management, which basically says that the earlier you address a problem, the easier it is to solve it. For example, if you spray for grasshoppers when they are small and immature, you can use organic insecticides in small amounts to solve the problem. If you wait until they are large and mature, the only organic method that will get rid of them is the "Two Brick Method."
I am a Master Gardener through the Master Gardener program of Iowa State University. I also wrote a weekly gardening column in the Quad City Times, Davenport, Iowa.
Latest Articles
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Collecting Kennedy Half Dollars
The Kennedy half dollar an easy, yet challenging coin to collect.
Aug 27, 2010
- John J. Pascarella
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Companion Planting
By knowing which plants like to grow together and which ones don't, your garden can be more productive than ever.
Feb 6, 2008
- John J. Pascarella
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Which Bugs Are Good Bugs?
By knowing which insects are beneficial to your garden, you can reduce the time spent hunting for bad bugs.
Feb 6, 2008
- John J. Pascarella
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Pruning Spring Flowering Shrubs
Knowing the right time to prune spring flowering shrubs can be the difference between a mass of flowers and a few blooms
Feb 6, 2008
- John J. Pascarella
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Gardening With Less Water
A little planning and a good supply of organic mulch can help you lower your water and sewer bills and increase your harvest.
Feb 6, 2008
- John J. Pascarella
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US Mint Issues Last State Quarter
The US Mint's "State Quarter" program was to end in 2008, but legislation has extended it through 2009. With no US states left, what will new 25-cent pieces honor?
Feb 5, 2008
- John J. Pascarella
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Abraham Lincoln's New Cent
In honor of President Lincoln's birth, the U.S. Mint has been authorized to design new reverses for the cent, depicting important events in his life.
Feb 4, 2008
- John J. Pascarella
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How To Forage Safely
By using common sense when foraging, you can save yourself much discomfort, or even death.
Feb 3, 2008
- John J. Pascarella
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Earthworms Build and Improve Soil
Most people know what an earthworm looks like, but not many know what it does.
Feb 2, 2008
- John J. Pascarella
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How to Read a Seed Catalog
Taking a little time to learn the keywords and symbols found in seed catalogs can help create a successful gardening experience.
Dec 1, 2007
- John J. Pascarella
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