Summer Stress Buster

Every weekend and most evenings, I play “Farmer Fix” in my orchard (two cherry and one plum tree), herb bed (four lavender and three rosemary plants) and garden (kale, onions and grape vine). Tara it isn’t. However, I have plans. Lots of them. I’m always thinking about expansion, rotating crops and becoming self-sustaining. Few efforts beat horticulture for clearing away life’s thorns and snags.

Now that I have found one of the best nurseries in northern Nevada, there is no stress of worrying about what will grow here in our high desert region. Lorrie and C.J. Sanders are third and fourth generation local business owners of The Garden Spot Nursery (no website available). Selling only plants that they know from years of experience will grow locally; the Sanders are friendly and generous about sharing helpful hints and tips. Their vegetables, flowers, bushes, shrubs and trees are healthy, vibrant and reasonably priced. The gorgeous rosemary plants in the photo are over two feet tall and cost $14.99 each. Two green thumbs up for The Garden Spot Nursery located at 900 S. Rock Blvd, Sparks, Nevada, (775) 972-0841.

Speaking of hints and tips, at a recent Vistage meeting where Jason Lavin, CEO of Golden Communications, Inc. gave us outstanding advice on website marketing, member Gregg Jones of EP Minerals amazed us with an insect control tidbit. Diatomaceous earth sprinkled on soil is effective in killing ants and crawling bugs. Apparently, the product destroys the critters exoskeleton and dehydrates their innards. After researching the topic I discovered organic food grade diatomaceous earth (with no additives) is safe for people, mammals and birds. Stay far far away from the “pool grade.”

Oh, and that kale I mentioned earlier? Disappeared almost overnight. Eaten by creepy-crawlies. Not that I’m stressed, but perhaps The Garden Spot Nursery and EP Minerals can get together to make a small consumer-size bag of diatomaceous earth available locally. They would be my heroes.

Written by Susan Fix, The Applied Companies Community Liaison Partner. Fix has worked 16 years in staffing services performing outside sales, recruiting, permanent and temporary placement coordination, career counseling, customer service and social media/business.