The Happy Gardener

As spring comes into full bloom, many of us are heading out to the local garden centers to purchase fertilizer, plant food, containers and more. But how many of us stop to consider the dangers in the chemically-laden products we're buying?

There is a safer alternative. The Happy Gardener Inc., a company founded in 2003 by Annette Pelliccio, focuses on eco-friendly gardening and lawn care. Their wide range of products include vegetable-based fertilizers and plant foods, rather than the traditional animal manure-based ones, as well as bird feeders, birdhouses and birdbaths made from recycled plastic milk jugs and soda bottles. They carry handmade specialty items, flower bulbs from the Netherlands, composting bins made from 100% recycled materials, container gardening supplies and more.



As a direct sales company based in Ashland, Virginia, The Happy Gardener Inc. does not sell its products in stores. Rather, Independent Garden Consultants across the country make the products available to their communities, as well as offering greener gardening education and information.

Rashko Dorosiev is one such Consultant. I had the opportunity to speak with Rashko this week and discovered some fascinating things about eco-friendly gardening. For example, Rashko is quite enthusiastic as to how sea vegetables benefit your garden. He launched a website last month with the goal of educating the public on the benefits and simplicity of using organic fertilizers and other natural, earth-friendly products when taking care of your lawn and garden. He also offers fantastic tips about indoor gardening as well.

Happy Earth Lawn and Garden carries all The Happy Gardener's products and I highly recommend checking them out. If you're concerned about the harmful effects commercial fertilizers and plant foods have on your children (as well you should be), the organic and vegetable-based alternatives are a must have. Wouldn't it be nice to spread fertilizer without having to worry about your family or pets trudging some of toxins into your home and across your carpet? This stuff is perfectly safe, folks! That's something to get excited about.

Seriously, check out the website. I have nothing to gain by your doing so, but your family sure does. The information Rashko shares on the website is invaluable to any gardeners out there who care about the safety of their kids and pets.

If you're as excited about the product line as I am, you might want to consider a club membership. Just pay a yearly fee ($39 for the first year, $20/year after that) and you'll get 30% off all exclusive Happy Gardener products. Just a thought.

I'm going to be trying the SeaResults plant food and am expecting it to rival Miracle-Gro®. I'll let you know my opinion of it in a month or two.

Keeping it green....and healthy,

Hana