GA Agricultural Health

Blood, sweat & mud, and sometimes tears, all go into a day’s work.

GAH is dedicated to Horticultural development, propagation, environmental protection practices, cultivation and maintenance operations involving ornamentals & edible plants, trees, organically cultivated and arable crops. Our techniques are geared toward environmental stability, resource conservation, damage-reversal, landscape design and farming protections. Our aim is to consistently improve plant growth rate, yields and aesthetic quality. As well as developing organic trea...tments for pest resistance to plant and to naturally negate crop disease. We seek to eliminate fertilizer waste runoff, minimalize environmental stresses via natural & organical pathways. Our range of clientele include arable farmers, golf course superintendents, commercial property owners, real estate land developers, contractors and the residential backyard gardens. See more

Where am I right now? This colorful idiot was just walking slowly in the street today. Dumb beautiful bird. I really wanted to pick one of those long feathers off his butt, but I relented and honked instead. #peacock#showinghisfeathers#bigbuttbird#struttinghisstuff#prettyboy#slowlywalking#intheroad#wheredidyoucomefrom#whereamI#colorfulbird#wholespeciesofuglyfemales#slowbird#colorfulbutt#nobodylikesashowoff#getoutoftheroad#dumbbeautifulbird#noflightplan#antiaviation#bird#honkhonk#movebird

It’s that time of the year when I harvest Sassafras Root! It takes six weeks to fully sun-dry, so I need to get started. The Sassafras tree is an amazing plant with multiple uses. Examples include homeopathic medicinal treatments, culinary flavors(root beer, sassafras tea, filé in creole gumbo, etc.), aromatherapy, pharmaceutical precursors, high quality furniture, even as an organic natural insecticide. American Indians used the leaves in open wounds for their antimicrobial/...antibacterial benefits. The list goes on. Research is currently being done to analyze the antiseptic healing properties of Safrole, the main oily constituent within Sassafras root bark. It’s hard not to notice the root beer-like smell when standing near these roots. Breaking a piece of the root bark will release an even stronger aroma. As previously mentioned, the pleasant smell is due to the root’s main constituent, Safrole, an aromatic aldehyde which can be extracted via steam distillation or a simple alcohol extraction. The root bark is popular for making traditional root beer or sassafras tea. Safrole is a compound with many traditional remedies and medicinal properties. Safrole can be used to synthesize innumerable beneficial analog compounds. Its uses range from synthesizing medicines in pharmaceutical manufacturing, from making pesticides for the agricultural industry. These roots were used by American Indians for healing purposes, and are still used in Eastern medicine for their medicinal properties and homeopathic benefits. I personally love the dark red tea that sliced root bark makes after steeping in hot water for five minutes. It’s naturally sweet with a touch of spiced flavor. I personally don’t feel the need to add sugar. I haven’t seen any sassafras research showing caffeine content within the plant’s roots, but I feel a clean energy after a warm cup of red Sassafras root tea. Try it whenever you get the chance. See more

The Sassafras Root said, Woof, woof. #rootbark#whereitsat#Sassafras#plant#sassafrasalbidum#endlessuses#pungent#aromatic#aldehyde#safrole#oilofsassafras#dowchemical#flavorsandfragrances#parfumé#rootbeer#redtea#organicinsecticide#creolecuisine#filé#sassafrasleaf#furniture#hardwood#flooring#antiseptic#astringent#medicinalproperties#root#bark#woofwoof#getit#badjoke#greatsmell#notadog#itsaroot#asmellyroot @gaagriculturalhealth @cavemankind

Did you know that you can change the color of your hydrangeas by adjusting the pH with calcium carbonate or Ag lime. This alkalizing agent will turn your flowers pink. Or, if you're looking to obtain blue hydrangea flowers, then aluminium sulphate can be used to acidify the soil. Sulfur is another popular acidifier. Just be careful when alkalizing around blueberry bushes, since they require acidic soil; like a really acidic pH, between 4.5-5.5. Whereas most plants prefer a... more neutral pH around 6.5-7. Yellow blueberry leaves are a sign of soil alkalinity, and they likely require a lower soil pH. Blueberry prefers a soil pH between 4.5-5.5. Be sure to test your soil's pH before adding any acidifying/alkalizing agents to see how much (if any) you need to add. GA Ag is ready to help. Besides pH level properties, our full soil analysis tests for a variety of major soil nutrients. These include: Nitrogen/Nitrate, Phosphorus, Potassium/Potash, Sulfur/Sulfate, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium and Chloride. We also have specialized testing for micro-nutrients, like: Iron, Zinc, Boron, Copper and Manganese. GA Ag uses safe, ACS certified reagents with all of our tests. And if you’re interested, we can even preform these tests on-site for you to see. We’re less expensive in comparison to the folks who ask you to dig up your own soil, put it in a little brown bag, mail it off to Athens, and then wait two weeks for your results. Imagine your ideal outdoor space. GA Ag is ready to make it a reality. Give us a call today. Let’s talk about your landscape ideas, and we’ll give you a free estimate. Maybe the neighbors will start waiving again. GA Agricultural Health Mitch Waters Horticulturist (706)836-3042 [email protected]