Tags: 2016, Andy Lopez, Meeting, organic gardening, pests, Season 2015-2016

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For our May event, Andy Lopez presented “The Invisible Gardener.” Andy was a delight; unique, funny, a lively character.

Andy shared several methods he uses to avoid chemicals at all cost.

• To deter animals included sprinkling organic coffee beans around your roses and other plants
• To deter gophers he advised planting narcissus bulbs. To get gophers out of the garden he suggested playing music from the Grateful Dead. 🙂
• To get rid of ants he suggested spraying with liquid organic coffee from Trader Joe’s that comes in a bottle.
• The best one of the evening: to get rid of birds who might eat your figs, soak dry garbanzo beans in whiskey and put them out in a little bird feeder. The birds will get tipsy and won’t be able to fly and will then, as a result, stay away from your yard!

Andy was flooded with questions after the talk; the most engaging and it times, boisterous Q&A session ever. He brought two bags of goodies for attendees; tee-shirts and “Live Compost.” He also brought a huge pail of “Rock Dust,” which he swears by as the most important deficiency in our garden soil, i.e., trace minerals.

Andrew, The Invisible Gardener, grew up in Puerto Rico where he was first introduced to the use of Organics by his mother who grew her own fruits and vegetables naturally. This exposure to organic gardening techniques laid the foundation of Andrew’s philosophy and, in 1970, after serving 2 years in the U.S. Navy he entered the University of Florida, in Gainesville, and he currently has a B.S. degree from the University of Phoenix in Business. In 1972, He founded The Invisible Gardener, Inc. with the intention of making an impact on the world’s environmental problems and to educate and provide alternatives to chemical products used in the home and the garden. With a common sense approach and an endless enthusiasm, he champions the wisdom of Mother Nature through educational programs.

With the emerging awareness of Organics and growing respect for his expertise, Andy was invited to serve on the Board of Directors of The Horticultural Society of Florida, The Rare Fruit Council and acted as a consultant to the Department of Agriculture.

A dynamic speaker, he is regularly asked to address organizations such as the World Health Organization. In 1975, Andrew taught Organic Horticulture at the Miami Dade Community College Environmental Center and formed the Organic Growers Club, a national organization devoted to healing the Earth. Eager to reach more people, he turned to radio and for several years hosted Talks With The Invisible Gardener. He was heard on Health From The Ground Up on KPFK-FM. 90.7 every 3rd Monday 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Southern California from 1984 to 1994. He now has several radio shows. Since 1985, The Invisible Gardener, Inc. has been located in Malibu, California, phone 310-457-4438. Andrew has served over 200 clients and many are in the entertainment industry such as Martin Sheen, William Shatner, Eddie Albert. Max Call and Olivia Newton-John, to name a few of his past clients. He is also seen on PBS show “New Garden” with two current shows called Andy’s Ant Secrets and Organic Tree Care.

Mr. Lopez has been featured in journals and publications such as Sunset Magazine, Southern California Home And Garden, The Miami Herald, Acres USA, And Eco-Farm, Rodale’s newest gardening book and frequently publishes articles in Organic Gardening, Horticultural Digest and Acres, USA and on his website. He started a world wide club called The Invisible Gardeners of America which currently has had over 8,000 members. He also operates IG’s On-Line Classes on his website. He has written several books, including The Organic Grower’s Manual, The Organic Home And Gardening Guide ‘How To Heal The Earth In Your Spare Time’ and his latest book “ Natural Pest Control, Alternatives to Chemicals for the Home and Garden” Published in 1996 and updated regularly (the latest version was printed Jan 2010).