Understanding Organic Gardening
What is organic gardening?
The short answer to this question is that organic gardening means not using pesticides and fertilizers to grow your plants, flowers and trees. Ideally, organic gardening replenishes the soil, as it makes use of it. The bigger picture involves working in cooperation with nature. It is a philosophy that stresses increasing the natural health of the soil, choosing appropriate plants that are suited to your area, and working with nature to produce a healthy and productive garden. It is a philosophy of viewing your garden as just a small piece of the overall natural ecosystem.
Why is the soil so important?
Simply put; if you take care of the soil... it will take care of your plants. It's really a very simple concept to grasp; plants get air, water and nutrients from the soil. Soil is the foundation on which your garden grows. Its composition can help or hinder a plants growth.
Soil is composed of clay, sand and silt, and the ratio of these elements depends on the area you live in. The four major components of soil are:
- Minerals and rocks (the solid stuff!)
- Organic matter (microorganisms & plants, living or dead)
- Water
- Air
Amounts of these 4 elements determine the quality and make-up of your soil. The ideal soil consists of 40% mineral matter, 25% water, 25% air and 10% organic matter. The best soil is dark-colored, compresses into a loose lump in your hand, is packed with earthworms and actually smells kind of sweet.
If the soil is too heavy in clay, then the plants may not get enough air. If the soil is too sandy, it doesn't hold enough nutrients. This is where organic matter comes into play. Adding organic matter improves any soil's texture as well as attracts soil organisms that create nutrients in the soil-like worms.
A fundamental principle of organic gardening is, if you provide the necessary organisms to feed your soil, you will encourage more and more of these hard working little organisms to grow and multiply. The result will be an ever increasing quality of your soil. As you soil develops, the effects spread further up the larger ecosystem. Good soil promotes a healthy population of worms, and worms attract larger garden visitors.
How to control pests and diseases without chemicals?
Organic gardening doesn't mean you have to accept worm-filled apples, but it does mean your produce and plants won't have that spotless manufactured look. With organic gardening you'll have to accept the occasional pest in your garden... and remember your first line of defense is vigilance - not pesticides. Inspect your plants regularly for signs of a problem and take action quickly. Understand that not every insect is a enemy.
The benefits of organic gardening
The benefits of organic gardening are endless and now proven. Organically grown food is significantly higher in the essential vitamins and nutrients that your body needs and uses in defense of many cancers. Organic food also reduces the intake of harmful chemicals that is caused by growth hormones, pesticides, fertilizers and toxic artificial ingredients in many foods.
A University of Washington study concluded that children who eat organic foods show six times lower levels of pesticides then children who eat inorganically. Organic foods show up at the markets, naturally with all of its nutrients intake, without the chemicals.
There are many organic growing techniques available that don't include harsh chemicals and pesticides. Organic gardening involves a common sense approach to gardening and creates a situation where the gardener is working with nature... instead of against it.
Here you will learn 10 really good reasons why to grow and buy organic