What is it that most organic gardeners want from their amazing food gardens?

* Is it the substantial health benefits:

- knowing that your food is GM and synthetic chemicals and free?

- gathering your food from garden to table in minutes, retaining valuable, health enhancing nutrients?

* Or the pleasure of losing yourself in the delight of time spent in your garden?

* Maybe it's about spending time teaching your children how to garden

* Perhaps it's your creative outlet; designing, creating, maintaining

* Do you view it as your part in helping the environment; reduce, reuse, recycle?

I believe Organic Gardening brings us most (or all) of these things. Some of the practices that are a must for having a healthy, high yielding vegetable garden include strategies or systems that bring about healthy soil, deep watering, balanced insect populations and crop rotation / planning.

Having nutrient rich, well balanced soil, high in microbial activity can be achieved by continually adding organic matter to the soil. You can do this with compost (making your own compost has many benefits), green manures, crop rotation and a "no dig" policy. A high yielding garden is dependant on healthy soil.

Deep watering will encourage your plants to develop deep root systems. This enables them to take in more water and nutrients. You then have strong, healthy plants that do well with regular deep watering. Mulching prevents moisture loss, soil erosion and reduces weeds. Installing drip irrigation especially when combined with a timer will benefit you, your garden and the environment.

If you want to be chemical and / or spray free getting the right balance of beneficial and harmful insects throughout your garden is crucial. Yes, I said harmful insects! If there were no harmful insects for the beneficial ones to feed on all your beneficial insects will die or go elsewhere. Nature abounds in symbiotic relationships and this works very efficiently in the garden. Imagine if you had no predatory insects and were then inundated with carrot fly. There would be no stopping them, unless you resorted to chemicals and you should never allow this in your organic garden.

Arm yourself instead with companion planting practices; practical methods to outwit the enemy (harmful insects) the way nature intended. Plant combinations that will confuse pests by masking the smell and shapes of plants which pests use to locate their favourite foods. In my Companion Planting guide you will also discover which plants benefit each other and those you must never plant together.

With the basics covered you just need to decide what you're going to grow, how much of it and when. You know your family's food needs better than anyone else, so there's no point in growing 15 brussels sprouts plants if your family won't eat them. You also need to know the right time of year to plant different families. For example: Cucurbits (cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, melons) need to grow in warm temperatures. In winter (unless you can artificially provide the right conditions) your crop will fail so leave it till the ground has warmed, the days are lengthening and the risk of late frost has passed (mid spring in most areas).

Rotating your crops is also a good practice. Otherwise you will deplete the soil of particular nutrients / elements that a crop planted continually in the same place needs. This also means that the crop will perform worse each year as the nutrients it needs decline.

I like to spend winter evenings planning what, where and how much I'm going to plant in my veggie garden next season. Keeping a gardening journal comes in really handy when I'm planning. It reminds me what worked previously, what I'd like to do differently and whether or not I planted enough or too much of a particular plant to meet our needs.

If you think this is all a bit overwhelming, just remember progress, not perfection. Just get started and improve upon it as you go. So you really have no excuse. You have enough information to make a great start and you can build on it as you gain more experience.

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The term, organic, when used in gardening, means finding environmentally friendly ways to work the land and working with, rather than against, nature. Organic gardening isn't always applied to only gardening, but can be considered a way of life.

The so-called "modern" organic movement was started in the late 1940s in response to the increased use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers used at that time. However, the principles of organic gardening have been used for centuries. There are many writings by ancient authors that promotes "good husbandry of the land" and the practice of crop rotation to preserve soil health.

Actually, the current interest in organic gardening had its beginnings in the 1960s, when the concerns of the environmental damage caused by pesticides became more prevalent. The thought was, "if they were causing damage plants, how do they affect humans?" Gardening organically seeks to remedy many of these damages.

By using kitchen scraps in composting and by eliminating, as much as possible, then use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, we can reduce their impact on our environment. But, is it possible to be entirely organic? The answer is... not really. It would be very difficult to stop the use of all chemical products. But, by using natural methods as much as possible, we can make a start.

The Department of Agriculture has set up what they call Organic Standards. They are set up to explain the requirements that farmers and food processors must meet in order for their products or services to be labeled as organic. Different countries throughout the world have different standards from each other.

A very limited number of chemicals are allowed and organic standards do not allow the use of artificial herbicides or fungicides. Compare this to nonorganic farming where as many as 450 chemicals are routinely used. Amateur gardeners do not usually need to conform to the strict organic standards. Your aim should be to develop a balance where you can compromise by using some chemical preparations.

Why should we go organic? The main reason is to keep ourselves and our environment healthy. Over time, pesticides can accumulate and cause major damage to the foods we eat and, therefore, can cause damage to our bodies. It is an investment in our families' future. If we all choose to use more organic methods in our gardens, we could make a dramatic difference for mankind.

We can also protect our wildlife by protecting our environment. Wildlife doesn't just mean deer and other similar animals, but also includes insects, birds and other mammals. It also includes the fish in our rivers and lakes. So, you can see how many of our Earth's inhabitants can be affected.

Organic gardening is not the solution to all of our environmental problems, but it is a valuable and positive step that we as individuals can take. It is very rewarding to be able to contribute to the well-being of our fellow man.

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If you want to start a garden where you know you will have healthy vegetables and plants, the best garden to choose is an organic garden. Not only are these gardens healthier and better for the environment, but they are also less expensive because you don't need to buy any kinds of chemicals, pesticide or herbicides. In this type of garden you use nature to your advantage instead of regarding it as the enemy. You don't need to have a large amount of space because even a few feet of space is sufficient for the garden.

When choosing the site for your garden, think small. You may have a lot of space and may eventually want to have a large garden, but to get started it is important that you start off small. In this way you will be able to learn as you are going and gain the experience you need to expand. With a small garden you will have less work and have to buy fewer materials. A space as small as 4 feet X 4 feet is large enough to furnish the vegetables for a family. You also have to be careful not to plant too much in the garden. Think of the yield you will have from a few kinds of plants rather than try to cram too many plants of different kinds into the small space. You can even have a starter garden by using a window box.

Before you start your planting, you have to think about how you will provide nourishment for the plants. This means you have to start a compost heap. This is where you will throw all the scraps of food instead of sending them out in the trash. Compost is the main ingredient for enriching the soil in organic gardening. Use the things you find in your garden as well, such as fallen leaves, the clippings from the grass when you mow the lawn and weeds.

You do need to have the right kind of soil for organic gardening. You can use the soil in the ground and add the organic material from your compost heap. This soil is better for your garden for several reasons. First, it will nourish the plants without the use of fertilizer that contains chemicals. This will help keep them growing more natural without any growth spurts that will weaken the plants. Since the soil containing the organic material is not compacted as much as that containing chemicals, it is easier for you to pull out any weeds. The soft soil also enables the roots of the plants to penetrate the soil to deeper levels. The water can also get to the roots easier when the soil is soft.

It is important to control the growth of weeds, no matter what kind of garden you have. If you allow them to grow, they will take over the plants and kill them. Any unplanted areas should be mulched to prevent their growth and if you need to, use a hoe to take out any weds you find.

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Organic gardening at home is not that different from what they do in the farm. This is because the same techniques are used to make your choice of plants and vegetables grow even if you have a smaller area to work with.

The first thing you have to do is choose the location. It is important that it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight everyday and it has access to water. You should also check if the spot has good drainage otherwise you will have to build a raised bed garden instead.

When the location has been found, it is time to prepare the land. This is the time you bring out your gardening tools and gloves so can get rid of weeds that are present. All debris must also be removed so do this for a few days to make sure the area is secure.

The moment of truth will come when you test the soil. For that, you will need some compost from the store and then mix it with the soil. If it is able to integrate and stabilize itself, then you can begin planting your crops in the next 2 to 4 weeks. During such time, you can already add fertilizers into the soil to make sure that the nutrients hold. 

The fun part is when you put in the seeds. Don’t forget to start your own compost pile at the same time by using coffee grounds, dead leaves, grass clippings, manure and vegetable or food waste that become organic fertilizer for your crops. By doing so, you will no longer need to buy these from the gardening store.

If you don’t already know, not all fruits or vegetables planted in one area are the same for another. This is because some may not survive due to the conditions of the region such as the weather, pests and other plant borne diseases.  You can check at the store, do some research or get advice from fellow organic gardeners.

It will also be a good idea to plant a variety of fruits and vegetables. Some protect the rest from pests while others can only be grown during a certain season. In short, you get to practice crop rotation so you do not use up all the nutrients in the soil. Aside from plants, the use of birds, insects and toads can also help protect your garden.

Although you already removed the weeds before you planted, you still have to check for them again because they do some back. You will have to inspect the area and then pull them out which is one of the responsibilities of owning a garden.

Since larger animals not only insects could do damage to your organic garden, you should also protect it by putting up some fences. Some gardeners have also used animal hair, baby powder and deodorant soaps that act as deterrents.

Surely, you have noticed that organic vegetables being sold at the grocery are quite expensive. They cost a few dollars more than the regular kind so instead of putting this on your list, why not cross it out and simply get this from your backyard.

With some practice, you will realize that organic gardening at home can be challenging and at the same time fun. It is your way of going green and being environment friendly.

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For effective gardening of vegetables in your organic gardening, you must first think about fertilization. This is almost always attributable to mulching. But there are other things to consider as well, such as the introduction of fertilizers that are available to you both naturally or commercially. To simply define this, it means to place materials, wether they be inorganic or organic in your garden around your plants.

By doing this you will also provide fertilization, it also helps to protect your soil as well. If you garden receives a lot of heavy rain, or is susceptible to high weed growth causing it to be a weed trap, then mulches will provide some much protection from this and much needed supplementation that will aid the natural growth process of your organic garden vegetables.

Beside this, you will also find it will help to regulate the temperature of your soil. Also the added bonus of gardening this way is the aesthetic look this lends to your garden and the improved ground texture. By spreading the mulch to areas not planted will also help to keep any weeds under control.

If you do decide to establish mulches in your garden, you will find that you need to water less often. This is because it help your plants retain water. Also your plants will have far better growth levels because of this added water retention. It will also help you with your weed control, but it will never stop them completely stop them.

You should always test your soil, this way you can maximise your fertilization efforts. Never buy your fertilizer in bulk before doing a test on your soil, this way you make sure you get the correct fertilizer suited for your soil type. Just what could be a worse experience, than having not tested and then having bought in bulk to find that it is of no use to you.

When you do apply your fertilizer, it is recommended that you should maintain it. Always go for a high quality fertilizer, this in an absolute must do for any gardener, especially if you are a beginner. There are also many fertilizers available to you, that are tailored solely to the beginning of your planting experience. These will require no extra maintenance through your gardening activities. In any rate, make sure that you are getting your money's worth and have thoroughly proven for yourself that the given fertilizer you are putting on your garden has been tried and tested on your soil type.

Organic material is always the best source of fertilization for your plants, this is because it adheres closely to natures natural growth process. Always try to avoid introducing any chemicals in to your soil, this is so that your plants will get used to growing and maximizing there potential via natural means. Going organic has many added health benefits for you and your family and by growing green you are doing your bit to help the environment. So why not go ahead now and grow organic?

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With the move in all areas of our lives today to become more and more self sufficient and relying less and less upon non renewable energy resources, organic gardening has seen a tremendous re-discovery that has not been seen before. In the past century, it has been more or less a fad that has definitely come and gone many times. But today, the move is more of a way of sustainable living and not a fad anymore. With rising food costs, less quality, less nutrients, and the many “scares” taking place of un-healthy and tainted foods, we are now are paying more serious attention to the availability we all have of growing a lot of our own food.

So why go organic gardening?The main reason should be for a higher quality of food. When you are the gardener, you will know the quality of the food you are growing. Fresh food, rich in vitamins and minerals, will be harvested at the best stage of their maturity.

Another reason is your choice not to apply synthetic chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides that are both unsafe and detrimental to the health of you and your family. Enjoy the selfish reason that you want to enjoy your food without all those harmful ingredients.

Organic gardening helps the environment. One, you are not using harmful chemicals, and two; you are replenishing the quality locally of where you live on Earth. You help the environment by not purchasing those chemicals that affect the natural resources we have in the soil, water, air, and vegetation.

Save money on food bills. Take note of what you purchase at the grocery store and you will find you have plenty of food that you could grow. Today, many are trying to find ways to reduce their vehicle fuel and utility bills, and here is yet another way to save money. This is a lot easier than one thinks.

Make money? Why, yes. If you over produce, why not sell the rest? Farmers markets are increasing each year. Roadside stands have always been popular in rural areas but are springing up in residential areas everywhere. The desire of many that just do not have the time to have their own organic garden, make it a point to purchase organic garden vegetables from those grown locally.

 

 

 

 

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In this article we are going to provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to start an organic garden.

1. Choosing the location.

It is vital that when choosing the location for your organic garden that it is in a place where it gets the sun for at least half of the day, but it also has easy access for watering. Also it is important that you make sure that the ground drains well or you may have to build raised bed gardens instead.

2. Removing the Weeds.

Now you have chosen the location for your organic garden you now need to mow, pull and dig out all the weeds that are there. Then you need to till the land (either by hand using a fork or by using a tiller, but this will depend on how big your garden is going to be). Then you need to remove any further debris by raking the soil over. Now you need to wait a few days and then remove any more weeds that sprout up.

3. Testing the Soil.

Before you begin planting you need to test the soil and then starting building it up using organic matter. You can add compost, bone meal or rock phosphate to the soil. But only add those that are of an organic nature. Also when sowing any plants you should add compost to it about 2 to 4 weeks prior to planting. This gives the compost time to integrate and stabilize itself within the soil.

4. Fertilizers

Now you can start to till and dig in fertilizers and leave it for about a month in order for the nutrients to take a hold.

5. Preparing a Compost Pile

When starting an organic garden it is a good idea to start your compost pile at the same time. You can place in it leaves, grass clippings (so every time you mow the lawn don't forget to add them to the pile), coffee grounds, eggshells and other organic kitchen waste (fruit and vegetable peelings etc). As it slowly breaks down the compost becomes a great organic fertilizer for your garden. So no longer will you need to search your local garden center for organic fertilizer, as you will always have some close at hand.

Now that we have shown you how to start an organic garden you can go and choose a spot in your garden and get started. Soon you will be on the way to producing all your own lovely organic products.

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Ever since its inception, Organic gardening has taken the world of planting and cultivation by storm. Organic gardening works on the natural principles and is aimed at reducing the usage of harmful chemicals and pesticides, replacing them with highly nutritional, synthetic fertilizers. This revolutionary method of gardening encourages better understanding of nature and channeling its true values in better forms of cultivation. As it helps maintaining the biological balance by discouraging the use of chemicals, it obtains the resulting benefits from the environment as well, in the form of favorable climate changes.

The essential chemistry behind the development of the plants is as follows. Water and mineral supplies are absorbed by the roots of the plants that further pass them onto the leaves and stems, thus facilitating the photosynthesis process. By way of photosynthesis, the sunlight energy and the water content in plants are used to convert the carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. The produced carbohydrates remain stored in the plants branches and stems, enabling its further growth. Such carbohydrates are also utilized to heal the plant in case of a broken stem or during an insect attack and are also responsible for generation of fresh leaves and stems.

Earth is a natural source of all types of organic substances. Several soil enriching bacteria, fungi and earthworms breed under the ground and effectively break down dead stems and leaves, thus producing a soil benefiting substance called humus. Various such organisms breeding inside Humus are very effective in helping plants with the absorption of essential minerals. The plants roots also release substances that lure the beneficial bacteria and other kinds of organisms that keep harmful fungi at bay. Another useful method to enrich the soil is by way of adding compost to it on a yearly basis. Such compost can be produced in an organic fashion in your own backyard with the kitchen and garden garbage.

The logic behind organic gardening states that harmful insects only attack the plants that are weak. Thus, if the plants are made stronger than ever by adding natural beneficial elements, there will be zero possibility of a pathogenic attack. It is not a hidden fact that the common fertilizers and chemicals besides killing harmful insects, also destroy the good organisms in the soil. This results in further weakening of the plants making them vulnerable to another possible attack.

It is widely known that over zealous gardeners often indulge in excessive pruning of the plants. Doing so, they disturb the natural balance of the plants by reducing the carbohydrate content considerably. This results in weakening of the plants due to high vulnerability to insect attack by way of hybridization. Weeding the plants regularly is a common habit of all the gardeners. However, one must be aware that nettles give invitation to ladybirds and thistle benefit many plant-loving insects.

A garden blooming with organic plants is a sight to behold. Organic gardening is the most natural way to grow beneficial plants and breed beneficial organisms for the further growth of your garden.

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Building up sustainable soil for organic gardening starts right after the garden soil testing has been completed. The testing of the soil helps to identify the additional fertilizers and conditioners that can be added. When attempting to garden organically, testing, maintaining and improving the soil is a constant process and one that is well worth the effort, according to those who advocate organic farming and gardening.

Creating sustainable soil for gardening organically means that you have to be able to replenish the topsoil of the garden. One of the best substances to have for keeping the soil rich and healthy enough for an organic garden is a good supply of compost. In addition to compost, it is good to have enzymes, earthworms, and beneficial microbes available to add into the soil mixture as well.

In most cases, when the garden bed has been established with great quality soil that is able to support and sustain organic gardening, it can then be maintained by simply adding home composting on a routine basis. This can easily be done by replacing a layer of the garden soil with a layer from your compost.

Backyard composting is a terrific way to improve your soil structure and also enhance moisture retention. In the average compost heap there are billions of bacterial organisms that will grow, feed, reproduce and die. Through this life-cycle of the microorganisms, the organic waste material that has been added to the compost pile will be recycled into a robust organic fertilizer and effective soil conditioner.

Many people say that composting is truly the ultimate in recycling because it benefits the soil in so many ways and supports organic farming and gardening in its highest and best sense. In addition to improving the structure of the soil and the moisture retention ability of the soil, composting also provides excellent aeration, full fertilization and nitrogen storage. Composting also creates a beneficial pH balance in the soil, releases a stream of nutrients and supplies food for the beneficial microbial inhabitants in the earth.

Shredded alfalfa hay is one of the best types of material that you can add to your compost heap, and some say it is "the" secret to a great compost recipe. Worms really thrive on alfalfa, making worm composting even more effective and faster, and it provides excellent mulch and soil additive components for your soil.

When you want to get your compost ready for your organic gardening undertaking, you should make the compost pile about four feet high and also about four feet wide as well. It needs to be located in an area that allows for good drainage and it should be surrounded with chicken wire so it will have proper air circulation. After about three to four months, your compost will be ready to mix in with the soil and begin working wonders for your garden.

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Instead of chemicals in your soil and on your food, why not try organic gardening?  You can start with just a few plants in pots or a small patch, or you can go whole hog and dig up half your yard! 

Actually, if it’s your first garden, it’s better to start small.  Gardeners have a tendency to plant more than they can reasonably care for – everything looks so great in the catalogs!  But even though gardening is a lot of fun and a satisfying pastime, it’s also a lot of work.  Half way through the growing season you may wish you’d been a little more moderate in your planting.  It’s better to work your way up to that huge garden!

On Location…

Like the real estate agents are fond of saying, “It’s all about location, location, location.”  Some plants will grow in the shade, but for most vegetables you need sunshine.  An ample amount of sunshine is one thing you can’t provide artificially, unless you’re planning on a huge bank of portable lights out in your garden, and with the price of electricity these days, that’s a definite no-no.

Practically speaking, any garden, organic or otherwise, needs sunshine.  Put your pots or garden plot where the plants will get at least 6 hours of sun a day for best results.  While it’s nice to locate the garden close to the house for easy access, shade from the house or trees may not make that possible.  Sunshine has priority over easy access.

Be sure your garden location not only gets ample sunshine, but drains well so the plants don’t sit in water.  Fertile soil is a big plus, but if that’s lacking, you can always add soil amendments.

Down and Dirty

Adding compost will help your soil no matter what type it is.  You can also use natural fertilizers and organic materials to improve the soil and help the plants grow.  Most vegetable roots are in the top 6 inches of soil, so tilling or double digging will easily mix the materials into the soil where the roots can reach it.

Time to Plant

Seed catalogs and nurseries are brimming with all types of vegetables.  Besides taking into account what you and your family like to eat, choose vegetables that will do well in your climate.  For instance, some long season crops like sweet potatoes wouldn’t do well up north, while cool climate crops might not fare so well in the deep south.

Mulching your vegetables with organic material helps conserve water, adds humus and nutrients as well as discourages weeds from growing.  It’s a great way to improve your garden soil and plants!

Don’t Let Them Bug You

Where there’s lovely young plants, there’s bugs looking for a meal.  Hand picking caterpillars or other bugs off is one option, or spraying the plant with soapy water, or even plain water, will dislodge the bugs.  There are also some organic products made for bug control. 

 Not all bugs are bad, and some are even beneficial.  Bugs such as green lacewings, ladybugs, praying mantis, spiders and wasps eat the insects that try to eat your vegetables. 

Companion planting with insect repellant plants such as marigolds or nasturtiums can also help keep bugs away from your garden.

It also helps to learn to live with a certain amount of imperfections.  The vegetable doesn’t have to be perfect to taste good.  You can cut off any problem spots before eating it.

Destroy Those Weeds!

Weeds have been defined as “a plant growing in the wrong place.”  That pretty much sums it up.  If it’s not something you planted, consider it a weed and hoe it out, pull it up, or till it under.  However you do it, get it out of the garden.  Those extra plants steal nutrients and water needed for your vegetable plants.

Ready, Set, Garden!

A good location, fertile soil, the right plants, and working to keep the garden weed and bug free are the right ingredients for a great garden.  Growing an organic garden is a wonderful way to put superior tasting food in your diet.  So get out there and get your garden growing!

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