Organic Gardening

If you have been lucky enough to taste the incredible flavor and sweetness of an organic tomato grown in your own yard compared to the pallid commercially-produced variety, you will know what a difference there is. And not only does it taste better, but organic produce also has more nutrients and so is healthier for you.

The idea of organic gardening is to work in harmony with nature, to use natural methods and to replenish the soil. This of course would exclude the use of any type of chemical, be it an artificial fertilizer, pesticide or herbicide. Such chemicals not only upset the delicate balance of nature with their broad-spectrum and artificial effects, but they also poison and pollute. They destroy soil fertility and foster dependence on their ongoing use. Why put something on your garden that you wouldn't put on your dinner plate, or for that matter, that you wouldn't want your children or pets to play around?

The basics of organic gardening are simple: amend soil quality; compost to make soil conditioner to replenish nutrients, improve structure and suppress disease; and mulch for a variety of benefits including plant protection, water retention, weed prevention, soil nourishment and decreased soil compaction.

Additional techniques consist of using hardy and disease-resistant strains as well as native plants (which are highly adaptable survivors); putting plants in areas where they will thrive; using organic fertilizers such as bone meal and rock dust; rotating crops to prevent depletion of soil nutrients; companion planting to combine plants that grow better together than alone; using beneficial insects for pest control; diversifyng crops to decrease pest and disease problems.

If growing your own organic garden is unfeasible, buy organic produce or purchase from grocers who support sustainable farming.