Organic Gardening – What is It?
Organic gardening can be described as gardening without the use of man-made chemical pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Some say it provides the gardener a harmony with nature. It is not a new concept, but has become an increasingly popular type of gardening in recent years given the fact that everyone is going “green”. Organic can mean different things to different people. Organic gardening is a little more than just not using chemicals or non organic fertilizers on your garden. An organic gardener should consider his/her garden as part of the bigger picture in nature and life itself.
Organic gardening is a simple way to ensure that you are growing the highest-quality produce in a sustainable way that is healthy for the plants and the planet. It is one of the oldest methods of cultivation, and the food it will produce is not only healthier for you it’s less expensive to. You may find that it might become the most rewarding hobby, or lifestyle, you have ever undertaken. Organic gardening is a simple healthful way to convert living organisms into carbon compounds in a way that considers the whole of nature and its integral place in that scheme.
Organic gardening uses natural compost and manure to fertilize and grow plants and flowers. Since you will be using natural compost no harmful chemicals or pesticides are used on your plants. Some gardeners are willing to invest in some extras required by organic gardening because it ensures that no harmful pesticides or fungicides will be used. By growing a garden without chemical fertilizers, you will naturally build the soil to support healthy plant life. Chemical fertilizers and additives will, over time, damage the soil’s ability to provide what plants need to resist disease, insect attacks, and stress.
Organic gardening is all about balance between the soil and its nutrients, the water, the air, and of course your plants. It is easy, relaxing and fun. Being a green gardener means you don’t use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides on your plants. It is all about working with the land to build healthy soil and plants. Think of organic gardening as a system that combines all aspects of gardening: soil, water, plants, animals; even insects!
So if you’re considering organic gardening, it is an excellent way to grow your trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and plants. Your garden will benefit greatly from organic materials. It is an environmentally friendly, people friendly style of gardening. And its methods can be utilized by virtually anyone to create and maintain sustainable gardens, in the city or country. If you are thinking of starting an outdoor garden project you should consider giving the organic method a try. You will enjoy the accomplishment of growing you own healthy foods and enjoy the health benefits it can provide. It may take a while to figure out the best ways of doing things. I suggest picking up a few books on the subject and doing a bit of research on the types of tools you will need and the plants that work best. With a little practice you will be an expert gardener in no time at all.
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Tags: children, gardening, myhero, orgainics
May 10th, 2009 at 12:51 am
when using news paper avoid using the glossy paper! & use moist paper (hoes it down some), other then that its safe and you wont need to irrigate under the paper!! (in fact the paper will help you use less water) the paper is actually an alternative cheap top mulch( it will turn to organic matter in months) and avoid using hoes to weed, its better to hand pick and to try cultivating less soil as possible( breaking the soil makes it easier for weed seeds to start)
May 10th, 2009 at 1:43 am
The black ink is safe but not the colored I believe.
May 10th, 2009 at 7:14 am
Don’t forget that a lot of weeds out there are edible!! If you get them young enough, like Dandelion leaves, toss them in a mixed green salad. Do a web search on edible weeds to learn which ones you can eat but do not pick in an area that’s been sprayed with chemicals of any sort, or pooped on by pets. Some “weeds” can be beneficial, especially wild clovers and such, for these capture nitrogen from the air and release into the soil.
May 10th, 2009 at 12:53 am
In organic gardening, soil quality decides vegetable quality. That's why you need good quality compost to keep the soil productive for organic vegetable gardening.
Compost can be made from leaves, dead flowers, vegetable scraps, fruit rinds, grass clippings and manure. The ideal organic soil has a dark color, sweet smell and is full of earthworms. Some soil may need more natural additives such as bonemeal, rock phosphates or greensand. A simple soil test will tell you the pH balance and which nutrients you need to use.
May 10th, 2009 at 1:00 am
Pepper plants are good for unwanted insects.
You can also use dish soap. Nothing fancy just regular "Joy" soap cheap soap only. But, there is a good chance you will kill the good insects too.
1st: Get a bucket, fill it with water
2and: Pour the soap in (not to much because you don't want to get rid of all the good insects)
3rd: stir it up so it can blend. (not to much suds)
4th: Let the bucket of soap sit out in the sun for at least a couple of hours.
5th: Use a sprayer and distribute it all over your plants.
See the soap gets in the insects esophagus and the insect dies because it can't breath.
You can use this anywhere in your yard.
works GREAT for cinch bugs.
May 10th, 2009 at 1:18 am
Organic gardening is a total myth. there is no such thing. The last organic gardening on this Earth was in N.W. Europe 400yrs ago before the rich landowners forced villagers off the land with the enclosure acts. They even used their own excrement on their fields. They were doing so well they wouldn't work for the rich, so the Tories ( Republicans)stole their land from them.
May 10th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
hasn’t anyone stoped to think about the fact there is a lot of ink and nasty stuff on that newpaper and that all ends up in your soil! That stuff is not organic.
May 10th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
This guy is a joke…. Ancient techniques?!?!?!?! Propane torch….? Hope that you have irrigation run underneath the news paper… otherwise you’re not getting enough water. Don’t watch the pvc green house video either. Anyone with some brains can put together a better temporary hoop house than that with PVC. When you put staples through plastic… and the wind blows, it rips.
May 11th, 2009 at 6:09 am
You must be getting your seeds in the wrong places then to have weak seeds! Heirloom vegetables are open pollinated and the seeds always come true to type. Many organic gardeners will happily share their seeds. Join Seed Savers Exchange or other trading organizations that specialize in heirloom vegetables. And stay away from commercial seed catalogs. You’ll then see that not all plant genetics are bad.
May 11th, 2009 at 1:21 am
Corn Gluten is a pre-emergent; meaning it wont kill any existing weeds it just keeps the new weeds from sprouting. You can apply the gluten now, but I wouldn't use it in any beds that you'll be starting seeds in. It's safe for beds that will be planted with starter size plants or existing plants.
May 11th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
That’s the first thing I thought, would he chew on that newspaper?
May 11th, 2009 at 7:36 am
I have been making my living growing produce organically for the past 14 years. For 8 years i was certified organic. I assume you don't care to get certified, you just want to grow pure food.
http://www.idigmygarden.com/forums/ is a great forum to learn the ropes. Organic gardening also has a really good forum and the magazine is an excellent resource http://www.organicgardening.com
It will take many years to get you soil in shape and learn the techniques for successful organic growing so don't expect a great garden for a few years. Start small, no more than a 10' x 10' (3m x 3m) garden the first year or you will get overwhelmed in august when the weather is hot, the insects are out and the weeds are growing high.
Mulch everything with straw (not hay as hay tends to have a lot of weed seeds) and mulch well-at least 6" thick. Straw mulch will keep weeds down, moisture in the soil and blight from happening on plants like tomatoes. It also adds organic matter to your soil.
Have a good hoe, rake, wheelbarrow, trowel and garden fork as your basic garden tools.
Start a compost pile ASAP, compost will be the main thing you will feed to the soil/plants. Compost is the best thing to build healthy soil and organics is all about building healthy soil as any organic grower worth their salt knows soil is alive and healthy soils means healthy pest free plants.
Good luck
May 11th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Contact your county extension agency and ask if there are any gardening classes.
Some websites
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org
http://www.gardenweb.com/forums/organic
http://forums.farm-garden.com/index.php
http://alanbishop.proboards60.com/index.cgi
http://www.johnnysseeds.com
May 11th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I love the book Secrets of Companion planting. I've never used any chemicals, but thats probably why I spend at least a hour a day in my gardens pulling weeds. Composting is another great thing (and I have horses!)
May 12th, 2009 at 1:35 am
Well, far from self sufficient now. But organic gardening is fun. We started that idea from 40 over years ago. In those days, My dad would collect all the garbage and incinerate them and use the ashes as fertilizers. Our garbage bin is always empty. After harvesting all the beans, he would chop up the vines and bury them under the ground to keep it fertile for the next crop. We used to plant corn, long beans, kale, peanuts and sweet potatoes and cucumbers. Of course we have the problem of snails and catepillars. Organic was unheard of then. He just could not spend money on fertilizers. We had a big land area surrounding our house. All used water from the house flows into a pool and we use them to water the plants. Come to think about it, it is what people have been trying to advocate these days. Going green and organic and all that. Alas, Dad passed away at 1994 at age 85. Also, would be great to be still staying at that place. Keep it up, you are fortunate to have land like that.
May 12th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
most newspaper is printed with soy – very safe.
May 13th, 2009 at 6:53 am
I have A TON of news paper(2,000 Lbs) and was wondering the same thing. Can I get my paper tester,or what is a safe level of industrial ink to eat via vegetable?
May 13th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Square Foot Gardening.
http://www.squarefootgardening.com/