Organic Gardening
When you’re learning about something new, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative article should help you focus on the central points.
Organic gardening is one of the fastest growing facets of gardening, and more and more people are discovering that it is possible to enjoy a beautiful, thriving garden while still keeping the use of chemicals and pesticides to a minimum.
One reason to avoid the use of chemicals and pesticides is that long term use of such chemicals can deplete the soil and leave it unable to sustain further growth. In many cases beds of perennials suddenly stop blooming for no apparent reason, and the culprit is often found to be the overuse of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.
Concern for the health of the gardener’s family members, pets and the environment as a whole is another reason many people choose organic gardening methods. Runoff from many commercial pesticides and chemical fertilizer can leach into ground water, damage wells, and cause problems with fish ponds and other parts of the landscape.
In addition, a well planted and well landscaped home interior has been shown to improve the value of the home, and when that garden is an organic one its value is further enhanced. A beautiful organic garden can be a great way to provide a cost effective enhancement to any landscape.
Pest control is one of the places where organic gardening can actually be superior to chemical methods. Instead of using harsh pesticides to get rid of garden pests, it is often better and more effective to use beneficial insects to get rid of harmful ones. Harmful insects are often unable to compete once more beneficial insects have been brought in to the organic garden.
One of the most common pests encountered by gardeners, and one of the biggest reasons they use chemical pesticides, is aphids. These common garden pests can be organically controlled by spraying the infested stems, leaves and buds with a diluted mixture of soapy water, then an application of fresh, clear water. This technique has been used by organic gardeners for many years, and it is effective even against heavy infections of aphids.
If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.
Selecting the right plants is also important to success as an organic gardener. Choosing the right fertilizer is an important consideration as well, since there are organic equivalents for just about every type of chemical fertilizer. When choosing plants and fertilizers, be sure to research the best plants and organic fertilizers for your own area. If you have an organic gardening club in your area, you may want to join in order to swap tips about the best types of plants and fertilizers.
One great element of any organic garden landscape is a good ground cover. Planting ground covering plants in areas where grass has a hard time taking hold not only enhances the beauty of your home, but it provides better soil drainage and water retention as well. Many homeowners have discovered the power of using native species as natural ground cover.
Flowering vines are another popular centerpiece of many organic gardens. Flowering vines are great for enhancing the beauty of fences, walls, sheds and other structures, since they can easily be trained to grow along these structures.
These any many other plants and flowers can enhance any organic garden and make it the showcase of the community. Growing an organic garden is a great way to protect your home, your family and even the environment.
The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you’ll be glad you took the time to learn more about organic gardening.
Watch the video related to organic gardening
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August 4th, 2008 at 1:24 am
Youre exactly right but Im more along the lines of learn what youre doing and how it affects you. Then if you still want to go right ahead.
August 4th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Great video .. for copying sombody elses video
August 4th, 2008 at 1:48 am
this is brilliant!! I put it on my blog today (TheSkinnyOnline) so my readers can enjoy. Thank you!
August 4th, 2008 at 12:44 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.
August 4th, 2008 at 1:54 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.
August 4th, 2008 at 11:51 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.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:46 am
LOL – Look out for the death melon!
May the farm be with you!
August 5th, 2008 at 6:03 am
Square Foot Gardening.
http://www.squarefootgardening.com/
August 5th, 2008 at 9:05 am
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
August 6th, 2008 at 4:37 am
I don’t eat the chemical-laden food for any other reason besides it tastes good. If you spend your entire life eating bland foods so you can live an extra decade longer than the rest of us so that you can continue to eat the bland foods, well I guess that’s one’s own problem and not mine =P
“What are you people gonna do? Sit around your entire lives and play with your prick? Live a little!” – paraphrased from George Carlin, who lived one hell of a life even though he died somewhat “young”.
August 6th, 2008 at 5:48 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
August 6th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
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.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:07 am
maybe this is why the worlds going mad all these bad ass chemicals in our food its scary to think that we eat chemicals and other shit like that it just not rite at all and most people dont care god i think im gonna live off fresh pasta.
August 7th, 2008 at 3:38 am
DARTH TATER rofl
August 6th, 2008 at 10:21 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!)
August 7th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Awesome!
August 7th, 2008 at 3:37 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.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Great work.