What is Organic Gardening? – Getting Started

The simplistic answer is “gardening without using unnatural fertilizers or harmful pesticides or herbicides on plants.” But growing plants and vegetables organically is a lot more than what you do not do. When you garden organically, you consider your plants as part of a whole system within nature that begins in the soil and contains the water supply, people, wildlife, and even insects. An organic gardener tries to work in harmony with nature and to constantly replace resources the garden needs.

You may say that building soil is the major work of organic and natural gardening. The simplest way to ensure soil success is to routinely add organic matter, making use of locally available resources wherever possible. We all have access to the natural ingredients of organic matter, because our grass lawns, gardens, and kitchen areas make them every single day. Grass clippings, fallen foliage, vegetable waste from your kitchen, and other such decaying plant waste are the foundations of garden compost, a good organic matter for your soil. The bacterias in soil (especially fungi and bacteria) feed on organic matter, breaking it down into nourishing substances which can be absorbed by plants’ the roots of plants. By regularly combining organic matter into the soil, you work together in the natural never-ending cycle of birth, growth, decay, and regeneration.

The plant nutrients and vitamins in artificial fertilizers, however, offer no benefits to the important organisms in the soil. During heavy rains, artificial fertilizers wash away and into streams, rivers, and lakes, where they cause widespread algae growth that chokes out other marine life. Synthetic fertilizers have an affect on crops in a very similar way that steroids behave on our bodies. Surely, they might stimulate exceptional growth in short term, but gradually they weaken plants’ natural defenses and make them vulnerable to pest infestations and diseases. Also, a lot of synthetic fertilizers are petroleum based, thus they exact a toll on the environment even before they’re used in your garden.

If you ever focus on building your soil, you are going to grow healthy, strong plants, and you will have tons of insects in and around your organic garden. This is a good thing, because the majority of insects in your garden are generally useful or at least not destructive. Most gardeners become nervous and want to respond decisively whenever they see “bugs” on their plants. Before you consider using chemical pesticide sprays, be aware that some of them have been linked to higher rates of cancer and other illnesses among people and domestic pets. Additionally they harm songbirds, fresh water fish, and other wildlife.

Does that mean organic gardeners should allow their plots to be decimated by insects? Simply no. Keep in mind the main rule of organic and natural gardening: growing plants in harmony with nature. Insects certainly are a significant element of that system. When you see insects feeding on your plants, take the opportunity to look at what they’re really doing. Are they truly ruining the plant or just nibbling it a bit? The majority of plants can grow out of insignificant destruction. Also, insects typically attack stressed-out plants. Do you have a sufficient amount of strong plants to spare the sickly ones? Can you recover sickly plants to robust health so they can defend against insect attack?

About the Author: Mehmet Olur is an expert in laptop products. You can read more about his work at notebook & netbook computer reviews and tips.