| |
Organic Gardening Tips - The Tips and Theory Behind Organic Gardening
In an age when the political right has, out of whatever motive, jumped on the "go green" bandwagon, increased interest in organic gardening comes as no surprise. Of course, like new ideas such as alternative medicine and hormone-free animal husbandry, the fact of the matter is that organic gardening has historically been the standard practice. The misleadingly named conventional farm is a recent development, a productive, if somewhat problematic marriage between technological innovation and increased population. While synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides have increased crop yields in the short term, many people have begun to question the long term effects on human health, as well as the role these practices play in soil depletion and ground water contamination. Many gardeners have opted to return to the old ways, ways that are not incompatible with a certain kind of technological help.
Like alternative and holistic approaches to human health, organic gardening is comprehensive. Though there are methods and products to treat specific problems, the focus is on the health of the soil as the basis for success. For decades now, the conventional approach has been to feed plants to the detriment of the soil. The effect is to get a quick fix that will produce a robust looking plant that is essentially unhealthy. Over time, the plant suffers, the soil has nothing to offer, and solutions become increasingly expensive.
When it comes to fertilizing, conventional wisdom has always stressed high N-P-K values. The result is two-fold: lack of concern for the proper chemical balance of the soil beyond these three elements; and synthetic fertilizers that contain concentrations of N-P-K that are too high for the plant to use before the highly water-soluble chemicals are leeched away to contaminate ground water. The first step in any organic program is to stop using them, as well as any other synthetic herbicides and pesticides. Organic fertilizers, though generally having lower N-P-K values, are not readily water-soluble, and remain available to the plant for a longer period of time.
So, once you have responsibly disposed of all the old chemicals, what do you do? Well, if there is one word that could be used to describe the key to an organic approach, that would be biodiversity, with balance following closely as the desired effect. The healthy organic garden is one in which large numbers of organisms thrive, nourishing one another in a variety of ways. Healthy soil, teeming with microorganisms, produces healthy plants which are resistant to pests and disease. Birds, butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects thrive, pollinating plants and preying on any harmful interlopers. And it all begins in the compost pile.
Composting is one of those things that can sometimes appear dauntingly complicated to the neophyte. However, just keep in mind that composting will occur no matter what you do; all the effort gardeners put into it merely speeds up the process. Make a pile of organic refuse in a convenient place, add to it constantly, turn it occasionally, keep it a bit moist; that is all there is to it. Once finished, compost will be black, crumbly, and redolent of a forest floor. Add as much of it to your native soil as possible. Although the N-P-K value of compost is very low, it is the most important fertilizer you can use.
Aside from compost, there are a number of soil amendments available to bolster the health of your yard and garden. There is almost certainly a nursery, garden center, or feed store in your area that carries organic products. They will be able to help you decide what are the most helpful products for your soil type. Many amendments are variations on common household items, such as cider vinegar, molasses, and corn meal. By all means, feel free to use these common household items in your efforts. For example, my own soil is a highly alkaline black clay that when wet surpasses in density the heaviest Christmas fruitcake. I can raise the acidity of the soil by adding coffee grounds and molasses directly. In addition, both are good fertilizers and assist in pest control, slugs with the coffee grounds, fire ants and pill bugs with the molasses. But it goes beyond the simple cause and effect approach of conventional thinking; it is the interconnection between the parts that make up the health of the whole.
Once you have begun to work on the health of the soil, here are a few final tips to keep in mind. First, whenever possible, choose native plants and well adapted introductions; these plants already thrive under your existing environmental conditions. Also, mulch bare soil, preferably with organic matter from your own yard. Mulching helps regulate soil temperature and moisture, and also greatly assists with weed control. Each element in the system reinforces the others, resulting in a synergy and symbiosis unavailable to the conventional gardener.
In the end, whether or not food grown organically is healthier, whether or not a plant knows one nitrogen source from another, and all the rest of the pros and cons of organic gardening really mean very little to me. Finally, it comes down to how you view the world and your place in it. Organic gardening allows the individual to take a hand in nature's processes, not by vainly attempting to control them, but by creatively participating in them.
Thank you to Bob Carlton for this "Organic Gardening Tips" article.
|
|
| |
When to Plant Vegetables (NEW!) - Do you dream of fresh mouth-watering produce but don’t know where to get started? Have you thought that someday you would like to plant a vegetable garden but haven’t decided when or where to start? Do you like the idea of vegetable shopping in your backyard? Would you prefer a healthier lifestyle and are concerned with freshness or pesticide use? This article will tempt you and empower you to growing your own vegetable garden by discussing...
Organic Gardening Tips - In an age when the political right has, out of whatever motive, jumped on the "go green" bandwagon, increased interest in organic gardening comes as no surprise. Of course, like new ideas such as alternative medicine and hormone-free animal husbandry, the fact of the matter is that organic gardening has historically been the standard practice...
Vegetable Dishes - Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies for millions of people around the world. If you are a novice, you might fear what to do with all of the produce you have coming from your garden. Or while you might be an avid gardener, you can always use more recipes for your harvest. Take advantage of the following vegetable dishes by using your own vegetables fresh out of the garden...
Flower Gardening Tips - Flowers are some of the most beautiful plants that can be readily seen anywhere. Flowers, which are bright and full in color, can instantly draw the instant attention of the eyes, and add a great deal of character and charm to a yard or garden. For those that love to plant flowers, there are several great gardening tips that can be used for making the best of the garden, as well as the flowers that are planted...
Organic Vegetables - The days of the small family-run corner stores, offering organic vegetables from the nearby farm, are thankfully returning in a strong way. However, instead having to buy the organic vegetables in a remote location from Mom and Pop Farmer, these chemical- and pesticide-free vegetables are coming to us. Organic foods are now widely available in practically every supermarket chain. Within the U.S., organic food sales have experienced up to a 20 percent growth rate in the last few years. Comparatively, conventionally grown vegetables are experiencing only a 2 to 3 percent growth margin. So, What are organic vegetables?...
|
|
