What Is Organic Gardening?

You have heard of Organic Gardening, but do you know what it is? Could you explain it to your children or to a friend?

Organic Gardening Defined

Organic Gardening is a way of growing plants by first making the garden soil healthy, and then keeping both it and the plants healthy without the use of synthetic fertilizers, fungicides, and pesticides.

Boil it Down

Organic Gardening is not always defined just that way, however. There are many kinds of Organic Gardening “experts” in the world. Each has a slightly different way of defining the process. Some rely on ancient wisdom – almost mystical in nature. Others are very current, using scientific findings for their organic gardens. Whichever you use, it all boils down to a few common practices.

1. Determine soil type. Have the soil of your organic garden tested, or test it yourself with a soil test kit. Know whether your soil is sandy or loamy, alkaline or acidic, etc.

2. Consider the location of your organic garden. Is it hot and sunny most of the day? Are some sections shaded? Is drainage good or mediocre?

3. Choose plants that grow well in your organic garden’s location and soil conditions. You can amend soil to a degree, but avoiding “finicky” plants will reduce the work load. Matching plants to the organic garden is a proactive move.

4. Amend organic garden soil with organic materials. Use compost whenever possible.

5. Make your own compost. Never throw away organic kitchen trash. Build a compost pile with it to feed your organic garden.

6. Use plants that attract and maintain a population of beneficial insects in your organic garden. Ladybirds and praying mantis insects are especially helpful.

7. Use insect-repelling plants along the organic garden’s perimeter. Marigolds, onions, and garlic are good choices.

Basically, the organic gardener uses nothing in the organic garden that has even a small amount of potentially harmful chemicals, preservatives, colorings, etc. Anything he or she adds to the garden soil will be organic in nature: animal manures, dolomitic limestone, grass clippings, greensand, hay, leaves, and straw are examples. Anything he or she puts on or around the plants of the organic garden will likewise be entirely organic.

Some organic gardeners or farmers go to an extreme, deciding that they will buy nothing for the soil or plants. They will use only the compost, fertilizer, and natural pest control found within the organic garden or farm itself.

At the end of the day, however, almost every organic gardener takes a little from each way of thinking and some from the ground between the two.

Decide for yourself which line of thought best fits your Organic Gardening needs and enjoy the results.