By and large, most gardeners today don’t know the true meaning of the term ‘organic gardening’. So, what exactly is organic gardening? Organic gardening is the process by which gardeners abstain from using pesticides and synthetic fertilizers on their plants. But, organic gardening is much more than that too. It is a form of gardening that makes use of diversity in pest control, to lessen the use of harmful pesticides and it strives to provide fertility with the help of local resources of nutrients, instead of commercial fertilizers. Organic gardening is an evolving science which is considered by its followers to be much more sustainable. It lays emphasis on the concept of ‘feeding the soil and not feeding the plant’. The organic gardeners prefer the use of natural and greener fertilizers, to the chemical and artificial varieties available.

Each and every one of us has access to some of the raw materials of organic matter because our gardens, lawns and even kitchens produce them everyday. From decaying plant waste to fallen leaves and grass clippings to vegetable scraps, compost heaps serve as the ideal organic matter for your soil. By adding compost to your garden soil, you will be preparing your soil to raise a healthy and beautiful garden. The available compost from the kitchen is not only very effective, but also inexpensive. The compost from the kitchen can help to maintain the kitchen garden.

The next most important key to organic gardening is to choose plants that can be grown on that particular site. Plants that are capable of adapting to the climatic conditions will be able to grow, without a lot of attention and care. On the other hand, plants that are not ideally suited for the site will need a lot of care and attention to be healthy and productive. The specific requirements of certain plants needs to be kept in mind, prior to planting them or treating them for the desired spurt.

How can Organic Gardening benefit you?

• By not using harmful pesticides and chemicals on the plants, you can be rest assured that you and your family will have only healthy meals. This itself is a good enough reason to switch over to organic gardening.
• It causes less harm to the environment. Since the remedy is natural, it is user friendly and very economic.
• It is cost effective, as using natural sources can save you a lot of money. The same money can be used to enhance the appearance of the garden further or add to the number of plants.
• By gardening organically, you know you are doing your part and saving the environment too. This feel is very essential, especially amidst the pollution prevalent today.

 

In what ways do we Practice Organic Gardening?

Organic gardening takes up many different forms. Here are a few of the forms:

• Stick to using plant matter for mulching. Straw and leaves work well. Never use plastic. Stick to the natural material available and avoid anything chemical or artificial.
• Use compost for fertilizer and mulch. It is inexpensive and very effective.
• Replace chemical fertilizers with manure, which acts as a fertilizer itself. Manure is easy to access and enhances the desired spurt in the plant.
• Learning and making use of proper techniques to grow productive plants and avoiding plant disease. There are a number of online sites that are dedicated to the use of proper techniques in gardening. It pays to conduct prior research.
• Getting help form natural insect repellants like ladybirds and praying mantis will put a stop to the insect problems.
• Never use pesticides or insecticides. Use only natural insect deterrents like soap sprays and garlic. These effective repellents are easy to put together in the kitchen and very effective.
• Pull out weeds manually instead of using weed killers.
• Give away a small portion of your crop to the bugs, so that you can produce and consume much healthier food.
• Recycle and conserve. By using natural ingredients like compost, manure, and even kitchen scrap, we make use of organic materials.

 

What are the other factors involved in Gardening Organically?

There are many factors that contribute towards a healthy garden environment. They are:

• Mulching all your garden beds can serve a number of purposes, as mulch helps suppress weeds, moderates soil temperature, prevents erosion, conserves water and feeds the soil.
• If you are living in a shaded area, it is not advisable to choose plants that may require a lot of sunlight. In the same manner, if you are living in a sandy area with lots of sunlight, never choose plants that require moist conditions.
• It is wise to continuously create diversity within your garden. A large variety of plants will attract a large number of insects that are beneficial.