Organic Gardening – Health Advantages of Going Green

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There are as many definitions of organic as there are farmers in Iowa. It is up to you to select your own level of purity and focus. You may choose to be completely chemical-free or accept some level of commercial intervention. Much will depend on your available time as well as your willingness to get down and dirty with the messier, smellier side of gardening.

Any organic intervention in your life is better than none, so take the information that fits your needs and begin. Who knows? That first step into the world of independent gardening may free you enough to catapult you into full-fledged organic farming at its best.

Composting: A Key to Organic Gardening

What is considered one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure. For organic purists, composting is almost canon—though not absolutely necessary for organic gardening. Because it is messy and aromatic, some may choose to purchase composted soil or pre-composted products instead of learning this age-old method.

Composting is the science of decomposition in a controlled environment, such as a large garbage can, a 5 ft. x 5 ft. hole in the ground, or an expensive drum that turns automatically. It accelerates the breakdown of once-living matter into enriched soil and nutrients, perfect for the health of your garden. The compost gardener works to recycle appropriate wastes of any living matter, along with a healthy supply of bacteria (purchased or naturally available in the soil through hard work and time).

To compost, accumulate fruit, vegetable, and grain scraps throughout the year. Yes, this takes time and may not produce a fragrance that pleases your nose, but you’ll reap the benefits by growing fruits and vegetables packed with the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Recycling leftover food scraps, leaves, grass, and hay is at the heart of organic gardening and well worth the effort.

Compost must be turned regularly to oxygenate the matter. Oxygen is required to heat and decompose the food into nutrients and soil in a timely manner. Without the oxygen provided by turning, the material will take its natural time to change into soil. While this is acceptable, many gardeners want to use the recycled waste within six months and are willing to put in the biweekly labor of turning the compost. Some may roll the drum of “brown gold” around the yard, while others prefer turning it by hand with a pitchfork.

Fertilizing

Without fertilizing additives (whether natural or chemical), plants will be stunted and unhealthy. Organic gardeners often use compost to augment the nutrients in the soil and improve texture and good bacteria, but most compost should not fully replace fertilizing additives. Cynthia Boruff, a gardener with fifty years of experience, shared that she annually adds compost, chicken manure, alfalfa tea (once plants are at least six inches tall), and her special formula for fertilizer.

“Since I don’t rely on commercial chemical fertilizers, I vary my organic methods to ensure a broader spectrum of nutrients,” says Cynthia. “My formula, which replaces purchased fertilizer, is a combination of blood meal, bone meal, and dolomite (or agricultural lime) in equal proportions. I mix it into the soil when setting young seedlings or planting seeds. It has never failed me! My corn is the biggest in the county, and my vegetables are award-winning.”

Gardeners who avoid chemical fertilizers practice crop rotation—a common technique to reduce the need for additional fertilizers. This helps prevent nutrient depletion specific to individual plant species. For example, organic gardeners may plant carrots in a specific row one year and a different vegetable in that spot the following season. Since different plants require different nutrients, the soil will not be depleted, and less organic fertilizer is needed.

Seed Selection

Depending on your definition of “organic,” you may choose to purchase seeds from a universal seed catalog or from an organic seed farm. The differences range from multi-generational hybrids and genetically engineered plants on one end of the spectrum to heritage or heirloom seeds on the other.

Purists on the organic side strictly purchase only heirloom seeds because these seeds have changed little over decades, sometimes even centuries. Pure high-protein bean seeds used by the Anasazi have survived intact for centuries and have been handed down from generation to generation. Heritage farms have preserved the purity of the bean and offer the seeds for sale through catalogs. The same is true for a variety of beans brought over by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower. These catalogs often boast seventy-five to one hundred different plant seeds, sometimes with fascinating histories.

Heirloom seed catalogs are available online, but it can be more fun to collect seeds or catalogs from other organic gardeners or heritage seed club members. Once you’ve acquired seeds, it’s essential to learn how to harvest and store them properly to maintain quality control and preserve the purity of the heirloom seeds. While it’s tempting to grow an entire garden of heirloom plants, gardeners may find themselves disappointed with the final product. Without hybridization science, some historic plants may be smaller or less flavorful.

Winifred Meidinger, a 90-year-old gardener, collects her heirloom seeds each year for the following season. She especially loves her tomatoes and zucchini, which have been handed down through generations for over a hundred years. Ms. Meidinger enjoys the taste and texture of her produce and takes pride in knowing she is one of the few gardeners maintaining the heirloom philosophy. Many find it fascinating to connect with the past by using the same seeds the pioneers used—untouched by modern science.

Heirloom seeds are absolutely organic, but not all organic seeds are “heirloom.” Organic seeds are not genetically engineered and are not chemically treated before purchase. Most organic farmers primarily purchase from organic seed catalogs. However, they may also buy seeds from standard catalogs if it’s the best way to obtain the desired taste or texture of a particular fruit.

Standard seeds, from stores and most catalogs, are often coated with chemicals to prevent mold or fungus growth and to protect them from deterioration in the soil before germination. While there are organic methods to achieve the same protective measures without chemicals, few gardeners know these techniques. These methods should be researched in organic farming books and magazines. Approaches include planting in paper towels or properly collecting and drying seeds.

Bruised Knuckles

The benefits of organic gardening far outweigh the workload. However, the time spent down in the dirt is far greater than with standard chemical gardening. It requires time to pick bugs off plants, set jars of natural attractants, and place boards on moist ground to trap insects. It also requires working manure and teas into the soil—all instead of relying on the quick fix of chemicals. The reward is health from chemical-free produce for you and your family, along with physical and spiritual balance from the daily exercise needed to nurture your garden.

In the past, knowledge of organic gardening was passed down through generations, along with a basket of tricks to make the job easier. Today, beginners may face risks in achieving good produce during the first season or two unless they have a mentor nearby to offer advice. Fortunately, there are hundreds of books, articles, and internet resources to help new gardeners succeed. However, even that requires time.

Organic farming is a noble pursuit that demands perseverance. This resolve will remind you of your ancestors and your past each time you pick up a handful of composted soil or preserve an heirloom seed. It will keep you looking toward the future—skipping over current challenges—and focusing on the seeds you’ll purchase, the produce you’ll harvest, and the new recipes and uses you’ll create. For that, you won’t mind a few scrapes, an aching back, or bruised knuckles. It will all be worth it because, philosophically, it is where you want to be.

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