What Is Organic Gardening?

The simple response is “gardening without making use of synthetic fertilizers and / or harmful pesticides or herbicides on plants.” But growing plants and vegetables without chemicals is much more than what you do not do. When you garden organically, you imagine your plants as part of a whole system within nature which begins in the garden soil and includes the water supply, humans, wildlife, and even insects. An organic gardener tries to work harmoniously with nature and to continually replenish resources a garden needs.

You could say that building soil is the defining act of organic gardening. The easiest method to make sure soil success is to consistently add more organic matter, choosing locally obtainable resources wherever possible. We all have access to the raw ingredients of organic matter, because our grass lawns, gardens, and kitchen areas produce them every single day. Grass clippings, fallen leaves, vegetable leftovers from your home’s kitchen, as well as other such decaying plant waste are the building blocks of garden compost, a good organic matter for your garden soil. The microorganisms in garden soil (especially fungi and bacteria) feed on organic matter, breaking it down into nutrients and vitamins which can be taken up by plants’ roots. By constantly blending organic matter into the garden soil, you collaborate in the natural never-ending cycle of birth, growth, decay, and regeneration.

The plant nutrients and vitamins in artificial fertilizers, on the other hand, offer no added benefits to the beneficial bacteria in the soil. During heavy rains, artificial fertilizers wash away and into streams, rivers, and lakes, where they cause rampant algae growth which chokes out other aquatic life. Synthetic fertilizers affect vegetation in a very similar way that steroids act on the human body. Surely, they might increase incredible growth in short term, but over time they destroy plants’ natural defenses and make them susceptible to pest infestations and diseases. In addition, a lot of synthetic fertilizers are petroleum based, so they exact a toll on the environment even before they’re used in your garden.

If you ever concentrate on building your soil, you can grow and maintain nutritious, robust plants, and you will have countless insects in and around your organic garden. That’s a good thing, because the vast majority of insects in your garden are either useful or at least not destructive. Many gardeners become concerned and even react decisively when they find “pests” on their plants or flowers. Before you think about using chemical pesticides or herbicides, don’t forget that most of them have been linked to higher rates of cancer and other problems among people and household pets. They also harm songbirds, freshwater fish, and other creatures.

Does that mean organic gardeners must allow their plots to be decimated by unwanted pests? Simply no. Remember the fundamental principle of organic gardening: growing plants in harmony with mother nature. Insects absolutely are a important part of that system. When you see bugs feeding on your plants and flowers, take the opportunity to look at what they’re really doing. Are they truly destroying the plant or simply nibbling it a lttle bit? Many plants can outgrow moderate destruction. Also, insects usually go after stressed-out plants. Do you have enough strong plants to spare the sickly ones? Are you able to recover sickly plants to robust health so they can defend against insect attack?

About the Author: Ilyas Kahraman is an expert in Toshiba Satellite laptop products. You can read more about his work at netbook and laptop computer reviews and tips.