| Why would I be planning an organic garden? What is | | | | need time to break down to become nutritionally |
| wrong with the food I buy in stores? Isn't it safe? | | | | available to your plants. You want to build a healthy |
| Are my children getting the most healthy and | | | | soil. It is the backbone of a healthy populace. A |
| nutritional organic food that I can provide them? With | | | | healthy soil breeds healthy plants. Healthy plants |
| the food scares that are being broadcast every few | | | | breed healthy animals and healthy people. Manure, |
| months, you may find yourself asking these | | | | preferably horse or cow manure, will help improve |
| questions. The truth is, you are ultimately responsible | | | | the soil structure as well as add nutrients that will be |
| for your own health & nutrition and that of your | | | | used by your new plants. Organic amendments such |
| children. And if you choose to leave that in the hands | | | | as bloodmeal, bonemeal, greensand, hair (yes, hair), |
| of corporations where their bottom line is more | | | | leaves, seaweed; all of these and more are what will |
| about profit rather than healthy, nutritious food, then | | | | build the foundation for your enriched organic soil. |
| you may suffer the consequences sooner, rather | | | | Never again will you find a need for synthetic |
| than later in life. | | | | fertilizers in your garden. You will basically have to |
| Buying produce labeled organic still doesn't protect | | | | rethink how soil fertility and structure is built, |
| you from unsanitary handling and what some may | | | | especially if you've been gardening with chemicals |
| consider toxic practices. While the FDA has its own | | | | your whole life. |
| organic labeling standards, you may still find yourself | | | | Controlling Pests Organically |
| at risk. If you should still choose not to grow your | | | | The hardest part about organic gardening, you will |
| own organic fruits and vegetables, your next wisest | | | | most likely find, is dealing with pests. Whether it be |
| choice would be to buy locally grown organic | | | | imported cabbage worms or aphids, or a host of |
| products where you can visit the farm where your | | | | other common vegetable garden pests such as the |
| food is grown. But for those of you who are ready | | | | dreaded squash bug. As an organic gardener, you will |
| to take the next step into healthy independence, this | | | | sometimes have to think outside the box. We |
| guide will help get you planning your own personal | | | | sometimes find ourselves picking bugs off of our |
| organic garden. | | | | plants, one by one. While the chemical gardener might |
| Organic Garden Layout Plan | | | | blast a spray of toxic liquid all over their garden |
| The size of your organic garden will mostly be | | | | plants. We find natural deterrents and use our wits in |
| determined by where you live, how much land you | | | | ridding the pest of our garden. Or maybe introduce |
| have, and how much effort you wish to put forth. | | | | natural predators, even if we have to purchase |
| Don't think you have enough room to grow organic | | | | them, to protect our now treasured plants. A |
| produce? Even if you live in an apartment in the city, | | | | sampling of organic pest control products you should |
| there are always options available for growing | | | | familiarize yourself with are: bacillus thuringiensis, |
| organically. You can grow organic vegetables in | | | | diatomaceous earth, and neem oil. You will quickly |
| something as simple as a one gallon pot on a rooftop | | | | realize that you can in fact grow plants in a garden |
| if that's all that you have available. And resources are | | | | without resorting to toxic pesticides. |
| available on the web for people in just that situation. | | | | Protecting Your Organic Soil |
| If you have land available to grow a garden, you'll | | | | Once your soil has been prepared for growing |
| want to consider whether growing your plants in | | | | healthy plants, the next step is protecting it. Your |
| rows or raised beds would best serve your purpose. | | | | organic soil will be at its healthiest when slightly moist |
| Growing plants in raised beds gives you the | | | | and cool. To keep these soil conditions as constant |
| advantage of the soil warming more quickly in Spring, | | | | as possible you'll need to cover the soil with a layer |
| resulting in a slightly longer growing season. But raised | | | | of mulch. Mulch can be anything really, from leaves to |
| beds may also use more water in warmer climates | | | | straw to last week's newspaper. Try to keep your |
| unless the beds are heavily mulched. Growing your | | | | mulch about 3-4 inches thick at all times. This not only |
| organic garden using the row method is more suitable | | | | provides a beneficial environment underneath in the |
| if you plan on raising large amounts of crops. You'll | | | | soil, but also helps prevent soil erosion. For what |
| need to decide which method is best for you. You | | | | good would it be to build an enriched, healthy soil |
| also have the options of lasagna gardening and | | | | then to see it all washed away by wind and rain. |
| square foot gardening, both of which have their pros | | | | With the basics of planning an organic garden in hand, |
| and cons. | | | | you can now grow nutritious, organic food for your |
| Preparing Your Organic Soil | | | | friends and family and enjoy life to the fullest without |
| Plan on spending quite some time preparing your soil | | | | worrying where exactly in this world your food |
| for organic growing. You have a wide variety of | | | | actually came from. |
| materials available to amend your soil, but after these | | | | Copyright © 2009 - Brian French - All rights |
| amendments are incorporated into the soil they will | | | | reserved. |