| Many gardeners wonder what exactly organic | | | | instead of the more familiar rows. Because you don't |
| gardening means. The simple answer is that organic | | | | have to allow as much space for paths, this will |
| gardeners don't use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides | | | | enable you to plant more. |
| on their plants. But gardening organically is much more | | | | Blocks containing a variety of plants encourage |
| than what you don't do. | | | | mini-gardens of vegetables, herbs and flowers, and |
| When you garden organically, you think of your | | | | are more diverse than single rows that alternate just |
| plants as part of a whole system within nature that | | | | two plants. Single crops crowded together are more |
| starts in the soil and includes the water supply, | | | | susceptible to disease, so the diversity of blocks can |
| people, wildlife and even insects. An organic gardener | | | | mean healthier plants. Make each block just wide |
| strives to work in harmony with natural systems and | | | | enough so you can comfortably reach the middle |
| to minimize and continually replenish any resources | | | | from each side. |
| the garden consumes. | | | | The layout of your garden depends in part on what |
| Organic gardening operates on the concept of | | | | it is you want to plant. Some crops, such as lettuce, |
| recycling. You use animal waste, kitchen scraps, and | | | | radishes and spinach, mature quickly and will be |
| vegetable waste to mulch and compost. You will use | | | | short-term residents, unless you plant and harvest |
| common household items like vinegar and soap to | | | | them several times during the summer. Other plants, |
| prevent pests and weeds. | | | | such as tomatoes, eggplant and peppers, will grow |
| Organic growers rely on developing a healthy, fertile | | | | over the course of the entire season. Perennial herbs |
| soil and growing a mixture of crops. Genetically | | | | and flowers will remain in the same spot year after |
| modified (GM) crops and ingredients are not allowed | | | | year, requiring an increasing amount of space each |
| under organic standards. | | | | year. |
| Organic gardening is the merging together of plants | | | | Be sure to save your garden plan to use as a |
| and soil allowing the Earth to naturally bear what it | | | | reference for rotating crops next year. Besides |
| was made to do. The plants and the soil are one | | | | depleting the soil of nutrients, leaving plants in the |
| working together to provide food and nourishment | | | | same spot each year encourages disease and |
| not only to humans but to animals and organisms as | | | | soil-borne insect predators. No annual plant should go |
| well. | | | | in the same spot two years in a row. If you wait |
| It's not a new age science. It's actually quite simple | | | | three years before putting a plant in the same spot, |
| and can be satisfying to the soul! So let's get more | | | | that works even better. |
| in-depth on getting started. | | | | It is a good idea to consider planting "green manure" |
| Your first task is choosing where to plant your | | | | plants to fix the soil. You can add this to your plan |
| garden. The site should receive at least six hours of | | | | from year to year. Clover, Alfalfa, and other such |
| direct sunlight daily, and the soil should drain well, with | | | | plants fix nutrients from the soil, which can be used |
| no standing puddles. The area should receive | | | | by other plants, as well as adding bulk and organic |
| adequate air circulation, yet be protected from | | | | matter to the soil, when they are dug, or tilled |
| strong winds. Your house or a thicket of trees can | | | | directly into the soil. |
| act as a shield from the wind. | | | | Another key to growing organically is to choose |
| After choosing your site, decide how large you want | | | | plants suited to the site. Plants adapted to your |
| to make your garden. Beware of beginning too | | | | climate and conditions are better able to grow |
| ambitiously; tending a plot that's too large can quickly | | | | without a lot of attention or input; on the other hand, |
| become a chore. A plot 10 feet long by 10 feet wide | | | | when you try to grow a plant that is not right for |
| is large enough for some tomato plants, lettuce, a | | | | your site, you will probably have to boost its natural |
| bush variety of cucumber plant, radishes, an endlessly | | | | defenses to keep it healthy and productive. |
| productive zucchini plant, herbs and some flowers. | | | | Once you plan out your garden for this year, you |
| Once you've chosen your site, draw out a garden | | | | should really make a plan for next year as well. |
| plan; this plan will ensure maximum productivity by | | | | Because crop rotation is so important to keep |
| giving each plant room to grow. Measure the | | | | healthy soil, as long as you're making a plan, draw up |
| dimensions of the plot and draw a scale model on | | | | where you will plant what in the next season. This will |
| graph paper, using, for example, a one-inch square to | | | | help you remember what was planted where and |
| represent one foot. As you draw your plan, keep in | | | | save troubles next year. |
| mind each plant's space requirements at maturity--the | | | | So now you know where you'll put your garden and |
| little tomato plants you put out in the spring will take | | | | what you're going to put in it. Let's get started on |
| up three feet of space by the end of summer. | | | | the planting! |
| Consider laying out your garden design in blocks | | | | |