Agriculture
Organic gardening products are available in some garden centers. specialty mail order catalogs usually supply a greater range. In an ideal world, anything you use in an organic garden would itself have been grown or produced organically. unfortunately, this is not yet possible; although the range is growing, at times you will have to use conventionally grown seed, for example, or manure from animals not raised organically. To conform to the organic principles of sustainability, always try to reuse and recycle waste materials from your own garden and locality. One exception to this rule is to dispose of any unsuitable pesticides and herbicides as soon as possible. However, you must not add these to household trash or pour them down sinks or sewers. Call your university extension for advice on disposing of them safely.
- What Is Organic Gardening?
Organic gardening is not just a matter of replacing chemicals such as artificial fertilizers and pesticides with more natural products, as it is often simplistically described. There is a great deal more to it than that, in both theory and practice.Basic...
- Gardening Talk: Soil Preparation
Begin soil preparation by removing old plant supports, plastic mulches, excessive vegetative residues and other debris from the garden area several weeks before planting to allow the soil to dry out. The amount of plant residue that may be turned under...
- Organic Growing
The organic movement broadly believes that crops and ornamental plants should be produced with as little disturbance as possible to the balance of microscopic and larger organisms present in the soil, and also in the above-soil zone. This stance can be...
- Using Pesticides To Grow Organic Crops
By Dan Stone of National Geographic Magazine in Change Reaction on December 4, 2012Is it possible to grow organic fruits using pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides? That?s the question I took to Pam Marrone, an agricultural researcher in Davis,...
- What Is Organic Farming?
Organic farming management relies on developing biological diversity in the field to disrupt habitat for pest organisms, and the purposeful maintenance and replenishment of soil fertility. Organic farmers are not allowed to use synthetic...
Agriculture
Going Organic
?Going Organic?
As this article will show, ?going organic? is not simply a question of changing your brand of pesticide or fertilizer (though you may well do this). It involves a change of approach, treating the garden as a complete entity where natural systems are promoted and encouraged to thrive. You will start developing long-term strategies for maintaining soil fertility and managing pests and diseases.
Getting started
The best way to go organic is to take the plunge?to start using organic methods, and give up chemical methods, in every area of your yard at once. This article is full of practical advice to help in the conversion process, whether you?re starting with bare ground, clearing a weed patch, or converting an existing garden. These practical guidelines let you know just what is, and isn?t, appropriate to do or use in an organic garden. They concentrate on practices that aim to make a garden as self-sufficient as possible?but, recognizing that there may be a need to buy organic fertilizers, for example, or to use a pest-killing spray, particularly when you are converting a garden, the Guidelines also advise on what products are acceptable.
How long does it take?
Commercial growers converting to organic methods are required to go through a transition period, usually three years. During this period the land is managed organically, but produce cannot yet be sold as organic. Depending on past management, you may find that your garden takes time to adapt, or everything may flourish from the start!
Change the way you shop
Organic gardening products are available in some garden centers. specialty mail order catalogs usually supply a greater range. In an ideal world, anything you use in an organic garden would itself have been grown or produced organically. unfortunately, this is not yet possible; although the range is growing, at times you will have to use conventionally grown seed, for example, or manure from animals not raised organically. To conform to the organic principles of sustainability, always try to reuse and recycle waste materials from your own garden and locality. One exception to this rule is to dispose of any unsuitable pesticides and herbicides as soon as possible. However, you must not add these to household trash or pour them down sinks or sewers. Call your university extension for advice on disposing of them safely.Outside help
If you are new to organics, or simply need advice or new ideas, there are organizations that can help. Organic gardening groups can be found all over the country, and these are especially helpful for advice on local subjects such as tackling problem soil. Your university extension service may be able to suggest organic solutions to pest problems. And many of the large gardening websites have organic forums where you can find advice or encouragement.
- What Is Organic Gardening?
Organic gardening is not just a matter of replacing chemicals such as artificial fertilizers and pesticides with more natural products, as it is often simplistically described. There is a great deal more to it than that, in both theory and practice.Basic...
- Gardening Talk: Soil Preparation
Begin soil preparation by removing old plant supports, plastic mulches, excessive vegetative residues and other debris from the garden area several weeks before planting to allow the soil to dry out. The amount of plant residue that may be turned under...
- Organic Growing
The organic movement broadly believes that crops and ornamental plants should be produced with as little disturbance as possible to the balance of microscopic and larger organisms present in the soil, and also in the above-soil zone. This stance can be...
- Using Pesticides To Grow Organic Crops
By Dan Stone of National Geographic Magazine in Change Reaction on December 4, 2012Is it possible to grow organic fruits using pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides? That?s the question I took to Pam Marrone, an agricultural researcher in Davis,...
- What Is Organic Farming?
Organic farming management relies on developing biological diversity in the field to disrupt habitat for pest organisms, and the purposeful maintenance and replenishment of soil fertility. Organic farmers are not allowed to use synthetic...