What Makes A Garden Organic?

There's a lot of talk these days about organic foods, organic farming, organic gardening, organic this and that. The word "organic" is becoming as prolific in advertising as the phrase "new and improved" used to be. Sometimes this word is thrown around so much, one may become a bit confused about just what makes an organic garden.

But isn't everything that grows in the ground, or for that matter every creature that lives, pretty much "organic" by definition, you might ask? That is one interpretation of the word, but it's not really what is meant by the phrase organic gardening.

Red earthworm, picture taken in soil from organic gardening (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The main emphasis of "organic" gardening is on doing things by natural means, and most particularly doing things with as few chemicals as possible. The health of the soil and the plants is maintained in natural ways, without the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. The gardeners (or, on the larger scale, farmers) pay attention to the relationship of all the elements in the garden itself: soil and the organisms that inhabit it, the actual plants themselves, and even the insects or birds that might feed from the plants. And the focus is not just on the garden, but on its relationship to the wider ecology around it.

The ultimate goal is to produce plants, flowers, and fruits that are as healthy and natural as possible, and to do it in a way that benefits or doesn't harm the environment.

So is that it? Just stop using pesticides, and a garden is "organic"?

That can benefit the garden, of course, but there's much more to it than that. The mere act of ceasing to use chemicals doesn't necessarily make a garden organic (or sustainable).

Conservation is another major element of organic and truly sustainable gardening. Various methods are used to conserve both water and soil nutrients. For example plants may be chosen and planting methods used that will allow the gardener to conserve water while getting the greatest benefit from it. Crops may be rotated, even in a small garden, so that the soil nutrients will not be depleted. Plants can be placed together in the garden beds in ways that will avoid competition for nutrients. And certain kinds of plants can be grown for the purpose of turning them back down into the soil, to serve as "green manure," a non-animal-derived compost.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Even so-called "pests" may be viewed differently in organic gardening. The gardener may research the insects in his or her own garden and realize that certain ones are actually beneficial to particular plants, so those bugs will not automatically be eliminated. Or if there are insects that need to be removed, often they can be controlled by setting up bird houses to bring in natural predators, or introducing other insects like ladybugs into the ecology. Natural home-made pest-control sprays can be made or, if absolutely necessary, there are organic pesticides that can be used sparingly.

The point to "organic gardening" is that a garden is created that works with the natural ecology, rather than trying to circumvent it. And the vegetables and flowers produced by that garden will be healthier and usually even tastier than those produced by less sustainable means.

Find more sustainable gardening tips here: http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html

Video - Why Organic Pest Control Is the Wrong Solution

Here is a very brief but well-conceived video on why controlling pests using natural insecticides is the wrong focus. Phil Nauta, also known as "The Smiling Gardener" explains why focusing on killing bugs - even by natural means - is short-sighted and misses the root cause of the problem altogether.

Check it out, and to learn more about Phil's methods and philosophy, just click the link below the video.

Organic Pest Control - Why It's The Wrong Solution
Today I'm talking about organic pest control. The natural pest control industry for gardens is doing pretty well. That's a good thing, we don't want to be using these toxic products anymore. But there are a few issues still with this.

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Controlling Garden Pests the Organic Way

With the growing awareness of "green" issues all over the world, the idea of organic gardening is really gaining traction. Using more natural methods of planting, growing, and harvesting, using fewer (or no) chemicals, getting away from the monopolistic mass production of food that tends to make it both tasteless and vulnerable – people are becoming more and more interested in "eating organic."

Syromastes rhombeus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But one thing that makes potential organic gardeners uneasy is a simple problem that every food grower encounters: bugs. What if your garden gets infested with insects or other pests that could harm all those plants you so lovingly set out? You're not supposed to use pesticides if you're growing organically, so what can you do? Do you have to settle for damaged flowers, fruit, and vegetables? Do you have to reconcile to losing some of your plants altogether?

No you don't. There are other ways to deal with garden pests, when they need dealing with.

And that's one of the keys: "when they need dealing with." Because you'll probably have to do some research, when you encounter some new bug or little worm, to find out if it's really a "pest" at all. So that's actually your first step: try to identify the bug, either on the internet or by trapping one and taking it to a garden center. If it's good for the soil or the plants, you probably don't need to do anything at all.

But let's back up a few steps. One way to prevent pests is to prepare the garden properly in advance, and keep it tidy and clean afterward. If you're composting ahead of time, don't use plant material that you already know had a disease or bug problem. Clean up dead material before you plant anything, and be sure the soil is well aerated and fertile. When you do put in your plants, place them in the conditions in which they grow best. If they are meant to grow in full sun, or shade, or part-shade, then put them in that sort of location. Keep the garden clean as the season progresses, by throwing away dead leaves, deadheading the flowers, and weeding.

Try to attract animals or insects that will help keep down other unwanted insects. You can draw birds in by placing bird houses or feeders. Bug-fighting insects, like ladybugs, or certain types of wasps, can be attracted if you grow plants that they use for food. Do some research to see what other sorts of insect predators you can bring into the garden.

Watering properly is another means of keeping the bug population down. Water less frequently, but more deeply. Frequent shallow watering creates a humid atmosphere around the plant, which is the sort of condition in which many insects thrive. It also creates the right circumstances for fungus and rot to develop.

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If you do get some small bugs, try spraying a simple soap solution: 40 parts water and one part non-detergent soap, such as Ivory. Spray the bottoms of a few leaves first, to make sure it will work on specific plants. If it seems to work without damaging the plant, you should be good to go. This can eliminate many fairly ordinary pests.

One suggested solution for fighting several fungal diseases is a baking soda spray that consists of a mixture of one quart of water, one teaspoon of baking soda, and one squirt of liquid, non-detergent soap. This would be sprayed on affected leaves and stems. Or a potato starch spray, substituting 2-4 teaspoons of potato flour for the baking soda, may help deter insects as well as fighting fungus.

Become familiar with local organic gardeners or associations, and explore some of the other options out there. In extreme cases, there are existing organic products that can often help, though you'll want to research those too, to make sure they are reputable. As you switch away from pesticides and other chemicals, you will find that it's possible to have a pretty healthy and happy garden without them, using more organically appropriate methods of pest control instead.


Organic Pest Control Resources:
   

The Importance of Natural Pesticides In Your Garden

If you're reading this blog, it's probably no surprise to you that chemical pesticides are an environmental and health hazard.  Large scale commercial farmers use chemicals to kill bugs that harm their crops.  While it’s understandable to want to protect crops and maximize production, it shouldn’t be at the expense of your health or our water supply.  The good news is there are sustainable practices to keep slugs and bugs and other unwanted pests off your garden fruits and vegetables. 

Make Your Own Natural Pesticides

* To combat caterpillars, aphids, and several types of worms, mix together a gallon of water and a cup of tobacco.  Allow the mixture to set for a day, until it resembles weak tea.  Spray on your garden vegetables.  However, steer clear of your peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, or any other member of the solanaceous family, as the tobacco spray can kill them.

Various land slugs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* To combat slugs and a number of other insects, mix together one minced garlic bulb, one minced onion, one quart of water, a tablespoon of cayenne pepper and a tablespoon of dish soap.  Spray veggies to protect against bugs. (For more recipes, check back Thursday.) 

Other garden pest deterrents include:

* Mechanical devices for soft-bodied pests.  Slugs and snails can destroy a garden faster than you can say slime.  However, there are a number of measures to get rid of them.  A pan of beer, copper wire, salt, egg shells, hair, and sharp rocks or shingles all deter or destroy slugs and snails without the use of chemicals.

* Carnivorous bugs.  Ladybugs are wonderful for your garden.  They eat aphids, scales, and mites.

* Finally, many plants work quite well to repel bugs from your garden.  Some examples include:
 - Marigolds repel nematodes, Mexican bean beetles, squash bug, thrips, tomato hornworms, and whitefly
 - Geraniums repel cabbage worms and leaf hoppers
 - Mint repels ants and aphids, and the cucumber beetle. 

What about chemical pesticides?

Environmental contamination with pesticides (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Chemical pesticides (and there are well over 9,000 different acceptable pesticides approved by the FDA) have a number of health implications. 

* Pesticides can be carcinogenic
* Pesticides can cause infertility
* Pesticides can cause neurological complications
* Pesticides can cause birth defects

And a whole lot more. Scientists are only beginning to understand the level of contamination and how pesticides are affecting our health, the health of our children and our planet.  

Reduce or eliminate the damage pesticides can cause by buying organic whenever possible and by using natural pesticides when you grow your own fruits and vegetables.  No one likes a bug-infested garden; however, it takes just a few simple steps to send these bugs running for the high hills.

For 5 safe and natural home-made pesticide recipes you can make yourself to protect your garden, be sure to check back Thursday!

Four Safe, Home-Made Pest Remedies for Your Organic Garden

Many people love the idea of growing a natural and organic garden but when it comes to pest control, they don’t really know where to turn.  Contrary to what the chemical companies might tell you, there are safe and natural alternatives to chemical pesticides.  And they’re effective too!  Here are four quick and easy ways to kill and repel garden pests naturally while keeping your family safe.

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* Many pesticides work to repel insects or even kill them.  But why worry about applying these chemicals when you can simply make your plants taste bad?  Take a gallon of hot water and mix in six cloves of garlic, a tablespoon of hot peppers, a minced onion and a teaspoon of soap (hand dishwashing soap works well).  Let it sit for a few days and then drain out the liquid into a spray bottle.  If you apply it regularly to plants, even the smell will keep harmful pests off your plants.  It also helps to deter small animals like mice and rabbits from eating your garden.  Make sure to reapply when it rains since it will wash off.

* If repelling insects using the above mixture is just not working, there are natural remedies that will kill them as well.  Try mixing a small amount of dish soap and canola oil in water and spraying down the entire affected plant.  The oil will smother the insect, so make sure to get the whole plant so you don’t miss any.

If insects are a problem in your garden, your first instinct may be to kill all the insects.  But, exercise care.  Many bugs in your garden are actually beneficial.  Use sprays only on affected areas instead of spraying indiscriminately.  You may also just consider adding beneficial insects to your garden to get rid of the pests or adding plants that naturally repel problem insects.

No name baking soda (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* Often the harm to your plants isn’t coming from pests eating them, but from diseases, fungus, and other infections.  While you may not be able to save a plant that has become infected, you can take steps to prevent the disease from spreading to the other plants in your garden.  Try mixing up some baking soda in a bucket or water and spraying on plants.  This will help prevent a small amount of disease from spreading and wiping out your whole garden.  You can even mix baking soda with oil sprays to help stop pests and fungus at the same time.

* While baking soda helps with fungal infections, you may have issues from mildew.  Try mixing a cup or two of milk with a bucket of water and spray on plants twice a week.  Milk not only kills the mildew, it can help with fungal and other infections as well.

Natural pest control in your organic garden is not only inexpensive, it’s also a lot safer for your family and better for the environment around you. And the above remedies can all be made with common items you probably have around your home already. Hopefully these suggestions will help your sustainable garden grow at its best and with minimal pests this summer!