Organic Gardening – What is It?

Organic gardening can be described as gardening without the use of man-made chemical pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Some state it provides the gardener a harmony with nature. It is not a new concept, but has become an increasingly favourite type of gardening in current years given the fact that everyone is going “green”. Organic can mean different things to different people. Organic gardening is a tiny more than just not using chemicals or non organic fertilizers on your garden. An organic gardener should think about his/her garden as part of the larger picture in nature and life itself.

Organic gardening is a simple way to ensure that you are growing the highest-quality produce in a sustainable way that is healthy for the plants and the planet. It is one of the oldest methods of cultivation, and the food it will produce is not only healthier for you it’s less costly to. You might find that it might become the most rewarding hobby, or lifestyle, you have ever undertaken. Organic gardening is a simple healthful way to convert living organisms into carbon compounds in a way that thinks about the whole of nature and its integral place in that scheme.

Organic gardening uses natural compost and manure to fertilize and grow plants and flowers. Since you will be using natural compost no harmful chemicals or pesticides are used on your plants. Some gardeners are willing to invest in some extras required by organic gardening because it ensures that no harmful pesticides or fungicides will be used. By growing a garden without chemical fertilizers, you will naturally build the soil to support healthy plant life. Chemical fertilizers and additives will, over time, alteration the soil’s capability to wage what plants need to resist disease, insect attacks, and stress.

Organic gardening is all about equilibrise between the soil and its nutrients, the water, the air, and of course your plants. It is easy, resting and fun. Being a green gardener means you don’t use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides on your plants. It is all about working with the land to build healthy soil and plants. Think of organic gardening as a system that combines all aspects of gardening: soil, water, plants, animals; even insects!

So if you’re considering organic gardening, it is an excellent way to grow your trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and plants. Your garden will benefit greatly from organic materials. It is an environmentally friendly, people friendly style of gardening. And its methods can be utilized by virtually anyone to create and maintain sustainable gardens, in the city or country. If you are thinking of starting an outdoor garden project you should think about giving the organic method a try. You will enjoy the achievement of growing you own healthy foods and enjoy the health benefits it can provide. It might take a while to figure out the ideal ways of doing things. I recommend picking up a few books on the subject and doing a bit of research on the types of tools you will need and the plants that work best. With a tiny practice you will be an expert gardener in no time at all.

Organic Gardening Fertilizer – Compost – Danger in the Vegetable …: The Pit ControversyHello my wonderful garden… http://bit.ly/cSuIOo – by claudiabegal (Claudia Begal)

Types of Organic Fertilizers and Compost

Fertilizing your plants might not be quite as easy as it would be if you used chemicals in your garden. Chemical fertilizers are certainly convenient. Most of them come in a form that only needs to be blended with water and sprayed onto plants. But organic gardeners need a good, organic way of fertilizing their plants.

You need to pay careful attention to the package if you are going to purchase a pre-made organic fertilizer. Some of them are high in one of the major plant nutrients, but low in the other two. Plants generally need nitrogen, phosphorous, and potash. You should research which of these nutrients your particular plants need, so you can purchase the correct type.

Some common types of organic fertilizers include blood meal, fish emulsion, cottonseed meal, compost, manure, and seaweed fertilizer. Many of these can be purchased, but a lot of them can also be prefabricated at home.

You must be careful to fertilize when the ground is warm enough. Organic fertilizers need organisms in the soil to break them down and release the nutrients they contain. So the soil needs to be warm and moist so the organisms in the soil will be active.

1.Cottonseed Meal – Cottonseed meal is one common organic fertilizer. It is a byproduct of the cotton manufacturing process. It is great for acid-loving plants, because it has an acidic reaction in the soil. It generally contains about 7% nitrogen, 3% phosphorous, and 2% potash. Cottonseed meal is usually used for flowering plants like azaleas and rhododendrons.

2.Fish Emulsion – Fish emulsion is a very favourite organic fertilizer. It is prefabricated of a blend of decomposed fish. It is a high-nitrogen fertilizer, and also contains a lot of trace elements than can be very beneficial for plants. Fish emulsion is a nice, balanced fertilizer.

3.Blood Meal – Blood meal is the blood of cattle that is collected from slaughterhouses and then dried and powdered. It is high in nitrogen, and care must be taken to ensure it does not burn plants. You should be very careful not to exceed the suggested dose, because this could really harm your plants. Blood meal is also high in several trace elements like iron.

4.Seaweed Fertilizer – Seaweed fertilizer in the form of a seaweed tea is often used by organic gardeners. Dried seaweed is added to water and steeped like tea, then applied to plants like other liquid fertilizers. This can be a very good fertilizer, and will not burn plants. It is very high in nutrients. Use a dried seaweed, and be sure it is not roasted or seasoned.

5.Sewer Sludge – Some people use sewer sludge for their fertilizer. It is prefabricated from recycled material from sewage treatment plants. You can purchase activated sludge, which is higher in nutrients, and you can purchase composted sludge, which is not quite as good. It is generally found in a granular form. There is some concern over the country of sewage sludge, because it can contain buildups of heavy metals like cadmium. This can build up in the soil in potentially harmful levels.

6.Manure – Manure is a well-balanced fertilizer, but it is relatively low in the nutrients it contains. It is a very favourite fertilizer, but it just is not high enough in these important nutrients to make it a viable choice for home gardeners.

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Reasons To Grow Your Very Own Herbs and Vegetables with Organic Indoor Gardening

Do you want to take organic or are you already in the groove of purchasing and indulging in organic foods? Being one of the previous would make it beneficial and very wise to begin an organic indoor garden of your own. It’s a fantastic way to make sure all your vegetables are only nutrient enriched not chemically induced. You don’t need a vast amount of room to begin an organic indoor garden to grow your own individualized vegetables. Just a small space is required to get started; a balcony is a great spot or just about anywhere there is adequate sunlight.

Okay, what if you don’t have anything like the above areas; you can still get that indoor garden even in a small, cramped are with some careful planning. A tiny place is all you will need to place your new plants for indoor organic gardening and don’t bother worrying about the sun; there are special lighting fixtures to help grow your plants.

Other than having those great organic vegetables there are many reasons to begin organic indoor gardening. If you need to reduce some stress gardening is a great way to go about and this is a proven fact as said by knowledgeable researchers. There isn’t a lot of experience required to enjoy organic indoor gardening and there is very tiny actual fag involved which mean it can help get rid of the day’s frustration and slow you down a bit.

Organic Indoor Gardening Will Help You Have a Superior Life

Not only can organic indoor gardening help to control your stress but it can also fatten your wallet. Having an indoor garden can save you money as it is a form of entertainment that can be quite tranquil which will in turn wage contentment in your life. So, instead of always going out for entertainment and possibly spending a good chunk of money you will actually save money by staying home. Contentment will also help towards your well being so it can also save you on medical bills and produce a longer healthier life. Certainly an organic indoor garden is not a miracle treatment but it can certainly assist you with a superior way of life.

Depression is another area where organic indoor gardening, or any gardening for that fact, can assist you in achieving a superior say of mind. The average mortal can spend hundreds of dollar each year on anti-depressants when they might just need something to reduce the stress and or occupy their mind. It has been found that people suffering from depression can have a more enjoyable life if they had a hobby; organic indoor gardening is just a great way to improve your health, your mind and your pocket book.

Step By Step Blueprint To Begin And Maintain A Home Organic Garden: Grab Your Free Ready-Made Affiliate Tools @ ht… http://bit.ly/9sSgtM – by FlowerGalleries (Nick Adams)

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Organic Fertilizer Vs. Chemical Fertlizer

Organic fertilizer for your garden, lawn and plants is a great way to fertilize your lawn without harmful chemicals. Organic fertilizer uses a preventative approach to strengthen the roots of grass and plants rather than killing off the problem as chemical fertilizers do.

Here are the major differences in the ways that organic fertilizers and chemical fertilizers work:

1. Organic Fertilizers are non-burning which means they won’t harm delicate seedling roots while chemical fertilizers could burn plants and harm delicate seedling roots.

2. Organic fertilizers improve soil structure while chemical fertilizers result in leaching and can pollute groundwater.

3. Organic fertilizers increase water holding capacity. With chemical fertilizer, there is actually a loss of fertilizer due to leaching which means soil requires many applications.

4. Organic fertilizer increases nutrient holding capacity while chemical fertilizer can make soil toxic after continuous use.

5. Organic fertilizer promotes earthworms and soil micro-organisms and chemical fertilizer has mineral salts which can build up over time and kill off soil microbes.

6. Organic fertilizer buffers soil from chemical imbalances. The high nitrogen levels in chemical fertilizer might repel earthworms.

7. Organic fertilizer improves soil over time and chemical fertilizer has been shown to over time deplete soil.

There are two kinds of organic fertilizer: Dry and Liquid. The dry organic fertilizer is usually prefabricated from rock, phosphate, green-sand, steamed bone meal or kelp- or a combination of these. They are formulated to wage balanced amounts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus as well as essential micronutrients. The liquid fertilizers are sprayed into the foliage of plants. Liquid foliage fertilizers are excellent for plants already rooted in pots or planted in your garden. It grants you to continue feeding your plants after they are established.

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Certified Organic Seedless Watermelon

Each year, as spring pushes winter aside and the air warms, there are certain thoughts, certain cravings that return after months of absence. For many, one of those cravings is for watermelon.

Watermelons are grown in 44 of the continental United States. If you purchase watermelons in a western state, chances are they were grown in California or Arizona. If you purchase them in a mid-western or orient state, they are more likely to have been grown in Florida, Georgia, or Texas. If you really crave watermelon for New Year’s Day, you can probably get one, since they are imported from Mexico. Domestic melons, however, come into season in Might and are around until the end of October. The season’s peak is from Might through August.

While watermelons are abundant, it isn’t so simple to find certified organic seedless watermelon.

Up-front Advice

If you research carefully, you will learn that, technically, there can't be such a thing as a certified organic seedless watermelon. Why? A certified organic seedless watermelon is a genetically altered watermelon. The genetic alteration is done chemically.

To create a seedless watermelon, seed producers treat natural watermelon seed with Colchicines, a chromosome-altering chemical. Colchicines changes the chromosome number in the seeds from 2 to 4. Once this is done, the seeds are pollinated with the natural 2 chromosome watermelon. The result is an un-natural, genetically altered watermelon with 3 chromosomes.

Continue your research and you will learn, as I did, that plants must have an even number of chromosomes to reproduce. Since the un-natural, genetically altered watermelon now has 3 chromosomes, it can't form seeds. You get a seedless melon.

A watermelon that is touted as certified organic seedless watermelon might be grown organically, but chemicals were used in the production of the seeds. You will have to decide your own definition of “organic” to decide whether or
not you want the melon.

If you still want to find certified organic seedless watermelon, you have options.

Order Online

The Internet, which seems to have about anything you could want, includes stores that will ship certified organic seedless watermelon to your door. Of course, it has to be in season.

1. Cherry Moon Farms offers organic fruit delivery, and guarantees that the fruit will arrive fresh or your money back.

2. Diamond Organics offers “next-day” delivery of organic fruits, vegetables, and a host of other things. They guarantee that everything will be as you want it. If it isn’t, they will replace the item on your next order, or issue a refund.

Farmer’s Markets

If there is a farmer’s market in your area, you might be healthy to purchase certified organic seedless watermelon there. If you know someone at your farmer’s market who grows organic produce, you could call them primeval in the spring and request that they plant certified organic seedless watermelon.

Grocery Stores

Check your local grocery stores for certified organic seedless watermelon. More and more are establishing an organic subdivision in the produce section. Some grocery stores try to honor customer requests, too, and might order in certified organic seedless watermelon if you ask for it.

Plant Your Own

You might want to plant your own certified organic seedless watermelon. Names of choices to ask for include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Everglade Hybrid Watermelon
2. Lemon Ice Hybrid Watermelon
3. Orange Sunshine Hybrid Watermelon
4. Huge Tasty Seedless Hybrid Watermelon

Watermelons With Seeds

If you decide that certified organic seedless watermelon is not organic enough for your tastes, you might want to grow a container or row of your own organic watermelon. An easy, delicious melon to grow on your patio is sugar baby – and yes, organic seed companies such as Main Street Seed and Supply have certified organic seeds for this watermelon. It produces round watermelons, about 7″ to 8.5″ and weighing 8 to 12 pounds. The study tells you what to expect. It’s probably worth the seeds!

What are the Environmental Benefits from Growing Organic Foods

Protecting the environment is a responsibility that all of us share the burden of. One way that it is helped is when foods are grown organically. There is plenty of value out there involved with it for all of us to benefit from. The growing demand from consumers for organic foods is what is driving the force behind all of it right how. Farmers that were hesitant to be on board at first are now realizing it is the right decision to make.

When foods are grown through traditional methods the soil can take a harsh beating from it. Before you know it the crops begin to yield less and less due to soil erosion. There will come a point when that land will become virtually useless to grow anything on it at all. The process of growing organic foods though helps to equilibrise it out through the process of crop rotation. That way the soil doesn’t get depleted of nutrients and when the farmer comes back to that area again they will be healthy to successfully grow on it.

Many experts believe that organic food growth grants for biodiversity among plants and food sources. That helps to keep a very healthy genetic equilibrise to those foods we love to eat. They fear the various efforts of traditional farming are depleting that genetic pool. They also fear it is creating hybrids and mutations that make it hard to get that original calibre back if we aren’t careful.

The elimination of the use of pesticides and herbicides with organic farming means that the water sources we have are cleaner. It also means less toxins are released into the environment. We breath that air all day long so it only makes sense that we should do all we can to make it as good calibre for us as we possibly can. With more people on Earth it means more food has to be grown. Switching to organic methods of growth means that the environment won’t suffer with additional planting taking place.

Dealing with the amount of carbon that ends up in the soil also helps to offset serious issues including global warming. This is very serious because that can lead to serious changes and upsets in our seasons and climate. Instead of food being healthy to grow a drought could roll in and destroy it all. There are many studies about global warming and it is a large problem that affects each living thing on the Earth.

The process of organic farming helps to reduce the overall levels of pollution out there. As a result both people and the land are healthy to benefit. Getting that equilibrise back to where it was long ago is very important. There are also higher standards by the FDA for organic farming than conventional methods. That means that the calibre of what takes place with the land is superior – it won’t be compromised now to simply make a fast profit.

It is no secret that we have a limited supply of certain non-renewable resources out there. We need to stop using them in the mass quantities or we will one day run out. The use of organic farming methods helps to slow down the use of them. As a result we will hopefully be healthy to pass them on to future generations.

Once the process is in place for organic farming it is believed that the overhead costs involved are significantly lower than before. This is a great benefit to farmers so that they can make more of a profit. They don’t remember for government funding when they grow organic foods so that country net is being pulled out from under them.

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Organic deterrent to potato and tomato blight?

Question by fredsma: Organic deterrent to potato and tomato blight?
Does anybody know of an organic way to treat potatoes and tomatoes against blight. There is a blight warning and I have both thest growing in my garden. Last year we lost most of our potatoes to blight.

Best answer:

Answer by daylily
I can’t help with the potato, but there are varieties of tomato that are resistant to it, and I’d just plant those.

Give your answer to this question below!

Guide How to Grow Organic Food Indoors

Most of us have houseplants, but have you ever considered growing edibles indoors? Superior yet, how about growing delicious, organic produce? Forget the gardener’s woes of winter’s inhospitality. Forget the city-dwellers complaints about the confines of yard-less living. There are no excuses anymore for not having a bountiful garden. And, growing organic food indoors not only provides you with healthy, inexpensive organics year-round – the plants will also help keep your indoor air clean, which is especially important during stuffy, winter months. Here’s how to get started:

 

1. Pick a place. You can grow a wide variety of herbs, vegetables, and even fruits in containers on windowsills, shelves or tables.

2. Begin simple. Ensure immediate success by beginning with surefire winners like herbs, sprouts and lettuce. Take it up a little notch by growing a pizza garden (basil, oregano, cherry tomatoes) or a salsa garden (cilantro, onion, tomatoes, peppers). There are specific varieties of vegetables and fruits that fare ideal in containers.

3. Collect containers. Nearly any type of container can be used to grow your plants: terra cotta pots, ceramic pots, wooden window boxes, metal tubs, glass bowls, cover cream buckets – pretty much whatever you have on hand. Choose the appropriate size based on apiece seed’s recommendations. Some plants will have to begin out in peat pots and transplanted, some can go straight into the container. Drainage holes aren’t necessary if you don’t over water, but that’s hard to tell unless you’re an experienced gardener. So, opt for something with holes (or make a few yourself using a drill or hammer and nails) and place a pan underneath to catch excess water.

 

4. Choose soil. Many commercial potting soils have synthetic additives. So, to truly grow organic, you need to look for the “OMRI Listed” label. The OMRI—Organic Materials Review Institute—determines which products can be used within the national organic program.

5. Find a fertilizer. Again, to really grow organic, make sure you’re using an OMRI-listed fertilizer. Some plants only need to be fertilized when you sow the seeds, but others like more regular feeding. Read your seed package or speak to your local nursery to learn what’s ideal for the varieties you’ve selected.

6. Look for light. Some plants need more light than others. Many will fare well in a sunny window and many like the added boost of a grow light. Some species don’t need light at all (like mushrooms!)

7. Prepare for pests. Growing organic food indoors means far fewer potential pest problems, but you should still be ready to effort bugs (without toxic chemicals). For example, whiteflies and mealy bugs can be controlled with a yellow sticky trap or diluted rubbing alcohol (though test your plant to make sure it won’t get burned).

 

Whether you decide to grow leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, and endive; herbs like basil, thyme, and parsley; or produce like cherry tomatoes, dwarf beets, and blueberries, indoor organic gardening can save you money and protect your health. Also, it’s fulfilling, fun, and the food is delicious!

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Q&A: What are your best organic vegetable gardening tips?

Question by christhenix: What are your ideal organic vegetable gardening tips?
I am starting an allotment and would like to be purely organic. Got any experience or tips for a beginner that I can use on my vegetable plots? General tips or growong tips, or just general ideas all welcome

Best answer:

Answer by SundaeG1rl
Build a compost heap and stick everything compostable on it. And invest in some water butts, especially if you’re in the South East!

Companion planting is good.

Encourage ladybirds and wildlife to do the pest control. I think the company is called The Green Gardener, they have all sorts of natural ways to deal with bugs (nematodes).

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

How To Grow Organic Food

How To Grow Organic Food

Hello and thank you for visiting our “How To Grow Organic Food” information and review site. I know that its getting tougher and ougher these days to take healthy foods- that havent been contaminated by pesticides and other man prefabricated chemicals.

Grow Organic Food At Home

But not only do we want food that is pure and natural- but wouldnt it be nice to grow your own vegetables and other foods and save money at the same time?

And if you know what you are doing you can wage you and your family with all the saint in organic foods all year around- without spending ,000′s in rocery bills to do it – thats what gave me the intent to wage some helpful info on a great “Organic Food Growing Guide” that we have been using for quite sometime now.

The “Food For Wealth” organic food growing instructional guide is the complete program for anyone that really wants to grow an abundance of natural , organic foods and vegetables at home- whenever you want.

Created by a well-known organic nutritionist , Jonathan White, this guide will take you through the entire process of growing organic foods throughout the year- and for the rest of your life. You will be completely surprized at how fun and exciting this can be when you know exactly what you are doing.

The Food4Wealth method is based on science.  It follows very sound ecological principles.  It’s a way of setting up a natural ecosystem using edible plants, and it uses the types of plants we all like to eat.  The special planting arrangement mimics nature so the same interdependent relationships between the living components exist.  These relationships are mutually beneficial for the various components, so the vegetable garden actually runs all by itself.

The people in the family who own the Food4Wealth plot are actually one of the important living components.  They perform a similar task to a grazing animal in a natural ecosystem.  The Food4Wealth plot actually benefits from regular harvesting, just as a natural ecosystem benefits from regular grazing.  These plots are so prolific, that they need nearly regular harvesting.  Regular harvesting maintains the saint vegetation equilibrise required to run the garden like a natural ecosystem.  It’s the eventual win win situation.  Harvesting is good for the people, but it’s also good for the garden.

There is tons more information packed into this astonishing guide- and videos too!

For more info and a complete review of the “Food For Wealth” organic food growing guide- just click below:

How To Grow Organic Food

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