Gardening

My old colleagues and friends still scratch their heads and laugh at me. Many decades ago I carried a very important key. It opened the door of a triple bay storage shed, stacked with numerous horticultural chemicals. With tireless regularity, I applied these to control the pest and disease organisms which attacked the various plants under my care. One morning, I woke up and ...more

It is estimated that a majority of organic gardeners will be challenged by several outbreaks of plant disease during each growing season. This statement never fails to alarm a small percentage of faces in my audience. I quickly identify them as worry prone gardeners. Occasionally, they will approach me following a speaking engagement. Some of them possess an encyclopaedic knowledge ...more

I try to avoid gardening publications which provide simplistic crop rotation schedules. Most of these apply somewhat narrowly to vegetable plots, and fail to address the entire garden as a complex biological entity. They also tend to be inflexible with regard to the seasonal preparation and selection of individual plant species. Most of my understanding of crop rotation is ...more

In their uncultivated state, plants must continually depend on their adaptability for survival. In addition to accommodating local variations in their environment, they need to compete against rival plants for their share of soil nutrients and other resources like water, sunlight, and physical space. While this competition can frequently be harsh and unforgiving, there are ...more

A complex and natural garden must include a variety of birds, some resident, others frequenting as seasonal visitors. Many species can be attracted by providing their basic requirements of food, water, and shelter. The two types that will be most important are the fragile nectar eaters, and those that feed exclusively on insects. The nectar eaters such as hummingbirds contribute ...more

Most herbs are adaptable and will accommodate a variety of growing conditions and locations. A successful organic garden depends, however, on a certain amount of planning and the selection of compatible varieties for each growing location within the garden. For example, dry climate herbs do not appreciate fertiliser applications or excessive watering. It therefore makes better ...more

Whenever possible, organically grown herbs should be eaten fresh from the garden, with minimum processing. This helps to ensure that beneficial nutrients get delivered to the body without degradation or unnecessary contamination. The basic rule for storing and preserving herbs is to start with the finest quality seasonal produce available. By establishing healthy soils and ...more

The majority of herbs are easy to grow organically, requiring only a modest amount of maintenance to keep them healthy and disease free. Much of the effort associated with common herbs is expended to ensure they remain confined within a reasonable space and do not spread uncontrolled like weeds. Mint, nettle, nasturtium and others will quickly dominate the garden, choking out ...more

Basic plant breeding should be mastered by everyone interested in organic gardening. On account of being raised from hybrid stock, many of the commonly available fruit and vegetable varieties are too challenging for beginners to engage with. Alternatively, herbs are the easiest of plants to propagate using time established techniques which provide an excellent learning foundation. ...more

Throughout history, the medicinal use of herbs has been consistently linked with systems of traditional knowledge. The health philosophies of eastern, western, and indigenous cultures can be understood as integral components of unique world views which are progressively shaped by environmental factors, empirical knowledge, and religious practices. For example, eastern approaches ...more