Gardening

The life sustaining ability of soil is best understood by appreciating the complex cycles of decay and erosion. Its natural formation occurs in a series of layers starting at the surface but gradating down to the deepest bedrock. The surface layer is where active decomposition begins. Exposure to atmospheric elements, surface warmth and moisture helps to break organic matter into loose mulch like material. At the microscopic level, this layer is teeming with a diversity of bacterial, fungal and algal life forms. In combination with larger organisms like beetles and worms they provide the additional recycling activity to enable minerals and nutrients to be retrieved from the decaying organic matter and returned to the soil. Another family of...

In today’s fast paced world, organic gardening provides an opportunity to reconnect with nature and to appreciate simple but intense pleasures. There’s nothing to beat the aroma of garden fresh herbs or the taste of a peach taken directly from a tree that’s never been sprayed with dangerous synthetic chemicals. Organically grown fruit and vegetables taste better and are safer to eat than other produce. Most commercially grown crops are represented by varieties that demonstrate high yield potential. Taste and nutritional value can be sacrificed to other requirements such as uniformity of size, appearance, and resistance to spoilage. With the current standard of presentation for supermarket produce, the appearance of some organically...

With appropriate care and attention, there are many species of plants that can be grown indoors. An indoor arrangement may offer the best solution for an enthusiastic gardener living in a small apartment with no yard or balcony. Healthy indoor plants with luxuriant foliage are routinely used to brighten offices, hotel receptions, shopping malls and restaurants. And there’s no reason why, with a little thought and effort, organic principles can’t be applied to the rearing of plants indoors. Getting started Beginners might prefer to choose indoor plants that are easiest to maintain using organic principles. In general, plants with thick glossy leaves tend to regulate their moisture requirements, thus enabling them to better adapt to indoor...

The final stage in the growing cycle for most plant varieties is the production of seeds. Seeds represent the beginning of new life and the diversity of genetic characteristics obtained through sexual reproduction. Throughout the year in any organic garden, you’ll see plants that have been allowed to go to seed. There are a number of reasons why, as an organic gardener, you should be more than happy to witness this natural phenomenon. First, seeds play a vital role in your garden’s ecosystem. Apart from harnessing the potential for new life, they also provide food for birds, insects and ultimately – if left to die and decompose – the soil. Second, plants that have been allowed to go to seed provide an opportunity for you to save seeds....

I’m often asked the question, “What shouldn’t I use in the garden so as to ensure the fruits and vegetables it produces are organic?”. While I understand why people ask this question, I prefer to consider things from a slightly different perspective. Perhaps the question we should be asking ourselves is, “What should we be doing in the garden to ensure the fruits and vegetables it produces are organic?”. Addressing this question invariably leads to a discussion about the principles of organic gardening. By understanding and being capable of applying the principles that underlie organic gardening, you’ll become more involved. A well-formed intuitive understanding of why things are so will make you an active participant in the garden....

In many respects it is easier to work with natural ecosystems than attempt to fight or control them with chemical substances. For many decades, ecologists have warned against the tendency to view the natural world in simplistic terms. Unfortunately, these warnings have largely gone unheeded by mainstream elements of the agricultural industry. Commercial imperatives, often imposed by economic interests having little or no connection to the land being farmed, have precipitated the departure from agricultural practices that previously acknowledged and respected the land. In place of systems of agriculture that worked collaboratively with nature, agricultural scientists have been encouraged to provide short term “solutions” and to avoid the...

I’ve been gardening organically for a long time. So long in fact that I can’t imagine what my life would be like without it. For me, gardening is one of the most natural, complete, and enjoyable ways of spending my time. I love every aspect of it – the fresh air, soil, and the sounds that the birds make first thing in the morning. I relish the challenges and opportunities that each different season brings. And I’ve never been afraid of a little bit of hard work, particularly when there are fruits associated with my labour. But while I’m sold on organic gardening, you may not be. At least not yet! However, before dismissing it, I’d like you to consider why I, and many others besides, find gardening according to organic principles...