Organic Garden

Fresh fruits and veggies are better fruit and veggies. Nature’s flavors will always go unmatched against the unnatural. Organic farming has this advantage, as well as being free of pesticides—pesticides that have questionable effects on your health. Organic fruit is not colored to look natural, nor pumped with chemicals to increase in size; it is just Mother Nature’s pleasantry.

It is not difficult to grow or harvest your own organic garden—from a garden of twenty plants to a garden of one. Growing your own food is not only cheap, healthy, and fresh, it also comes with satisfaction. If you do not have access to gardening land yourself, then community gardens offer the same advantages, as well as the social aspect of working beside your neighbor.

What do you do once you have found a place to put your garden that is in the sunlight and has easy access to water? Unlike using chemicals to boost the health of your plants, growing organically is much more personal and takes a little more care to be successful. But the extra details are worth it for the advantages of natural, fresh food.

Weeding your garden is an important step to take to make sure your plant has enough space to grow. Once you have removed the weeds from your garden, use household vinegar to kill sprouting weeds. Vinegar has a natural acid that is strong enough to kill small weeds, but not strong enough to kill a mature weed.

Natural fertilizers—fertilizers not made from chemicals—are healthier, organic alternatives to commercial fertilizers. Some ways to naturally fertilize include using seaweed, grass clippings, compost, manure, and wood ash.

Unnatural Fertilizer

1. Seaweed: If it is saltwater seaweed, wash to remove salt before use. Seaweed is a natural fertilizer that traps and releases water. Simply lay seaweed over the soil.

2. Grass Clippings: Grass clippings release nitrogen as they decompose; this nitrogen acts as a fertilizer.

3. Manure: Cow and horse manure work as excellent fertilizers as they too contain nitrogen. However, it is important to wash produce that has been grown in organic manure prior to consumption.

4. Wood Ash: Sprinkle wood ashes on your garden. Ashes contain potassium; potassium is also essential to plant growth.

Natural pest control is an important consideration in growing an organic garden. Pesticides are considered one of the greatest harms in generic commercial farming. Fortunately, there are some natural remedies to pests that are safe for humans and animals. Eco-friendly household products often can deter pests, or even consider planting some deterrent plants.

Organic Flower

1. Dish Soap: Make sure you use an eco-friendly, chemical-free dish soap if you choose this method. Mix some dish soap and water in a spray bottle and spritz onto plants.

2. Hot Sauce: Hot sauce can deter insects and animals, but may or may not be conducive to plant growth. You should research the specific types of plants you have in your garden before using this method.

3. Odorous Plants: There are a number of different plants with a strong scent that can deter both animals and insects. Marigolds are widely known for their properties of protecting against aphids—it is not recommended to smell marigolds! A smart method for organic gardening is integrating your herbs in with the produce. Peppermint, garlic, chives, basil, borage, and rosemary are other plants that keep away certain types of bugs.

Following these tips should help you on your way to becoming an organic farmer. Whether you decide to trade at a farmers market, give to family and friends, or just enjoy yourself, you are sure to have a good time and a tasty meal. Happy farming!