Stes of oYou've been trying to eat more organic foods, both to decrease the amount of pesticides
you and your family consume, and to help protect the environment from overloading with toxic
chemicals. But organics can get a bit expensive, we know. Luckily, there's a way to grow your
own delicious, fresh produce, while having fun and learning at the same time: organic gardening!
Don't know where to start? It is possible to hire someone to install and maintain a beautiful
organic garden for you. But most of us can roll up our sleeves with a surprisingly small amount
of effort. Remember, you can start small, even with just a single plant or two. Don't worry if
things aren't perfect right away.
Organic gardening means you won't be using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, but that doesn't
mean your plants are left to fend for themselves. There are an array of tools you can use to
bolster plant health and ward off pests. Organic gardening also isn't just about what you don't do,
it's about trying to foster a more holistic, natural ecosystem. Read on for specific tips, taken from
expert garden blogger, Leslie Land, her New York Times book 1000 Gardening Questions &
Answers, and other sources.
Preparing the Soil
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In order to get the best results with your new organic garden, you'll want to make sure the soil is
properly conditioned. You have to eat, and so do plants, so make sure your veggies get lots of
fresh nutrients. Good healthy soil helps build up strong, productive plants. Chemical soil
treatments can not only seep into your food, but they can also harm the beneficial bacteria,
worms and other microbes in the soil.
The best way to gauge the quality of your soil is to get it tested. You can get a home testing kit,
or better, send a sample to your local agricultural extension office. For a modest fee you'll get a
complete breakdown of pH and nutrient levels, as well as treatment recommendations (be sure to
tell them you're going organic). That way you can tailor your gardening program. Typically, it's
best to test in the fall, and apply any organic nutrients before winter.
Even if you don't have time for testing, you'll want to make sure your soil has plenty of humus -the organic matter, not the similarly named Mediterranean spread. According to 1000 Gardening
Questions & Answers, you'll want to mix in compost, leaf and grass clippings and manure.
Manure should be composted, unless you aren't going to harvest or plant anything for two
months after application. Preferably, get your manure from local livestock that have been
organically and humanely raised -- and never use manure from animals that eat meat.
Chris Price/Istock
How to Make Good Compost
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All gardens benefit from compost -- and preferably you can make your own on site. Hey, it's
free! Compost feeds plants, helps conserve water, cuts down on weeds, and keeps food and yard
waste out of landfills (where it produces methane), instead turning garbage into "black gold."
Spread compost around plants, mix with potting soil, use to bolster struggling plants…it's hard to
use too much!
According to Country Living, the best compost forms from the right ratio of nitrogen- and
carbon-rich organic waste, mixed with soil, water and air. It might sound like complicated
chemistry, but don't worry too much if you don't have time to make perfect compost. Even a
minimally tended pile will still yield decent results.
1. To get started, measure out a space at least three feet square. Your compost heap can be a
simple pile or contained within a custom pen or bin (some can be rotated, to improve results).
2. Add alternating layers of carbon (or brown) material -- leaves and garden trimmings -- and
nitrogen (or green) material -- such as kitchen scraps and manure, with a thin layer of soil in
between.
3. Top off the pile with four to six inches of soil. Turn the pile as new layers are added and water
to keep (barely) moist, in order to foster microbe action. You should get good compost in as little
as two months (longer if it's cold).
4. A properly maintained compost pile shouldn't smell. But if it does add more dry carbon
material (leaves, straw, or sawdust) and turn it more frequently.
5. Even if you live in a city, you can do some composting under your counter with a tidy worm
kit, or partner with a community garden.
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Choose the Right Plants
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It really pays to select plants that will thrive in your specific micro-conditions. As a general
guide don't forget to check the USDA's Hardiness Zones (which have recently been updated by
the National Arbor Day Foundation due to climate change). Choose plants that will be well
adjusted to each spot, in terms of light, moisture, drainage and soil quality. Most gardens have
gradations in these variables. The happier your plants are, the more resistant they'll be to
attackers.
If you're buying seedlings, look for plants raised without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. A
great place to look is at your local farmers' market, which may also have native plants and
varieties well suited to your area. It's better to buy stocky seedlings with few, if any blooms yet,
and with roots that don't look overcrowded.
Many things are best grown from seed, including sunflowers, annual poppies, evening-scented
stock (Matthiola bicornis), coriander, dill, annual phlox (Phlox drummondii), larkspur, annual
lupine, morning glories, sweet peas, squash and cucumbers.
rganic works
Proper Watering
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The best time to water plants is usually in the morning. Why? Mornings tend to be cool and
without strong winds, so the amount of water lost to evaporation is reduced. If you water in the
evening plants stay damp over night, making them more likely to be damaged by fungal and
bacterial diseases.
Ideally, you want to water the roots, not the greenery, which is easily damaged. A drip or soak
system can work great, or just carefully water the bases of plants by hand.
Most experts recommend substantial, infrequent watering for established plants, typically a total
of about one inch of water per week (including rain). One or two applications a week encourages
deeper rooting, which promotes stronger plants. To avoid shocking tender greenery, try to use
water at or near air temperature (collected rainwater is best).
With population growth and climate change putting increasing pressure on our precious
freshwater supplies, it is becoming more important than ever to save water.
Scott Dunlap/ Istock
Weeding
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Ah weeding. Even if you live in the Biosphere, you'll still get weeds, since their tiny seeds are
pervasive. Pulling weeds by hand may sound like hard work -- and it can be -- but it also can be
good exercise, and gets you outside in the fresh air. You don't want to pour toxic chemicals on
your food, or where your children and pets play, right?
Reduce the number of weeds you have to contend with by applying mulch (which also helps
protect the soil). According to Leslie Land, organic mulch that will rot down into the soil is
almost always preferable to landscape fabric, although burlap and other materials can work in a
pinch. Straw is cheap but doesn't last long. Wood chips are nice, but can get pricey. Many people
opt to use lawn clippings, although it should be noted that because they are high in nitrogen,
clippings should only be used on plants that need a lot of the nutrient, such as squash and lettuce.
If you get tired of weeding or aren't able to bend over, consider hiring some neighborhood kids.
It's a good way to get to know others in your community. Remember too that raised beds can be
made wheelchair accessible, and others can take advantage of wheeled stools, arthritis-friendly
gardening tools and other equipment.
Rich Legg/Istock
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Protect Plants Without Toxic Pesticides
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If your plants are being assaulted by pests, it may be a sign of other problems, so the first thing
you should do is make sure they are getting enough light, nutrients and moisture. Also remember
that a diverse garden helps prevent pests, by limiting the amount of one type of plant offered up
to enemies, and boosting biodiversity.
It's a good thing to foster natural predators in your garden, such as frogs, toads, lizards, birds,
and even bats. Beneficial insects can be your best friends, especially lady bugs (many nurseries
even sell cans of them, though it's true there's a high probability they won't stick around). Leave
a small source of water out to attract friendly predators. It's also a good idea to grow plants with
small blossoms, such as sweet alyssum and dill, which attract predatory insects. Nets and row
covers can also work.
It may sound surprising, but homeowners use more pesticides on their lawns and gardens than
farmers do, acre for acre, according to EPA data. But there are organic alternatives that are much
safer for you and our environment. Find out what problem you have (an agricultural extension
service can help), then look for alternatives.
Organic weapons include Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring bacteria that disrupts the
digestion of caterpillars and other leaf-eaters. You can also use horticultural oils, insecticidal
soaps and garlic and/or hot pepper sprays.
Claude Robidoux/Istock
Harvesting
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Don't forget to harvest the fruits of your labor! Fresh organic produce also makes great gifts,
educating your friends, neighbors and coworkers. Generally, the more you harvest, the more
your plants will produce for you.
During peak harvest season, you'll likely find that it's best to check your garden every day. Got
herbs? If you use them fresh pick them right before you need them. But if you'll be drying and
storing them, it's best to wait until just before they flower, since they'll have the most flavor.
Gather all herbs except basil in mid morning, shortly after dew has dried. Harvest basil in the late
afternoon, since it will last longer after some time in the sun. It's best not to wash herbs before
you dry or use them, since that can leach flaor (extra incentive for growing organic!).
When harvesting leafy greens pick sporadically from the entire crop, a little from each plant. For
broccoli, wait until the central head is as large as it will get, before sending off buds for
flowering. Cut it off right above the leaf node, and you'll likely get better production from the
rest of the plant. In general, it's best to cut produce off with a sharp knife or scissors, versus
ripping with your fingers, which can cause more damage to plant tissue.
If you get too much bounty, remember you can also freeze, store some types of produce in a root
cellar, or take up canning. Enjoy!
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Cleanup
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If you have sick plants to remove, either during the season or at the end of the year, make sure
you pull up the entire organism. Don't forget to rake up underneath, since diseased leaves can
harbor problems for a long time. Put all infected material deep in the woods, in the ground at
least a foot deep, or on the bonfire.
Most healthy or expired plants can actually be left in place over winter. You'll provide some food
and habitat for birds and other wildlife, and plant cover can help protect your soil from eroding.
It's better to chop off annuals then yank them out, because that way you'll leave soil intact, and
help prevent weeds from gaining a foothold.
Bjorn Hotting/Istock
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