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Gardening – Why Go Organic?

Posted: June 4th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Gardening Articles | Tags: , , , , , | Comments Off

Organic gardening is simply growing fruits and vegetables without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Why go through the extra effort of gardening organically?

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1. Organic gardening means eliminating chemical fertilizers and pesticides that could potentially be harmful to your health and the environment. This is particularly beneficial when applied to growing vegetables. Research shows that even tiny amounts of poisons absorbed through the skin can cause such things as cancer, especially in children.

Children generally ingest many times more cancer-causing pesticides from foods than an adult. This can mean potentially more health problems later in a child’s life. Reducing children’s exposure to these chemicals is reason enough for us to adopt organic gardening practices.

Pesticide and herbicide companies tell us that the chemicals used are safe, if used as directed, but you should remember that pesticides and herbicides have only one purpose – to kill living things.

2. You can easily make compost from garden and kitchen waste. Though this is a bit more time-consuming than buying prepared chemical pesticides and fertilizers, it certainly helps to put garbage to good use and so saves the environment.

3. Less harm to the environment. By organic gardening, you will also be reducing the chemical runoff problem into our waterways and the negative impact it has on wildlife.

4. By the judicious use of mulch and netting, organic gardening also reduces the loss of topsoil and erosion.

5. By eliminating the need to buy costly chemical fertilizers and pesticides with organic gardening you can save money. Natures own methods for keeping things in check can also be implemented through the use of lady bugs and praying mantis to help in pest control. There are other solutions available that can be as simple as companion plantings. For example, planting marigolds helps to repel aphids from vegetables.

There are also organic solutions such as Neem oil which has been used for thousands of years in India for not only insect, mites, and fungus prevention, but also as a medicinal oil.

You can also use plant covers made out of netting that will not only keep birds and bugs off your vegetables, but will also help to control the temperature, allowing an earlier start in getting your plants in the ground and protect them from the excessive heat of summer.

6.The use of natural mulch, like pine needles or bark chips, not only helps to suppress weeds, but also helps to keep moisture in. Or you can purchase recycled organic mulch cloth that will decompose at the end of the growing season and help put nutrients back into the soil.

So, as you can see, the practice of organic gardening offers many benefits to the environment, your pocketbook, and your family’s health.

For more tips and supplies for organic gardening, check out http://www.onestoporganicgardening.com.


Gardening by the Organic Way

Posted: May 21st, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Gardening Articles | Tags: , , , , , , | Comments Off

Today, many people realize the importance of organic gardening. The organic gardener does not use any synthetic products, fertilizers and pesticides to grow plants. Instead, he uses certain natural substances to eliminate pests and grow healthy green house plants.

If you want to grow plants or some roses in your garden organically, you can seek the help of online resources to obtain useful organic gardening tips.

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It is imperative to choose proper plants that suit your area, so that you can create a healthy, problem free garden. The most important aspect in an organic garden is proper feeding of the soil. Plants get water, air and essential nutrients only from the soil. It is therefore crucial to feed the soil effectively. Clay soil is rich in nutrients and it can hold water better. Sandy soil is well drained. Sometimes, holding too much water can affect the growth of the plants. Hence, mixing clay and sandy soil in a proper proportion can help with a healthy growth of plants.

Using Organic Matter

Organic matter does wonders in your garden. It is in fact the natural food of the soil and plants. You cannot imagine organic home gardening without organic matter. Organic matter feeds the microorganisms and beneficial insects. In order to prepare organic matter, you just need to allow the fallen leaves to decay. They not only feed the soil, but also prevent erosion. Vegetable and fruit peels, straw, paper, grass pieces and garden water are also some of the good organic matter.

Animal manure is rich in soil nutrients, but it should be aged for at least six months. Fresh manure can burn the plants. It may also contain bacteria that cause diseases. You can prepare a compost heap and add fresh manure in it. Cow, chicken and sheep manure are very beneficial for growing healthy plants.

Helpful Organic Gardening Tips

• You can use organic pesticides to reduce the damages caused by insects.

• Many insects and animals are considered beneficial, as they prey on the pests. Lady bugs, lizards, frogs, birds and snakes can contribute to the balance in your garden.

• It is advisable choosing plants that can grow well in your locality. For instance, if you live in a place that receives plenty of sunshine, avoid choosing plant varieties that thrive on a moist environment.

• Build greenhouse and extend the growing season of your plants. If you want to grow plants that are not common in your locality, building a greenhouse is the best option.

• Experiment with tenacious plants after doing some research and prepare your winter garden.

Benefits Of Organic Gardening

Organically grown plants/trees yield vegetables and fruits that are rich in vitamins and nutrients. They reduce the chance of consuming harmful chemicals, as they do not use any growth hormones, fertilizers or toxic substances. Organic food tastes good and is great for the environment. You need not spend a lot in order to create an organic garden. In fact, you save on the amount you spend on chemical fertilizers. You can just compost kitchen scraps and prepare organic matter. If you are willing to put in a little effort in your home garden using these organic gardening tips, you can grow your own vegetables and fruits organically and lead a healthy life.

Dimitris Bessios would like to teach you the steps to living green and how to use green technology to benefit your health and the environment. http://www.thegreenlivingexpert.com/


Learn Organic Gardening

Posted: May 20th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Gardening Articles | Tags: , , , , , , | Comments Off

Increasing pollution has caused a rapid decline in health and an emergence of all kinds of diseases and disorders.  Add to it, the pesticide infested fruits, vegetables to and cereals that are regularly consumed by us, the situation becomes even worse!  Hence, it’s no wonder that people are resorting to organic gardening.  More and more people are growing organic gardens in their pots and patio.  they use organic fertilizer and reap all of the health benefits of a completely natural produce.  Though some people may think that organic gardening is the new fad in town or a new hippie trend, organic gardening is much more than that.  It’s beneficial to you, your family and your environment. 

Here are some benefits of organic gardening:

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     > Organic gardening is quite beneficial for your health.  You get natural, pesticide free produce which is absolutely devoid of all chemicals.  You don’t have to wash your vegetables for extended periods in water since you know that they are completely natural.

     > You don’t have to shop for the expensive “organic” foods in grocery stores or markets which may not even be organic in the first place.

     > You get fresh vegetables and/or herbs, straight from the garden instead of days and months old, refrigerated produce in the market.

     > You can save your own seeds from your plants and use them in the next season.  It may look expensive initially, but organic gardening is cheaper in the long run since you save money on vegetables and/or herbs.

Organic gardening on the patio is not that difficult.  All you need is some pots, plants and a little bit of love and patience!

To learn more about organic gardening and building a small patio garden, check out this link to learn organic gardening and this link related to organic gardening fertilizers.


The Benefits of Organic Gardening

Posted: May 18th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Gardening Articles | Tags: , , | Comments Off

Organic Gardening refers to the system in which plants are grown in an organic environment. According to the USDA regulations, those who are involved in the process of organic gardening are prohibited from using irradiation, sewage sludge or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in organic production. This type of food production would be certified as organic farming or gardening.

Accordingly, the important aspects of organic gardening will include the following:
Those who engage in organic gardening or farming can’t use synthetic or chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
There should be a systematic approach in organic gardening. This means that a system needs to be implemented. This system will describe the methodologies about sowing, production and reaping of plants.
Records must be also kept which will keep a track of the products till they are sold.
Buffer zones should be maintained so that there are no inadvertent contaminations from the gardens and the farms, which use the conventional method of farming or gardening.
Those involved in organic gardening understand the importance of crops, the soil, the pests and the insects as well as the interdependency of all these factors. Organic gardening helps to care and the nurture the very soil of the crops. Thus the benefits that we get are naturally grown flowers, trees and plants.

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Organic gardening can also be certified by state organizations and private organizations, which have been accredited by the USDA. The farms and gardens, which are looking to certify themselves, have to submit their organic systems on an annual basis.

Based upon these systems inspectors will come and inspect their establishments and verify with the systems that they have submitted. All facilities are included in the inspection and this includes pest control method, livestock, feedstock for livestock, soil management programs etc.

The organically grown products are minimally processed to retain their natural freshness and nutritious value. However irradiation, synthetic and genetically engineered foods and products can’t be used in organic farming or gardening.

The biggest advantage is that there are no chemicals and pesticides used. Hence there are no residues when we eat the fruits. There is nothing to wash off or fear like normal produce.

This means that we live a healthy life and we beget a healthy life for our children and the generations to come. As humans we want to lead a healthy life and this gives us a right to choose what foods we eat as well as how we get the foods.

Laura Fox makes it easy to learn organic gardening. To get started organic gardening and claim your free guide to organic gardening visit http://www.organicgardeningmagic.com now.


Organic Gardening

Posted: May 17th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Gardening Articles | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Organic gardening is gardening that uses no harmful chemicals. It is healthy and has become a popular trend among gardeners. Growing an organic garden is not as hard as it may seem, and the following tips should help you start and maintain an all natural, healthy flower or vegetable garden.

Three of the most important elements to growing a successful organic garden is mulching and pest control. Mulching helps hold water, reduces weeds and adds essential nutrients. You can either purchase organic mulch, or if the plants require acid, lay a thick bed of pine needles in the fall. Make sure you are not using mulch that has been artificially colored; although the coloring preserves the look of your mulch even after it gets old and dry, it is not organic and may contain chemicals that can contaminate your otherwise pristine mini-ecosystem.

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Pests are always a problem in any garden. To hold them at bay in an organic garden you can rotate a spray of soapy water followed by clean water on the infected stems, leaves and buds of the plants. Weeds can be treated with vinegar.

Compost is also important for an organic garden to added essential nutrients. It can be made from almost anything you have on hand including ground up leftovers, leaves and grass.

If you want to plant herbs for organic cooking, they make great landscape plants in the organic garden and don’t need a lot of attention. Mix in some annual flower plants for a creative, colorful blend.

Gardening provides detailed information on Gardening, Organic Gardening, Flower Gardening, Gardening Supplies and more. Gardening is affiliated with Garden Décor.


Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips

Posted: May 17th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Gardening Articles | Tags: , , | Comments Off

Organic gardening is one of the fast growing trends these days. With people being increasingly aware of the side effects of harmful chemicals, it’s no wonder individuals are opting to grow their own vegetables for consumption.

You can do the same too. You can start off with crops that are relatively easy to grow. With careful planning and preparation, you will be able to enjoy fresh vegetables straight from your own garden.

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Here are a couple of tips you can follow to ensure high quality yield in your very own organic garden:

Select a Suitable Area

The first thing to consider is the site where you’re planning to plant your vegetable garden. You should also take note of the size of your available space.

Make sure that the area you selected has ample exposure to sunlight. Check if there are no tall trees or other structure that could cast a shadow on the area, thus hindering the proper growth of your crop.

Another thing to keep in mind is the accessibility of water. Since you’ll be doing a lot of watering, it will be to your convenience that there’s water supply nearby. Make sure also that the soil in that particular space allows for proper drainage.

Select the Crops to Grow

There are several factors you need to consider in your selection of vegetables to include in your garden. First on the list is the kind of climate you will experience in your area. There are certain crops that are suitable for warmer climates while there are others that are suitable for cooler places. Of course, there are vegetables that are more tolerant when it comes to temperature.

Another thing to consider is the type of soil you have in your area. For example, almost any kind of plant can grow in silty soil as it’s considered to be the most fertile. For sand and clay however, you would need to add lots of compost and potting soil to make it suitable, or you can choose from the limited variety of plants that can grow well in those types of soil. Some herbs like juniper seem to grow well in sandy soil, while broccoli and cabbages could thrive in clay soil.

Preparation

In addition to those, other things you may have to do is to prepare the mulch or fertilizer. The kind of fertilizers used could be dependent on the needs of the specific crop that you wish to grow. Mulching and cultivating your garden plot are also needed to deter the growth of weeds.

Create an environment that’s beneficial to friendly insects and animals like ladybugs, birds, toads and bats. They will help in eradicating pests from plaguing your garden. And lastly, it will be to your advantage if you research the common pests and problems you could face for specific type of crops. That way, you can implement preventive measures or you can quickly apply some counter measure at the first sign of problems.

For a more in depth information and organic vegetable gardening tips, you can check out this resource here:

http://www.StartaGarden.info


Organic Gardening – Beginner’s Guide

Posted: May 14th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Gardening Articles | Tags: , , | Comments Off

Things are tough these days. The economy is in meltdown, the cost of living keeps getting higher and no matter how hard a person tries it’s just not quite possible to make all the ends meet. Far too often people are forced to make hard choices like paying bills or buying gas or purchasing groceries, but sadly not all three.

These are extreme examples and perhaps these choices aren’t hard for you. I do think about them though, at least now and then and am willing to bet that you also do, even if it’s only in a dark corner of your mind that never sees the light of day.

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I can however offer a partial solution, at least to the buying groceries dilemma. Instead of going to the grocery store and spending 0.00, try hunting, gathering and trading for your food. This is a very old solution and not overly feasible, but it is an option and becoming more popular, well at least the gathering part. You could also try growing your own fruits and vegetables, which is my personal favorite.

Growing your own food is a lot simpler then you might think, and I have found this wonderful e-book to help show you how. It’s called THE ORGANIC FOOD GARDENING BEGINNERS MANUAL and was written by Julie Villani, you can find a link on my website.

Our ancestors produced their own food this way for years, millennia actually, and never once worried about whether they had the money they needed to buy the food that sustained them. Gardening is still a good way to reclaim that freedom and can be done in almost any situation. A big sunny yard makes it easier, but isn’t necessary. All you really need is a sunny window where you can set a window box full of herbs.

You can actually grow a lot of vegetables in containers and this subset of gardening, called container gardening, is on of the best ways to start gardening in a small or limited space. Hence you can throw that excuse about not having a spot to grow your garden right out the window. THE ORGANIC FOOD GARDENING BEGINNERS MANUAL mentions this option and offers useful advice about how to start.

The e-book is full of other useful tips as well, not only for an organic gardening novice, but also the experienced gardener. Basic tips for where to set up your garden, good crops to start growing and techniques for dealing with pests organically are only a few of the topics covered.

I am already thinking about my spring garden and am looking forward to when the ground thaws and I can finally start planting. I am also thinking about starting some cold season crops like lettuce in containers right now, fresh winter greens would be a nice addition to dinner. You should consider doing the same thing.

THE ORGANIC FOOD GARDENING BEGINNERS MANUAL will be an excellent reference and is the perfect way to start your preparation, even now as winter is just settling in. It is the first of many steps on a path to a greener, healthier, happier and cheaper future. There is even the possibility of selling or trading some of you excess produce for cash and the other things you need.

http://www.eaglesoutpost.com/

Check it out for my recommended e-books.
Stick around for my personal writing or to pick the brains of a Horticulture graduate.


Turning to Organic Gardening

Posted: May 12th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Gardening Articles | Tags: , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Organic gardening is a chemical-free and earth-friendly method of gardening. Organic gardening and conventional gardening differ on how they control pests and nourish the soil. Conventional gardening uses chemical pesticides and chemical fertilizers while organic gardens use organic means of enriching the soil and organic weed killers and fertilizers.

Organic gardens follow natural practices that include:

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Organic Soil: Quality soil is the main component of creating a successful garden. By providing nourishing natural substances to the soil, you will be well on your way to growing healthy plants and vegetables. For an organic garden, it is essential to add natural additives such as organic compost, manure, chopped leaves, and mulches. Before adding natural compounds, you should do a soil test to determine whether the soil has any mineral deficiencies. To improve the quality of the soil, you can add a number of natural products that are rich in nutrients. Natural additives can include organic compost, fish emulsion, and blood meal. If you do not have the time to make your own natural soil feed, there are many natural products available for purchase. Such products that are rich in nutrients include seaweed meal, straw mulch, and worm casts. Making worm compost is a great way to compost organic waste

Organic Pest Control: Every garden will attract pests that will eat some of the plants and vegetables. Conventional gardens use pesticides to control pests. These pesticides contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment, humans, and animals. Attracting or buying bugs that will eat pests such as aphids will help reduce their numbers. Bugs that kill aphids include damsel bugs, lady bugs, and lacewings, and more. There are also organic pest control products on the market. Homemade tomato leaf and garlic sprays will also repel aphids.

Diversifying your garden will help reduce pests. Planting strong smelling herbs will repel plant eating bugs. Birds and insects that feed on aphids will also be attracted to a diverse garden and will reduce pests that harm your plants. To control weeds, there are number of organic weed control products on the market. Removing weeds daily is the best way to control weed infestation.

Crop Rotation: To maintain rich and healthy soil, it is recommended that you rotate your crops. Crop Rotation involves planting crops so that plants and vegetables are not grown in the same spot each year. This will ensure that the soil does not lose its nutrients. It will also reduce the risk of disease. The nutrients left behind from one set of plants can be used by another type of plant the next year. The best way to rotate your crops is to draw a map of the garden that outlines where each plant is located. You can then refer to it the following year to make sure you do not plant the same type of plant in the same location. Crop rotation and growing diverse plants will help deter pests. The benefit of organically enriching your soil, using organic pest control, and rotating your crops ensures a healthy garden. This method will also attract bees which will result in pollination of the plants.

The biggest difference between organic gardening and conventional gardening is that organic gardens do not use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Successful organic gardening can be achieved by understanding how to create organically productive soil that is rich and fertile, the type of crops to plant that includes the appropriate plants for the particular climate and season, and implementing organic maintenance practices.

Because of the illnesses and diseases such as cancer that are now being linked to chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides, more people are turning to organic gardening. Developing an organic garden may seem like a bit of hard work, but the reward of creating a healthy garden will be very gratifying.

Organic gardening guide features tips and solutions to common garden issues – Redenta’s is committed to a natural and sustainable approach to organic gardening and organic gardening


Getting Started With Organic Rose Gardening

Posted: May 11th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Gardening Articles | Tags: , , , | Comments Off

Organic rose gardening is something which many gardeners are beginning to explore. It’s hardly a new idea; until relatively recently, organic gardening was the only type of gardening there was. There’s no need for man-made pesticides and fertilizers to have an incredible rose garden.

When you choose to garden organically, you’ll not only have healthier roses, but you’ll also be able to prevent exposing yourself, your family and your pets as well as wild animals to potentially hazardous chemicals.

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After all, the natural world (including roses) have gotten along just fine without human intervention. It’s when we decide that we can improve on nature that problems start to crop up.

The way things usually work is this: the leaves of plants carry out the process of photosynthesis, where sunlight is turned into energy, while their roots absorb nutrients and water from the soil. The soil contains organisms which break down organic materials into their constituent components – the nutrients which roses and other plants rely upon.

The man-made pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers which non-organic gardeners use can kill the natural organisms present in the soil and upset the balance which roses depend on. When the bacteria which naturally exist in the soil in a symbiotic relationship with the plant are not present, fungi and other organisms can set up shop and cause damage to your roses. Roses can also become dependent on these artificial fertilizers, which starts an unhealthy, unnatural cycle.

It’s actually quite easy to grow roses organically – it’s also less expensive. You just don’t use the chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. You can use natural methods of fertilization and pest control; if the soil in your garden needs a little enriching, you can easily take care of this.

Using compost is the best way to enrich the soil in your garden. Start a compost pile in your garden with leaf mulch, grass clippings and other organic components (fruit peels, coffee grounds and the like). These materials will break down, producing a nutrient-rich compost.

Composting is easy to do. You can make a compost pile or compost in a container, though you will need to stir your compost occasionally to make sure that your compost is breaking down properly.

Organic rose gardening doesn’t use chemical pesticides, though there are natural pest control methods you can employ. Generally, the insects which can damage your plants can be kept under control through the action of their natural predators. When you use artificial pesticides, you not only kill the harmful insects but the beneficial ones as well.

Ladybugs are one of a gardener’s best friends, as are parasitic wasp species; these insects will happily eat other insects which can threaten your roses. Birds, lizards, frogs and snakes are also good to have in your garden. If you’re having pest problems which natural predators can’t keep under control, then there are organic, natural pesticides available which are non-toxic (except to harmful insects) which rose gardeners can use.

There are even pesticides which target a specific type of insect pest, leaving others unaffected.

There’s no need to use chemical fertilizers and pesticides to grow roses with large, beautiful, fragrant blooms. An organic rose garden does require an investment, though this is an investment of the gardener’s time and effort rather than money spent on chemicals – the roses you’ll grow using organic methods are a reward which is more than worth the undertaking.

James Tyree is a rose gardening enthusiast. For more great tips on organic rose gardening [http://www.care4roses.com/organic_rose_gardening.php], visit http://www.care4roses.com


Organic Gardening Tips For New Gardeners

Posted: May 10th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Gardening Articles | Tags: , , | Comments Off

5 Quick and Easy Organic Garden Tips for Beginner Gardeners

Organic gardening is becoming a lot more popular as people become more aware of the chemicals that are used in conventional food production. It can be a little trickier than chemical-based gardening, but it’s worth it in the end. If you’re new to growing plants this way, these tips could help you increase your chances of success.

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1. Start with the basics. Don’t be tempted to spend an enormous amount of money on your first supplies, materials, and tools. There’s no such thing as a magic bullet, and you’ll only end up with very expensive vegetables. Organic gardening can actually be done much less expensively than conventional gardening. Compost, manure, and other soil additives replace expensive fertilizer, and natural control methods keep pest levels down.

2. Grow your plants in the right spot. Take the time to plan which vegetables you’ll be growing and find out what kind of sunlight requirements they have. Take the time to find an area of your yard that will provide the amount of light and the soil qualities that these plants need. The right conditions can help you avoid many problems before they even begin.

3. Prepare the soil correctly. Check the pH, moistness, and type of soil you have available, then add amendments to make it what you need. You might need to add in compost, animal manures, grass clippings, ashes, or other substances to improve the condition of your soil. This might seem like a lot of work to start with, but it will help your garden grow, and will keep on working for you down the line. Setup of an organic garden is the hardest part.

4. Start your own compost pile. Compost can be purchased cheaply, but you don’t know what goes into it. Composting your own kitchen scraps and yard waste can help you dispose of these substances cheaply and in an ecologically friendly way, plus you’ll get great free fertilizer that you know is organic. You’ll be amazed at the difference that a good compost pile can make for your garden. Composting might seem like it’s a complicated process, but it really isn’t. Almost anyone can do it.

5. Don’t ignore your garden. Once you’ve tilled and planted your organic garden, it can be extremely tempting to ignore it. This isn’t a good idea in conventional gardens, either, but it can be disastrous if you’re growing organic. A little daily weeding and pest removal, a careful check over all plants, and some regular attention will do more to help your garden than any product you can buy. If you take the time to love your garden, you’ll be rewarded with wonderful results.

Whitney Segura is an expert in agriculture and specializes in greenhouses, hydroponics, and organic gardening. Whitney writes many home and garden articles which have been published all over the web.