Organic Vegetable Gardening 101

Organic Vegetable Gardening 101

By Josef Mack

Organic vegetable gardening is basically a different way to grow vegetables. It is by no means rocket science and as a matter of fact it is basically the way things were done for hundreds of years before better living through chemistry came into our lives. So in order to better understand how things were done before we need a better understanding of what organic gardening is and isn't.

Organic vegetable gardening is a farming method where no chemicals or synthetic products are used in the growing of vegetables. Simply put you work with nature and use all natural products in growing your vegetables. So there are some things we need to learn or re-learn. For example, by picking the appropriate plants to grow we will have a much better chance of actually reaping a harvest. We need to look at the big picture, for example: what kind of soil are we working with, what are the sunlight conditions, how is the weather - very wet, dry, or in between. By taking all this into account we can work with nature to get the best crop possible.

So while this may be more work, it will definitely pay off in the long run. We will be helping the planet by not using more chemicals, and we will be growing organic vegetables which will be healthier for all consuming them. So it comes out as a win-win for all concerned, (except for the chemical producers).

So let's get started, and the best place to do that is at the beginning. Before we even look at putting seeds in the ground we need to work with our soil. We need to add compost to our soil. Our compost can come from a variety of places, we could purchase it, or we could be working ahead of the planting season and make our own compost bin. Composting is relatively easy to do, (I'll share some tips in another article). Composting is also an excellent way to help out the planet, by our not throwing away our table scraps, or using our dried leaves, grass clippings and so on we can use those materials to help enrich our soil.

We need it to be rich in nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. These ingredients are essential to having top quality earth to grow our vegetables. As we work the land we should consider having it's ph level checked, we want to make sure that it is at a good level, not too high, or too low.

Now that the soil has been prepared it is time to plant the seeds. (This of course assumes you have taken the time to determine the appropriate items to plant in your particular garden). One of the things to keep in mind is the spacing between seeds. They should not be too close to ensure the roots get appropriate water. At the same time you should consider what you can plant in between the primary crops in order to keep the weed population under control.

Along with doing what you can to keep weeds out you should also look at what can be done to minimize the inset and pest situation. For these it is good to have birds, and frogs around to help keep the insect population to a minimum. You say you don't have any birds or frogs, well how about putting up a couple of bird houses, or a small pond to encourage frogs to come around. Did I mention that organic often times requires a little creativity and ingenuity to get it going right.

As you continue your gardening you will also want to consider what it takes to keep the soil fertile. Here crop rotation comes into play. Farmers do this all the time, I live in the country now and have noticed over the past few years that a particular field has corn one year, soy beans the next, and another product the third year, or back to corn. So it is a good idea to keep this in mind before you start so you can keep it going year after year.

One of the biggest benefits from having a garden is the ability to go outside and pick a fresh vegetable right off the plant and eat it while it still has the majority of its nutrients. It tastes better, is healthier and also has the other advantages mentioned previously. So is it for everyone? Likely not, but if you haven't tried it you might want to try it out on a small scale and see if it works for you. Many people have found it to be both relaxing and rewarding.

Next, living Greener and Organic is not only good for the planet, it is also good for us. Would you like additional information on Organic Gardening? Or how would you like to learn more about living Greener? Then please visit Green Organic Blog. To learn more about the what is involved in Composting please visit Home Composting Tips.

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