Organic Gardening

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Organic Gardening Can Be So Rewarding, And It Works!



Organic gardening is the exact same as regular gardening except that no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used.You still use the good rich earth as your medium for growth. You still use vegetable plants or seeds to grow from this soil. You still have to have sunshine and water and good temperatures. See...just the same.

Except there are no shortcuts, no quick fixes. No easy solutions to the pests or the weeds. This can make certain aspects difficult, such as controlling disease, insects, and weeds.

So is that bad? To be challenged to do it right, to do it best, to do it healthy?

Absolutely not!


Organic Gardening; Victory Garden
Organic Gardening; Victory Garden
by YesterdayCafe on Zazzle

Organic Gardening Starts with The Soil



Organic gardening starts with the soil. Gardeners must add organic matter to the soil regularly in order to keep the soil productive. In fact, compost is essential to the healthiness and well being of plants grown organically.

Compost can be made from leaves, dead flowers, vegetable scraps, fruit rinds, grass clippings, manure, and many other things. The ideal soil has a dark color, sweet smell, and is full of earthworms. Some soil may need more natural additives than regular compost can give, such as bonemeal, rock phosphates, or greensand. Which is all natural. A simple soil test will tell you the pH balance and which nutrients you will need to use.

Organic Apples Grocery
Organic Apples Grocery
by kapsattic on Zazzle

You Have To Make Sure Plants Are Not Too Wet Or Dry

One thing that makes even gardeners that are very serious about organic gardening reach for pesticides is insects on their plants.

The best way to defend plants against insects is to take preventative measures. One thing that can be done is to make sure plants are healthy and not too wet or dry because insects usually attack unhealthy plants and if healthy, they can often outgrow minor insect damage.

A variety of plant types is a good idea to keep pests of a particular plant type from taking out the entire garden. You can also check with your local garden center to find out combinations of planting that will discourage insects and pests.


Some Excellent Examples of Organic Gardening Products From Zazzle

Click on any Organic Produce Product to purchase.

  • Mixed Bell Pepper Poster Carrot and Beet Root Print Swiss Chard

Make Your Garden Enticing To Insect Predators

Perhaps the best way to defend against insects is to make your garden enticing to insect predators, such as ladybugs, birds, frogs, and lizards.

You can do this by keeping a water source nearby or by growing plants that attract insects who feed on nectar. Other ideas are sticky traps, barriers, and plant collars. There are some household items that prevent against insects too, like soaps, garlic, and hot pepper.

If You Need Any Help With Organic Gardening

You Can't Beat a Dummy Book

Organic Gardening For Dummies
Organic Gardening For Dummies

Amazon Price$13.59
Buy Now Button

So What About Organic Gardening For Dummies?

I love the whole series of "Dummy" books. They just get you right to the point. Teaches you so you can understand and most importantly replicate the information so you can accomplish your goals. This Book will teach you how to Garden Organically. The following is the product description straight from Amazon.com

Product Description

Organic Gardening For Dummies, 2nd Edition shows readers the way to ensure a healthy harvest from their environmentally friendly garden. It covers information on the newest and safest natural fertilizers and pest control methods, composting, cultivation without chemicals, and how to battle plant diseases. It also has information on updated equipment and resources. It helps readers plant organically year-round, using herbs, fruits, vegetables, lawn care, trees and shrubs, and flowers. The tips and techniques included in Organic Gardening For Dummies, 2nd Edition are intended to reduce a garden's impact on both the environment and the wallet.

Choose Disease Resistant Plants

To avoid plant disease in organic gardening, choose disease resistant plants and plant them in their prime conditions.

Many diseases will spread because of constant moisture and bad air circulation, so the site of your garden and the way it is watered can help ensure against diseases.

Organic Mulch Can Act As A Weed Barrier

Weeds can be an annoying and frustrating part of organic gardening. Organic mulch can act as a weed barrier, but for even better protection put a layer of newspaper, construction paper, or cardboard under the mulch.

Corn meal gluten will slow the growth of weeds if spread early in the season before planting, as does solarization.

There's also the old-fashioned art of hoeing and hand pulling that always works.

Your best bet in weed prevention is persistence. Mulch well and pull and hoe what you can; after a few seasons you can beat the weeds for good.

Organic Gardening May Take A little More Work But Will Be Worth It

Organic gardening is an excellent way to assure that your plants will be free and clear of all pesticides and, if taken care of properly, will be as healthy as possible.

Organic gardening may take a little more time and care than regular gardening, but after gardeners get the hang of it and figure out all the quirks of their garden, it is definitely worth the extra time.

How do you feel about Organic Gardening?

Go Organic. What is a weed...tshirt.
Go Organic. What is a weed...tshirt.
by secondstar on Zazzle

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HERE ARE MORE GREAT LENS ABOUT ORGANIC GARDENING

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Some Fun Gardening Essentials

Gardening Wear, Take a Break Mug and Cook What You've Grown Recipe

What People Are Saying About Organic Gardening


Monty Don in row with BBC over pledge he will 'promote non organic gardening'
'The only way to get rid of them is to look for them, hand pick them and then destroy them,' he said Photo: Tim Ireland/PA By Jasper Copping He is the country's most famous organic gardener. So it was perhaps unwise of the BBC to pledge that Monty Don ...
Professor devoted to organic gardening
Special Photo Augusta State University Biology Professor Donna Wear shows off a cabbage from her garden. By Deborah G. Steele Correspondent Mention the words ?organic gardening,? and Augusta State University biology professor Donna Wear gets excited.
Western Springs organic gardening consultant's work grows
By Jane Michaels jmichaels@pioneerlocal.com May 25, 2012 3:46PM Organic gardening consultant Amy Cox smells a leaf off a laurel tree, similar to a bay leaf, in the back yard of her home in Western Springs. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media Come hungry if ...
BPA In Your Garden? Maybe, If You Use These Gardening Products
You work hard to keep harmful pesticides and chemicals out of your organic garden. From preparing your garden with organic soil to choosing heirloom seeds to digging in organic fertilizer, your green thumb takes on more than one meaning: You're good at ...

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  • poddys Sep 22, 2011 @ 3:17 pm | delete
    We definitely believe in organic gardening, and only bought a compost bin this year, so come Spring I hope we will have some good compost to use. Our soil is very heavy in clay, so it could use a lot of compost to lighten it. Since we eat a lot of fresh veggies, our bin should have plenty of goodness composting right now. Very informative lens, blessed.
  • ohcaroline Aug 14, 2011 @ 7:17 am | delete
    I really enjoyed this lens. It should inspire everyone to go organic in their gardening.
  • sallemange May 30, 2011 @ 1:01 am | delete
    oops I meant featured on...
  • sallemange May 30, 2011 @ 1:01 am | delete
    This is my sort of lens. LR'd to Forest Gardening.
  • sukkran May 26, 2011 @ 8:19 am | delete
    an informative, resourceful, well designed lens. ~blessed~
  • sandyspider May 20, 2011 @ 12:41 am | delete
    We have been growing organic vegetables. The bugs love them. But it is nice to know they are free of pesticides. Wonderful gardening lens.
  • clouda9 May 6, 2011 @ 11:34 am | delete
    Lots of info and cool products for anyone interested in organic gardening. I cannot wait to see things bustin' loose from the ground in my garden :)
  • nightbear May 6, 2011 @ 2:21 pm | delete
    You Bet Correen! I just have a feeling it is going to be a great season. Thanks for coming by and seeing my "new" lens. :)
  • WhiteOak50 May 6, 2011 @ 6:30 am | delete
    I grow vegetables in containers, all organically. I have actually got some little tiny tomatoes coming in!!!!! I can not wait till they are grown, yummy!! Love this lens, very good suggestions and tips. Also another thing about pest control is companion planting. Marigolds are very simple to grow and you can place them by your plants and it is suppose to help with pest (those bad insects...) Happy Organic Growing!!
  • nightbear May 6, 2011 @ 2:16 pm | delete
    Oh what a great suggestion Eva, I knew about Marigolds as far as rabbits not liking them so they stay away from your garden. (not foolproof but it does help). Thanks for coming by.
  • LisaAuch May 6, 2011 @ 4:52 am | delete
    Fantastic lens, informative and educational Blessed
  • nightbear May 6, 2011 @ 2:19 pm | delete
    Thank you so much Lisa, I love that you came by and I am grateful for the blessing.
  • ChrisDay May 6, 2011 @ 2:16 am | delete
    Lensrolled to my 'The Joy of Organic Gardening' and 'Why I went Vegetarian' lenses.
  • nightbear May 6, 2011 @ 2:20 pm | delete
    Thank you So much Chris. I appreciate it.
  • linhah May 6, 2011 @ 2:09 am | delete
    Great lens & love the artwork.
  • nightbear May 6, 2011 @ 2:21 pm | delete
    thank you for stopping by. Glad you liked it.
  • VickiSims Apr 1, 2011 @ 3:17 pm | delete
    A very informative and beautiful lens. Blessed by a Squid Angel.
  • nightbear May 6, 2011 @ 2:18 pm | delete
    Oh Vicki, I missed this!! thank you for coming by and for the wonderful blessing. Thank you!!
  • Tipi Mar 13, 2011 @ 4:17 pm | delete
    Yup, organic gardening is like regular gardening, only like about 100 times better for us. This is so beautifully done that you made a guy loading a wheel barrow with weeds look like art.
  • nightbear May 6, 2011 @ 2:19 pm | delete
    You are so funny, thank you for the visit. I am glad you liked it.
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A bit more about nightbear, AKA, Susan Kaul

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by

nightbear

I love Gardening, and have always tried to make it Organic. It really isn't much more difficult to go Organic than regular gardening and it can't get... more »

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Organic Gardening 

Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Green Resource for Every Gardener

Amazon Price: $6.49 (as of 05/27/2012)Buy Now

Really how can you go wrong? Healthy gardening, eating and living, for you and your family. This book tells you how.