Why Garden Organically?

Harvard Switches to Organic Lawn Care
Corn Gluten Meal as a Pre emergent
Glyphosate - the active ingredient in Roundup
Organic Gardening in the News
for the latest in pesticide/herbicide information

Save oil - synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and their packaging are generally made from petroleum.

Safer for people, pets, wildlife, and other living things
Pesticide responsible for bee colony collapse?

Healthier soil which means healthier plants - see more in the module below

Shown to be healthier - less contaminants and some studies show more nutrients. Of course if it tastes better you might just want to eat more fruits and vegetables.

Researchers: Organic foods have more nutrients,

French study says organic food is healthier,

Are Organic Foods Really Healthier For You?

Consuming Organic food reduces pesticide exposure

Pesticide residues,

Organic Diets Significantly Lower Children's Dietary Exposure to Organophosphorus Pesticides

Organically grown foods taste better - if you have eaten them yourself you know how much better organically grown food tastes. No chemical aftertaste.

Easier way to garden -beneficial insects and birds can help control your pests, fewer need for any pesticides. For one of the easiest ways to garden see Square Foot Gardening

Save money - fewer pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers required. I fertilize my lawn twice per year - not 4 to 6 times. I also use very few pesticides or fertilizers (organic only) in any of my landscape. This saves me time and money.

Protect water quality - synthetics leaching into water supplies cause contamination of our waters

Protect soil quality - Healthier soil equals healthier plants - see more about this in the module below

Less energy - less work for the gardener, less production, less oil

Reduce pesticides in your food - pesticides may contaminate your food through rain, wind, or other methods. This will be much less if you used organic methods in your own yard.

Protect those who work on farms, in manufacturing, and in stores - synthetics have created many health problems for those who work on non organic farms. I imagine the same could be said for those who work where these synthetics are created and sold.

Protect the environment - Non synthetic methods don't create the algae bloom problems in water, chemical contamination of our water supplies, or use as much petroleum.

Information About Specific Pesticides

Plants that are grown organically are healthier due to several factors.
Because you are feeding the soil with organic fertilizers and protecting soil microbes, earthworms, and other soil life your soil will be healthier and in turn your plants.
Plants grown organically are more resistant to pests and disease.
Organically grown plants are also more drought tolerant and cold tolerant.
Healthier plants are generally less attractive to pests and diseases.
If you do have a pest show up you are more likely to also have the predator of that pest around also. Beneficial insects and birds can do much to control the pests in your yard.