The simplistic response is "gardening without making use of artificial fertilizers or toxic pesticides on plants." But growing plants and vegetables without chemicals is a lot more than what you do not do. When you garden organically, you consider your plants and flowers as an integral part of a complete system within nature that starts in the soil and includes water supply, people, wildlife, and even insects. An organic gardener tries to work in harmony with nature and to continually replenish resources the garden consumes.
You may say that developing soil is a major act of organic gardening. The easiest way to ensure soil success is to regularly add more organic material, making use of locally obtainable resources wherever possible. Everyone has access to the natural substances of organic material, because our grass lawns, gardens, and kitchens produce them everyday. Grass clippings, fallen leaves, vegetable waste from your home's kitchen, and other such rotting plant waste are the foundations of rich compost, a good organic matter for your soil. The microorganisms in soil (particularly bacteria and fungi) feed on organic matter, breaking it down into nourishing substances that can be taken up by plants' the roots of plants. By regularly blending organic matter into the soil, you work together in the natural cycle of birth, growth, decay, and regeneration.
The plant nutrients in artificial fertilizers, on the other hand, deliver no health benefits to the valuable bacteria in the soil. During heavy rains, artificial fertilizers wash away and into streams, rivers, and wetlands, where they result in uncontrolled algae growth that chokes out other aquatic life. Synthetic fertilizers influence vegetation in a very similar way that steroids behave on our bodies. Undoubtedly, they will often increase wonderful growth in the short term, but gradually they destroy plants' natural defenses and make them susceptible to pest infestations and diseases. Additionally, numerous synthetic fertilizers are petroleum based, thus they exact a toll on the natural environment even before they're used in your garden.
If you focus on building your soil, you'll grow and maintain healthy and balanced, strong plants, and you'll have plenty of insects in and around your organic garden. That's a a priceless thing, because the vast majority of insects in your garden are generally helpful or at least not destructive. The majority of gardeners become concerned and even react decisively whenever they see "bugs" on their plants or flowers. Before you consider using chemical pesticide sprays, keep in mind some of them have been associated with higher rates of cancer and other health problems amongst people and animals. They even cause harm to songbirds, fresh water fish, and other wildlife.
Does that mean organic gardeners should allow their plots to be decimated by insects? Certainly no. Don't forget the fundamental rule of organic gardening: growing plants and flowers in harmony with mother nature. Insects absolutely are a important element of that system. If you see insects feeding on your plants and flowers, take the opportunity to look at what they're really doing. Are they really destroying the plant or simply nibbling it a lttle bit? The majority of plants can grow out of insignificant destruction. Moreover, insects usually feed on stressed-out plants and flowers. Do you have enough strong plants to give up the sickly ones? Are you able to restore sickly plants and flowers to robust health so they can resist insect attack?
About the Author: Ugur Cem Yilmaz is an expert in Toshiba Satellite laptop products. You can read more about his work at notebook & netbook computer reviews and tips.
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