The Principles Of Organic Gardening
More farmers are switching towards organic gardening because it is much safer for the market to consume. In fact, those who would like to create their own garden at home can do the same thing by following the same principles.
First, organic gardening does not use any fertilizers, nutrients or pesticides to make good quality crops. You could say that this technique simply lets nature takes it course because you rely only on natural materials and rain water instead of tap water.
When we refer to natural materials, one way is to start a compost heap by using vegetables and other waste food. This can even be missed with grass that has been cut by the lawnmower and then mixed together and spread throughout the garden to help your plants grow.
Another is the use of manure which can easily be purchased from the store. If you don’t like getting your hands dirty, let someone else do it as some people use chickens to freely roam around the garden. In fact, it doesn’t take that much to keep your feathered friends full because you can use meat products and dead animals that are left for a couple of weeks in a bin to produce maggots that you can use to feed them.
Believe it or not, earthworms are also helpful in cultivating the soil so your vegetables or fruits may grow. This is because this creature digs deep into the ground and aerates the soil bringing various minerals to the surface which also provides better drainage. It also leaves casting behind that experts say is five times as rich in nitrogen phosphorous and potassium.
In any garden, the one thing you have to deal with is unwanted pests. This is the reason that pesticides were developed but because they are harmful to humans, organic gardening has to be done with the help of some of nature’s friends.
A good example is a toad because they are known to eat more than 10,000 insects in three month’s time. These include armyworms, crickets, gypsy moth caterpillars, slugs and squash bugs. You could also use birds like the house wren that loves to feed on caterpillars and spiders.
The best part about having toads or birds around is that you don’t have to buy them. You just have to create the perfect environment to welcome them into your backyard.
In fact some garden insects which you think are bad are actually working for you. Take for instance the ladybug or the praying mantis. These creatures are protective of their territory and will devour anything that comes in their path.
Some plants can also be used to control the pest population. Planting some rosemary, sage or thyme has been known to repel butterflies while marigolds are an effective deterrent against nematodes.
But the most effective means of growing organic crops all year round is through crop rotation. This means you change what you are growing every few months.
By following such principles, you will realize that most of the leftover after each meal and other garbage in your home does not go to waste. This is recycled and converted into energy that you can use to fuel your garden. It is also cheap and is your way of helping the environment.
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