5 Reasons Why Organic Food Is Better

Photo by misscharo

East Wise, Eat Organic

Pesticides, chemical and hormone free, organic products also contain more health giving vitamins and minerals while encouraging a natural environment. As more and more shoppers discover the health and environmental benefits of organically grown foods.

5 Reason Why Organic Food Is Better

1. Organic farming is better for wildlife. Wildlife is sustantially richer and more varied on organic than on conventional farms.

2. Organic farming is better for the soil. Organic fields have deeper vegetation, and organic soils help plants absorb nutrients.

3. Organic food is better for animal reproduction. Animals fed on organic food have higher rate of egg production.

4. Organic food contains more nutrients. Organic crops had higher nutrient levels. Organic foods showed increased quantity of vitamins A, C, E and the B group, elements and minerals.

5. Organic food is safer. Organic food supports a biologically diverse, healthy environment and limits toxic and long-lasting chemicals in our environment.

A Bug's Life

Organic farming follows a procedure of ‘integrated pest management’ whereby the natural ecosystem is carefully maintained and allowed to flourish. At organic farms, insects such as ladybirds and black beetles are introduced as means of controlling parasites.

However, bugs alone don’t prevent crops being destroyed and natural, plant-based pesticides are also used. Examples include rotenone, which is derived from legumes and hot pepper wax, made from cayenne pepper, which is adept at repelling numerous pess while also deterring birds, rabbits and squirrels without causing any harm.

Organic farms have also enlisted the help of science by developing natural oil pesticides. Emulsified vegetable oils such as soybean and canola oil are proven to be effective deterrents against pests.

The organic expert said that “Like most organic farms we used bugs and plant based pesticides, but it’s most important to ensure the soil is fertile and well-balanced by not over farming it. I liken organic farming to merit making, in that we produce good food for consumers while giving back to the environment.”

Tips to Use Less Water in your Thriving Organic Food Garden

Author: Julie Williams

Water is arguably our most precious resource. All living things need water to survive. But we don’t just want our productive organic food gardens to survive, we want them to thrive! And a growing plant uses a lot more water than one that is just surviving. Every part of the plant growing process uses water.

When plants start to become dehydrated they stop photosynthesising, close their stomata, stop taking in nutrients and stop growing. It can take a few days for some plants to recover even if there has been no tissue damage. So it is vitally important not to let your plants become dehydrated (just like yourself).

Not enough water can kill or stunt your plants. Sometimes mild water stress can be a good thing, as it encourages plants to send their roots down deeper into the soil, making them more drought tolerant. The aim is to use as little water as possible without causing stress.

Ways to use less water
1. Create soils that are made up of humus and organic matter. These soils can hold lots of water and plants can easily draw it up. It has great water-holding capacity as well as having a high nutrient content.

2. Mulch the soil surface. This reduces evaporation, keeping the underlying soil moist for longer. Any mulch is better than no mulch, even if it’s underfelt (the older kinds are safer) or newspaper. This also prevents soil erosion.

3. Use drip irrigation – preferably under the mulch or soil surface. There are purpose made recycled hoses available now that are perfect for the job. You can save up to 90% by using drip irrigation rather than a sprinkler.

4. Only water when it is needed and as much as is needed. If you’re not sure, try the finger test. Yes – poke your finger into the soil to see if it is moist or dry. Make sure the water penetrates as deep as the roots, but it’s a waste to water any deeper than that.

5. If you live where summers are really hot, plant crops under partial shade. It could be shade from a pergola or tall plants such as sweet corn.

These are simple methods to reduce your water consumption. You could also consider collecting your own water. If we all had rain-water tanks attached to our houses it would not only give us clean, free water, but would reduce the amount of water that ends up in our storm water drains. It is also much better for food gardens as mains water is often high in salts, chlorine and fluoride. Re-use of “grey” water is also another way to reduce how much water we consume. It can be used on lawns and other plants in the garden that are not for food production.

About Author:
Julie is an avid organic gardener and recycler, living on a small country property in South Australia. Her mission is to encourage as many people as possible to garden organically. Please visit her website for great info Beginners Organic Gardening or Companion Planting Guide www.1stoporganicgardening.com

A Beginners Guide To Healthy Organic Gardening

My first attempt at Organic Gardening

Photo by courtneysue75

These tips are just a few of the things about your organic gardening soil which are important. It makes common sense that your body will benefit from less toxic weed killers and pesticides, and your soil and garden insects will help improve the entire environment around you.

Organic gardening is not as difficult as many beginning gardeners believe it is. Quite simply it means you are going to plant your garden without using synthetic fertilizers, for making the plants grow and chemical pesticides to control the bugs. It really falls back to the farming principles used centuries ago before all the toxic chemicals started to be spread and spayed on all our plants and the ground.

The best way to make sure you get the biggest returns from your labor, regardless if its going to be flowers, herbs, veggies or a mish mash of several plants it's best to have a detailed plan. And the best time to formulate your plan is in the fall or autumn, right after the fall growing season ends. This way you will have enough time to prepare the ground before the spring planting season begins.

Now is the time for you to actually determine what your selected ground is going to need, in the way of the proper nutrition to help your vegetation grow. Your plants will do well if they can receive about six hours of sunlight per day. In almost all cases positioning of your planting area in the south-east part of your ground will give more than adequate amounts of sunshine.

Once the proper location has been determined the next step is preparing the ground where you will be planting. To make the weed and grass removal successful you should perform the initial removal, then go back again a couple of weeks later and remove the weeds and grass which will have grown in the meantime. Turning the soil over two or three times with a rest of a couple of weeks in between helps to make sure you have weeded the roots out as well from the soil. Then mix in organic manure from chickens, cows or horses. Then laying a thick layer of wood chip or shredded newspaper on top will help to mulch the soil from drying out too much in summer, and protect the soil in winter.

You can also create an on-going compost cycle in your garden plot by simply digging in your fresh kitchen plant waste in spots that you rotate around the patch. This is a much simpler way to feed the soil than the compost bin, if you are unable to get that delicate balance right. Buying some worms for your soil is also a good idea if you don?t see them as you dig your soil. They are the best way to break down foods, aerate and fertilize the soil all year around.

Most people believe that chemical insecticides are essential to keep a garden under control. People think that without using chemical based pesticides, you just can?t control bug infestations. However, one of the best all natural ways to control the pest is to use their mortal enemy, birds.

It is very simple to attract birds to your garden every year, especially if you provide them with sheltered nesting areas. Not only do you furnish a nesting area for them but make water fully accessible to them. You can put something as simple as an attractive, large, water container or bird bath. Once the birds have been drawn to your garden and realize they can feast on your bug infestation your problem will be solved. And if you also provide some birdseed for the colder months the birds will know to always come back to your garden each season.

Also make sure you always plant plenty of flowering bushes that attract the bees and ladybird beetles. Learn the insects that help to pollinate your crops and that kill the destructive bugs. It is all about just helping Mother Nature to do what she does naturally.

It also makes sense to simply plant a bit more than you know you will need for your personal use. One special reason I will cover more later in this article. But the main reason is to make allowances for the fact that you will lose a percentage of your crop to insects and birds, so why not simply plan for that loss in the initial planning anyway. You should after all, help to feed the insects and birds that will help you fight off the rest of your predators.

It also just makes common sense that with an organic garden you will be healthier as you are not breathing in toxic sprays you use, or absorbing chemicals on your skin while you work in the garden. You will not need to spend so much time in your garden wearing breathing mask, eye goggles and gloves!

An hour a day of working in your garden will also improve your health and help in weight loss (burning calories), improve your blood pressure levels, strengthen the heart and lungs, build muscle, sharpen the mind. You will relieve stress and sleep much better.

You will receive such a sense of well being when you have a fruitful harvest, you just can?t beat it. Your family, friends, co-workers will also be grateful for any of your crop that you share. You will know you have done your part to help ? Mother Nature? return to her natural state and touched all the other human beings by doing so.

What other ways can you share the benefit of growing an organic garden?

Did you know that there are even bigger benefits in organic gardening besides having a more beautiful garden or eating healthier veggies and fruits? Actually there are more special benefits than most people and organic gardeners ever think about.

You can help improve the lives of people in your local community or around the world. It is true. Did you know you can feed children around the world with your organic garden? It's really quite simple and only takes a little more planning and work on your part.

When you begin to plan your own personal natural garden you simply plan to layout a larger garden and plan for a bigger crop to harvest than you would need for your personal use. It doesn't make any difference if it's for flowers, veggies, fruits or bushes to beautify your yard. That is right! Just make it BIGGER. Then when it is time to harvest your crops, you will have more flowers, plants and veggies than you can possibly use by yourself.

Then, instead of carting buckets of spare fruit & veges to your workplace to give away, instead take the bounty to the local Farmers Market or the Flea Market and sell it. You should not have any problem at all selling ORGANIC produce, whether it is fruit, vegetables, flowers, or potted plants you strike from cuttings. The fact that they are organic will be a huge advantage, and means you can ask for premium prices and you may end up with a pocket full of cash.

You should find that most shoppers are generous, especially if you put up a big sign telling the shoppers that 100% of all profits will be donated to XYZ Charity.

Then take the cash from your market sales that day and donate it to your favorite "Feed The Children" charity. When you do this a starving child will benefit from your garden, long after you harvested your crops for your personal use.

And this is only a few of the multiple benefits of organic gardening, as you will discover for yourself over the years ahead.

If you are a real garden enthusiast, or just starting out to learn all there is about gardening, you will want to check out all the valuable information and gardening tips that Rajul Kaushik has put online for you for free. You can see at http://www.squidoo.com/gardening-resources as well as his blog at http://www.gardeningforgoodhealth.com/

Growing Organic Vegetables - Useful Tips

Author: Liz Canham

The Organic Garden

Photo by Organic Rose0366

Are you fed up with vegetables grown out of season, from who knows where which may look bright and shiny but which taste of absolutely nothing? Are you frightened as to what all those pesticides and other chemicals are doing to your family's health?
Well the answer is simple; grow your own organic vegetables and fruit. You will need to be prepared to devote quite some time and effort but the end result will be well worth it. Just think of those wholesome, tasty fruits and vegetables which you'll be able to put on your table at all times of the year.

What is organic gardening and why should you go to all that effort?
It is the growing of produce, flowers, shrubs and so on without the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers which, organic gardeners believe, will result in flavorful, healthy and nutritionally beneficial food. This is because the soil is fertilized naturally and insects are kept away using natural materials too so there's no risk of ingesting or inhaling toxic chemicals. An additional benefit is the fresh air and exercise which you get digging and maintaining your own vegetable plot.

Possibly, although you're keen on this idea of growing your own organic food, you don't know where to start, so here are a few tips.

Firstly, make a plan. You need to decide where your veg garden will be, how big and what you're going to grow. Remember if you want food for all seasons, you'll need much more space than if you just want a few salad leaves for summer.

Now measure and dig out the area that you want to grow vegetables in, to a depth of about twenty five centimeters, turning it well. Dig in compost or horse, cow or pig manure for bulk and some organic fertilizer and leave it to work into the soil for around three or four weeks.
By this time, you're ready to plant your seedlings which you will have grown from seed in organic compost and you'll need to water them. There are two schools of thought regarding the watering of seedlings. One is that a weekly soaking is more beneficial because it strengthens the roots as they reach down for water; another is that when seedlings are very small, they should be well watered daily or they are at risk of becoming too dry. You could try giving them a good soaking preferably early in the morning or late in the evening, inspect them daily and if they look in danger of wilting, water again.

On your daily inspection tour, keep an eye out for aphids and other damaging insects. Prevention is better than cure so ensure that crops are free of disease before you plant them and keep the garden free of weeds and other debris. If you do find evidence of infestation, either pick off insects by hand or spray them with a mixture of washing up liquid and water or commercial organic insecticide soaps.

Weed prevention is also important or the weeds will take all the goodness from your soil. Hoe between your rows of plants every few days or when you see weeds appearing. Applying a mulch around your plants or even laying black plastic or other material will help to keep the weeds at bay and will also help to retain moisture.
Finally, pick your produce and enjoy the fruits of your labors; the flavor and goodness will make all that effort worth while.

About the Author
Liz Canham Liz is a keen gardener who has exchanged the relative ease of gardening in Southern England for the trials of gardening on the Costa Blanca in Spain, where her garden is at a 45% angle on the side of a mountain. Gardening For All
Published At: www.Isnare.com