Understanding Your Own Organic Garden

The ways that people use — and misuse — soil, water, and air affect the lives
and habitats of plants, insects, birds, fish, and animals, as well as humans.
Organic gardening is all about preventing and treating problems in the least
obtrusive, most nontoxic ways. Dedicated organic gardeners adopt methods
that use cultural and natural biological processes to do the following:


✓ Improve soil health and fertility: Organic gardeners nurture the soil
ecosystem by adding organic matter, such as compost, and avoiding
pesticides that can harm soil life. In turn, soil organisms consume and
break down the organic matter, making the nutrients it contains available
to plants.

✓ Decrease erosion: Exposed soil is vulnerable to erosion by rain and
wind. By covering soil with mulch, cover crops, or other protective
materials, organic gardeners preserve the integrity of this precious
resource.
✓ Reduce pests and diseases: Organic gardeners minimize pest problems
and reduce the need for pesticides by relying on cultural techniques,
such as proper pruning, removing unhealthy plant material, and using
row covers.
✓ Encourage plant and animal diversity: Through diverse plantings and
judicious use of pesticides — even organic ones — organic gardeners
promote healthy ecosystems that invite beneficial organisms, including
pollinators and predators of garden pests, to take up residence.


Organic gardeners take their cues from nature. Instead of relying on the spray
schedules promoted by pesticide manufacturers, organic gardeners observe
what’s going on in their gardens and intervene to prevent pest problems. When
you see white butterflies fluttering around your garden, for example, you know
it’s time to protect your cabbages, broccoli, and cauliflower from cabbage
worm. Instead of sprinkling on a pesticide after the caterpillars hatch, you can
cover the plants with a special fabric to prevent the butterflies from laying
eggs in the first place.


Organic growers view their gardens as living ecosystems and work with
nature to produce beautiful landscapes and healthy foods. No matter what
plants you’re growing — vegetables, fruits, herbs, trees, flowers, grasses —
the same basic techniques apply.