Start Your Own Organic Garden
Written on August 10, 2009 – 2:35 pm | by admin
Like charity, “going-green” begins at home. One way to lessen a household’s environmental impact is to produce sustainable food by organic gardening. And organic gardening isn’t just good for the environment; it saves money and provides healthier food for those who do it.
Purchase organic garden soil from a garden center, or mix your own using compost, humus, sand, and topsoil to form a garden bed at least six inches deep. This gives seedlings a good start and provides an easier transition for larger plants that are transplanted to your garden.
Use fertilizers which meet organic criteria. Worm castings and organic compost are available at garden centers. Or create your own compost bin by lining a large container with a leak-proof liner and disposing your organic waste products, such as grass clippings, fruit and vegetable peels, and other food waste. Using a shovel, turn the mixture periodically to allow air circulation. Coffee grounds also make an excellent fertilizer and can be added directly to soil around the plants.
To control pests using organic methods, make use of organic pesticides like neem oil and diatomaceous earth. Certain plants, such as marigolds, can be used to deter pests. And encouraging naturally beneficial insects in your garden, like ladybugs, will help keep damaging insect numbers under control.