Summary
Organic gardening is not just a method but a lifestyle choice that aligns with sustainability and coexists in harmony with nature. By growing plants without synthetic chemicals, you nurture healthier crops, support biodiversity, and create a more eco-friendly environment, all while growing plants that are better for your overall health, cause who wants all them chemicals (NOT cute!). This guide dives deep into what organic gardening really is and how you can get started. AND YES you can practice organic gardening in any size garden, even with container gardening.
Table of Content
- What is Organic Gardening?
- Why choose Organic Gardening?
- Getting started with Organic Gardening?
What is Organic Gardening?
Think of organic gardening as the yoga of the plant world. It’s all about bending and stretching in harmony with nature (minus the awkward poses LOL). Instead of waging chemical warfare on your soil, you’re building a peaceful, fertile environment where plants and critters thrive together. When we talk about organic gardening it’s referring to the practice of keeping all the bad chemicals (bad vibes) out and instead trying to mimic what nature does best. We naturally try to invite all the critters that you would normally see out in nature to do the hard stuff for us, instead of relying on the man-made stuff. It’s like hosting a block party for worms, bees, and butterflies—and they’re bringing the good vibes, while we are leaving out all the bad vibes.. So follow along as we put a NO BAD VIBES sign on our gardens by creating an environment that naturally invites all the GOOD VIBES in.
Why Go Organic?
- Healthier Produce:
- Your veggies won’t be wearing a coat of chemicals. Who wants pesticide soup with their salad, anyway? Most non-organic fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides have very harmful chemicals not just for the environment but for our bodies as well. Organophosphates are common chemicals used in non-organic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. They are highly toxic and can affect the nervous system of humans and animals.
- Bonus: Organic produce can pack more nutrients, so you’re basically growing your own superfood.
- Environmental Benefits:
- Organic practices are the eco-friendly heroes the planet needs. You’ll save soil, water, and bees—and the bees will love you for it. Most non-organic fertilizers and pesticides create run-offs that are highly harmful to our aquatic systems and marine life.
- Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is a very common pesticide that can accumulate and last in the environment for up to 15 years. It accumulates on animals’ fatty tissues, is highly toxic to fish, and can affect the reproductive functions of some animals.
- Mindfulness in Practice:
- Gardening organically is a lesson in patience (and maybe a little zen). No instant gratification here, but the journey is worth it. Because we work with natural pesticides, often relying on friendly insects, it can be a dance of harmony and patience as your garden will not be 100% pest-free.
Advanced Organic Techniques
Composting is the process of turning food scraps and organic matter into rich fertilizers that can help you feed your plants and enrich your soil. Composting is essentially the process of decomposing except it is sped up by using things such as worms or nematodes. Farmers often refer to the compost of black gold.
Ready to turn kitchen scraps into black gold? Yes, please!
Here’s the lowdown:
- Where to Compost:
- In a bucket: Honestly, any bucket with a lid will work, there are forms of composting where you can even stack 3 buckets on top of each other to create a cycle of creating not only compost but also compost tea.
- What to Compost:
- Greens: Veggie scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings. DO NOT compost onions or garlic if you are using worms to help break things down, as they are not the best foods for worms.
- Browns: Leaves, shredded paper, cardboard.
- Layering:
- Think lasagna: greens, browns, repeat. No cheese, though.
- Aeration:
- Turn the pile weekly to keep things “breathing” and decomposing like a champ.
Avoid a “soil fatigue” situation by switching it up:
- Don’t plant tomatoes in the same spot every year. Rotate with beans or something else that’ll play nice.
Companion Planting
It’s the buddy system for plants:
- Examples:
- Carrots and onions: Onions scare off carrot flies.
- Corn and beans: Beans feed corn nitrogen; corn gives beans something to climb.
Harvesting and Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor
- When to Harvest:
- Wait until tomatoes are red, peppers are firm, and greens are leafy perfection.
- No rushing; let them shine.
- Preserve the Harvest:
- Freeze herbs, canned tomatoes, or dry fruits. You’ll thank yourself come winter.
Mindfulness Tip:
Gurlll let’s remember that harvesting isn’t just a chore. It’s a moment to savor. Feel the soil, smell the herbs, and taste the fruits of your labor. Literally. Take this moment to forget about all your stress and JUST BE!
Organic gardening is like a love letter to nature and yourself. It’s a slow dance of learning, experimenting, and growing—not just plants but a sense of connection. Whether you’re harvesting a bushel of tomatoes or just one perfect pepper, it’s all worth it.
Check out the Mindfulness section here, for more tips.
