Harnett County Center
MYSTERIES OF ORGANIC GARDENING REVEALED!, 12/04/98
If someone asked you to define "organic gardening," how would you respond? Is it gardening without pesticides? Using manure instead of 10-10-10? Or is everyone with a compost pile an "organic gardener?"
Actually, these answers merely scratch the surface. Organic gardening is more a philosophy than as a set of techniques. But even if you're not planning to put away the sprayer, read on, because all gardeners have something to learn from this concept.
PHILOSOPHY UNVEILED
Rather than focusing on plant pests and how to eliminate them, organic gardeners focus on the plant itself. As I have said more times than I can count, a healthy plant is less likely to succumb to pests. And when a gardener, organic or otherwise, focuses on the plant, they inevitably begin to think about what the plant needs.
And what does a plant need? It needs air, sunlight (just the right amount), water, and nutrients. Unless you're gardening on the moon, there's no need to install air tanks in your garden. And providing enough sunlight is simply a matter of planting in the right spot.
So that leaves water and nutrients. And as any organic gardener will tell you, you can go a long way toward giving a plant the water and nutrients it needs by providing....
THE RIGHT SOIL ENVIRONMENT
Soil management is the cornerstone of organic gardening. Every gardener knows the qualities of a good soil. It is loose, easily tilled, well-drained but not droughty, and rich in nutrients. To state the obvious, plants grow better in good soil. And all of these properties can be improved by adding organic matter. So yes, it would be hard to find an organic gardener without a compost pile.
ENOUGH PHILSOPHY
Okay, enough of abstract concepts, let's get practical. I stated above that organic gardening is not just a set of techniques. There are, however, some techniques that most organic gardeners (and many other gardeners) use.
FERTILIZER
I've already mentioned the importance of organic matter. And this is why organic gardeners rely on organic fertilizers. An organic fertilizer is one that is made from natrual ingredients, such as manure, compost, bone meal, blood meal, etc. And although nitrogen is nitrogen, whether it comes from a horse or a bag of 10-10-10, the latter contains no organic matter.
PEST CONTROL
Yes, even organic gardeners have to deal with Japanese Beetles, corn ear worms, and potato beetles. And yes, they do use pesticides. After all, by definition a pesticide is something that kills pests. The difference is in the chemicals they choose, which are limited to natural products.
Examples of natural pesticides include Dipel and other Bt's, soaps and oils, and a few homemade concoctions. Keep in mind, however, that even organic pesticides can be toxic to humans. So it is important to always follow proper safety precautions.
But natural pesticides are not the only tool available. Many organic gardeners also make use of beneficial insects. Lady beetles, for example, do a fine job of controlling aphids. There are also several tiny wasp species that feed on other pest insects. Beneficial insects can be purchased and released in the garden, or you can simply plant a variety of flowers to try and attract them.
I'm certainly not suggesting that every gardener should become an organic one. But as you've read along, you've probably noted some things that you're already doing, and others that you would like to try. The important thing is to learn from each other so we all become better gardeners.
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