Organic Vegetable Garden

There is no limit to the size of an organic garden or to the variety of vegetables you grow in it.

What it becomes and what it produces depends only on your selection of a site, the choice of vegetables you and your family will enjoy, and the proper planning and maintenance to keep it lush and healthy.

Organic gardening is gardening the way it always was, before large manufacturing companies created chemicals and convinced us they were necessary for successful gardens.

Many of these chemical pesticides are systemic, meaning they don't just sit on top of the vegetable where they can be washed off, but are absorbed by the leaves and roots, infiltrating the whole vegetable.

Unfortunately, we have learned that most of these chemicals are toxic, many containing carcinogens. They are dangerous not only to us, but to the land and all living creatures.

Better Produce

An organic vegetable garden is important for many reasons. Although some vegetables are less susceptible to pest infestation and don't need chemical pesticide applications during growth, many farmers and large commercial growers still use them on their farms.

Even if they don't spray a particular vegetable, it can be in the air and the ground around all the vegetables they grow.

When you purchase vegetables in the grocery store or at a produce stand, you don't really know what you're getting.

By growing organic vegetables, you know what you're putting into your vegetables and your family.

Pesticides also kill beneficial insects in the garden, leaving your plants more susceptible to infestation and disease.

Herbicides also damage plants they were not intended to harm. Once the herbicide is in the soil and the air, there's no controlling where it goes.

By using only organic pest and weed controls, you create healthier plants and healthier soils.

Cost Effective

Although most organic produce is more expensive in the grocery store, with some varieties available only in specialty shops, that is not the case when growing organic vegetables.

By using organic methods, you are using basic gardening tools and readily available products to maintain your garden.

Expensive chemical sprays are replaced with common items that are readily accessible. Compost can be purchased inexpensively or you can make your own compost pile.

Getting Started with Organic Vegetable Gardening

For a truly organic garden, start with organic seeds or plants. Purchase them from a reputable organic garden center, through a catalog or on-line.

Follow planting directions for each variety you choose, planting them at the correct time and in the correct environment for their needs.

You want to practice only organic gardening methods when growing organic vegetables. That means starting with the best soil by adding organic compost to your garden beds. When possible, pick pests and weeds before they take over.

When needed, use only organic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides to keep toxic chemicals out of your vegetables and your family.

Organic vegetable gardening is a rewarding, earth-friendly process that benefits all life on the planet and provides healthy, delicious and nutritious food for us all.

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