Organic Gardening - The Natural Way

Organic gardening is the practice of growing vegetables, flowers and other plants with the use of only natural materials and methods. No man made chemicals are used. Organic gardening is more that just the use of natural materials it has to do with understanding the balances in nature and applying those to our gardening and farming endeavors and work in harmony with nature. Organic gardening is growing in popularity.

Organic gardening includes:

a) Proper planning

b) Soil preparation

c) Fertilizing

d) Irrigation

e) Mulching

f) Pest and weed control

Organic gardening requires a solid plan. First of all, one must decide if the quantity of what we grow can be consumed and /or stored for future use. Also, a location must be picked. The location should be a well drained plot of land with water nearby. The plot should be close to home with plenty of sunlight.

The plot of land should be prepared a few weeks in advance since organic fertilizers and soil conditioners are slow in working. The soil must be tilled (broken up) and made ready to accept the fertilizer. Part of the preparation is testing the soil to determine what kinds of fertilizer must be applied. Testing is done using a soil probe to take samples of the soil. The samples should be sent to a professional testing lab for a determination of what the soil needs to make it fit to grow your crops.

Animal manures can be used as fertilizer. Cow horse or hog manure should be applied at 25 pounds per 100 square feet. Poultry and sheep manure should be applied at the ratio of 12 pounds per 100 square feet and rabbits and goat manure at 10-12 pounds per 100 square feet. These fertilizers can be broadcast over the area or put beside each row to plants. The fertilizer then must be worked into the soil.

Organic fertilizer such as composted plant materials may be used in place of animal fertilizer. Compost material should be applied at a ratio of 25 pounds per 100 square foot. More is better. Depending on the completeness of the material, that is, it has or has not all of the required minerals needed for the soil; other types of commercially available phosphates, lime and other micro-based nutrient compounds may be needed. These fertilizers should be applied as designated on the packages. All fertilizers should well worked into the soil.

After all fertilizers are worked into the soil, the plot should be leveled, raked, and made ready for planting.

Plants should be irrigated thoroughly once a week. Surface sprinkling is not enough. The soil surrounding the entire root ball should be watered. Drip or trickle irrigation can be used and will conserve water. Soil conditioners and fertilizers help to maintain moisture in the soil. Mulching works well also.

Mulch is any material, usually organic, that is placed around the plant on the surface of the soil. Common mulch materials include leaves, lawn clippings, sawdust and pine needles. Mulch provides several benefits. It conserves soil moisture and nutrients and reduces soil erosion and weed growth. It also moderates soil temperature and reduces fruit loss.

Weeds are controlled through the use of cultivation. The weeds should be removed when they are small. Hoeing cuts out the weeds and does not harm roots. A thick mulch which keeps out light will also control weed growth.

Control of pests in organic gardening can be very difficult during times when infestations are high. However, there are various methods open to organic gardeners.These methods include utilizing varieties of resistant plants, friendly insects, mulching, organic insecticides, insecticide soaps and insect traps.

Organic gardening uses natural materials and methods to perform the basic gardening functions: planning, plot selection, preparation including soil testing, fertilizing, irrigation, mulching, and pest and weed control.

Organic gardening offers the benefit of keeping harmful chemicals away from the food we eat. Doing away with the chemicals also makes our environment safer. Other benefits can be cost savings over contemporary gardening and the satisfaction achieved from doing our part in cleaning up our environment.

Copyright © Larry Gildea, All Rights Reserved.

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Learn How Organic Skin Care Can Keep Your Skin Looking Younger Naturally

Everyone wants to look and feel young so we continually buy products that will promise to do this and that. You can get a product for just about any need you may have. Some claim to be for dryness and some for oiliness, some will clean and some will condition. Organic skin care is all natural and will not only be safer for you to use, but for the environment as well. Many products that we use today contain things in them, or the way they were originally produced, that can actually be harmful to your health. Did you know that you were using things made with pesticides and fertilizers in them. This article will look into how organic skin care can actually help your skin look younger and do it with all natural products.

You may wonder what organic skin care really is. Organic simply means food that is grown without the use of fertilizers or pesticides or any other toxic material. There is no artificial coloring or flavoring added to it. Many people are buying organic food to eat for these reasons. It is all natural and safe to eat. There are many people today who are growing their own food and many others who are seeing the need to use chemical free products so they are producing organic products that are free from these things. Organic skin care is becoming very popular for those people who are aware of all the toxic things that are being added to other skin care products.

You can find organic skin care products for all your different skin care needs. They are made out of plants and herbs and fruits that are all grown naturally without the use of chemicals of any type. They work deep into the skin just like other products, but they don't use alcohol or other harsh drying products in them. They still make products for oily skin, but they don't contain harsh products that will dry the skin and make it look older and wrinkled. They use natural products that will accomplish the same thing, but organic skin care is safer and milder for the skin.

Organic skin care products can be found in just about any grocery store or health food store. The grocery stores have an organic food section which contains all kinds of products including vitamins and medicines that are all natural. You will find organic skin care items for your face, hands, feet, or products for bathing and hair care. Whatever your need, you will find it in the organic skin care section.