If you are looking for ways for you or your children to provide cheap presents for the extended family, or just like to give gifts that have a personal element to them, then here is a suggestion or two for you.
If you are looking to make a present for the gardener in the family or someone who has recently moved into their own home, someone in a flat or unit, or a person who can't manage a full sized yard, or a family member who loves to cook with fresh ingredients, etc. Then why not consider giving them something from your own garden? Here I am talking about plants that you have divided off from your own garden plants.
There are many plants growing in the average garden that can be divided, or that have naturally self layered themselves. Where you could go along and take a rooted section, pot them up and with a bit of dressing up of the planting container, you could produce a really nice gift for someone you care about.
These plants include many herbs as well as perennials or shrubs and even some trees which manage to send out self-layering branches or suckers from the root system. Some perennials or bulbs will increase their size or number of bulbs over time. Chance seedlings coming up in the wrong place for you, can easily also be used. All of these provide you with an opportunity to cheaply create a wonderful present for someone else.
First things first you will need to obtain a number of pots either plastic ones left over from additions to the garden population, or from someone you know, or you can go out and purchase a pot plastic/ceramic/terracotta etc., to suit your needs. If the person you are giving the plant to is not a real gardener, then you might consider getting a pot with a waterwell in the base to increase the plants' chances of surviving.
Next, you need to begin looking for your plant material, so take a careful look around your garden at the soil level. Check out which plants are showing multiple stalks growing out of the ground. Or those sprawling plants where a branch has leaned over on to the ground and taken root along the branch, maybe one where a branch has become buried under the mulch.
Or one where there is a sucker growing from the soil a short distance from the parent plant. Another possibility is seedlings growing in the garden a distance from the parent plant material. Maybe there is a clump of plants or a big patch of bulbs where you can do some dividing.
Many of these plants benefit from being divided up or being allowed some more growing room in the particular area where you have taken away some material.
Different parts of Australia will have a differing range of plant species, which lend themselves to this form of self-propagation. If you can't find any plants that are doing this in your own garden, why not look at a friends or neighbours garden. Or you could maybe join forces and give a joint present using plants from another family member's garden. Or another possibility is to buy a plant in a pot that has several plants already established in it.
Divide that up before you use half in your own garden, and still have half to repot and give away. Even if you are not confident about your gardening skills you can still pick up cheap plants at the local market, school/church fair, garage sale etc. Repot them into a bigger or nicer pot for a fairly cheap present.
Another possibility is to multiplant a few different plants into a long or large round tub. This will create an instant garden on the move. Some themes you might consider here is herbs, indoor foliage, bulbs, annuals, alpine/rock, cacti/succulent or even patio gardens mixing annuals and perennials.
It is best to moisten the ground around the plant that you are going to work on well before you do the dividing, as this allows you to remove the maximum amount of root mass during the dividing process.
The first step is to divide the clump or cut away the joining branch to make the separate plant available. Then using a spade, fork or gardening trowel, dig as far out from the potential plant as practicable, because this will give you the biggest root mass possible.
Go down as far you believe you need to, (this will depend on such circumstances as size of new plant, species of original plant material, type of soil, other plant or landscaping material around the area, etc.). As gently as you can dig out the new plant. Shake off any excess soil and refill the resulting hole in the ground if necessary.
Prune back the foliage of the new plant to roughly equal size of the root mass, trying to protect some of the new foliage growth. Repot as soon as practicable, so that the roots do not dry out and die.
Another thing to consider is what sort of pot you are gong to plant into; if it is only a plastic pot then you do not need to prepare it beforehand. However if you are looking at painting it, then do this before you get digging.
When painting up pots, you will need to do some preparation work for the paint to stick properly. Plastic pots should have their surface roughened up with a bit of sandpaper. While some terracotta pots should have a primer applied to the outer surface before you paint them. Try not to get primer or paint onto the inside of the planter, because while most wont, there are still some paints which contain chemicals that may affect or contaminate the soil and plant over time.
Other possibilities for decorating up pots include simply gluing on bits and pieces including stones, tiles, buttons, sticks, shells, ornaments, ribbon, stickers and decals, etc. Other ways of decorating up a pot for the initial presentation is to wrap up just the pot (not the actual plant), using either wrapping paper, cellophane, material, a cheap teatowel or even hessian. Hold these wrappers in place with string, ribbon, bandana, scarf, etc.
Other possibilities for adding value to the potplant is to provide some growing information and name tags for the plant/s included. Other little quirks you might add include a personalised name tag, (Hi, my name is David the Diffenbachia . . . ), or a little watering indicator, miniature hand tools, small amounts of fertiliser, pot ornaments, watering can etc.
So as you can see, creating a very personal gift for just about anyone can easily be within the grasp of anyone. Why not go out into your garden and start thinking about what presents you can be preparing for Christmas this weekend.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
Showing posts with label Organic food production. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Organic food production. Show all posts
Saturday, 27 December 2008
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Sustainable Agriculture
“Americans today spend less on food, as a percentage of disposable income, than any other industrialized nation, and probably less than any people in the history of the world.”
-Michael Pollan “The Omnivores Dilema
I had some time to kill. Waiting for a friend. I went into the nearby CVS hoping to find a magazine that discusses our current “Green” revolution. If only it really were. I quickly found a popular science magazine with a cover featuring “The Future of the Environment.” It covers some wonderful futuristic ideas for sustainability. The current reality though is that companies are buying Carbon credits for trees that have not yet been planted so they can evade the taxes meant to preserve our ecosystem. The FDA has turned the once powerful idea of Organic Certification into a very profitable marketing tool that provides little to no protection for our ecosystem.
The calories we are consuming require more and more calories for their production and therefore a bigger and bigger negative impact on the environment. I had the opportunity recently to travel to Northern California with the Culinary Institute of America. Our trip was part of the California Food & Wine Seminar in the interim of the seventh and eighth semesters of the Bachelors program. Each student chose their own focus for a four page research paper to be part of a larger four person group project. My focus is on the differences between Organic and Sustainable. There is currently no Sustainable Certification recognized by the USDA. The "Organic" certification is designed to favor the commercial farm instead of the original virtues behind the organic movement.
Take for example somewhere like Earthbound Organics. “Organic lettuce.” Twenty thousand acres of machine fed, pruned and harvested lettuce. Their size alone forces them to spray with layers of “Organic” pesticides. Mono-cropping such as this removes specific nutrients faster from the earth. Oil by-products are then required to “fix” the soil. After using copious amounts of fossil fuel power instead of man power they can sell their product down a long chain and across long distances only to undersell the guy who grew his sustainably down the street from where it is being sold. The simple fact that a field can be injected with fertilizers to make products grow does not mean the land is being sustained.
Produce grown with synthetic fertilizers is less nutritious than if grown with composted soil. I almost wanted to say natural soil there, but the term natural has become dishonest as there is no regulation guiding the use of the term. Today you can buy all sorts of “All Natural” products but the term is only a marketing tool. Science has proven that these products are not nearly as healthy as they claim to be. The laws of false advertising do not seem to apply to the food we eat. Is not our health and survival the primary concern in life? With the frantic pace of the world economy, many age-old values are being lost. As Wendell Berry says in his essay “The Idea of A Local Economy:”
A total economy is one in which everything—“life forms,” for instance,—or the “right to pollute” is “private property” and has a price and is for sale. In a total economy significant and sometimes critical choices that once belonged to individuals or communities become the property of corporations. A total economy, operating internationally, necessarily shrinks the powers of state and national governments, not only because those governments have signed over significant powers to an international bureaucracy or because political leaders become the paid hacks of the corporations but also because political processes—and especially democratic processes—are too slow to react to unrestrained economic and technological development on a global scale. And when state and national governments begin to act in effect as agents of the global economy, selling their people for low wages and their people’s products for low prices, then the rights and liberties of citizenship must necessarily shrink. A total economy is an unrestrained taking of profits from the disintegration of nations: communities, households, landscapes, and ecosystems. It licenses symbolic or artificial wealth to “grow” by means of the destruction of the real wealth of all the world…
This may seem like a pessimistic view but it is all too true in the modern market. This battle has been fought for decades and will probably continue for many more.
The organic revolution began back in the nineteen forties with Organic Gardening and Farming magazine. Its goal was to move away from the idea that plants only require NPK (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) and instead require the full spectrum of life death and decay that is the composting process. On April 20, 1969 a group known as the Robin Hood Commission took over a plot of land belonging to the University of California. Their goal was to create a model organic agrarian system. They would be raising a truly sustainable system and distributing its produce to the poor. It was this type of awareness that empowered the organic revolution. Much more than just a standardized set of fertilizers it represented an attunement with the essential needs of society.
When the organic standards list was released in 1997, the list of acceptable products included genetically modified crops as well as irradiation and sewage sludge. Today the list has been revised to allow such synthetic additives as ascorbic acid and xanthan gum. Bleach and ethanol are both on the list or permissible products as well. Many regulations for the treatment of animals for food have been set in such a vague manner as to have no impact whatsoever. For example the USDA finally ruled that dairy cows must have “access to pasture” in order to be considered organic. Sounds nice, but it means simply that at some point in the cows life the owner must provide them access to somewhere outside of a building for a minute or so. The same is true for chickens. Organic free-range chickens means that they are not kept in individual cages but instead in massive layers with access to the outside. Michael Pollan visited Petaluma Poultry and gave this description upon visiting what he says look like military barracks:
“I donned what looked like a hooded white hazmat suit—since the birds receive no antibiotics yet live in close confinement, the company is ever worried about infection, which could doom a whole house overnight—and stepped inside. Twenty thousand birds moved away from me as one, like a ground hugging white cloud, clucking softly. The air was warm and humid and smelled powerfully of ammonia; the fumes caught in my throat. Twenty thousand is a lot of chickens…sipping from waterers suspended from the ceiling, [nibbling] organic food from elevated trays connected by tubes to a silo outside, and [doing] pretty much everything chickens do except step outside the little doors located at either end of the shed.”
The doors lead into a fifteen foot wide grassy yard outside the shed—which none of the chickens have ever been seen in. This is far from the picturesque farm depicted on most organic products and far from what most people would consider truly organic. At the 2000 inaugural speech, USDA Secretary Glickman went out of his way to point out that “The organic label is a marketing too, it is not a statement about food safety. Nor is ‘organic’ a value judgment about nutrition or quality.” So if the government is not going to provide us with a reasonable food system what can we do?
Education plays an essential role in the future of sustainability and agriculture. Billions of dollars are spent annually convincing civilization that they want to live on Big Mac’s and carbonated corn soda. The reality is by the time we are actually old enough to be in charge of our own food supply we have been fairly well saturated with these messages. Therefore, it seems to be more prudent to bring the youth to farms and involve them with their own food choices. They then can understand what they are eating as well how we can produce it in synchronization with nature. Once that stream of thought expands into enough people, we will return to understanding the earth and how we can live in symbiotic agricultural harmony. Places like the Center for Land Based Learning (CLBL) and the Farm Based Education Association provide such experience and are essential to the future of our food system and health. The CLBL focuses on High School students in order to shape the way people think about the earth its role in the production of our food system. Some of these people may not go into the industry. Some may become farmers themselves. Some could even become the politicians who design a future farm bill. With our current agri-business model, farming is becoming just like any corporation where the bottom line is the only thing in sight. The business people do not know what organic really means, much less do they care about their impact on the earth. It may be difficult to argue with the millions of dollars these businesses bring home but if these ideas are imparted at an early age we may have a better chance to realize the destruction that comes with that profit and therein a better chance to really save the earth and the people it supports.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
-Michael Pollan “The Omnivores Dilema
I had some time to kill. Waiting for a friend. I went into the nearby CVS hoping to find a magazine that discusses our current “Green” revolution. If only it really were. I quickly found a popular science magazine with a cover featuring “The Future of the Environment.” It covers some wonderful futuristic ideas for sustainability. The current reality though is that companies are buying Carbon credits for trees that have not yet been planted so they can evade the taxes meant to preserve our ecosystem. The FDA has turned the once powerful idea of Organic Certification into a very profitable marketing tool that provides little to no protection for our ecosystem.
The calories we are consuming require more and more calories for their production and therefore a bigger and bigger negative impact on the environment. I had the opportunity recently to travel to Northern California with the Culinary Institute of America. Our trip was part of the California Food & Wine Seminar in the interim of the seventh and eighth semesters of the Bachelors program. Each student chose their own focus for a four page research paper to be part of a larger four person group project. My focus is on the differences between Organic and Sustainable. There is currently no Sustainable Certification recognized by the USDA. The "Organic" certification is designed to favor the commercial farm instead of the original virtues behind the organic movement.
Take for example somewhere like Earthbound Organics. “Organic lettuce.” Twenty thousand acres of machine fed, pruned and harvested lettuce. Their size alone forces them to spray with layers of “Organic” pesticides. Mono-cropping such as this removes specific nutrients faster from the earth. Oil by-products are then required to “fix” the soil. After using copious amounts of fossil fuel power instead of man power they can sell their product down a long chain and across long distances only to undersell the guy who grew his sustainably down the street from where it is being sold. The simple fact that a field can be injected with fertilizers to make products grow does not mean the land is being sustained.
Produce grown with synthetic fertilizers is less nutritious than if grown with composted soil. I almost wanted to say natural soil there, but the term natural has become dishonest as there is no regulation guiding the use of the term. Today you can buy all sorts of “All Natural” products but the term is only a marketing tool. Science has proven that these products are not nearly as healthy as they claim to be. The laws of false advertising do not seem to apply to the food we eat. Is not our health and survival the primary concern in life? With the frantic pace of the world economy, many age-old values are being lost. As Wendell Berry says in his essay “The Idea of A Local Economy:”
A total economy is one in which everything—“life forms,” for instance,—or the “right to pollute” is “private property” and has a price and is for sale. In a total economy significant and sometimes critical choices that once belonged to individuals or communities become the property of corporations. A total economy, operating internationally, necessarily shrinks the powers of state and national governments, not only because those governments have signed over significant powers to an international bureaucracy or because political leaders become the paid hacks of the corporations but also because political processes—and especially democratic processes—are too slow to react to unrestrained economic and technological development on a global scale. And when state and national governments begin to act in effect as agents of the global economy, selling their people for low wages and their people’s products for low prices, then the rights and liberties of citizenship must necessarily shrink. A total economy is an unrestrained taking of profits from the disintegration of nations: communities, households, landscapes, and ecosystems. It licenses symbolic or artificial wealth to “grow” by means of the destruction of the real wealth of all the world…
This may seem like a pessimistic view but it is all too true in the modern market. This battle has been fought for decades and will probably continue for many more.
The organic revolution began back in the nineteen forties with Organic Gardening and Farming magazine. Its goal was to move away from the idea that plants only require NPK (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) and instead require the full spectrum of life death and decay that is the composting process. On April 20, 1969 a group known as the Robin Hood Commission took over a plot of land belonging to the University of California. Their goal was to create a model organic agrarian system. They would be raising a truly sustainable system and distributing its produce to the poor. It was this type of awareness that empowered the organic revolution. Much more than just a standardized set of fertilizers it represented an attunement with the essential needs of society.
When the organic standards list was released in 1997, the list of acceptable products included genetically modified crops as well as irradiation and sewage sludge. Today the list has been revised to allow such synthetic additives as ascorbic acid and xanthan gum. Bleach and ethanol are both on the list or permissible products as well. Many regulations for the treatment of animals for food have been set in such a vague manner as to have no impact whatsoever. For example the USDA finally ruled that dairy cows must have “access to pasture” in order to be considered organic. Sounds nice, but it means simply that at some point in the cows life the owner must provide them access to somewhere outside of a building for a minute or so. The same is true for chickens. Organic free-range chickens means that they are not kept in individual cages but instead in massive layers with access to the outside. Michael Pollan visited Petaluma Poultry and gave this description upon visiting what he says look like military barracks:
“I donned what looked like a hooded white hazmat suit—since the birds receive no antibiotics yet live in close confinement, the company is ever worried about infection, which could doom a whole house overnight—and stepped inside. Twenty thousand birds moved away from me as one, like a ground hugging white cloud, clucking softly. The air was warm and humid and smelled powerfully of ammonia; the fumes caught in my throat. Twenty thousand is a lot of chickens…sipping from waterers suspended from the ceiling, [nibbling] organic food from elevated trays connected by tubes to a silo outside, and [doing] pretty much everything chickens do except step outside the little doors located at either end of the shed.”
The doors lead into a fifteen foot wide grassy yard outside the shed—which none of the chickens have ever been seen in. This is far from the picturesque farm depicted on most organic products and far from what most people would consider truly organic. At the 2000 inaugural speech, USDA Secretary Glickman went out of his way to point out that “The organic label is a marketing too, it is not a statement about food safety. Nor is ‘organic’ a value judgment about nutrition or quality.” So if the government is not going to provide us with a reasonable food system what can we do?
Education plays an essential role in the future of sustainability and agriculture. Billions of dollars are spent annually convincing civilization that they want to live on Big Mac’s and carbonated corn soda. The reality is by the time we are actually old enough to be in charge of our own food supply we have been fairly well saturated with these messages. Therefore, it seems to be more prudent to bring the youth to farms and involve them with their own food choices. They then can understand what they are eating as well how we can produce it in synchronization with nature. Once that stream of thought expands into enough people, we will return to understanding the earth and how we can live in symbiotic agricultural harmony. Places like the Center for Land Based Learning (CLBL) and the Farm Based Education Association provide such experience and are essential to the future of our food system and health. The CLBL focuses on High School students in order to shape the way people think about the earth its role in the production of our food system. Some of these people may not go into the industry. Some may become farmers themselves. Some could even become the politicians who design a future farm bill. With our current agri-business model, farming is becoming just like any corporation where the bottom line is the only thing in sight. The business people do not know what organic really means, much less do they care about their impact on the earth. It may be difficult to argue with the millions of dollars these businesses bring home but if these ideas are imparted at an early age we may have a better chance to realize the destruction that comes with that profit and therein a better chance to really save the earth and the people it supports.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
Make a Basket Trellis
Make a Basket Trellis
Decide from what materials the trellis will be constructed. Common trellis materials are treated wood, copper or even PVC pipe.
Purchase copper pipe and pressure treated wood at any home improvement store such as Lowe's or Home Depot. Have the store cut the lengths of pipe and wood to size.
Drill four 5/16-inch holes partially through the top post cap to affix the four pieces of copper pipe.
Continue to drill a 5/8-inch hole through both ends of each piece of wood about 1/2-inch from the bottom.
Slide the pieces of wood down alongside the copper pipe to a point where the smaller ones are first and larger further down.
Bolt the pieces together with appropriate hardware and place in the project area.
Create as many of these simple trellises as the project calls for.
Affix as many baskets as desired by hanging from the wood slat support pieces.
Things You’ll Need:
Copper piping
Pressure treated 1-inch by 2-inch wood (as needed)
One pressure treated post cap
Wire
Bolts
Tips & Warnings
Plant morning glory vines along a trellis for another attractive look.
Use a trellis to hold and nurture a grapevine.
Twist the copper piping into differing shapes and adhere the wood in uncommon ways for a trellis with a different style.
Use all caution when using power tools and saws. Wear eye protection and gloves.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
Decide from what materials the trellis will be constructed. Common trellis materials are treated wood, copper or even PVC pipe.
Purchase copper pipe and pressure treated wood at any home improvement store such as Lowe's or Home Depot. Have the store cut the lengths of pipe and wood to size.
Drill four 5/16-inch holes partially through the top post cap to affix the four pieces of copper pipe.
Continue to drill a 5/8-inch hole through both ends of each piece of wood about 1/2-inch from the bottom.
Slide the pieces of wood down alongside the copper pipe to a point where the smaller ones are first and larger further down.
Bolt the pieces together with appropriate hardware and place in the project area.
Create as many of these simple trellises as the project calls for.
Affix as many baskets as desired by hanging from the wood slat support pieces.
Things You’ll Need:
Copper piping
Pressure treated 1-inch by 2-inch wood (as needed)
One pressure treated post cap
Wire
Bolts
Tips & Warnings
Plant morning glory vines along a trellis for another attractive look.
Use a trellis to hold and nurture a grapevine.
Twist the copper piping into differing shapes and adhere the wood in uncommon ways for a trellis with a different style.
Use all caution when using power tools and saws. Wear eye protection and gloves.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Organic Horticulture
Organic gardening can very well pass as a pursuit for some individuals and this can be true if you are the type of person who has the passion for gardening. This may not be everybody's cup of tea so think yourself lucky if you are amongst those who can grow green things out of the blue. Organic gardening has different aspects to it, which you must be familiar with, for instance, what type of dirt you have, what you want to grow on them, and how you might tend for the plants.
All this may seem puzzling to a beginner but if you are an experienced hand, then these aspects are already well-known to you and you could comfortably start the organic way to produce things. This method of gardening is harder than regular horticulture as much more drive and labor is necessary to do it this way.
The basic rule of organic gardening is that you will only use synthetic products when it is absolutely needed. This includes using horticulture components like pesticides and fertilizer. Procure all that you need for your horticulture from the earth and then use them for your efforts. This would enable you to produce anything you wish, like flowers, vegetables or any other green you wish. Hopefully you are getting what we are trying to say, and that is this is one way to work in conjunction with nature.
If you are wondering if this is at all feasible, it is, and you are there to make it. It is feasible to make your own garden compost from the materials of the garden. You could conveniently use, fallen leaves and dead branches and animal muck but a lot would be based on the type used and other factors.
Organic gardening wants, as much as feasible, to stay away from pesticides. Usually handpicking of several worms and other insects is not feasible so go to the local store and ask for organic pesticide, which are easily available and ready to use. The traditional way is to keep a vigil on your garden and as soon as some insects are located, kill them. Go for organic pesticide, when things tend to go out of hand and it is no longer manageable. You can also try to bring in the animals that feed on those pests. This way, you'll have some help in picking those pests up and this also helps the other animals satisfy their hunger.
As is evident, all these things take up a lot of time and unless you can devote as much time to this hobby, or get someone who can partner the responsibilities, it is wise to drop the idea altogether till such times that you are more organized with manpower and time. Organic gardening really entails a lot of hard work so you had better be prepared to perspire in the process. When you are feeling down and out during your horticulture adventure, just think of the benefits you are returning to nature. This is a simple way to give thanks to nature for all the good that has been gifted to you since birth.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
All this may seem puzzling to a beginner but if you are an experienced hand, then these aspects are already well-known to you and you could comfortably start the organic way to produce things. This method of gardening is harder than regular horticulture as much more drive and labor is necessary to do it this way.
The basic rule of organic gardening is that you will only use synthetic products when it is absolutely needed. This includes using horticulture components like pesticides and fertilizer. Procure all that you need for your horticulture from the earth and then use them for your efforts. This would enable you to produce anything you wish, like flowers, vegetables or any other green you wish. Hopefully you are getting what we are trying to say, and that is this is one way to work in conjunction with nature.
If you are wondering if this is at all feasible, it is, and you are there to make it. It is feasible to make your own garden compost from the materials of the garden. You could conveniently use, fallen leaves and dead branches and animal muck but a lot would be based on the type used and other factors.
Organic gardening wants, as much as feasible, to stay away from pesticides. Usually handpicking of several worms and other insects is not feasible so go to the local store and ask for organic pesticide, which are easily available and ready to use. The traditional way is to keep a vigil on your garden and as soon as some insects are located, kill them. Go for organic pesticide, when things tend to go out of hand and it is no longer manageable. You can also try to bring in the animals that feed on those pests. This way, you'll have some help in picking those pests up and this also helps the other animals satisfy their hunger.
As is evident, all these things take up a lot of time and unless you can devote as much time to this hobby, or get someone who can partner the responsibilities, it is wise to drop the idea altogether till such times that you are more organized with manpower and time. Organic gardening really entails a lot of hard work so you had better be prepared to perspire in the process. When you are feeling down and out during your horticulture adventure, just think of the benefits you are returning to nature. This is a simple way to give thanks to nature for all the good that has been gifted to you since birth.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
Herb Gardening
Herb gardening is becoming more and more popular every day, and for a good reason.
Herbs have practical value, serve a purpose, and with herb gardening you can actually use your plants.
When most people think of herb gardening they automatically think of cooking, but herbs are also grown for their pleasant aroma and their beauty.
One important part of herb gardening is drying the herbs for use during the winter months, especially if you plan on cooking with them. First the tops of leafy herbs have to be cut, washed, and hung up for the water to evaporate. Then, tie stems together and hang up in a paper bag to dry. After two to three weeks they must be removed; crumble the leaves, dry them out in the oven, and store in a glass jar.
One of the most common herbs gown in herb gardening is basil. Dark Opal and regular green basil are beautiful additions to any garden and often used as decoration. Dark Opal has light pink flowers and dark red leaves. Basil isnt just used for its looks; it is used for extra flavor in tomato juices and pastes.
Chives are very petite looking and resemble a blade of grass. They are much stronger than they look, however, and will grow well through a drought and a drought. Their toughness and sturdiness makes Chives a perfect plant for herb gardening, especially if the gardener doesnt want plants that require a lot of hassle. Chives are good used in salads, egg dishes, and many different sauces.
Mint is also very simple to grow and is good to use in mint jelly, mint juleps, lemonade, and any other kind of fruity drink. Mint is also good in herb gardening for its unique minty smell.
Two herbs that appear in nearly everyones herb garden are thyme and sage. Both of these herb gardening favorites are used for flavoring soups, chicken, turkey, pork, and other sausages. Sage is also grown sometimes for its beautiful blue spiked flowers.
Lavender is probably the best smelling herb in all of herb gardening and is often used in candles, as a perfume scent, and to improve the smell in linen chests. The light purple flowers smell absolutely lovely.
Other types of herbs often grown in herb gardening include borage (used in salads), chervil (used in egg dishes), sweet marjoram (flavors lamb, fish, salad, and soup), sesame (flavors crackers, cookies, and bread), and dill (flavors meats and used in pickles). Herb gardening allows gardeners to use herbs from their own garden for cooking, looks, and smell. Herb gardening will produce much fresher herbs with more flavor than store-bought herbs, and are a lot cheaper.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
Herbs have practical value, serve a purpose, and with herb gardening you can actually use your plants.
When most people think of herb gardening they automatically think of cooking, but herbs are also grown for their pleasant aroma and their beauty.
One important part of herb gardening is drying the herbs for use during the winter months, especially if you plan on cooking with them. First the tops of leafy herbs have to be cut, washed, and hung up for the water to evaporate. Then, tie stems together and hang up in a paper bag to dry. After two to three weeks they must be removed; crumble the leaves, dry them out in the oven, and store in a glass jar.
One of the most common herbs gown in herb gardening is basil. Dark Opal and regular green basil are beautiful additions to any garden and often used as decoration. Dark Opal has light pink flowers and dark red leaves. Basil isnt just used for its looks; it is used for extra flavor in tomato juices and pastes.
Chives are very petite looking and resemble a blade of grass. They are much stronger than they look, however, and will grow well through a drought and a drought. Their toughness and sturdiness makes Chives a perfect plant for herb gardening, especially if the gardener doesnt want plants that require a lot of hassle. Chives are good used in salads, egg dishes, and many different sauces.
Mint is also very simple to grow and is good to use in mint jelly, mint juleps, lemonade, and any other kind of fruity drink. Mint is also good in herb gardening for its unique minty smell.
Two herbs that appear in nearly everyones herb garden are thyme and sage. Both of these herb gardening favorites are used for flavoring soups, chicken, turkey, pork, and other sausages. Sage is also grown sometimes for its beautiful blue spiked flowers.
Lavender is probably the best smelling herb in all of herb gardening and is often used in candles, as a perfume scent, and to improve the smell in linen chests. The light purple flowers smell absolutely lovely.
Other types of herbs often grown in herb gardening include borage (used in salads), chervil (used in egg dishes), sweet marjoram (flavors lamb, fish, salad, and soup), sesame (flavors crackers, cookies, and bread), and dill (flavors meats and used in pickles). Herb gardening allows gardeners to use herbs from their own garden for cooking, looks, and smell. Herb gardening will produce much fresher herbs with more flavor than store-bought herbs, and are a lot cheaper.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
Organic Gardening
Organic gardening is a method of growing plants without the use of synthetic chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. Instead, organic, or once-living, materials are used to naturally cultivate the growing plants.
Organic materials include leaves, grasses, food scraps, agricultural crop residue and other natural materials.
By promoting natural diversity and biological cycles in farming, organic gardening methods strive to create gardens that are self-sufficient and sustainable. Converting a garden to produce vegetables and fruit organically is a long-term process; it happens gradually, typically requiring several years, rather than in one single growing season. Organic gardening sometimes takes a great deal of work, but the rewards can be found in the chemical-free bounty of the harvest. Take a look at the basic process of organic gardening.
Planning an Organic Garden
The first step in creating an organic garden is to consider its purpose. Will the garden support an entire family, or will extra produce be grown and sold? Keeping the garden’s purpose in mind, a location should be chosen that is convenient to the home but big enough to meet the needs of the gardener. It is best to choose a location with well-drained soil that is near a water supply and not shaded by buildings or trees. Some gardeners plot a layout of the garden on paper before planting. The crops that will be planted in each row should be planned in advance.
Organic plant production depends on healthy and fertile soil, so the soil should be amended as necessary before planting to ensure quality. Decayed plant material is essential for producing fertile soil. This organic matter, when added to the soil, can slow erosion and offer a good environment for earthworms and other beneficial microorganisms. To ensure that the soil is healthy before planting, aim for 3 to 5 percent organic matter soil content. Be sure to mix the organic material into the soil at least three weeks before planting, because the organic material can interfere with the growth of the seeds if it is not completely rotted and incorporated into the soil before planting.
Planting an Organic Garden
In an organic garden, seeds must not have been chemically treated. Seeds for some crops, however, may not be available in non-treated form. In that case, if the grower is certified organic, he or she will need authorization from the certifier before buying the seeds. To achieve certified organic status, an application must be made to the National Organic Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information, visit National Organic Program Web site. For individual gardeners who are not certified, it comes down to a personal choice as to whether to use seeds that have been treated with chemicals.
Good choices for seeds include varieties that are best able to resist disease and insects. Plants that mature early are also good choices, because they allow less time for any diseases or insect damage to take place; by the same token, late-maturing plants are more susceptible to these common afflictions.
When planning and planting, keep in mind that some plants naturally can be used to the gardener’s advantage. For example, if the gardener plants dill on the opposite side of the garden from tomatoes, tomato hornworms will be drawn away from the tomato plants because they are more attracted to the dill. Although this approach may offer only a small measure of protection for the tomatoes, any advantage is a good one. Likewise, sage can work to repel the cabbage moths and black flea beetles that attack cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, so a gardener can gain a slight advantage if sage is planted with these crops.
Organic Gardening Fertilizers
Animal manure is the best fertilizer for organic gardening. The manure needs to be partially broken-down, however, before it is applied to the plants. For best results, the manure should be aged for 30 days to allow for breakdown; otherwise, it can be composted. To find out more about managing manure, read the Ohio State University’s guide to Manure Management.
The benefits of animal manure can be found in the nutrients contained within the manure. Though the nutrient content varies greatly depending on the source of the manure (the type of animal and its age, physical condition and diet all play a role), some level of the following nutrients can be expected: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and calcium. Fresh manure should not be applied to growing plants, or within 120 days of harvest time.
Compost is another good organic fertilizer. Compost is made from the decomposition of organic materials, including lawn trimmings, crop residues, food scraps and wood chips. A compost pile is made of alternating layers of organic materials that heat up in the sun after two or three days, though it takes between two months and a year for the compost to be ready, depending on the season, materials used and the skill of the person doing the composting. Every three to four weeks during that period, the compost must be turned with a pitchfork to allow the different materials to mix into a uniform fertilizer.
Organic Garden Mulching
Mulch, which is usually composed of lawn clippings, wood shavings, pine straw or sawdust, is placed on the surface of the soil, around the plants. Mulch allows the soil to conserve water and nutrients, reduce erosion and weed growth, moderate temperature and reduce rot on fruit that is caused by soil. Plastic mulch, which comes in a variety of colors, also can be used.
Controlling Weeds, Insects and Diseases in an Organic Garden
Mulching is recommended to control weeds, as are hoeing and shallow cultivation. Controlling insects and diseases by natural means, however, can be more difficult. Prevention is important because once an infestation occurs; it can be hard to control using only organic methods. Therefore, it is important to plant as early as possible using resistant varieties of plants and only seeds and transplants from disease-free plants. Also, clean up any plant refuse as soon as possible, water in the morning to avoid wet plants at night and get rid of diseased plants before the problem can spread to healthy plants. Insects can be picked from plants by hand, or natural predators can be introduced to the area. Some organic gardeners also use sprays that contain organic or natural plant poisons that can help keep insects at bay.
The National Gardening Association maintains a large bank of knowledge about gardening, and can help novices and those more experienced with tips, strategies, and support. Visit the National Gardening Association for more information.
Organic Gardening Certification
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the standards for organic farming. Certification must be obtained to sell organic crops with the claim that they are organically produced. The USDA National Organic Program accredits the agents who inspect organic products and certifies that they meet the standards established by the USDA.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
Organic materials include leaves, grasses, food scraps, agricultural crop residue and other natural materials.
By promoting natural diversity and biological cycles in farming, organic gardening methods strive to create gardens that are self-sufficient and sustainable. Converting a garden to produce vegetables and fruit organically is a long-term process; it happens gradually, typically requiring several years, rather than in one single growing season. Organic gardening sometimes takes a great deal of work, but the rewards can be found in the chemical-free bounty of the harvest. Take a look at the basic process of organic gardening.
Planning an Organic Garden
The first step in creating an organic garden is to consider its purpose. Will the garden support an entire family, or will extra produce be grown and sold? Keeping the garden’s purpose in mind, a location should be chosen that is convenient to the home but big enough to meet the needs of the gardener. It is best to choose a location with well-drained soil that is near a water supply and not shaded by buildings or trees. Some gardeners plot a layout of the garden on paper before planting. The crops that will be planted in each row should be planned in advance.
Organic plant production depends on healthy and fertile soil, so the soil should be amended as necessary before planting to ensure quality. Decayed plant material is essential for producing fertile soil. This organic matter, when added to the soil, can slow erosion and offer a good environment for earthworms and other beneficial microorganisms. To ensure that the soil is healthy before planting, aim for 3 to 5 percent organic matter soil content. Be sure to mix the organic material into the soil at least three weeks before planting, because the organic material can interfere with the growth of the seeds if it is not completely rotted and incorporated into the soil before planting.
Planting an Organic Garden
In an organic garden, seeds must not have been chemically treated. Seeds for some crops, however, may not be available in non-treated form. In that case, if the grower is certified organic, he or she will need authorization from the certifier before buying the seeds. To achieve certified organic status, an application must be made to the National Organic Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information, visit National Organic Program Web site. For individual gardeners who are not certified, it comes down to a personal choice as to whether to use seeds that have been treated with chemicals.
Good choices for seeds include varieties that are best able to resist disease and insects. Plants that mature early are also good choices, because they allow less time for any diseases or insect damage to take place; by the same token, late-maturing plants are more susceptible to these common afflictions.
When planning and planting, keep in mind that some plants naturally can be used to the gardener’s advantage. For example, if the gardener plants dill on the opposite side of the garden from tomatoes, tomato hornworms will be drawn away from the tomato plants because they are more attracted to the dill. Although this approach may offer only a small measure of protection for the tomatoes, any advantage is a good one. Likewise, sage can work to repel the cabbage moths and black flea beetles that attack cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, so a gardener can gain a slight advantage if sage is planted with these crops.
Organic Gardening Fertilizers
Animal manure is the best fertilizer for organic gardening. The manure needs to be partially broken-down, however, before it is applied to the plants. For best results, the manure should be aged for 30 days to allow for breakdown; otherwise, it can be composted. To find out more about managing manure, read the Ohio State University’s guide to Manure Management.
The benefits of animal manure can be found in the nutrients contained within the manure. Though the nutrient content varies greatly depending on the source of the manure (the type of animal and its age, physical condition and diet all play a role), some level of the following nutrients can be expected: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and calcium. Fresh manure should not be applied to growing plants, or within 120 days of harvest time.
Compost is another good organic fertilizer. Compost is made from the decomposition of organic materials, including lawn trimmings, crop residues, food scraps and wood chips. A compost pile is made of alternating layers of organic materials that heat up in the sun after two or three days, though it takes between two months and a year for the compost to be ready, depending on the season, materials used and the skill of the person doing the composting. Every three to four weeks during that period, the compost must be turned with a pitchfork to allow the different materials to mix into a uniform fertilizer.
Organic Garden Mulching
Mulch, which is usually composed of lawn clippings, wood shavings, pine straw or sawdust, is placed on the surface of the soil, around the plants. Mulch allows the soil to conserve water and nutrients, reduce erosion and weed growth, moderate temperature and reduce rot on fruit that is caused by soil. Plastic mulch, which comes in a variety of colors, also can be used.
Controlling Weeds, Insects and Diseases in an Organic Garden
Mulching is recommended to control weeds, as are hoeing and shallow cultivation. Controlling insects and diseases by natural means, however, can be more difficult. Prevention is important because once an infestation occurs; it can be hard to control using only organic methods. Therefore, it is important to plant as early as possible using resistant varieties of plants and only seeds and transplants from disease-free plants. Also, clean up any plant refuse as soon as possible, water in the morning to avoid wet plants at night and get rid of diseased plants before the problem can spread to healthy plants. Insects can be picked from plants by hand, or natural predators can be introduced to the area. Some organic gardeners also use sprays that contain organic or natural plant poisons that can help keep insects at bay.
The National Gardening Association maintains a large bank of knowledge about gardening, and can help novices and those more experienced with tips, strategies, and support. Visit the National Gardening Association for more information.
Organic Gardening Certification
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the standards for organic farming. Certification must be obtained to sell organic crops with the claim that they are organically produced. The USDA National Organic Program accredits the agents who inspect organic products and certifies that they meet the standards established by the USDA.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Sustainable Agriculture
“Americans today spend less on food, as a percentage of disposable income, than any other industrialized nation, and probably less than any people in the history of the world.”
-Michael Pollan “The Omnivores Dilema
I had some time to kill. Waiting for a friend. I went into the nearby CVS hoping to find a magazine that discusses our current “Green” revolution. If only it really were. I quickly found a popular science magazine with a cover featuring “The Future of the Environment.” It covers some wonderful futuristic ideas for sustainability. The current reality though is that companies are buying Carbon credits for trees that have not yet been planted so they can evade the taxes meant to preserve our ecosystem. The FDA has turned the once powerful idea of Organic Certification into a very profitable marketing tool that provides little to no protection for our ecosystem.
The calories we are consuming require more and more calories for their production and therefore a bigger and bigger negative impact on the environment. I had the opportunity recently to travel to Northern California with the Culinary Institute of America. Our trip was part of the California Food & Wine Seminar in the interim of the seventh and eighth semesters of the Bachelors program. Each student chose their own focus for a four page research paper to be part of a larger four person group project. My focus is on the differences between Organic and Sustainable. There is currently no Sustainable Certification recognized by the USDA. The "Organic" certification is designed to favor the commercial farm instead of the original virtues behind the organic movement.
Take for example somewhere like Earthbound Organics. “Organic lettuce.” Twenty thousand acres of machine fed, pruned and harvested lettuce. Their size alone forces them to spray with layers of “Organic” pesticides. Mono-cropping such as this removes specific nutrients faster from the earth. Oil by-products are then required to “fix” the soil. After using copious amounts of fossil fuel power instead of man power they can sell their product down a long chain and across long distances only to undersell the guy who grew his sustainably down the street from where it is being sold. The simple fact that a field can be injected with fertilizers to make products grow does not mean the land is being sustained.
Produce grown with synthetic fertilizers is less nutritious than if grown with composted soil. I almost wanted to say natural soil there, but the term natural has become dishonest as there is no regulation guiding the use of the term. Today you can buy all sorts of “All Natural” products but the term is only a marketing tool. Science has proven that these products are not nearly as healthy as they claim to be. The laws of false advertising do not seem to apply to the food we eat. Is not our health and survival the primary concern in life? With the frantic pace of the world economy, many age-old values are being lost. As Wendell Berry says in his essay “The Idea of A Local Economy:”
A total economy is one in which everything—“life forms,” for instance,—or the “right to pollute” is “private property” and has a price and is for sale. In a total economy significant and sometimes critical choices that once belonged to individuals or communities become the property of corporations. A total economy, operating internationally, necessarily shrinks the powers of state and national governments, not only because those governments have signed over significant powers to an international bureaucracy or because political leaders become the paid hacks of the corporations but also because political processes—and especially democratic processes—are too slow to react to unrestrained economic and technological development on a global scale. And when state and national governments begin to act in effect as agents of the global economy, selling their people for low wages and their people’s products for low prices, then the rights and liberties of citizenship must necessarily shrink. A total economy is an unrestrained taking of profits from the disintegration of nations: communities, households, landscapes, and ecosystems. It licenses symbolic or artificial wealth to “grow” by means of the destruction of the real wealth of all the world…
This may seem like a pessimistic view but it is all too true in the modern market. This battle has been fought for decades and will probably continue for many more.
The organic revolution began back in the nineteen forties with Organic Gardening and Farming magazine. Its goal was to move away from the idea that plants only require NPK (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) and instead require the full spectrum of life death and decay that is the composting process. On April 20, 1969 a group known as the Robin Hood Commission took over a plot of land belonging to the University of California. Their goal was to create a model organic agrarian system. They would be raising a truly sustainable system and distributing its produce to the poor. It was this type of awareness that empowered the organic revolution. Much more than just a standardized set of fertilizers it represented an attunement with the essential needs of society.
When the organic standards list was released in 1997, the list of acceptable products included genetically modified crops as well as irradiation and sewage sludge. Today the list has been revised to allow such synthetic additives as ascorbic acid and xanthan gum. Bleach and ethanol are both on the list or permissible products as well. Many regulations for the treatment of animals for food have been set in such a vague manner as to have no impact whatsoever. For example the USDA finally ruled that dairy cows must have “access to pasture” in order to be considered organic. Sounds nice, but it means simply that at some point in the cows life the owner must provide them access to somewhere outside of a building for a minute or so. The same is true for chickens. Organic free-range chickens means that they are not kept in individual cages but instead in massive layers with access to the outside. Michael Pollan visited Petaluma Poultry and gave this description upon visiting what he says look like military barracks:
“I donned what looked like a hooded white hazmat suit—since the birds receive no antibiotics yet live in close confinement, the company is ever worried about infection, which could doom a whole house overnight—and stepped inside. Twenty thousand birds moved away from me as one, like a ground hugging white cloud, clucking softly. The air was warm and humid and smelled powerfully of ammonia; the fumes caught in my throat. Twenty thousand is a lot of chickens…sipping from waterers suspended from the ceiling, [nibbling] organic food from elevated trays connected by tubes to a silo outside, and [doing] pretty much everything chickens do except step outside the little doors located at either end of the shed.”
The doors lead into a fifteen foot wide grassy yard outside the shed—which none of the chickens have ever been seen in. This is far from the picturesque farm depicted on most organic products and far from what most people would consider truly organic. At the 2000 inaugural speech, USDA Secretary Glickman went out of his way to point out that “The organic label is a marketing too, it is not a statement about food safety. Nor is ‘organic’ a value judgment about nutrition or quality.” So if the government is not going to provide us with a reasonable food system what can we do?
Education plays an essential role in the future of sustainability and agriculture. Billions of dollars are spent annually convincing civilization that they want to live on Big Mac’s and carbonated corn soda. The reality is by the time we are actually old enough to be in charge of our own food supply we have been fairly well saturated with these messages. Therefore, it seems to be more prudent to bring the youth to farms and involve them with their own food choices. They then can understand what they are eating as well how we can produce it in synchronization with nature. Once that stream of thought expands into enough people, we will return to understanding the earth and how we can live in symbiotic agricultural harmony. Places like the Center for Land Based Learning (CLBL) and the Farm Based Education Association provide such experience and are essential to the future of our food system and health. The CLBL focuses on High School students in order to shape the way people think about the earth its role in the production of our food system. Some of these people may not go into the industry. Some may become farmers themselves. Some could even become the politicians who design a future farm bill. With our current agri-business model, farming is becoming just like any corporation where the bottom line is the only thing in sight. The business people do not know what organic really means, much less do they care about their impact on the earth. It may be difficult to argue with the millions of dollars these businesses bring home but if these ideas are imparted at an early age we may have a better chance to realize the destruction that comes with that profit and therein a better chance to really save the earth and the people it supports.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
-Michael Pollan “The Omnivores Dilema
I had some time to kill. Waiting for a friend. I went into the nearby CVS hoping to find a magazine that discusses our current “Green” revolution. If only it really were. I quickly found a popular science magazine with a cover featuring “The Future of the Environment.” It covers some wonderful futuristic ideas for sustainability. The current reality though is that companies are buying Carbon credits for trees that have not yet been planted so they can evade the taxes meant to preserve our ecosystem. The FDA has turned the once powerful idea of Organic Certification into a very profitable marketing tool that provides little to no protection for our ecosystem.
The calories we are consuming require more and more calories for their production and therefore a bigger and bigger negative impact on the environment. I had the opportunity recently to travel to Northern California with the Culinary Institute of America. Our trip was part of the California Food & Wine Seminar in the interim of the seventh and eighth semesters of the Bachelors program. Each student chose their own focus for a four page research paper to be part of a larger four person group project. My focus is on the differences between Organic and Sustainable. There is currently no Sustainable Certification recognized by the USDA. The "Organic" certification is designed to favor the commercial farm instead of the original virtues behind the organic movement.
Take for example somewhere like Earthbound Organics. “Organic lettuce.” Twenty thousand acres of machine fed, pruned and harvested lettuce. Their size alone forces them to spray with layers of “Organic” pesticides. Mono-cropping such as this removes specific nutrients faster from the earth. Oil by-products are then required to “fix” the soil. After using copious amounts of fossil fuel power instead of man power they can sell their product down a long chain and across long distances only to undersell the guy who grew his sustainably down the street from where it is being sold. The simple fact that a field can be injected with fertilizers to make products grow does not mean the land is being sustained.
Produce grown with synthetic fertilizers is less nutritious than if grown with composted soil. I almost wanted to say natural soil there, but the term natural has become dishonest as there is no regulation guiding the use of the term. Today you can buy all sorts of “All Natural” products but the term is only a marketing tool. Science has proven that these products are not nearly as healthy as they claim to be. The laws of false advertising do not seem to apply to the food we eat. Is not our health and survival the primary concern in life? With the frantic pace of the world economy, many age-old values are being lost. As Wendell Berry says in his essay “The Idea of A Local Economy:”
A total economy is one in which everything—“life forms,” for instance,—or the “right to pollute” is “private property” and has a price and is for sale. In a total economy significant and sometimes critical choices that once belonged to individuals or communities become the property of corporations. A total economy, operating internationally, necessarily shrinks the powers of state and national governments, not only because those governments have signed over significant powers to an international bureaucracy or because political leaders become the paid hacks of the corporations but also because political processes—and especially democratic processes—are too slow to react to unrestrained economic and technological development on a global scale. And when state and national governments begin to act in effect as agents of the global economy, selling their people for low wages and their people’s products for low prices, then the rights and liberties of citizenship must necessarily shrink. A total economy is an unrestrained taking of profits from the disintegration of nations: communities, households, landscapes, and ecosystems. It licenses symbolic or artificial wealth to “grow” by means of the destruction of the real wealth of all the world…
This may seem like a pessimistic view but it is all too true in the modern market. This battle has been fought for decades and will probably continue for many more.
The organic revolution began back in the nineteen forties with Organic Gardening and Farming magazine. Its goal was to move away from the idea that plants only require NPK (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) and instead require the full spectrum of life death and decay that is the composting process. On April 20, 1969 a group known as the Robin Hood Commission took over a plot of land belonging to the University of California. Their goal was to create a model organic agrarian system. They would be raising a truly sustainable system and distributing its produce to the poor. It was this type of awareness that empowered the organic revolution. Much more than just a standardized set of fertilizers it represented an attunement with the essential needs of society.
When the organic standards list was released in 1997, the list of acceptable products included genetically modified crops as well as irradiation and sewage sludge. Today the list has been revised to allow such synthetic additives as ascorbic acid and xanthan gum. Bleach and ethanol are both on the list or permissible products as well. Many regulations for the treatment of animals for food have been set in such a vague manner as to have no impact whatsoever. For example the USDA finally ruled that dairy cows must have “access to pasture” in order to be considered organic. Sounds nice, but it means simply that at some point in the cows life the owner must provide them access to somewhere outside of a building for a minute or so. The same is true for chickens. Organic free-range chickens means that they are not kept in individual cages but instead in massive layers with access to the outside. Michael Pollan visited Petaluma Poultry and gave this description upon visiting what he says look like military barracks:
“I donned what looked like a hooded white hazmat suit—since the birds receive no antibiotics yet live in close confinement, the company is ever worried about infection, which could doom a whole house overnight—and stepped inside. Twenty thousand birds moved away from me as one, like a ground hugging white cloud, clucking softly. The air was warm and humid and smelled powerfully of ammonia; the fumes caught in my throat. Twenty thousand is a lot of chickens…sipping from waterers suspended from the ceiling, [nibbling] organic food from elevated trays connected by tubes to a silo outside, and [doing] pretty much everything chickens do except step outside the little doors located at either end of the shed.”
The doors lead into a fifteen foot wide grassy yard outside the shed—which none of the chickens have ever been seen in. This is far from the picturesque farm depicted on most organic products and far from what most people would consider truly organic. At the 2000 inaugural speech, USDA Secretary Glickman went out of his way to point out that “The organic label is a marketing too, it is not a statement about food safety. Nor is ‘organic’ a value judgment about nutrition or quality.” So if the government is not going to provide us with a reasonable food system what can we do?
Education plays an essential role in the future of sustainability and agriculture. Billions of dollars are spent annually convincing civilization that they want to live on Big Mac’s and carbonated corn soda. The reality is by the time we are actually old enough to be in charge of our own food supply we have been fairly well saturated with these messages. Therefore, it seems to be more prudent to bring the youth to farms and involve them with their own food choices. They then can understand what they are eating as well how we can produce it in synchronization with nature. Once that stream of thought expands into enough people, we will return to understanding the earth and how we can live in symbiotic agricultural harmony. Places like the Center for Land Based Learning (CLBL) and the Farm Based Education Association provide such experience and are essential to the future of our food system and health. The CLBL focuses on High School students in order to shape the way people think about the earth its role in the production of our food system. Some of these people may not go into the industry. Some may become farmers themselves. Some could even become the politicians who design a future farm bill. With our current agri-business model, farming is becoming just like any corporation where the bottom line is the only thing in sight. The business people do not know what organic really means, much less do they care about their impact on the earth. It may be difficult to argue with the millions of dollars these businesses bring home but if these ideas are imparted at an early age we may have a better chance to realize the destruction that comes with that profit and therein a better chance to really save the earth and the people it supports.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Grow your own vegetables
How to grow your own vegetables
Simple "How to grow" tips to help grow your own vegetables and fruit with tips on keeping chickens in your garden for fresh eggs. You will save a few pounds and enjoy eating and maybe selling the fruits of your labour.This is a simple mans (me) guide to growing your own fruit and vegetables, if you need more detail or information their are lots of good gardening advice sites on the net.
Preparing and digging the growing area.
I'm assuming you are not going to use Chemical fertilisers or weed-killer, the cost will far negate the savings you are going to make growing your own. The Cottagers didn't use chemicals !! The only sure way to know you are eating chemical free fruit and vedge is to grow your own !! You might want to have a go at companion planting to control garden pests.
Sandy soil is easier to dig but doesn't have as many of the essential nutrients clay soil does so you will need to dig in plenty of compost from your compost heap. Clay soil is harder to dig but most plants do well in it. If the area is water logged you will need to sort it out before you dig it over.
Dig the area over removing as many large stones and weeds as you can, don't try to remove every stone its impossible. Providing the soil breaks up into reasonably small chunks there is no need to rake it over. Weeds that haven't gone to seed can be added to your compost heap. ( Weeds that have gone to seed and Bindweed can be rotted down in a plastic bag and then added to the compost heap )
If you are planning to turn a lawn into a planting area you will need to remove the turf, (this is hard work and if you can wait its easier to cover the area with black plastic until it rots down).If you are going to remove the turf, mark out liftable squares about 2" deep with a sharp spade and scoop the turf off, turn it over and store in a heap in a corner of your garden to turn into loam to be added back to your garden.
SEED BEDS, the areas you are going to sow rows of seed will need to be raked fine before sowing, most seeds are sown direct into the garden but sow a few in trays, the seedlings can be sold at car boots, more than covering the cost of buying the packets of seed in the first place.
Sowing and growing tips.
Broccoli has high vitamin content and anti-cancer agents.The sprouting types are hardy and overwintered for harvest in spring and can be white or purple. Calabrese is harvested in the autumn.
Sow thinly in April and May 1/2 in deep in rows 6in apart. Thin the seedlings to 3in apart. You can sow in March in the milder south and again in June for late cultivars..
Transplant when the broccoli seedlings are about 6in high planting about 18in apart. In dry weather water them well before and after transplanting .The Broccoli will need a good soaking in dry weather and a feed of home made liquid fertiliser now and then will work wonders
Harvest when the flower shoots (spears) are well formed but before the individual flowers begin to open. Cut the central spear first. This is followed by a series of sideshoots, which can be picked regularly for about five weeks.
Cabbages Can be grown to pick throughout the year. spring, summer and winter seeds are available. Spring greens are young spring cabbages Sown mainly in summer, but also all year round.Sow the same as Broccoli above. Spring cabbage: in July/August; transplant in september/October.Summer cabbage from late February/early March (under cloches or similar cover) until early May; transplant in May/June.
Winter cabbages in April/May; transplant in late June/July.
Transplant the young plants as for Broccoli. Compact varieties 1ft apart, larger varieties 18in apart, spring cabbages only 4in apart thin out to 1ft apart from February onwards using the thinnings as your spring greens. Water and feed as for Broccoli
Harvest the Cabbages by cutting through the stem just above ground level at the same time cut a deep cross in the stump and you'll geta second crop of tiny cabbages.
Cauliflowers To grow perfect cauliflowers you'll need a rich and deep soil and there mustn't be a check to growth, so careful planting and watering are essential.Sow thinly 1/2 " deep in rows 6" apart in March and May in a rich and deep soil , Thin to 3" apart when 1" high.
Transplant to growing position when plants have five or six leaves, Water well before and after transplanting. Space 2ft apart or closer for smaller heads. Cauliflowers are hungry so reguraly water and feed with a liquid fertiliser . Important not to check growth regular watering is essential.
Harvest when the heads are firm.
Brussels sprouts
Sow from March to April as for cabbages ,thin out to about 3" apart.
Transplant when 4-6" high about 2.5ft apart in firm soil containing plenty of humus . Important to water well before and after transplanting. Water and feed reguraly with home made liquid fertiliser
Time to pick, Should be just about plump enough for Christmas.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
Simple "How to grow" tips to help grow your own vegetables and fruit with tips on keeping chickens in your garden for fresh eggs. You will save a few pounds and enjoy eating and maybe selling the fruits of your labour.This is a simple mans (me) guide to growing your own fruit and vegetables, if you need more detail or information their are lots of good gardening advice sites on the net.
Preparing and digging the growing area.
I'm assuming you are not going to use Chemical fertilisers or weed-killer, the cost will far negate the savings you are going to make growing your own. The Cottagers didn't use chemicals !! The only sure way to know you are eating chemical free fruit and vedge is to grow your own !! You might want to have a go at companion planting to control garden pests.
Sandy soil is easier to dig but doesn't have as many of the essential nutrients clay soil does so you will need to dig in plenty of compost from your compost heap. Clay soil is harder to dig but most plants do well in it. If the area is water logged you will need to sort it out before you dig it over.
Dig the area over removing as many large stones and weeds as you can, don't try to remove every stone its impossible. Providing the soil breaks up into reasonably small chunks there is no need to rake it over. Weeds that haven't gone to seed can be added to your compost heap. ( Weeds that have gone to seed and Bindweed can be rotted down in a plastic bag and then added to the compost heap )
If you are planning to turn a lawn into a planting area you will need to remove the turf, (this is hard work and if you can wait its easier to cover the area with black plastic until it rots down).If you are going to remove the turf, mark out liftable squares about 2" deep with a sharp spade and scoop the turf off, turn it over and store in a heap in a corner of your garden to turn into loam to be added back to your garden.
SEED BEDS, the areas you are going to sow rows of seed will need to be raked fine before sowing, most seeds are sown direct into the garden but sow a few in trays, the seedlings can be sold at car boots, more than covering the cost of buying the packets of seed in the first place.
Sowing and growing tips.
Broccoli has high vitamin content and anti-cancer agents.The sprouting types are hardy and overwintered for harvest in spring and can be white or purple. Calabrese is harvested in the autumn.
Sow thinly in April and May 1/2 in deep in rows 6in apart. Thin the seedlings to 3in apart. You can sow in March in the milder south and again in June for late cultivars..
Transplant when the broccoli seedlings are about 6in high planting about 18in apart. In dry weather water them well before and after transplanting .The Broccoli will need a good soaking in dry weather and a feed of home made liquid fertiliser now and then will work wonders
Harvest when the flower shoots (spears) are well formed but before the individual flowers begin to open. Cut the central spear first. This is followed by a series of sideshoots, which can be picked regularly for about five weeks.
Cabbages Can be grown to pick throughout the year. spring, summer and winter seeds are available. Spring greens are young spring cabbages Sown mainly in summer, but also all year round.Sow the same as Broccoli above. Spring cabbage: in July/August; transplant in september/October.Summer cabbage from late February/early March (under cloches or similar cover) until early May; transplant in May/June.
Winter cabbages in April/May; transplant in late June/July.
Transplant the young plants as for Broccoli. Compact varieties 1ft apart, larger varieties 18in apart, spring cabbages only 4in apart thin out to 1ft apart from February onwards using the thinnings as your spring greens. Water and feed as for Broccoli
Harvest the Cabbages by cutting through the stem just above ground level at the same time cut a deep cross in the stump and you'll geta second crop of tiny cabbages.
Cauliflowers To grow perfect cauliflowers you'll need a rich and deep soil and there mustn't be a check to growth, so careful planting and watering are essential.Sow thinly 1/2 " deep in rows 6" apart in March and May in a rich and deep soil , Thin to 3" apart when 1" high.
Transplant to growing position when plants have five or six leaves, Water well before and after transplanting. Space 2ft apart or closer for smaller heads. Cauliflowers are hungry so reguraly water and feed with a liquid fertiliser . Important not to check growth regular watering is essential.
Harvest when the heads are firm.
Brussels sprouts
Sow from March to April as for cabbages ,thin out to about 3" apart.
Transplant when 4-6" high about 2.5ft apart in firm soil containing plenty of humus . Important to water well before and after transplanting. Water and feed reguraly with home made liquid fertiliser
Time to pick, Should be just about plump enough for Christmas.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Organic Gardening Benefits
It's a well known fact that getting closer to the earth relieves stress - when did you last spend a few hours in the garden? Not only does gardening relieve stress but it is also very enjoyable once you make the effort to get out there.
Have you ever tasted organically grown vegetables and fruit and wished that you afford to have them more often? If you grow them yourself they will cost you a fraction of the price of the ones you buy at your local supermarket or greengrocer.
Have you smelt the difference as they were being cooked in your kitchen? That's because they are so fresh, packed full of goodness and vitamins.
Are you doing your bit for conservation? Think of all that packaging and transport that you are avoiding.
When did you last have the pleasure of sharing something with your family that you know is good for their health? Top chefs get up at the scrake of dawn to buy fresh produce at the market. You can pick yours at any time and have them cooking in a matter of minutes!
How pleased would your friends and neighbours be to receive a gift which cost so little and tastes so good?
Do you know someone who is ill or frail and would benefit by getting some wholesome fresh non-contaminated food into their system?
Do you know that many farmers don't relish eating their own products because they know what chemical sprays and fertilisers have been used on them? Eating more vegetables is known to help prevent heart disease and cancer.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
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Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
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Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
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Have you ever tasted organically grown vegetables and fruit and wished that you afford to have them more often? If you grow them yourself they will cost you a fraction of the price of the ones you buy at your local supermarket or greengrocer.
Have you smelt the difference as they were being cooked in your kitchen? That's because they are so fresh, packed full of goodness and vitamins.
Are you doing your bit for conservation? Think of all that packaging and transport that you are avoiding.
When did you last have the pleasure of sharing something with your family that you know is good for their health? Top chefs get up at the scrake of dawn to buy fresh produce at the market. You can pick yours at any time and have them cooking in a matter of minutes!
How pleased would your friends and neighbours be to receive a gift which cost so little and tastes so good?
Do you know someone who is ill or frail and would benefit by getting some wholesome fresh non-contaminated food into their system?
Do you know that many farmers don't relish eating their own products because they know what chemical sprays and fertilisers have been used on them? Eating more vegetables is known to help prevent heart disease and cancer.
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The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
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Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
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Organic gardening
Organic gardening is a method of growing plants without the use of synthetic chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. Instead, organic, or once-living, materials are used to naturally cultivate the growing plants.
Organic materials include leaves, grasses, food scraps, agricultural crop residue and other natural materials.
By promoting natural diversity and biological cycles in farming, organic gardening methods strive to create gardens that are self-sufficient and sustainable. Converting a garden to produce vegetables and fruit organically is a long-term process; it happens gradually, typically requiring several years, rather than in one single growing season. Organic gardening sometimes takes a great deal of work, but the rewards can be found in the chemical-free bounty of the harvest. Take a look at the basic process of organic gardening.
Planning an Organic Garden
The first step in creating an organic garden is to consider its purpose. Will the garden support an entire family, or will extra produce be grown and sold? Keeping the garden’s purpose in mind, a location should be chosen that is convenient to the home but big enough to meet the needs of the gardener. It is best to choose a location with well-drained soil that is near a water supply and not shaded by buildings or trees. Some gardeners plot a layout of the garden on paper before planting. The crops that will be planted in each row should be planned in advance.
Organic plant production depends on healthy and fertile soil, so the soil should be amended as necessary before planting to ensure quality. Decayed plant material is essential for producing fertile soil. This organic matter, when added to the soil, can slow erosion and offer a good environment for earthworms and other beneficial microorganisms. To ensure that the soil is healthy before planting, aim for 3 to 5 percent organic matter soil content. Be sure to mix the organic material into the soil at least three weeks before planting, because the organic material can interfere with the growth of the seeds if it is not completely rotted and incorporated into the soil before planting.
Planting an Organic Garden
In an organic garden, seeds must not have been chemically treated. Seeds for some crops, however, may not be available in non-treated form. In that case, if the grower is certified organic, he or she will need authorization from the certifier before buying the seeds. To achieve certified organic status, an application must be made to the National Organic Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information, visit National Organic Program Web site. For individual gardeners who are not certified, it comes down to a personal choice as to whether to use seeds that have been treated with chemicals.
Good choices for seeds include varieties that are best able to resist disease and insects. Plants that mature early are also good choices, because they allow less time for any diseases or insect damage to take place; by the same token, late-maturing plants are more susceptible to these common afflictions.
When planning and planting, keep in mind that some plants naturally can be used to the gardener’s advantage. For example, if the gardener plants dill on the opposite side of the garden from tomatoes, tomato hornworms will be drawn away from the tomato plants because they are more attracted to the dill. Although this approach may offer only a small measure of protection for the tomatoes, any advantage is a good one. Likewise, sage can work to repel the cabbage moths and black flea beetles that attack cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, so a gardener can gain a slight advantage if sage is planted with these crops.
Organic Gardening Fertilizers
Animal manure is the best fertilizer for organic gardening. The manure needs to be partially broken-down, however, before it is applied to the plants. For best results, the manure should be aged for 30 days to allow for breakdown; otherwise, it can be composted. To find out more about managing manure, read the Ohio State University’s guide to Manure Management.
The benefits of animal manure can be found in the nutrients contained within the manure. Though the nutrient content varies greatly depending on the source of the manure (the type of animal and its age, physical condition and diet all play a role), some level of the following nutrients can be expected: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and calcium. Fresh manure should not be applied to growing plants, or within 120 days of harvest time.
Compost is another good organic fertilizer. Compost is made from the decomposition of organic materials, including lawn trimmings, crop residues, food scraps and wood chips. A compost pile is made of alternating layers of organic materials that heat up in the sun after two or three days, though it takes between two months and a year for the compost to be ready, depending on the season, materials used and the skill of the person doing the composting. Every three to four weeks during that period, the compost must be turned with a pitchfork to allow the different materials to mix into a uniform fertilizer.
Organic Garden Mulching
Mulch, which is usually composed of lawn clippings, wood shavings, pine straw or sawdust, is placed on the surface of the soil, around the plants. Mulch allows the soil to conserve water and nutrients, reduce erosion and weed growth, moderate temperature and reduce rot on fruit that is caused by soil. Plastic mulch, which comes in a variety of colors, also can be used.
Controlling Weeds, Insects and Diseases in an Organic Garden
Mulching is recommended to control weeds, as are hoeing and shallow cultivation. Controlling insects and diseases by natural means, however, can be more difficult. Prevention is important because once an infestation occurs; it can be hard to control using only organic methods. Therefore, it is important to plant as early as possible using resistant varieties of plants and only seeds and transplants from disease-free plants. Also, clean up any plant refuse as soon as possible, water in the morning to avoid wet plants at night and get rid of diseased plants before the problem can spread to healthy plants. Insects can be picked from plants by hand, or natural predators can be introduced to the area. Some organic gardeners also use sprays that contain organic or natural plant poisons that can help keep insects at bay.
The National Gardening Association maintains a large bank of knowledge about gardening, and can help novices and those more experienced with tips, strategies, and support. Visit the National Gardening Association for more information.
Organic Gardening Certification
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the standards for organic farming. Certification must be obtained to sell organic crops with the claim that they are organically produced. The USDA National Organic Program accredits the agents who inspect organic products and certifies that they meet the standards established by the USDA.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
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Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
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Organic materials include leaves, grasses, food scraps, agricultural crop residue and other natural materials.
By promoting natural diversity and biological cycles in farming, organic gardening methods strive to create gardens that are self-sufficient and sustainable. Converting a garden to produce vegetables and fruit organically is a long-term process; it happens gradually, typically requiring several years, rather than in one single growing season. Organic gardening sometimes takes a great deal of work, but the rewards can be found in the chemical-free bounty of the harvest. Take a look at the basic process of organic gardening.
Planning an Organic Garden
The first step in creating an organic garden is to consider its purpose. Will the garden support an entire family, or will extra produce be grown and sold? Keeping the garden’s purpose in mind, a location should be chosen that is convenient to the home but big enough to meet the needs of the gardener. It is best to choose a location with well-drained soil that is near a water supply and not shaded by buildings or trees. Some gardeners plot a layout of the garden on paper before planting. The crops that will be planted in each row should be planned in advance.
Organic plant production depends on healthy and fertile soil, so the soil should be amended as necessary before planting to ensure quality. Decayed plant material is essential for producing fertile soil. This organic matter, when added to the soil, can slow erosion and offer a good environment for earthworms and other beneficial microorganisms. To ensure that the soil is healthy before planting, aim for 3 to 5 percent organic matter soil content. Be sure to mix the organic material into the soil at least three weeks before planting, because the organic material can interfere with the growth of the seeds if it is not completely rotted and incorporated into the soil before planting.
Planting an Organic Garden
In an organic garden, seeds must not have been chemically treated. Seeds for some crops, however, may not be available in non-treated form. In that case, if the grower is certified organic, he or she will need authorization from the certifier before buying the seeds. To achieve certified organic status, an application must be made to the National Organic Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information, visit National Organic Program Web site. For individual gardeners who are not certified, it comes down to a personal choice as to whether to use seeds that have been treated with chemicals.
Good choices for seeds include varieties that are best able to resist disease and insects. Plants that mature early are also good choices, because they allow less time for any diseases or insect damage to take place; by the same token, late-maturing plants are more susceptible to these common afflictions.
When planning and planting, keep in mind that some plants naturally can be used to the gardener’s advantage. For example, if the gardener plants dill on the opposite side of the garden from tomatoes, tomato hornworms will be drawn away from the tomato plants because they are more attracted to the dill. Although this approach may offer only a small measure of protection for the tomatoes, any advantage is a good one. Likewise, sage can work to repel the cabbage moths and black flea beetles that attack cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, so a gardener can gain a slight advantage if sage is planted with these crops.
Organic Gardening Fertilizers
Animal manure is the best fertilizer for organic gardening. The manure needs to be partially broken-down, however, before it is applied to the plants. For best results, the manure should be aged for 30 days to allow for breakdown; otherwise, it can be composted. To find out more about managing manure, read the Ohio State University’s guide to Manure Management.
The benefits of animal manure can be found in the nutrients contained within the manure. Though the nutrient content varies greatly depending on the source of the manure (the type of animal and its age, physical condition and diet all play a role), some level of the following nutrients can be expected: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and calcium. Fresh manure should not be applied to growing plants, or within 120 days of harvest time.
Compost is another good organic fertilizer. Compost is made from the decomposition of organic materials, including lawn trimmings, crop residues, food scraps and wood chips. A compost pile is made of alternating layers of organic materials that heat up in the sun after two or three days, though it takes between two months and a year for the compost to be ready, depending on the season, materials used and the skill of the person doing the composting. Every three to four weeks during that period, the compost must be turned with a pitchfork to allow the different materials to mix into a uniform fertilizer.
Organic Garden Mulching
Mulch, which is usually composed of lawn clippings, wood shavings, pine straw or sawdust, is placed on the surface of the soil, around the plants. Mulch allows the soil to conserve water and nutrients, reduce erosion and weed growth, moderate temperature and reduce rot on fruit that is caused by soil. Plastic mulch, which comes in a variety of colors, also can be used.
Controlling Weeds, Insects and Diseases in an Organic Garden
Mulching is recommended to control weeds, as are hoeing and shallow cultivation. Controlling insects and diseases by natural means, however, can be more difficult. Prevention is important because once an infestation occurs; it can be hard to control using only organic methods. Therefore, it is important to plant as early as possible using resistant varieties of plants and only seeds and transplants from disease-free plants. Also, clean up any plant refuse as soon as possible, water in the morning to avoid wet plants at night and get rid of diseased plants before the problem can spread to healthy plants. Insects can be picked from plants by hand, or natural predators can be introduced to the area. Some organic gardeners also use sprays that contain organic or natural plant poisons that can help keep insects at bay.
The National Gardening Association maintains a large bank of knowledge about gardening, and can help novices and those more experienced with tips, strategies, and support. Visit the National Gardening Association for more information.
Organic Gardening Certification
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the standards for organic farming. Certification must be obtained to sell organic crops with the claim that they are organically produced. The USDA National Organic Program accredits the agents who inspect organic products and certifies that they meet the standards established by the USDA.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Organic food
Organic foods are made according to certain production standards, meaning they are grown without the use of conventional pesticides and artificial fertilizers, free from contamination by human or industrial waste, and processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. If livestock are involved, they must be reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones, and generally fed a healthy diet. In most countries, organic produce may not be genetically modified.
Organic food production is a heavily regulated industry, distinct from private gardening for instance. Currently, the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan and many other countries require producers to obtain special certification in order to market food as organic within their borders.
Historically, organic farms have been relatively small family-run farms — which is why organic food was once only available in small stores or farmers' markets. However, since the early 1990s organic food production has had growth rates of around 20% a year, far ahead of the rest of the food industry, in both developed and developing nations. As of April 2008, organic food accounts for 1-2% of food sales worldwide. Future growth is expected to range from 10-50% annually depending on the country
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Identifying organic food
Mixed organic bean sproutsSee also: Organic farming for information on the production of organic food.
Processed organic food usually contains only organic ingredients. If non-organic ingredients are present, at least a certain percentage of the food's total plant and animal ingredients must be organic (95% in the United States and Australia) and any non-organically produced ingredients are subject to various agricultural requirements. Foods claiming to be organic must be free of artificial food additives, and are often processed with fewer artificial methods, materials and conditions, such as chemical ripening, food irradiation, and genetically modified ingredients.
They may also be required to be produced using energy-saving technologies and packaged using recyclable or biodegradable materials when possible.
Early consumers interested in organic food would look for non-chemically treated, fresh or minimally processed food. They mostly had to buy directly from growers: "Know your farmer, know your food" was the motto. Personal definitions of what constituted "organic" were developed through firsthand experience: by talking to farmers, seeing farm conditions, and farming activities. Small farms grew vegetables (and raised livestock) using organic farming practices, with or without certification, and the individual consumer monitored. As demand for organic foods continues to increase, high volume sales through mass outlets such as supermarkets are rapidly replacing the direct farmer connection. However, for supermarket consumers, food production is not easily observable, and product labeling, like "certified organic", is relied on. Government regulations and third-party inspectors are looked to for assurance. A "certified organic" label is usually the only way for consumers to know that a processed product is "organic".
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Legal definition
The National Organic Program (run by the USDA) is in charge of the legal definition of organic in the United States and does organic certification.Main article: Organic certification
See also: List of countries with organic agriculture regulation
To be certified organic, products must be grown and manufactured in a manner that adheres to standards set by the country they are sold in:
Australia: NASAA Organic Standard
Canada: Canada Gazette, Government of Canada
European Union: EU-Eco-regulation
Sweden: KRAV
United Kingdom: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
India: NPOP, (National Program for Organic Production)
Japan: JAS Standards.
United States: National Organic Program (NOP) Standards
Environmental impact
Several surveys and studies have attempted to examine and compare conventional and organic systems of farming. The general consensus across these surveys is that, in the short term, organic farming is less damaging for the following reasons:
Organic farms do not consume or release synthetic pesticides into the environment — some of which have the potential to harm soil, water and local terrestrial and aquatic wildlife.
Organic farms are better than conventional farms at sustaining diverse ecosystems, i.e., populations of plants and insects, as well as animals.
When calculated either per unit area or per unit of yield, organic farms use less energy and produce less waste, e.g., waste such as packaging materials for chemicals.
However, critics of organic farming methods believe that the increased land needed to farm organic food could potentially destroy the rainforests and wipe out many ecosystems.
Yield
One study found a 20% smaller yield from organic farms using 50% less fertilizer and 97% less pesticide. Studies comparing yields have had mixed results. Supporters claim that organically managed soil has a higher quality and higher water retention. This may help increase yields for organic farms in drought years.
One study from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency found that, area-for-area, organic farms of potatoes, sugar beet and seed grass produce as little as half the output of conventional farming. Findings like these, and the dependence of organic food on manure from low-yield cattle, has prompted criticism from scientists that organic farming is environmentally unsound and incapable of feeding the world population. Among these critics are Norman Borlaug, father of the "green revolution," and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, who asserts that organic farming practices can at most feed 4 billion people, after expanding cropland dramatically and destroying ecosystems in the process. Michael Pollan responds to this by pointing out that average yield of world agriculture is substantially lower than modern sustainable farming yields. Bringing average world yields up to modern organic levels could increase the worlds food supply by 50 %
A 2007 study compiling research from 293 different comparisons into a single study to assess the overall efficiency of the two agricultural systems has concluded that
organic methods could produce enough food on a global per capita basis to sustain the current human population, and potentially an even larger population, without increasing the agricultural land base (from the abstract)
The researchers also found that while in developed countries, organic systems on average produce 92% of the yield produced by conventional agriculture, organic systems produce 80% more than conventional farms in developing countries, because the materials needed for organic farming are more accessible than synthetic farming materials to farmers in some poor countries. On the other hand, communities that lack sufficient manure to replenish soils would struggle with organic farming, and the soil would degrade rapidly .
Energy Efficiency
Some studies are also consistent in showing that organic farms are more energy efficient.
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Pesticides and farmers
There are studies detailing the effects and side effects of pesticides upon the health of farm workers. Even when pesticides are used correctly, they still end up in the air and bodies of farm workers. Through these studies, organophosphate pesticides have become associated with acute health problems such as abdominal pain, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, as well as skin and eye problems. In addition, there have been many other studies that have found pesticide exposure is associated with more severe health problems such as respiratory problems, memory disorders, dermatologic conditions, cancer, depression, neurologic deficits, miscarriages, and birth defects. Summaries of peer-reviewed research have examined the link between pesticide exposure and neurological outcomes and cancer in organophosphate-exposed workers.
Imported fruits and vegetables from South America are more likely to contain high level of pesticides, even pesticides banned for use in the United States.[29] Migratory birds, such as Swainson's hawks, have wintering grounds in Argentina where thousands of them were found dead from monocrotophos insecticide poisoning.
Pesticide residue
A study published in 2002 showed that "Organically grown foods consistently had about one-third as many residues as conventionally grown foods."
Monitoring of pesticide residues in the United States is carried out by the Pesticide Data Program (part of USDA, which was created in 1990. It has since tested over 60 different types of food for over 400 different types of pesticides - with samples collected close to the point of consumption. Their most recent results found in 2005 that:
“ These data indicate that 29.5 percent of all samples tested contained no detectable pesticides [parent compound and metabolite(s) combined], 30 percent contained 1 pesticide, and slightly over 40 percent contained more than 1 pesticide. ”
—USDA, Pesticide Data Program
Several studies corroborate this finding by having found that while 77 percent of conventional food carries synthetic pesticide residues, only about 25 percent of organic food does.
A study published by the National Research Council in 1993 determined that for infants and children, the major source of exposure to pesticides is through diet. A recent study in 2006 measured the levels of organophosphorus pesticide exposure in 23 schoolchildren before and after replacing their diet with organic food. In this study it was found that levels of organophosphorus pesticide exposure dropped dramatically and immediately when the children switched to an organic diet. Food residue limits established by law are set specifically with children in mind and consider a child's lifetime ingestion of each pesticide.
There are controversial data on the health implications of certain pesticides. For example, the herbicide Atrazine has been shown in some experiments to be a teratogen, causing demasculinization in male frogs exposed to small concentrations. Under the effects of Atrazine, male frogs were found to have greatly increased occurrencesof either malformed gonads, or testicular gonads which contain non-degenerate eggs Effects were however significantly reduced in high concentrations, as is consistent with other teratogens affecting the endocrine system, such as estradiol.
Organic farming standards do not allow the use of synthetic pesticides, but they do allow the use of specific pesticides derived from plants. The most common organic pesticides, accepted for restricted use by most organic standards, include Bt, pyrethrum, and rotenone. Some organic pesticides, such as rotenone, have high toxicity to fish and aquatic creatures with some toxicity to mammals. It causes Parkinson's disease if injected into rats.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency and state agencies periodically review the licensing of suspect pesticides, but the process of de-listing is slow. One example of this slow process is exemplified by the pesticide Dichlorvos, or DDVP, which as recently as the year 2006 the EPA proposed its continued sale. The EPA has almost banned this pesticide on several occasions since the 1970s, but it never did so despite considerable evidence that suggests DDVP is not only carcinogenic but dangerous to the human nervous system — especially in children. The EPA "has determined that risks do not exceed levels of concern", a study of longterm exposure to DDVP in rats showed no toxic effects.
These concerns over the particular impact of pesticides on children have not gone unheeded. Fio360, an eco early-care center in Atlanta, GA, has even gone so far as to prepare organic foods for its clients' children.
Taste and nutritional value
The biggest study ever of organic food was completed in 2007 and found that organic fruit and vegetables contain up to 40% more antioxidants than conventional equivalents, and that the figure was 60% for organic milk. The 4-year study was funded by the European Union and was the largest of its kind ever undertaken These results were simply announced to the popular press, and have not yet undergone the rigors of scientific peer review. However, antioxidants are not actually proven to be beneficial in such quantities. Only minute amounts of antioxidants are necessary and can be gained from any food.
Some studies have shown higher nutrient levels in organic fruit and vegetables compared with conventionally grown products.
A 2001 study by researchers at Washington State University concluded, under judgement by a panel of tasters, that organic apples were sweeter. Along with taste and sweetness, the texture as well as firmness of the apples were also rated higher than those grown conventionally. These differences are attributed to the greater soil quality resulting from organic farming techniques compared to those of conventional farming. Other research has found that there is no significant different between organic and normal food. Antibacterial and antifungal agents, as well as DNA modifications have never been known to be the cause of any problems, even after extensive testing.
A 2002 meta-analysis (a review of all past studies on the subject) found no proof that organic food offers greater nutritional values, more consumer safety or any distinguishable difference in taste.
Some people argue that organic food is just a scam to get more money as no extra value can be obtained from the food.
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Cost
Organic products typically cost 10 to 40% more than similar conventionally produced products. Processed organic foods vary in price when compared to their conventional counterparts. An Australian study by Choice magazine in 2004 found processed organic foods in supermarkets to be 65% more expensive, but noted this was not consistent. Prices may be higher because organic produce is produced on a smaller scale, and may need to be milled or processed separately. Furthermore, there is an increase in shipping costs from more centralized production in otherwise regional markets. In the case of dairy and eggs, the animal's requirements such as the number of animals that can be raised per acre, or the breed of animal and its feed conversion ratio affects the cost.
Related movements
Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is an approach were members prepurchase "shares" in a season's harvest, and pick up their weekly portions from distribution sites. Thus, consumers provide direct financing for farms, participate in the risks and rewards of annual growing conditions, and distribute food directly from the farm.
Local food is buying food that was produced geographicly closer to the consumer. Local food is seen as a way to get fresher food and invest in one's own community.
The fair trade movement, based on the principle that social and environmental sustainability are inextricably interdependent, is often linked to organic food.
Biodynamic agriculture, a method of organic farming, is closely related to the organic food movement.
Facts and statistics
Organic Seals
International
United States
France
Australia
While organic food accounts for 1–2% of total food sales worldwide, the organic food market is growing rapidly, far ahead of the rest of the food industry, in both developed and developing nations.
World organic food sales jumped from US $23 billion in 2002[60] to $40 billion in 2006.
The world organic market has been growing by 20% a year since the early 1990s, with future growth estimates ranging from 10%-50% annually depending on the country.
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North America
United States:
Organic food is the fastest growing sector of the American food marketplace.
Organic food sales have grown by 17 to 20 percent a year for the past few years while sales of conventional food have grown at only about 2 to 3 percent a year.
In 2003 organic products were available in nearly 20,000 natural food stores and 73% of conventional grocery stores.
Organic products account for 2.6% of total food sales in the year 2005.
Two thirds of organic milk and cream and half of organic cheese and yogurt are sold through conventional supermarkets.
Canada:
Organic food sales surpassed $1 billion in 2006, accounting for 0.9% of food sales in Canada.
Organic food sales by grocery stores were 28% higher in 2006 than in 2005.
British Columbians account for 13% of the Canadian population, but purchased 26% of the organic food sold in Canada in 2006.
Europe
In the European Union (EU25) 3.9% of the total utilized agricultural area is used for organic production. The countries with the highest proportion of organic land are Austria (11%) and Italy (8.4), followed by Czech Republic and Greece (both 7.2%). The lowest figures are shown for Malta (0.1%), Poland (0.6%) and Ireland (0.8%)
Austria:
11.6% of all farmers produced organically in 2007.The government has created incentives to increase the figure to 20% by 2010.
4.9% of all food products sold in Austrian supermarkets (including discount stores) in 2006 were organic. 8000 different organic products were available in the same year.
Italy:
Since 2005 all school lunches must be organic by law.
Poland:
In 2005 168,000 ha of land were under organic management. 7 percent of Polish consumers buy food that was produced according to the EU-Eco-regulation. The value of the organic market is estimated at 50 million Euros (2006).
UK:
Organic food sales increased from just over £100 million in 1993/94 to £1.21 billion in 2004 (an 11% increase on 2003).
Caribbean
Cuba:
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, agricultural inputs that had previously been purchased from Eastern bloc countries were no longer available in Cuba, and many Cuban farms converted to organic methods out of necessity. Consequently, organic agriculture is a mainstream practice in Cuba, while it remains an alternative practice in most other countries. Although some products called organic in Cuba would not satisfy certification requirements in other countries (crops may be genetically modified, for example, Cuba exports organic citrus and citrus juices to EU markets that meet EU organic standards. Cuba's forced conversion to organic methods may position the country to be a global supplier of organic products.
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Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
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Organic food production is a heavily regulated industry, distinct from private gardening for instance. Currently, the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan and many other countries require producers to obtain special certification in order to market food as organic within their borders.
Historically, organic farms have been relatively small family-run farms — which is why organic food was once only available in small stores or farmers' markets. However, since the early 1990s organic food production has had growth rates of around 20% a year, far ahead of the rest of the food industry, in both developed and developing nations. As of April 2008, organic food accounts for 1-2% of food sales worldwide. Future growth is expected to range from 10-50% annually depending on the country
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Identifying organic food
Mixed organic bean sproutsSee also: Organic farming for information on the production of organic food.
Processed organic food usually contains only organic ingredients. If non-organic ingredients are present, at least a certain percentage of the food's total plant and animal ingredients must be organic (95% in the United States and Australia) and any non-organically produced ingredients are subject to various agricultural requirements. Foods claiming to be organic must be free of artificial food additives, and are often processed with fewer artificial methods, materials and conditions, such as chemical ripening, food irradiation, and genetically modified ingredients.
They may also be required to be produced using energy-saving technologies and packaged using recyclable or biodegradable materials when possible.
Early consumers interested in organic food would look for non-chemically treated, fresh or minimally processed food. They mostly had to buy directly from growers: "Know your farmer, know your food" was the motto. Personal definitions of what constituted "organic" were developed through firsthand experience: by talking to farmers, seeing farm conditions, and farming activities. Small farms grew vegetables (and raised livestock) using organic farming practices, with or without certification, and the individual consumer monitored. As demand for organic foods continues to increase, high volume sales through mass outlets such as supermarkets are rapidly replacing the direct farmer connection. However, for supermarket consumers, food production is not easily observable, and product labeling, like "certified organic", is relied on. Government regulations and third-party inspectors are looked to for assurance. A "certified organic" label is usually the only way for consumers to know that a processed product is "organic".
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Legal definition
The National Organic Program (run by the USDA) is in charge of the legal definition of organic in the United States and does organic certification.Main article: Organic certification
See also: List of countries with organic agriculture regulation
To be certified organic, products must be grown and manufactured in a manner that adheres to standards set by the country they are sold in:
Australia: NASAA Organic Standard
Canada: Canada Gazette, Government of Canada
European Union: EU-Eco-regulation
Sweden: KRAV
United Kingdom: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
India: NPOP, (National Program for Organic Production)
Japan: JAS Standards.
United States: National Organic Program (NOP) Standards
Environmental impact
Several surveys and studies have attempted to examine and compare conventional and organic systems of farming. The general consensus across these surveys is that, in the short term, organic farming is less damaging for the following reasons:
Organic farms do not consume or release synthetic pesticides into the environment — some of which have the potential to harm soil, water and local terrestrial and aquatic wildlife.
Organic farms are better than conventional farms at sustaining diverse ecosystems, i.e., populations of plants and insects, as well as animals.
When calculated either per unit area or per unit of yield, organic farms use less energy and produce less waste, e.g., waste such as packaging materials for chemicals.
However, critics of organic farming methods believe that the increased land needed to farm organic food could potentially destroy the rainforests and wipe out many ecosystems.
Yield
One study found a 20% smaller yield from organic farms using 50% less fertilizer and 97% less pesticide. Studies comparing yields have had mixed results. Supporters claim that organically managed soil has a higher quality and higher water retention. This may help increase yields for organic farms in drought years.
One study from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency found that, area-for-area, organic farms of potatoes, sugar beet and seed grass produce as little as half the output of conventional farming. Findings like these, and the dependence of organic food on manure from low-yield cattle, has prompted criticism from scientists that organic farming is environmentally unsound and incapable of feeding the world population. Among these critics are Norman Borlaug, father of the "green revolution," and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, who asserts that organic farming practices can at most feed 4 billion people, after expanding cropland dramatically and destroying ecosystems in the process. Michael Pollan responds to this by pointing out that average yield of world agriculture is substantially lower than modern sustainable farming yields. Bringing average world yields up to modern organic levels could increase the worlds food supply by 50 %
A 2007 study compiling research from 293 different comparisons into a single study to assess the overall efficiency of the two agricultural systems has concluded that
organic methods could produce enough food on a global per capita basis to sustain the current human population, and potentially an even larger population, without increasing the agricultural land base (from the abstract)
The researchers also found that while in developed countries, organic systems on average produce 92% of the yield produced by conventional agriculture, organic systems produce 80% more than conventional farms in developing countries, because the materials needed for organic farming are more accessible than synthetic farming materials to farmers in some poor countries. On the other hand, communities that lack sufficient manure to replenish soils would struggle with organic farming, and the soil would degrade rapidly .
Energy Efficiency
Some studies are also consistent in showing that organic farms are more energy efficient.
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Pesticides and farmers
There are studies detailing the effects and side effects of pesticides upon the health of farm workers. Even when pesticides are used correctly, they still end up in the air and bodies of farm workers. Through these studies, organophosphate pesticides have become associated with acute health problems such as abdominal pain, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, as well as skin and eye problems. In addition, there have been many other studies that have found pesticide exposure is associated with more severe health problems such as respiratory problems, memory disorders, dermatologic conditions, cancer, depression, neurologic deficits, miscarriages, and birth defects. Summaries of peer-reviewed research have examined the link between pesticide exposure and neurological outcomes and cancer in organophosphate-exposed workers.
Imported fruits and vegetables from South America are more likely to contain high level of pesticides, even pesticides banned for use in the United States.[29] Migratory birds, such as Swainson's hawks, have wintering grounds in Argentina where thousands of them were found dead from monocrotophos insecticide poisoning.
Pesticide residue
A study published in 2002 showed that "Organically grown foods consistently had about one-third as many residues as conventionally grown foods."
Monitoring of pesticide residues in the United States is carried out by the Pesticide Data Program (part of USDA, which was created in 1990. It has since tested over 60 different types of food for over 400 different types of pesticides - with samples collected close to the point of consumption. Their most recent results found in 2005 that:
“ These data indicate that 29.5 percent of all samples tested contained no detectable pesticides [parent compound and metabolite(s) combined], 30 percent contained 1 pesticide, and slightly over 40 percent contained more than 1 pesticide. ”
—USDA, Pesticide Data Program
Several studies corroborate this finding by having found that while 77 percent of conventional food carries synthetic pesticide residues, only about 25 percent of organic food does.
A study published by the National Research Council in 1993 determined that for infants and children, the major source of exposure to pesticides is through diet. A recent study in 2006 measured the levels of organophosphorus pesticide exposure in 23 schoolchildren before and after replacing their diet with organic food. In this study it was found that levels of organophosphorus pesticide exposure dropped dramatically and immediately when the children switched to an organic diet. Food residue limits established by law are set specifically with children in mind and consider a child's lifetime ingestion of each pesticide.
There are controversial data on the health implications of certain pesticides. For example, the herbicide Atrazine has been shown in some experiments to be a teratogen, causing demasculinization in male frogs exposed to small concentrations. Under the effects of Atrazine, male frogs were found to have greatly increased occurrencesof either malformed gonads, or testicular gonads which contain non-degenerate eggs Effects were however significantly reduced in high concentrations, as is consistent with other teratogens affecting the endocrine system, such as estradiol.
Organic farming standards do not allow the use of synthetic pesticides, but they do allow the use of specific pesticides derived from plants. The most common organic pesticides, accepted for restricted use by most organic standards, include Bt, pyrethrum, and rotenone. Some organic pesticides, such as rotenone, have high toxicity to fish and aquatic creatures with some toxicity to mammals. It causes Parkinson's disease if injected into rats.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency and state agencies periodically review the licensing of suspect pesticides, but the process of de-listing is slow. One example of this slow process is exemplified by the pesticide Dichlorvos, or DDVP, which as recently as the year 2006 the EPA proposed its continued sale. The EPA has almost banned this pesticide on several occasions since the 1970s, but it never did so despite considerable evidence that suggests DDVP is not only carcinogenic but dangerous to the human nervous system — especially in children. The EPA "has determined that risks do not exceed levels of concern", a study of longterm exposure to DDVP in rats showed no toxic effects.
These concerns over the particular impact of pesticides on children have not gone unheeded. Fio360, an eco early-care center in Atlanta, GA, has even gone so far as to prepare organic foods for its clients' children.
Taste and nutritional value
The biggest study ever of organic food was completed in 2007 and found that organic fruit and vegetables contain up to 40% more antioxidants than conventional equivalents, and that the figure was 60% for organic milk. The 4-year study was funded by the European Union and was the largest of its kind ever undertaken These results were simply announced to the popular press, and have not yet undergone the rigors of scientific peer review. However, antioxidants are not actually proven to be beneficial in such quantities. Only minute amounts of antioxidants are necessary and can be gained from any food.
Some studies have shown higher nutrient levels in organic fruit and vegetables compared with conventionally grown products.
A 2001 study by researchers at Washington State University concluded, under judgement by a panel of tasters, that organic apples were sweeter. Along with taste and sweetness, the texture as well as firmness of the apples were also rated higher than those grown conventionally. These differences are attributed to the greater soil quality resulting from organic farming techniques compared to those of conventional farming. Other research has found that there is no significant different between organic and normal food. Antibacterial and antifungal agents, as well as DNA modifications have never been known to be the cause of any problems, even after extensive testing.
A 2002 meta-analysis (a review of all past studies on the subject) found no proof that organic food offers greater nutritional values, more consumer safety or any distinguishable difference in taste.
Some people argue that organic food is just a scam to get more money as no extra value can be obtained from the food.
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Cost
Organic products typically cost 10 to 40% more than similar conventionally produced products. Processed organic foods vary in price when compared to their conventional counterparts. An Australian study by Choice magazine in 2004 found processed organic foods in supermarkets to be 65% more expensive, but noted this was not consistent. Prices may be higher because organic produce is produced on a smaller scale, and may need to be milled or processed separately. Furthermore, there is an increase in shipping costs from more centralized production in otherwise regional markets. In the case of dairy and eggs, the animal's requirements such as the number of animals that can be raised per acre, or the breed of animal and its feed conversion ratio affects the cost.
Related movements
Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is an approach were members prepurchase "shares" in a season's harvest, and pick up their weekly portions from distribution sites. Thus, consumers provide direct financing for farms, participate in the risks and rewards of annual growing conditions, and distribute food directly from the farm.
Local food is buying food that was produced geographicly closer to the consumer. Local food is seen as a way to get fresher food and invest in one's own community.
The fair trade movement, based on the principle that social and environmental sustainability are inextricably interdependent, is often linked to organic food.
Biodynamic agriculture, a method of organic farming, is closely related to the organic food movement.
Facts and statistics
Organic Seals
International
United States
France
Australia
While organic food accounts for 1–2% of total food sales worldwide, the organic food market is growing rapidly, far ahead of the rest of the food industry, in both developed and developing nations.
World organic food sales jumped from US $23 billion in 2002[60] to $40 billion in 2006.
The world organic market has been growing by 20% a year since the early 1990s, with future growth estimates ranging from 10%-50% annually depending on the country.
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
North America
United States:
Organic food is the fastest growing sector of the American food marketplace.
Organic food sales have grown by 17 to 20 percent a year for the past few years while sales of conventional food have grown at only about 2 to 3 percent a year.
In 2003 organic products were available in nearly 20,000 natural food stores and 73% of conventional grocery stores.
Organic products account for 2.6% of total food sales in the year 2005.
Two thirds of organic milk and cream and half of organic cheese and yogurt are sold through conventional supermarkets.
Canada:
Organic food sales surpassed $1 billion in 2006, accounting for 0.9% of food sales in Canada.
Organic food sales by grocery stores were 28% higher in 2006 than in 2005.
British Columbians account for 13% of the Canadian population, but purchased 26% of the organic food sold in Canada in 2006.
Europe
In the European Union (EU25) 3.9% of the total utilized agricultural area is used for organic production. The countries with the highest proportion of organic land are Austria (11%) and Italy (8.4), followed by Czech Republic and Greece (both 7.2%). The lowest figures are shown for Malta (0.1%), Poland (0.6%) and Ireland (0.8%)
Austria:
11.6% of all farmers produced organically in 2007.The government has created incentives to increase the figure to 20% by 2010.
4.9% of all food products sold in Austrian supermarkets (including discount stores) in 2006 were organic. 8000 different organic products were available in the same year.
Italy:
Since 2005 all school lunches must be organic by law.
Poland:
In 2005 168,000 ha of land were under organic management. 7 percent of Polish consumers buy food that was produced according to the EU-Eco-regulation. The value of the organic market is estimated at 50 million Euros (2006).
UK:
Organic food sales increased from just over £100 million in 1993/94 to £1.21 billion in 2004 (an 11% increase on 2003).
Caribbean
Cuba:
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, agricultural inputs that had previously been purchased from Eastern bloc countries were no longer available in Cuba, and many Cuban farms converted to organic methods out of necessity. Consequently, organic agriculture is a mainstream practice in Cuba, while it remains an alternative practice in most other countries. Although some products called organic in Cuba would not satisfy certification requirements in other countries (crops may be genetically modified, for example, Cuba exports organic citrus and citrus juices to EU markets that meet EU organic standards. Cuba's forced conversion to organic methods may position the country to be a global supplier of organic products.
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Worlds Best Compost. Make The Worlds Ultimate Natural Fertilizer, Colloidal Humus, Without Bins, Turning Or Odor. Click Here!
The Complete Grape Growing System. A Complete System With E-book And Audio Book To Help You Grow Grapes The Correct Way. Click Here!
How To Start Beekeeping. Want To Start Beekeeping? This New EBook Reveals It All. Start Keeping Bees This Season! Click Here!
Orchid Care Expert - A Practical Guide. The Most Practical Guide To Orchid Care To Be Found On The Internet. Click Here!
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual. 87 Page Step-by-step Gardening Manual For Beginners To Learn How To Grow Their Own Healthy, Organic Food - Saving Money And Eating Chemical Free! Great Bonuses With This E-manual. Revised Edition Just Released.
Click Here!
Forceful Orchid Fertilizers: Homemade Recipes. Know How To Feed Your Orchids To Quickly Get Astonishing Results. Click Here!
The Hypertufa How-To Manual. 100 Page EBook On How To Make Garden Art Objects From Hypertufa. Easy To Follow Instructions & Expert Advice. Click Here!
Homemade Hydroponics. Hydroponics Secrets Shows You How To Grow The Plants, Fruits And Vegetables -even In Limited Space--without Using Soil. Pays 75% Commission With Excellent Conversion Rates. Click Here!
Bonsai Gardening Secrets. Discover Over 95 Pages Of Insider Secrets To Creating Stunning Bonsai Trees. Click Here!
Forceful Insecticides Home Made Formula. Discover Secret Informations That Big Multinationals Dont Want You To Know! Click Here!
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