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Organic Gardening At Home

Food grown on commercial farms travels an estimated average of 1,400 miles before reaching our tables. Considering this statistic, as well as the resulting expenditure of fossil fuels, home gardening may be right for all of us. Get an early start this spring on your own organic garden. It is easier than you might think, and the benefits are plentiful.


Benefits of Organic Gardening
1. Connect to the earth and protect it from fuel usage.
2. Achieve some self sufficiency.
3. Save money (the more you grow the less you will have to buy).
4. Teach your children, grandchildren or the neighbor- hood children about plants, the earth and our connection to each.
5. Protect your family from pesticides and provide fresher foods containing more nutrients.
6. Reap what you sow.
For more benefits, visit: www.greencitybluelake.org.

What is Organic Gardening?
Food grown with practices that:
• Do not use synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.
• Improve the quality and fertility of the soil.
• Protect water quality.
• Reduce soil erosion.
• Rely on natural biological systems for pest and weed control.
• Reduce the impact of agriculture on our environment.
• Produce high quality, great tasting foods.

Getting Started:
Start with organic seeds. Two great resources include:
• Wood Creek Farm: a working farm (not a farm supply warehouse) that offers a diverse selection of natural and    organic growing supplies.www.woodcreekfarm.com.
• Turtle Tree Seed: operates as a workshop for people with special needs and volunteers who work together in a    unique intentional community in upstate New York. Seed packs are just $2.50 each, and a wide variety is    available. You must order by April 27, 2007: 1-800- 620-7388.

Organic Soils:
You can easily and affordably test the soil in your own backyard yourself to see if it reaches organic standards. With simple testing, you can learn the nutrient richness of your soil, the nutrients it may be lacking and any substances that you may need to remove. Earth Co. offers home-testing kits online with easy-to-understand instructions and online results in five to seven days. www.drgoodearth.com.

Local Resources for Organic Soil Matter
• Rosby's Greenhouse & Berry Farm: www.rosby's.com.
• Petitti Garden Centers: www.petittigardencenters.com.

No Space?
Start a small organic window box. Just fill a stainless steel window box or planting container with river pebbles and rocks for proper drainage. Add organic soil and compost. Drop in your favorite seeds and water. Then watch the sprouts pop up to greet you. Organic herb seeds are perfect for window boxes, as are leaf lettuce and small edible flowers such as marigolds.

Composting
Composting your food waste is one way to enrich the soil for your garden and flower beds. For a fun resource, visit www.plantea.com. Be sure to read the article titled "163 Things You Can Compost." From houseplant trimmings to tea bags, wool socks to fish bones, you will be amazed at the variety of items you should compost versus toss.

Water with Care
Watering your garden with city water through the hose can ruin the "no chemical" concept of organic gardening. But, there is no need to worry about this if you have a de-chlorinator attached to your hose. You can maintain proper bacterial balance in the soil, promote healthy plant nutrition and growth, and reduce chlorine. Visit www.ionizedwater.com/gardengro.htm for more information.

Website resources: www.howtocompost.org, www.rainbarrelguide.com.

Rebecca Reynolds is a mother of three, an environmentalist and the creator and president of Green Clean, Inc., a socially conscious, all-natural, professional cleaning company. She can be reached at (440) 899-9295 or www.green-clean-inc.com.