Organic Gardening &
Lawn Care Tips
Organic gardening
and lawn care is based on certain principles:
minimizing pollution, promoting sustainability,
working with nature and natural cycles. On a
practical level, this means not using chemical
fertilizers and pesticides, recycling and
creating diversity in the garden. This kind of
gardening is essentially a 'state of mind'; it
requires the gardener to think in a sustainable
way and to work in harmony with nature. It does
not matter how large or small the space you have
available for your gardening aspirations –
whether it is a tiny window ledge or several
acres - nor how much time you would like to
spend achieving your aims, these principles can
work in any situation for every type of organic
gardener. By adopting them you stand to gain in
so many ways.
TIPS
-
Look around
you. You will fare better if you create a
garden in accordance with the local
conditions for light, soil and weather. This
goes for the type of plants you grow, too.
It is easier to grow plants that are
indigenous to your area; you should require
less artificial aids and such plants will
benefit the local wildlife.
-
Visit
organic gardens or farms for inspiration.
Your local gardening organization might have
details of gardens in your area that are
open for visits. Alternatively, contact an
organic certifier (government agricultural
departments should be able to provide
contact details) to find out about local
organic farmers who would be happy to show
you around and pass on tips.
-
Assemble a
few basic bits of kit: a water barrel, a
compost bin or similar, and tools for
weeding (if possible, look for used tools to
reuse or find items made from recycled or
sustainably produced sources).
-
Decide what
you want from your garden before you start.
A chill-out zone with minimal work? Enough
vegetables to provide you with salads
throughout the summer and a soup or two in
the winter? Flowers and a lawn for the
children to play on? Or maybe a place for
entertaining on summer evenings? A garden
can be many things, and they can all be
green.
Without toxic
chemicals, your garden will be a safer place for
you, your family and your pets to relax in. The
food you grow will be safer to eat and your
garden will attract and support a greater
diversity of wildlife. You will be doing your
bit for the global environment by saving water,
planting traditional seed varieties that are
under threat and reducing demand for peat and
wood from threatened forests. You will reduce
your household waste and save money by using
natural resources. But, above all, it is fun and
immensely satisfying to nurture a garden using
age-old methods and your own creative ideas.
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