Abhishek Agarwal


Organic garden is nothing but gardening with the help of all the naturally endowed gifts that we possess. It deals with how well we use the natural endowments for the purpose of creating the garden of our dreams.

Why would anyone want to have an organic garden? Here is the answer to the question.

1. It is the IN thing to do. With the help of the kitchen and garden waste that we get, one can be very eco-friendly and put the waste into good use though it is quite time consuming than opting for pesticides and fertilizers available in the market.

2. There is very little usage of chemicals in case of organic gardening as we tend to use only what is naturally available to us. Hence, we can be safe from many serious consequences which are faced if chemicals are used. Many researches have proved that even small amounts of chemicals found in fruits and vegetables due to use of fertilizers and pesticides can cause great damage to our health especially among children.

It is believed that on an average every child swallows at least 4 to 5 times more cancer causing agents from pesticides than an adult. Organic gardening helps in eliminating this issue. We need to keep it in mind that the main motive behind using pesticides is to kill little organisms.

3. Organic gardens are very eco friendly. Usually, the pesticides that we use are washed into water which in turn causes a lot of harm to the organisms which thrive in it. This is eliminated in case of organic gardens.

4. Helps in saving costs. As we do not have to purchase fertilizers and pesticides for keeping away pests and insects we are saved from spending the extra buck. The items that we use for organic gardens mostly come from our kitchen cupboard. And many times, we can grow other plants with the ability to keep insects and pests at bay along with the main plant that we intend to grow. For instance, marigold is often grown along with vegetables as they are very helpful in repelling aphids.

Another solution for the pest problem is by using a mixture of 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid with a cup of cooking oil and using three tablespoons of this mixture with a quart of water to use as a pest spray on plants.

5. A mulch of pine needles will help in controlling the growth of weeds and will also keep the necessary moisture intact.

6. Organic gardening ensures a great environment to live for the generations to come.



Lenny

Vic Errington


Are you wondering what all the hype is about organic food? Do you actually know what it is? If you are interested in going organic, or just plain curious then read on…

The organic food industry has seen tremendous growth within recent years. Increased demand has led to increased production, creating a need for general standards and a legal definition of organic food.

Most countries have adopted their own laws and standards for uniformity within organic production and processing. This eliminates confusion while protecting consumers and manufacturers.

Organic Food Definition

Under most circumstances, organic foods are those grown without the use of synthetic (and often toxic) chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers and other inputs. Livestock intended for domestic consumption is not given hormone injections (artificial growth), and is not given antibiotics as routine. Processing is also a chemical-free procedure.

Organic foods are produced and processed using techniques that benefit the whole environment; soil, water, air, animals and humans.

The Origin of Organic

The organic food market was around long before a legal definition of organic existed. Natural, chemical-free cultivation has been common practice for centuries among small farms. Before the recent increase in demand for organic products, local farms and markets were the only source for fresh organic food.

Today organic standards and certification laws regulate the market, ensuring consumers a product that is truly organic, but there are still many small farms that use strictly organic growing methods without certification. Not all organic farms can afford the costs of certification, meaning their foods will not bear the organic label although produced to the same standards.

What Foods are Organic?

When you think of organic food, fruits and vegetables are the items that typically come to mind. Now, there is much greater variety in the organic market. There are organic options for almost everything today! Organic meats; organic dairy products; organic grains for pasta and cereal; you can even find organic desserts, chocolate, beers and wines.

What is Certified Organic?

In most countries, foods grown and processed according to the set standards and regulations can apply for organic certification. The application process is quite costly and time-consuming. Certified organic farms must present reports regarding the land use for both the past and the future. Stringent records must be kept and annual on-site inspections are carried out to ensure quality and authenticity.

The organic label can only be displayed by manufacturers or growers that have passed government certification. This protects consumers as well as producers by creating expectations for any product considered organic.

The main certification body in the UK is the Soil Association. In the US it is the USDA.

What is Organic Farming and Production?

Organic standards and regulations govern all aspects of organic production, including both crops and livestock. The key to successful organic production is to use as few non-renewable resources as possible whilst promoting healthful practices for wildlife, soil, water, and air.

Organic farming involves synthetic chemical-free growing techniques using organic seeds. Crops are farmed without irradiation or the use of genetic modification. Organic foods enjoy chemical-free processing as well, without artificial (synthetic) additives, preservatives, or other ingredients.

In addition to freedom from the use of hormones and antibiotics mentioned above, animals reared for organic food production enjoy open spaces, spacious shelter and an organic diet. Consequently meat and dairy are free of synthetic chemical residues.

Organic food is a new term for natural products that have been around for centuries. Recent advancements in the organic market have brought global attention to the benefits of an organic diet, proven by research, and the laws put in place by most governments ensure consumers are getting a true organic product.



Paddy

Diana Walker


There are many things in our society today that are causing disease, illnesses, and ailments. The main reason for so many conditions in our world is the food we eat. Foods loaded with pesticides and other toxins are slowly killing our bodies rendering our immune system too weak to handle the onslaught of disease that enters through various avenues.

One of the best defenses for the body is whole organic foods. Organic fruits and vegetables are not genetically modified.  Organic plants are grown with no pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste or sewage sludge and they have been processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. Organic meat has been raised without antibiotics or the use of growth hormones. In other words, organic foods are produced naturally without any man-made chemicals.

Knowing this, there are so many reasons why eating organic foods is beneficial.

1. Your body can fight disease, bacteria and viruses when it is fed organic food. There are no chemicals in the food and you are adding a more wholesome option when you eat organic. Many of the chemicals found in non-organic foods have been linked to many types of cancer. By eating more organic foods, your body will be healthy and in turn you have more strength and energy.

2. Organic foods contain at least 50% more nutrients, vitamins, and minerals than their non-organic counterparts. Food that has been chemically altered in any way has far less nutritional value and therefore is not as healthy for your body.

3. The same growth hormones and antibiotics that are added to many foods that we eat, like chicken, enter the human body.  These hormones and antibiotics may be cause early maturation in children, especially young girls. Eating a diet rich in organic foods help to assure that your child will mature as nature intends.

4. Because organic foods are lower in fat it helps to fight and prevent obesity. Health experts warn that a diet high in fatty food lead to heart disease, stroke, and other life threatening diseases. A diet filled with organic foods helps to prevent these conditions and keep weight down.

5. Antibiotics found in non-organic foods are a direct cause of allergies. Many of the allergies people suffer can be avoided by eating organic foods.

6. Organic fruits and vegetables are not only grown using nature but they taste better as well. When you eat organic you get the full flavor of the food you are eating without added toxins that tend to ruin the true taste.

7. Organic foods safeguard against toxic metals like cadmium, lead and mercury. Heavy metals damage nerve functions and block hemoglobin production which leads to anemia. The same metals are also linked to a lower IQ and disease such as multiple sclerosis.

In addition to the above reasons, by eating organic foods you are helping to save the environment and supporting small scale local farmers. Keep in mind also that contrary to popular belief, purchasing organic foods is not always expensive and there are many ways to purchase it at a lower cost.

Take the time to learn about the benefits of organic food and apply it to your daily eating habits. It will change your body and your life.



Lorrie

Andrew Bicknell


As more and more people worry about just how healthy the food they buy in grocery store is they are turning to organic gardening to replace many foods that are subject to synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides. The whole idea behind a natural garden is to use only natural methods to grow fruits and vegetables. There is nothing magical about organic gardening; in fact it uses methods that have been in place for thousands of years.

Here are six reasons why many people are turning to organic gardening to supplement their family food needs.

1. You can use your own waste from the garden and kitchen to make compost. While it may be easier to use chemical fertilizers compost restores the soil and its ability to grow fruits and vegetables naturally. The addition of chemical fertilizers eventually depletes the soil to the point that it is sterile and the food that you do grow has little nutritional value. Composting also cuts down on the amount of waste that is put into landfills.

2. Chemicals of any kind are not used in organic farming. Even though the chemical companies tell us that the chemicals in their products are safe when used according to the directions research has shown that many of these chemicals, which in effect are poisons, can be absorbed through the skin and cause adverse affects. It is important to remember that herbicides and pesticides are produced to kill other living things.

3. There is less harm to the surrounding environment. Chemicals are washed into neighboring properties and waterways, polluting the surrounding habitat.

4. There is less topsoil erosion because rich fertile soil is less likely to wash or blow away. According to the soil conservation service an estimated 30 to 32 billion tons of soil is lost from U.S. farms every year.

5. There is a significant cost savings with organic gardening practices. Once the soil is established through the application of compost it becomes almost self sustaining. There is no need to buy costly fertilizers and pesticides. In fact many pest control recipes can be made from everyday products found tight in the kitchen cabinet.

6. Mulch is the organic gardener\’s best friend. A thick layer of mulch suppresses weeds and keeps the soil moist, reducing the amount of water needed to grow fresh fruits and vegetables.

7. By helping keep the environment and food supplies safe organic gardening practices are a great way to ensure that future generation will have a sustainable world to live in.

If gardening is something you\’ve always wanted to try or is something you are already passionate about then going organic can be a great way to help not only your own health but the health of those around you.



Eric

Christy Wilhelmi


When I think of heirloom vegetables, romantic notions of windswept hillsides and fields of sunflowers come to mind. I picture a sturdy wooden table arranged with rustic linens and slender glasses of wine, each one catching a ray of sunlight and reflecting onto the summer palate of oranges, reds and yellows that make up a bowl of freshly prepared Caprese salad. There is nothing quite like the combination of heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil and buffalo mozzarella cheese. Mix in a little olive oil, salt and pepper and you have the quintessential summer faire of the gods. Sure, you can make it with regular tomatoes, but the difference in flavor is like the difference between cheesecake and cardboard. Heirloom tomatoes provide exotic flavor, color and biodiversity to your life from garden to table.

By definition, an heirloom is something that is passed down from generation to generation, in hopes of preserving the memory of days gone by. In the case of heirloom tomatoes, varieties from around 100 years ago are still in circulation today thanks to thoughtful growers of yesteryear who carefully saved seeds and handed them down to their children. Seed banks and catalog companies that specialize in providing heirlooms to curious gardeners have opened the door to a world of variety ordinarily unavailable to the public.

Heirloom seeds have survived the test of time, exposure and ecological change, and are therefore more disease and pest resistant than many of their younger counterparts. Also, with supermarkets continuing to reduce the amount of biodiversity available in their produce isles, and with the introduction of genetically modified fruits and vegetables, the idea of heirloom produce is even more appealing to those who want to know – and trust – their food sources.

Some of my favorite heirloom tomatoes are chosen more for color rather than taste, even though their taste is mind-blowing, simply because there are a rainbow of colors to choose from. Each year I plant at least one of every color to insure a feast for the eyes all summer long. Let’s look at that rainbow, shall we?

Reds/Pinks: Other than the increasingly popular “Brandywine” tomato, there are so many reds and pinks out there: Costaluto Genovese – a medium to large, ribbed fruit; Burbank Red Slicing – as close to a standard tomato as heirlooms get, with much more flavor; Old German – huge red tomatoes with a blush of green on top; German Queen – a large beefsteak variety also with some color variation; Arkansas Traveler – a beefsteak tomato that will satisfy the Henry VIII in all of us. Mortgage Lifter – famous for its size, which was so said to be so big that it could help a farm out of foreclosure; and Amish Paste – a plum tomato like the traditional Roma. Some catalogues contradict each other when listing some heirlooms whose lineage is somewhat unclear: Ispolin – a softball sized flat tomato molted with oranges and pinks; and my all-time favorite, Stupice – a Czechoslovakian salad tomato that is, without fail, the first on the block to provide bright red, flavorful tomatoes every year. This plant breaks from tradition with its potato leaf foliage that also adds variety to your garden.

Oranges: Jaunne Flamme is an orange tomato that produces salad tomato sized fruit. The bright color and consistently sweet flavor make it a perfect choice for those trying to venture out into new tomato territory. Tigerella, and Tigerlike are both striped tomatoes that delight the eyes and perk up any dish with their unusual color; Orange Oxheart is indeed a heart-shaped tomato that breaks the mold of traditional flat-bottomed tomatoes. In some catalogues but not others, the Persimmon tomato is listed as an heirloom. It is shaped and colored like a persimmon, but don’t be fooled, as its sweet tomato flavor is nothing like its look-alike.

Yellow: I have tried many yellow tomatoes and have found few to compare with the delicate sunny flavor of the Yellow Pear. These sweet little teardrops of summer goodness hardly make it in from the garden, and mostly serve as tasty snacks while gardening. Even among the Yellow Pear, I have found one particular Yellow Pear from Seeds of Change to be sweeter than the others. For some other interesting yellows try Yellow Perfection – a larger salad tomato; Pineapple – a most interesting variety that is streaked with red throughout the center; and Garden Peach – named appropriately because it actually has fuzz! Don’t let that deter you from trying this unusual gem. The flavor is outstanding.

Green: Admittedly, the only green tomato I have tried to grow is the famous Green Zebra. With its dark green stripes over a soft green exterior that leans toward yellow if left on the vine a little longer, the Green Zebra is a terrific addition to any dish for diversity and a change of pace. If you haven’t tried this one, be sure to put it on your shopping list for summer.

Purple and Black: This year I am growing Cherokee Purple – a large tomato with a purple interior and green shoulders. Purple Calabash, similar to its relative Red Calabash, has a molten interior that is dark and mysterious. Adventurous tomato tasters will find it full of flavor and hefty in size. Black Plum is another plum tomato similar to a traditional Roma, but with greenish-black shoulders, much like its larger counterpart, Black, which has the same markings in a regular sized tomato. Black Krim is another popular choice

White: If you are looking for something new and different, try Nebraska Wedding – a white medium to large sized tomato. Unfortunately this one didn’t do so well in my coastal garden. Great White, however, was a huge success – a huge plant, huge tomatoes, and huge flavor. One slice would almost completely cover a slice of bread, and the color was throughout with little yellow seeds. This was one of the most interesting tomatoes I’ve grown in years.

The key to heirloom tomatoes is experimentation. Whether you are buying them at a grocery store, or growing them yourself, choosing different varieties each time is the best way to find what works for your garden or your palette. Each year I have my trusted, foolproof varieties, but I always choose at least 3 or 4 new heirlooms to try. Thankfully, we are beginning to see the phenomenon of heirlooms taking hold in gourmet and farmers markets, so they are becoming more accessible to mainstream shoppers. Just as Julia Child was influential in the appearance of gourmet vegetables in supermarkets, so can we be influential by demanding diversity and inclusion of heirlooms at our local markets. If you can’t get heirlooms where you live, and you aren’t able to grow them yourself, ask your store manager to stock them every time you go shopping. With a little effort and curiosity, soon everyone will be able to enjoy the wonder of biodiversity and fabulous flavor.



Carlos

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Dale Martin


There are many types of organic gardening, from organic vegetable gardening to organic flower gardening. Many people have no idea what organic gardening really is. Organic Gardening refers to growing plants, vegetables, etc. without using pesticides or other harmful chemicals.

Many people believe that organic gardening offers many health benefits and that organically grown food is much better for the human body than food grown with pesticides and chemicals. With such health concerns in place, it only makes sense to grow your fruits and vegetables organically in your very own organic home garden.

If you would like to learn how to have your own organic garden but are unsure of where to start, you are in luck. I have compiled a few easy organic gardening tips for you to follow to get you started off on the right foot.

Collect Your Own Rainwater

This seems like a weird thing to do, but it is actually one of the best tips for organic gardening. For this procedure you will need to purchase a couple barrels from your local hardware store. These barrels will be used to collect rainwater. By collecting rainwater you are conserving water resources instead of wasting it. Some organic gardening growers hook up elaborate system of piping and hose to their rain collection barrels and the system then waters the organic garden automatically. You can probably find a variety of instructions for these types of systems by searching Google. If you don want to get that elaborate you can easily use a small bucket to scoop the water from the barrels or better yet, get a barrel with a spout on it, to water your organic garden by hand.

All Natural Fertilizer

Fertilizer is the place where most organic gardening growers go wrong. You must choose your fertilizer carefully. Many brands of fertilizer produced today contain some type of chemical. Be sure to read the label for the list of ingredients. True organic gardening must use an all natural fertilizer. Even if it says All Natural on the bag, make sure you read the label for the ingredients.

Another source of great natural fertilizer for organic gardening can come from using compost. Compost will help improve the structure of your soil and at the same time help increase the soils water retaining abilities. The best part about using compost for organic gardening is that it is free if you have your own compost pile or box. If not, you can always start one by beginning to collect grass clipping, leaves, etc.

Mulch for Organic Gardening

A simple yet often overlooked tip for organic gardening is to use mulch. By using organic material to mulch around your flower beds and trees you will conserve water, add humus and nutrients, and discourage weeds. This is one of the easiest organic gardening tips there is. Just be certain to locate a suitable natural organic mulch to do the job. You should be able to find one at your local home store or at a large nursery.

There are really no downsides to organic gardening. It is simply a matter of you putting in the time and consideration to make the switch from regular gardening to organic gardening. Not only will you be producing more healthy and nutritious plants and food but you will also be doing your part for the environment by not using chemicals or pesticides that do damage to it. Everything is going Green these days, so you might as well jump on the band wagon and help save the environment and a simple way to start is through organic gardening.