“4 Reasons To Go Organic”
Have you been thinking about going organic in your garden, but are just not sure if it’s worthwhile, or something that’s even doable for yourself?..
Have you been wondering if this “organic thing” is really beneficial or just all hype or maybe you’ve heard it’s a lot of work and or costly..
What does “organic” really mean anyway…..
ORGANIC, what is it?
Simply put…”organic” means gardening without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers….(but it also means embracing mother nature and letting her work her magic.)
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Organic gardening is about balance, about working with nature (with the spiders, bees, and microorganisms…just to name a few.) It’s about growing the healthiest food and flowers possible and this cannot be done with the use of chemicals.
As stated by The National Institute of Environmental Science, “a pesticide is any substance used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant or animal life considered to be pests. Because of the widespread use of agricultural chemicals in food production, people are exposed to low levels of pesticide residues throughout their diets. Scientists do not have a clear understanding of the health effects of these pesticide residues.“
These types of chemicals (the wipe everything out type) are short-cuts, the lazy way to unhealthy food and these types of short-cuts will create a garden that is void of life…no bees, no butterflies, no worms..etc…
Food is life, so without life in the garden…you don’t have real food!
REASONS TO GARDEN ORGANICALLY
There are so, so many reasons to find that balance when growing our own food, plants, flowers, trees…or what have you…
Let’s start with the most crucial reason to garden organically…and that is YOUR health.
- Your health is first and foremost…. after all, we are what we eat!
- Secondly, the environment around us. All the living things that live among us…from the micro-organisms and earthworms to the birds, rabbits, deer..etc..(not to mention our four-legged family members)… that love to visit our gardens.
- And thirdly…the impact. When you grow your own food (have it be in your yard or around the corner in your neighborhood community organic garden) you have a positive impact on the planet.
- Lastly…growing your own food will save you money and save you even more if you already buy organic ( saves you from paying the mark-up on the “organic” label in the stores.)
WHY REASONS MATTER
The foundation for a healthy garden is the soil…if your soil is healthy then your flowers and veggies will be strong and more able to fight off disease and pests. Diseases develop mainly from an imbalance in the soil and pests attack weak plants. One good sign is a lot of earthworms ….we need all the creepy crawlies we can get. There is a very complex and delicate web at work in your garden and you need to let it do its thing….work with it and you will have a beautiful and delicious garden.
Rick Haney, a researcher for the USDA….says this: “The quest for ever-greater productivity — using fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and whatever other chemicals are at hand — is killing our soil and threatening our farms.” This is from an interview given by Yale Environment 360 (an online magazine) titled…(Why It’s Time to Stop Punishing Our Soils with Fertilizers.) https://e360.yale.edu/features/why-its-time-to-stop-punishing-our-soils-with-fertilizers-and-chemicals
Chemicals take a toll on our environment (from the big world around us to our yards, however big or small) and create a dead zone. Our gardens and yards should be a safe, peaceful, healthy place to be in…not a health hazard.
The key to healthy food is in your soil and in your hands!
So, if you’re still thinking about it….go outside pick a spot for your new garden and go from there.
And make sure the plants and or seeds you buy are not grown in or sprayed with chemicals either.
Happy Gardening!
I want to thank my Aunt, Sandy Brooks. The photos above are ones she took in her gardens.
Tagged: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pesticides
Yale Environment 360, https://e360.yale.edu/features/why-its-time-to-stop-punishing-our-soils-with-fertilizers-and-chemicals
The Organic Garden by Christine & Michael Lavelle