Guest guest Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Sisterhood_of_the_GreenHeart [sisterhood_of_the_GreenHeart ] On Behalf Of GrannyMoon Thursday, April 10, 2008 12:04 PM Sisterhood_of_the_GreenHeart ; EatYourWeeds ; GrannysHerbs [sisterhood_of_the_GreenHeart] 10 Steps to an Organic Garden 10 Steps to an Organic Garden by iVillager sailing_on As an organic farmer and gardener, I realized that the key to gardening is flexibility. Too much rain one year, not enough the next -- this is why it is essential to create a healthy base to build on. It will be the one stable point in your garden. Good soil, good plants and good intentions are so important. Nurturing plants in harmony with nature is both satisfying and safe -- you just need some patience, diligence and humor. Take my advice and double up on the humor. Although the following 10 tips are for organic gardening, they can be useful for any gardener. Test Your Soil Testing your soil helps you find out what's missing. Is your soil acid or alkaline, or is it neutral? Some plants prefer one or the other, but most like it just fine in the middle. Neutral soil pH is 7, acid is any reading below 7, and alkaline is any reading above 7. A good way to remember this is to note that " acid " has four letters and is lower than neutral, and " alkaline " has eight letters and is higher. It is important to know what you have to work with so your plants can grow to their maximum strength. Don't treat your soil like dirt. It's a bumper sticker some organic farmers have on their pickup, and it evokes an important truth. It all starts with good soil, and it may take years and years of amendments to get the tilth just right. What is good soil? Good soil is filled with organic material such as compost, it can be easily turned over with a fork, it holds moisture, and it can nurture whatever you plant. Experiment. Fun gardening should explore all kinds of plants you like. Sometimes it is a variety of your favorite that you will find is perfectly suited to your soil and site. But you won't know that until you plant (and replant if needed). Also, don't be afraid of failure. When you have Mother Nature to deal with, climate will play a part in your efforts, and believe me, your plans can be easily altered. Keep a first aid kit for your garden. This kit should include some chicken wire, stakes, temporary fencing, tie-up material, soap for washing plants and an all-purpose organic fertilizer. (Everyone, including your plants, likes a snack now and then.) It is also a good idea to anticipate pests. If you have just moved to an area, find out what pests you may have to deal with. Stock some natural repellents so if you see something that's not right you can help your plants quickly. Make sure you buy or order plants or seed stock from a good company with quality products. Don't introduce a sick plant into your little piece of paradise. Healthy plants actually have their own immune system and can repel some pests. Keep a little notebook of plants and their placement in your garden. Eventually, this can expand to include a diary with entries of how your plants grew and, perhaps, special plants you have read about that you want to try to find. Get to know your plants up close and personal. That is the one big benefit from weeding. Actually, I have to keep reminding myself how good this is when the going gets tough. But it is down at this level that you can take inventory of how your plant is doing. You can take time and turn the leaves over looking for unwanted guests, and check and see whether the good insects are with you. You can take off dead leaves and leaves that trail on the ground. Practice companion planting. Some plants do better when planted near others. Some herbs, for instance, benefit certain plants and vegetables by improving the flavor. Some flowers lure insects to them and off your other plants. Some plants attract birds, butterflies and beneficial insects that will help get rid of pests. Rotate your plants. In an organic garden, rotation of plants is important. Rotation for a vegetable garden is essential because some vegetables take nutrients out of the soil, and some actually put nutrients into the soil. Those love being rotated. Some opportunists -- such as pests -- will set up house close to their favorite plants. Changing plant placement is like giving them the moving box. Enjoy your garden. Make it a size that you can manage without stress. There is nothing more rewarding than observing growing plants. This applies to all ages. Visit daily, and feel at peace there. Goddess Bless! GrannyMoon http://GoddessSchool.com http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/index.html http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html The GoddessSchool Bookstore http://astore.amazon.com/ancestordetect08/ " Do not ask Goddess to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet! " ~GoddessSchool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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