by A. Elizabeth Brown

Created on: May 05, 2008   Last Updated: July 15, 2011

Limiting or restricting use of chemicals and hormones in food sources is imperative, as side-effects of many of these agents exert proven detrimental effects upon the human body, to include impacting neurological functioning, immunity and gonadal effects such as increased size and aggression.

Many chemicals are harmful to the environment and, as they seep into the ground, lakes and rivers, they eventually make their way into our homes, posing a very real and dangerous threat to our health.

Green gardening was the way of the world before pesticides were born, and can be the wave of the future, with a little re-thinking and planning.

The most obvious, well-known first step today is composting. Composting insures healthy, nutrient-rich, organic soil with higher yield crops using clean methods of providing essential plant nutrients. Composting is simple and easy to start - a web search will give you the information you need to get your heap up and running in no time. The best part? After a hearty meal with the family and neighbors, you can take all their fruit and vegetable scraps and toss them on your pile, increasing the vitamin-packed punch of your finished earth.

Planned parenting - Your beds will flourish with a little forethought and research - some plants act as natural repellents of pests that thrive on neighboring plants.

For example: plant oregano and lemon basil beneath tomatoes and peppers and you've created a mutually restrictive environment.

Oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, lemongrass, and many other common herbs are natural antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals. Peppering these herbs throughout your vegetable plantings will help control pests, mold and mildew, viruses and other forms of rot and infection naturally, without any added chemicals.

Your vegetables will thrive with protection of these fragrant herbs. So will your tomato puree.

Many essential oils combat insect infestation without the dangers of chemicals. Neem oil is an effective agent to control pests; catnip essential oil is better and is inexpensive and plentiful. Catnip's not easy to start from seed, but can be grown in your garden. Catnip has been proven to protect against mosquito bites in humans. Catnip's other useful properties are still being studied.

Honey is also a natural anti-infective and can be used, in diluted spray form, to control obvious fungal and bacterial infections. Don't use highly concetrated formulas, as you may see more interest from bees and what-not, but the only other real concern to watch for is ants. Bay leaves, cinnamon cloves, tea tree oil, salt and white or black pepper can control ant infestation.

Green gardening takes a little research and rethinking, but it's more about getting back to basics, understanding and embracing natural plant interactions and homeostasis, and prizing and striving for a clean, healthful yield.

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