by Mike Walters

Created on: June 27, 2010

Organic gardening is a trend that is becoming increasingly popular every day, and I, for one, am extremely grateful for this. Did you know that when you eat conventionally farmed and marketed celery, you may be consuming up to 13 different chemical pesticides along with it? This is quite a scary thought.

Dr. Andrew Weil, a well-known medical health and wellness expert, has stated that there is absolutely no question as to whether these chemicals are bad for us. The question is only how bad they are for us. A great number of chemical pesticides have already been linked to ailments such as cancer, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and A.D.D. in children. The best way to avoid these dangerous chemicals in your diet is to grow your own organic produce.

The idea of beginning an organic garden can seem a little bit intimidating, but do not let it overwhelm you. The reason for this is simply that we have become so accustomed to using chemicals to solve our problems. This does not mean that chemicals are always necessary. It is absolutely possible to grow a successful, flourishing organic garden that will provide you with a bountiful harvest. Here are 10 helpful organic gardening tips to get you started on the right foot:

(1) Start with healthy soil. A foundation of healthy soil is absolutely critical for a successful garden. Before beginning your garden, I would suggest getting your soil tested at your local cooperative extension. Or, you can also buy a home test kit. The results of this test will let you know whether you need to raise or lower the pH level your soil, meaning whether you need to balance out the soil’s acidity and alkalinity. The magic number for most vegetable plants is a pH level of 6.5.

(2) Add the appropriate soil amendments. Based on your soil test results, you will need to add the appropriate amendments to balance your soil's pH level. There are a number of organic soil amendments you can add to your soil to help improve it. Make sure to always carefully read the label and all of the ingredients on a soil amendment or fertilizer, even if the label says “organic.” Even organic products may be chemically synthesized, so you must carefully look to make sure the product does not contain chemicals.

(3) Try an all-natural liquid fertilizer, such as ProtoGrow. You definitely don’t need chemicals to feed your plants. I recommend ProtoGrow because it contains a special blend of fish emulsion and kelp extract, both of which are very effective

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