by Stephanie Baumgartner

Created on: September 20, 2010

Butterflies and ladybugs alight on the fresh breeze, strawberries plucked from the bush eaten still warm from the sun, and gardening as an activity, not a chore, are just a few of the benefits of organic gardening.  Once established, organic gardens seem to tend to themselves, and the vegetables and fruits they provide are healthier and more flavorful additions to the home chef's pantry.  Your organic garden can begin now, with simple steps and natural alternatives to traditional chemical methods of fertilization and weed and pest control.

Organic gardening has enthusiasts who take "organic" to various degrees.  In it's most simple definition, organic gardening is raising ornamental and food plants without the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.  Some interpret the concept more stringently, not allowing any man-made materials, any natural but altered chemicals, any seeds that have been engineered, etc.  Regardless of how strictly you will set your standards of organic, starting an organic garden is not as difficult or complicated as one might think.

Stop using chemicals- Once you decide to use organic methods, eliminate the most obvious chemicals from your garden.  Chemical fertilizers and weed and pest killers are the biggest offenders. On fertilizer packages, there are numbers to indicate the Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium ratio, also known as the N-P-K ratio.  N-P-K ratios with numbers in the double digits, such as 10-14-16 are usually synthetic, while lower numbers usually indicate a natural fertilizer. Pyrethrin is a pesticide that is derived from the calendula marigold, but is still harsh, and lies in the grey area of organics.  Permethrin and other toxins should be removed from the garden routine.  Herbicides, unless they are a salt based product, are also usually synthetic.

Clean up the garden- Fallen debris is a haven for both pests and disease.  Dead foliage is allows a point of entry for disease and pests.  Clean up any debris, and prune off dead, dying or diseased portions.  Weeds will steal valuable nutrients from your plants, remove by hand, or smother with an organic mulch.  Remove any sources of chemical leaching, such as old pressure treated wood.

Start a compost pile- Compost is one of the best additions to your garden.  Compost can be incorporated into the soil or used as a mulch.  Incorporated into the soil, it lightens heavy soil and adds heft

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