Experts at organic industry pioneer Quality Assurance International have the following tips for people interested in going organic in their backyard gardens:
Start with the seed. To avoid genetically modified organisms, make sure you’re purchasing organic seeds. Even mass market retailers like Home Depot now stock organic seeds, but you might discover more flavorful and rare seeds by searching out heirloom organic seeds online or at your local farmers’ market.
Raised Vegetable Bed Courtesy Gardener's Supply
Brown is the new green! Care for your soil through the use of compost, which creates a nutrient-rich second life for materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill. This page on Mother Earth News has easy tips for starting your own compost or worm bin (worms help break down organic matter more quickly). Visit the EPA compost page for more details.
Don’t tell all insects to “bug-off”. Ladybugs, certain spiders, lacewings and many other common insects can benefit your garden by preying on insects that may harm your crops. You can attract friendly insects through planting specific crops and providing insect-friendly cover. This excellent article from Organic Gardening has more details.
Mix up your crops. Because different plants require different nutrients to thrive, it’s to your benefit to mix up the “floor plan” of your garden plot. This helps ensure that your garden soil doesn’t get depleted of nutrients, and will help your crops to thrive. You should also let certain areas of your garden to lie fallow each year to allow for the soil to replenish.
Give yourself credit for helping the water supply! By avoiding synthetic chemicals in your garden, you’re positively impacting water quality for you, your neighbors, wildlife and nearby streams, rivers and lakes.
Quality Assurance International (QAI), an organic industry pioneer founded in 1989 and headquartered in San Diego, Calif., is the leading provider of organic certification services worldwide. QAI’s programs verify organic integrity at each link of the supply chain. For more information, visit qai-inc.com
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