Growing Organically
An Introduction to Growing Organically
By: John Strickland
Successful landscapes and gardens are not accidental. They are the results of planning, care, and the will to make things grow. Among the many things an organic landscape and garden may offer toward a satisfying experience are fresh air, exercise, sunshine, knowledge, supplemental income, mental therapy, and regarding vegetable gardening: fresh food, rich in vitamins and minerals...and last but not least: improved health.
Organic gardening differs from "conventional" gardening mainly in the areas of soil preparation, fertilization and pest and disease control. The organic gardener prefers to use prevention and natural and organic materials and methods - avoiding practices and the use of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals that may be detrimental to his/her health and the natural environment.
Synthetic fertilizers and toxic pesticides were once the standard among professional landscapers and individuals, such as myself, who mistakenly believed they were the best and perhaps only effective means of pest control and enrichment.
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As more information pours in and more indicators arise, today, we are beginning to understand that there are serious health and safety issues associated with the use of toxic chemicals in the garden. Organics is the natural and intelligent alternative to chemical treatment. Proper organic gardening practices come with so many benefits. Beside being good for the environment on the whole, preventional practices, natural fertilizers and repellents are the safe and effective way to nourish your plantlife, control pests, and provide a healthy place for your children to play and pets and wildlife to roam.
Aside from our own yards, another thing we have to keep in mind is our creeks, streams, rivers, lakes and oceans - all the toxic chemicals and synthetic fertilizers we use in our landscapes and gardens eventually end up washing here. The effects are devastating. It's time we gardeners begin to take more seriously the effect that our heavy use of toxic substances is having on the natural environment we love and enjoy so much.
But I didn't accept this position as a writer here to point a finger or preach down to you about your use of toxic products in the garden and their harmful effect on the environment. Until recently, most of us were simply not aware of the harmful effects that the use of chemical and synthetic products posed to our health and the health of our natural environment.
When the Wilson Bros asked me if I would like to be a writer on this website I gladly accepted as this would sponsor yet another way for me to take what I've learned over the past 36 years of involvement in the field of horticulture and the green industry and use it to raise awareness about the many benefits that come from growing organically.
John Strickland
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