Organic Gardening Questions

Organic Gardening Questions
What organic ways can I use to clean my soil (dog pooh question)?

My dog has been using the entire backyard as a potty for years now. She is on Phenobarbitol daily. I want to dig a garden bed for veggies. How can I clean the soil organically? Do I just have to use a bed filled with new soil?

you can hose it down really well to cleanse the soil. I wouldn’t worry too much though. There’s more trace amounts of drugs in our water than are probably on your lawn, unless you have well water.

Rototilling will mix up alot of your soil, and you can mix in compost and straw also. But, again, unless you can get chicken manure from a local farmer who watches what’s in his chicken feed, or certified organic soil, you’ll probably be adding more growth enhancers and other additives that we put into our animals.

Most veggies won’t pick it up anyway, unless they’re root crops. Just be careful what you plant your carrots and similar veggies in. Those are the ones that “suck up” poisons.

You propbably don’t want to sterilize your soil like another person suggested. Ashes are good for soil, but so are the natural bacteria and worms that live where you’re going to be planting. Fire could harm that balance.

Organic Gardening Questions

Why Grow an Organic Garden

Some first time gardeners might wonder why they should bother growing their vegetables organically.  They wonder if it even makes any difference in the long run.  Before that question can be answered a person must first understand what organic gardening really is.

Organic gardening is gardening without using any chemically created fertilizers, weed killers, or pesticides.  In most gardens store bought fertilizers that are crammed with chemicals are used to treat the soil the vegetables are planted in.  Later, more store bought pesticides and weed killers are sprayed among the vegetables while they are growing to kill the insects and weeds that are part of any garden. 

For many using store bought fertilizers, weed killers, and pesticides seems like the best choice.  It is often considered easier to run to the market, purchase a bottle of “weed killer” and spray your garden whenever you notice weeds growing.  The process is later repeated when any pests appear or the vegetables do not seem to be growing well.  The problem with using these store bought, chemically enhanced items is that you rarely know exactly what you are exposing your vegetables to.

There are some people who do take the time to check the ingredients on their products before buying them but most of us don’t.  In fact, many of us only look for the cheapest products available.  After buying based on price we are then exposing ourselves to potentially harmful chemicals by using them on food we plan to later eat.  Yes most vegetables are washed before being eaten but how thoroughly and how will washing help when the food has been grown using fertilizer loaded with unknown chemicals.  The following are two common pesticides used for gardening with their known possible side effects:

Malathion- Abdominal pain, stomach cramps, anxiety, unsteadiness, confusion, depression, diarrhea, labored breathing, dizziness, sweating, loss of bowel or bladder control, eyelid, face, and neck twitching, unusual weakness, and slow heartbeat.

Skoot- Headache, dizziness, loss of memory, kidney pain, insomnia, nausea, and vomiting.

These are only two pesticides that can lead to serious health products.  There are many more insecticides and pesticides used on vegetables that have very harmful side effects.  In addition to chemically saturated pesticides most vegetables are also grown using fertilizers that are filled with chemicals and the vegetable plants are also treated with weed killers that expose vegetables to even more chemicals.

By growing organically you are placing yourself in complete control of what is going into the food that you are eating and completely avoiding any chance of being poisoned by pesticides.  When vegetables are grown organically you do not have to wonder about what sort of chemicals your vegetables have been exposed to since you know that you have used no store bought, man made, chemicals in your garden.
In the event that you do feel that your vegetable garden needs pesticide or fertilizer there are natural ways to create both fertilizer and pesticide that do not involve buying outside products.

Along with shunning the use of pesticides organic vegetable gardening is also a great way to save money and valuable resources.  Surprisingly, many gardeners and those that are interested in starting their own gardens do not realize that starting an organic garden is a money saving move.  It is easy to forget that if you are not using store bought chemicals you do not have to pay additionally money each month for chemicals that you will quickly use and have to replace.

If you do not believe that organic gardening will save you money price the cost of store bought fertilizers, pesticides, and even weed killers the next time you are at the store.  Once you have found the cheapest items imagine having to continuously buy them to keep your garden going in addition to your normal household groceries and supplies. 

Imagine the money you will you will save by not using these expensive products all together.  Also imagine the money you will save by not having to waste gas making last minute trips to the market when you realize you have run out of these supplies.

These last minute trips to the grocery store will happen more often than you realize if you start a garden using chemicals.  It is easy to forget to purchase weed killer during a hectic grocery store trip only to come home and find that weeds are overrunning your garden.  The same thing often happens with pesticides.  Many gardeners will not purchase a replacement bottle of pesticide because they have not noticed any insects.  Then, the next thing they know, their garden is overrun with hungry insects ruining the fruits of their labor.

If saving money isn’t a major concern for you or your family think about the health benefits that come from gardening organically.  Organic vegetables are usually recommended with many diets, especially diets that encourage detoxification and the cleansing of ones system.  Having a fresh supply of organic vegetables on hand at all times will help you and your family lead a healthier lifestyle and make any organic vegetable detox diet easier to maintain. 

Organic vegetables and a detox regiment can do wonders for your health and the health of your family.  Many people who eat meals that are made up of at least 60% organic vegetables will find that they have more energy as a result of receiving more vitamins and minerals from a natural source.  Overtime those who have diet consisting primarily of organic vegetables will experience a lowering of blood pressure and cholesterol.  They will also find it easier to lose weight since they are consuming less fat and processed foods.

Last, but never least, organic vegetables taste much better than those that have been heavily treated with chemicals.  Good, organic, vegetables that have never been sprayed with pesticides and other chemicals will usually have a more pronounced flavor and better taste than their non-organic counterpart.  People who eat organic vegetables taste the vegetable and not the chemicals that have been used to protect and grow the vegetable.  Many people who grow organic vegetables do so for the great taste more than anything else.

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Using organic materials to create compost for garden soil?

I’m going to start throwing compostable things, like old fruits and veggies, cut grass, egg shells, ect, into my garden.

It’s best to make a container for it. Either a plastic box or a clean drum could work, it helps if you rotate it every few days too. You want stuff to stay put (and not get eaten by varmints) but still allow air in to help. Also, adding a little chicken manure or earthworms can kick it off real nice.

As far as soil drain, volcanic rock materials, like pearlite (the little white bbs) or hydroton clay pebbles, will help with water flow as well as aeration. Also, it helps to keep the soil from getting too packed.

Pruning Tomato Plants Suckers