| Everyone - including the backyard | | | | species, develop habitat to encourage |
| gardener - who wants to grow food in a | | | | the natural enemies of pests, and use |
| way that is sustainable and that | | | | controls like traps and non-synthetic |
| respects the natural environment can | | | | repellants.~~Diseases~~ |
| benefit from using the federal organic | | | | Prevention is the idea. Plants grown in |
| guidelines from the Organic Food | | | | healthy soil are naturally resistant to |
| Production Act that took effect in 2002. | | | | disease. Crop rotation and selecting the |
| These federal standards for organic | | | | right varieties also contribute to |
| cultivation were designed by people with | | | | disease control. If, however, there is |
| a profound knowledge of how to produce | | | | still a problem, visit the USDA web site |
| food ecologically.With the home gardener | | | | mentioned above and select from the |
| rather than the market gardener | | | | National List of biologicals and |
| especially in mind, what follows here is | | | | botanicals that are permitted to |
| an overview and some highlights of the | | | | certified organic growers.~~Weeds~~ |
| standards and regulations. For more | | | | The federal organic standards allow no |
| details, visit the US Department of | | | | herbicides. Control weeds by tilling, |
| Agriculture (USDA) website: Click | | | | hand weeding, mowing, etc. Also, natural |
| "National Organic Program."~~Soil~~ | | | | mulches (e.g. straw) are useful.~~Seeds |
| In an organic gardening system, soil | | | | and Transplants~~ |
| health is fundamental to success. Even | | | | These must also be organic for the crop |
| though natural fertilizers and other | | | | to be labeled organic.The backyard |
| inputs are used in organic gardening, | | | | gardener who is interested in growing |
| they are minimized by regular additions | | | | organically for the nutritional and |
| of organic material to feed and improve | | | | environmental benefit rather than for |
| the soil. This material can come, for | | | | the purpose of marketing, probably |
| instance, from tilling in cover crops | | | | doesn't need all the nitty gritty |
| and from using approved soil amendments | | | | details of the Organic Food Production |
| such as compost.Raw animal manures are | | | | Law.Just use the basic guidelines and |
| not to be used as soil amendments within | | | | act with respect for nature, and you're |
| six months of harvest for root crops. | | | | on the way to producing organic food. |
| For crops where the edible part never | | | | It's well worth it: healthier for people |
| touches the soil, raw animal manures are | | | | and healthier for the |
| not used within three months of harvest. | | | | environment.Life-time gardener Judith |
| Sewage sludge is absolutely banned. Crop | | | | Schwader specializes in organic |
| residues can be chopped into the soil, | | | | gardening methods. She shares expertise, |
| but not burned.~~Pests~~ | | | | humor, and advice for your gardening |
| Biological pesticides can be used, but | | | | success at A to Z Gardening. Also visit |
| should be viewed as a last resort. | | | | FB Home for additional home and garden |
| Before spraying a pesticide, organic | | | | information. |
| gardeners can use predators of the pest | | | | |