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