Begin Organic Gardening With Me! From Scratch!

I have finally taken the plunge and started my own organic garden (in a very small way but with great plans for expansion as my knowledge expands). Getting to that point proved tremendously difficult and caused a real internal battle for me. I knew I wanted to save money, do my bit for the environment, save my family from the pesticide ridden, tasteless, mass produced excuses for vegetables and feel the tremendous pride derived from growing ones own food. However, I was severely lacking in confidence and ever making lame excuses for not biting the bullet.

For some people, gardening is a passion while for others garden it is an enjoyable and rewarding hobby. Increasingly, people are turning to gardening as a way to feed their families. We think Shirley MacClaine’s character in “Steel Magnolias” said it best. “Because that’s what Southern women do – we wear funny hats and grow things in the dirt.” You don’t have to be from the South or be a woman, or even wear a funny hat to enjoy gardening (although I’m sure it helps). They say the thrill of seeing your first red, ripe tomato or watching your first stalk of corn reach from the ground can be an earth-shattering experience (ok, less bad puns and hyperbole!).

Gardening is also a great way to provide healthy food for you and your loved ones. When you buy (plastic, tasteless) produce from the store, it just isn’t the same as presenting a salad to your family that came exclusively from your garden worked by your own two hands (this is what I’m looking forward to albeit my 4 year old will probably baulk at my offerings). Many people choose to garden so they can have control over what type of food they eat without fear of chemicals or preservatives. More often than not, commercially grown produce is cultivated in greenhouses with the use of pesticides and chemicals to enhance their growth.

Any quick study on these types of artificial applications can be unnerving for the most stout hearted. The side effects of chemical pesticides on the human body can, overtime, truly take its toll. So, many people are jumping on the “organic bandwagon” as a way to minimize the risks to themselves and their loved ones that often comes with commercially prepared foods. You don’t have to be a health nut to embrace organic gardening – I’m a prime example of that. But, just imagine the wonderful way you’ll feel knowing that you are serving foods that were grown all naturally without the risks that come from applying chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

They say it’s easier than you think. If you’ve been gardening for years or are just beginning to grow your own food, organic gardening can provide you with peace of mind and pride in your produce. Don’t have any clues how to start? Neither do I so, let’s begin this journey of learning and dirty fingernails together. Let’s explore the advantages of organic gardening as well as the best way to begin an all-natural garden. Let’s delve deep into the world of mulching, weed control, and composting. Soon we’ll be regaling our friends with ideas on all-natural pest controls and ways to make sure the garden thrives – without chemicals! Watch this space for our continued journey into “Organic Gardening for Beginners”!

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