Rising Food Prices - Grow Your Own Organic Garden
Organic gardening is the use of natural compost and manure to fertilize and grow plants and flowers. No harmful chemicals or pesticides are used to protect the plants. Organic gardening is one of the many ways in which we can get our share from the earth as well as preserve it for future generations. Not only is it safe, but it also does not harm the soil, the habitat or the environment. For many it is not only saving the planet that prompts them to go for organic gardening. It is also a healthier option if you are growing fruit and vegetables. (You also don't have to worry about your children or animals gaining access to your gardening chemicals)
Advantages:
- No chemicals are used. So all homegrown fruits and vegetables are safe
- Using natural compost keeps the soil in good condition
- Improvement in soil structure encourages beneficial creatures like worms which again lead to more fertility
- Doesn't require much effort to make it. You can make your own compost from garden and kitchen waste
How to create your own organic garden...
Take a wooden box of about 1.5 to 2 feet deep, 3-4 feet long and 2-3 feet wide. Clean it and make 5-6 small holes at the bottom for the water to drain out. Take some fresh garden soil but make sure it does not have any artificial manure or pesticides mixed in it.
You can mix some cow dung or natural compost in the soil. Mix the soil thoroughly. Cover the holes in the box with small wire meshes or very small pebbles so that the sand or soil does not get in and block the drainage holes. Put the mixed soil in the box. Select some flower/plant seedlings or seeds and plant them in the soil. Keep some distance between each seed, as the plants will need space to grow.
You can make simple organic insecticides instead of using dangerous chemical pesticides.
Try the following recipes:
- Combine one teaspoon of hot pepper or Tabasco sauce, 4 cloves of garlic and a quart of water. Blend well in a blender and strain, with cheesecloth or nylon mesh before placing in your sprayer. This will repel many insects including whiteflies, aphids, spider mites and caterpillars.
- Mix 1/8-1/4 cup of hydrated lime with one quart of water. This creates an effective spray against many insects, especially spider mites. Add a drop of non-detergent soap to act as a sticking agent and insecticide. Lime can cause serious harm to plants if you use too much, so always spray a test plant first and watch it for a few days, to check for any adverse effects on plants.
- Take one ounce of tomato leaves and add to one quart of water and blend thoroughly. Strain the resulting liquid and use to repel insects. This works well on white cabbage butterflies too.
Source – www.panda.org
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