Posts Tagged ‘Organic Farming’

Organic vegetable gardening seems to be the trend these days as more people have become conscious of what they are eating. This is because conventional methods which involve the use of harmful chemicals may enter our systems.

In order to control the problem, the US Department of Agriculture has issues a new directive. This encourages farmers to shift to organic farming.

With organic farming, farmers will no longer need to plant crops using genetic engineering, irradiation and sewage sludge. Instead, this will be replaced with crop rotation.

Crop rotation is the practice of planting a different crop in the same area where another crop once occupied. This keeps the soil’s nutrients fertile so it can be used again in the following season.

If you think about it, this approach is easier said than done as farmers are accustomed to the old ways of doing it. To help them change their minds, the government offers incentives and subsidies to farmers who decide to follow this plan.

But the main reason why organic vegetable gardening is so important is the fact that the crops harvested have 50% more nutrients and vitamins compared to that of conventional farming methods.

This means the food they consume will reduce the risk of people suffering from a number of diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and certain cancers.

Children who drink milk will be able to get more anti-oxidants, CLA, Omega 3 and vitamins when this is extracted from pastured grazed cows that will really strengthen their bones and muscles.

You can buy organically grown vegetables from the supermarket. The sad part is the almost everywhere you go, although the packaging comes from Department of Health, Quality Assurance International, California Certified Organic Farmers or the Oregon Tilth Farm Verified Organic, most of these are only 50% to 70% organic.

This is why homeowners who want to eat 100% organic vegetables are encouraged to grow these themselves.

There are two ways to make this happen. First, you buy the seedlings until they grow so you can harvest the. Second, you buy them fully grown and then just plant it into the ground.

Most people prefer the first because it makes them proud to know that what is served on the table was done from scratch.

In both cases, you have to prepare the soil, use compost and make sure that these are safe from threats such as insects, weeds and other animals that will eat what you have planted.

You can fight these with other animals, insects, organic fertilizers, deodorant soap and a few other items which you can find out after doing some research.

For those who don’t have a big garden, they can try growing these organically grown vegetables in containers. They require more water than those planted in the soil so give doses frequently.

There is no doubt that organic vegetables and other products are important these days. If you value your health and those of your family you can buy these from the store or plant it yourself.

For those who decide to buy organically grown vegetables, remember to wash before cooking them. This will remove any harmful substances or residue that may still be there which is invisible to the naked eye.

Growing organic vegetables from seed is a great way to combine healthy diet and healthy exercise. Most people want to start small, but maybe you already did that. Maybe you loved your small organic garden so much you decided to expand it into a small farm. Perhaps you and your friends have set aside land for a community garden, and need bulk organic vegetable seed to share. Maybe you’ve decided to begin marketing bulk organic vegetable seeds.

You have several potential sources for bulk organic vegetable seeds. We cannot recommend any one specific source, and offer the information below only to help you in your search.

Local Nursery or Garden Store

Nurseries near your home may sell bulk organic vegetable seed. Check your local phone directory, and call a few. If they themselves do not carry bulk organic vegetable seed, they may be able to tell you who does.

Garden stores in your area are another potential source of bulk organic vegetable seed. Home centers that sell supplies for home repairs often have a section for gardening. Large, discount box stores usually have garden centers, too. If you live in a rural area, you may find bulk organic vegetable seed at a farm supply store. Again, ask for referrals if the store does not have what you need.

Seed Catalogs

You may be able to order bulk organic vegetable seed from seed catalogs, and have it delivered to your address. Companies such as Burpee Seed Company have many kinds of organic vegetable seed in their catalog, and will no doubt be able to fill your order for bulk organic vegetable seed.

Online Seed Companies

The Internet, a potential source for so many things, has several seed companies that offer bulk organic vegetable seed. While we make no recommendation

1. Seeds of Change is a well known supplier of quality bulk organic vegetable seed. Many who do organic farming, or have large organic gardens, rely on this seed company.

2. Snow Seed Organics in California is another company you may want to check for bulk organic vegetable seed. The website says this company is the first fully certified organic seed dealer west of the U.S. Rockies.

3. Johnny’s Seed Company has been selling bulk organic vegetable seed and organic farming aids since 1973. This company also is a certified organic handler and processor, able to meet the new USDA organic requirements for the organic seeds they sell.

Those are only examples. There are many companies online from whom you can order bulk organic vegetable seed, and have it delivered – often free of charge – but study each site carefully, and look for recommendations in online forums.

CAUTION:

Before you purchase any bulk organic vegetable seed, you should be sure it is certified organic. You will want to ask about the supplier’s documentation, including organic certification. This will differ from country to country.

In the U.S., ask for: the grower’s certification number; issue date of certification; date when the annual inspection was completed; name of the inspecting company; and name of the certification director. Some companies, such as Seeds of Change post their Organic Certification online.

Before you purchase bulk organic vegetable seed, be sure the grower can warrant the absence of transgenic germplasm. That is, have they proven to the certification director that they have not genetically modified the seed?

People who have tasted organically grown vegetables swear by its taste and find it extremely difficult to revert back to old eating habits. They often comment that one can taste the sweetness of the sun in the organically produced vegetables. So if it is the first batch of peppers during summers, the juice filled tomatoes, the first lettuce of the spring season or the pumpkins and squashes reaped in the season of autumn, the vegetables never tasted as better as they do when organically produced.

There are several other facts besides pleasing taste buds that justify the gradual movement of today’s society towards organically grown vegetables. Reliable scientific data testifies to the ill effects of fertilizers and chemical pesticides used in the orthodox cultivation methods. There is a clearly defined connection between diseases like cancer, neurological damages, hormonal imbalances and the chemicals that are used in non-organic cultivation. Organic vegetable farming is the need of the hour if we want to protect our children from the disastrous consequences of chemically produced vegetables. We all are aware that kids due to their lower tolerance levels are much more vulnerable to chemical residues as compared to adults.

Following are some important points that you must keep in mind during a transition to organic farming. These points will help you in maintaining the correct natural balance among the plants, animals, soil and the insects:

1. You must stop using all kinds of herbicides, synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. These chemicals do a lot of harm to human bodies in the long run.

2. You must develop the habit of not throwing the kitchen scraps into the garbage box. Instead, start turning that scrap into organically rich nutrient for your garden by making compost heaps.

3. Don’t go about killing the caterpillars and bugs in your garden. A lot of them actually help you in protecting your vegetable garden. There are books you can refer to obtain more knowledge about such good pests and bugs.

To get along successfully with the organic farming, you will have to learn to stop compacting your garden soil. Compacting normally done to get rid of the air gaps in soil bed. You must rather develop the habit of making pathways between the rows of planted crops, thus enabling you to reach and tend to each plant with ease. It is recommended to till the soil only once each in the season of spring and the fall.

Organic farming and water sprinklers don’t go together. The water sprinklers deliver water too fast for the soil to absorb effectively. Hence, it is a good idea to rather use a hose and use it slowly to wet the soil bed comprehensively. You can also try rotating the locations of crop cultivation year on year. This helps in effectively preventing pests and crop diseases.

In the organic method of vegetable cultivation, you will need to keep the garden bed regularly covered in organic mulch like grass clippings, straws or the chopped leaves. Such regularity will curb the weed growth and help the ground absorb water more effectively. This is one of the best methods to achieve optimum results for the organic vegetable garden.