All About Organic Gardening
If you created a compost pit and are using the compost to fertilize your herb plants and soil, you are already organic gardening! Organic herb gardening means you are using all natural materials to grow your herbs. You do not use chemical fertilizers or chemical pesticides in helping or treating your plants.
Organic gardening is the best way to garden herbs (and any plant for that matter) because it is a natural way for plants to grow. Plants didn't start out being dependent on chemical fertilizers or pesticides until these products were invented, and they were able to do just fine without them. The philosophy of organic gardening, which allows plants to grow naturally or with the help of natural products only, tries to support the old ways of growing herbs
Using organic materials are generally cheaper than investing in chemical ones. You are sure that there are no possible harmful chemicals or pesticides in your herbs (especially important if you use them for cooking). Plus you are helping out or doing what's best for the soil in the long run. Sometimes chemical fertilizers and pesticides succeed at enriching your plants, but they have harmful effects on your soil.
One example on how chemicals have a harmful effect is that some chemical fertilizers and pesticides can kill earthworms or some fungi naturally found in soil. These two organisms are nature's way of aerating and enriching your soil, and many times they are the best at doing their jobs! To top it off, chemical fertilizers take a while to decompose, and if you add these materials to your garden often, you can have a build up of chemicals in your soil. This build up will give your future plants a hard time growing. So what you put in to help your plants now, are actually going to kill your future ones! Doesn't really make sense if you want your herb garden to have a long and fruitful life!
If you are worried about pests attacking your herb plants, know that healthy herb plants with healthy root or underground systems actually create natural pest repellents. Sometimes planting certain herbs next to each other will act as natural fertilizers and pest repellents as well. This is known as companion planting, and it will be discussed in detail in chapter seven.
Organic gardening is the best way to garden. It benefits your plants now, giving you nice healthy herbs that are good for eating. It allows you to recycle by making and using your own fertilizer, also allowing you to save money. It benefits your soil, soil organisms and garden in the long run. Plus, it grows herbs in the way that is most natural to the plant.
When starting an herb garden, try to make sure you grow one that is organic, even if your herb garden is for ornamental purposes only. Organic gardening goes hand in hand with the environment. It may take some extra work, but the long term results are well worth it!
