photo credit: vsmoothe

1.  Keep your soil healthy by working with Nature rather than against it.  Organic fertilizers such as manure and compost will replenish the earth. All healthy refuse produced by the garden should be recycled back into the garden. If you notice a plant has an insect problem do not add it compost or the garden soil.

Organic gardening uses all yard and garden material to rebuild soil. This would include grass clippings, leaves, and leftovers from the kitchen. Leftover vegetables can be added to make compost that will feed the soil and keep it full of the nutrients necessary to grow crops.  Compost is also beneficial to indoor plants and will make a nice compost tea for watering all plants and shrubs.

2.  Avoid the use of all synthetic chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.  These products harm the environment, birds, insects, pets, and other wildlife. It is also unhealthy for adults and children. Synthetic weed killers and fertilizers on the lawn and shrubs linger for a long time and children and pets can get daily exposure, which in time can harm them.

And garden vegetables grown in a pesticide-free and additive-free environment are healthier in the long run and can be snacked on directly from the garden without being scrubbed to remove toxins.

There are many chemical free garden insect repellants that can be made at home for pennies. Organic gardening, Mother Earth News, Jerry Baker and the Internet have healthy insect repellant recipes available for people to make at home and use safely in the garden and backyard.

3.  Organic gardening techniques protect against the loss of nutrients and topsoil in the garden. This is achieved by using compost, fertilizer, protecting the soil and creating a healthy environmental balance where healthy insects thrive. Plants will be healthier which keeps unhealthy bad bugs out of the garden and yard.

Organic gardening means that the environment benefits from the reduction in contamination of the water supply and air pollution.  It means that we provide a habitat for wildlife including beneficial insects, and animals. This all leads to a better-balanced world that can take care of itself.

Using chemicals in the gardens and backyard seem like the easier method for insect and disease control but you will find once you stop using harsh chenicals and build your soil your garden and backyard will become healthier. I have hardly any insect probelms or plant disease in my yard and have not used chemicals of any sort in years.

photo credit: Hair Squared
Growing your own groceries is taking over homes and communities. A recent survey by the National Gardening Association shows a 19 percent burst of new hobby country farms and urban edible gardens over the last year.

With this growing trend,  gardeners and small space backyards are coming up with new ideas to make the most out of their growing area. Rooftop gardens, fire escape gardens, and container gardening ideas are popping up in towns and cities everywhere. The use of vertical growing along walls and fences is becoming a common sight in busy downtown areas.

Many years back the garden was a mix of ornamentals and the edible – roses beside tomatoes, beds edged with herbs and veggies used as annuals. And many flowers were used as arrangements one moment and as salad decorations or spices the next.

As both parents went to work and more time was spent away from the home, gardening and the use of space were set aside. But times are changing.

With the trend towards “Going Green” lawns are being replaced with herbs, edible gardens and moveable gardens. With less emphasis on a green lawn there is a large decrease in the use of water, saving the family money and time. This is also  creating more growing space.

photo credit: woodleywonderworks

There is also a movement to turn the front lawn into vegetable gardens and rain gardens. This garden plan uses mulches and hardscape for the design and mixed planting of edible shrubs, herbs and plants for color and interest.

If your thinking of revamping your lawn to a more environmentally friendly garden area your local garden center will be able to help you select edible plants and shrubs.