Grow

In organic container gardening, some vegetables grow higher, heartier and more delicious when established side by side with particular veggies, a method called companion planting. Organic container gardening is the simple practice in which gardeners use no pesticides, chemical fertilizers or other artificial substances in raising plants. Instead, organic farmers depend on compost or purely organic fertilizers to impart crucial nutrients to the crops.

Composting is an easy, eco-conscious method of creating natural fertilizer for organic container gardening. Compost is nutrient-rich matter resulting from the biological decomposition of nonsynthetic materials and is added to regular or organic container gardening soil to promote plant development and general health. It’s simple to make your own organic fertilizer for flower, vegetable or herb gardens with these useful pointers.

Composting is an easy, eco-conscious method of creating natural fertilizer for organic container gardening. Compost is nutrient-rich matter resulting from the biological decomposition of nonsynthetic materials and is added to regular or organic container gardening soil to promote plant development and general health. It’s simple to make your own organic fertilizer for flower, vegetable or herb gardens with these useful pointers.

Composting is an easy, eco-conscious method of creating natural fertilizer for organic container gardening. Compost is nutrient-rich matter resulting from the biological decomposition of nonsynthetic materials and is added to regular or organic container gardening soil to promote plant development and general health. It’s simple to make your own organic fertilizer for flower, vegetable or herb gardens with these useful pointers.

Organic farming and agriculture aims to minimize environmental impact through the “natural” growth and production of plants. The use of genetically modified organisms and synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, additives and other artificial aids is not allowed in organic farming. Organic farming and agriculture use plants that are local to a particular environment and are resistant to disease. Organic farming uses methods such as wide crop rotation, companion plants and biological pest control in place of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

CONNELL, Franklin County — Organic farmer Brad Bailie is a believer in bugs.

Strips of blooming plants in a maze of colors — from blue bachelor buttons to white yarrow — dot his 600-acre farm north of Connell. They border fields of potatoes, onions, shallots, primitive heritage wheat varieties spelt and einkorn, and camelina.

In each strip, insects from wasps to flies and lady bugs search for plant-damaging insects or larvae to eat.

Cornell University researchers have received two federal grants to be used to study cover crops in organic farming and how organic practices affect yields.

An $894,000 four-year grant will study how summer cover crops such as buckwheat, sorghum-sudangrass and mustard can improve the biological processes in organic agriculture and how to transfer such knowledge to farmers, according to the Cornell Chronicle. The grants are from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Organic Research and Extension Initiative.

One of the biggest benefits of going organic is that you will no longer be using toxic pesticides. For a family with pets or especially children, this can be extremely important, as you will no longer have to worry that children or pets will ingest these poisons by eating fruit or vegetables off the vine, bush or plant. Another benefit occurs during food preparation. If you use inorganic or toxic pesticides and fertilizers, you will have to very carefully wash your fruits and vegetables before preparation and eating. Cumulatively, this will also mean a savings in water consumption.

The Green Youth Farm, now in its eighth season, is a program for Chicago-area high school students. The program provides summer jobs for the students and teaches them the value of locally grown organic food and eating healthy.  This is especially important because the farms are located in areas known as food deserts, where fresh produce and grocery stores in general are not easily accessed by community residents.