University of Missouri Extension
As a component of organic agriculture, organic vegetable gardening promotes and enhances natural diversity and biological cycles on the farm. Rather than relying on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, organic gardening is based on making the garden self-sufficient and sustainable.
The National Organic Program (NOP), defines the organic standards. Growers must be certified in order to claim their products are grown organically. A conventional grower can become certified organic over a three-year transition period. During this period, organic practices need to be used but the produce cannot be claimed as organic. Organic growers or gardeners with less than $5,000 in sales per year do not need to be certified but their practice has to follow the NOP standard and is subject to audit.
Most home gardeners grow vegetables naturally and do not sell produce so they do not have to strictly follow the NOP standard if the word organic is not used for their produce. For a product to be called organic, it must contain at least 95 percent USDA-certified organic ingredients.
This guide focuses on organic vegetable gardening techniques applicable to organic home or community gardeners. Commercial organic vegetable growers, however, may also find this information useful.
To read the full guide, click here.
