The growing trend of organic gardening is a very popular choice for many people around the world. Organic gardening can be defined as using plants and other organic materials in a manner that does not cause any harm to the environment. When an individual chooses to engage in this type of gardening, they are trying to create a safer and healthier environment for themselves, their families and their pets. For many years organic gardening was thought to be quite expensive but today there are numerous methods that can be used to make organic gardening very affordable.
There are a number of benefits to utilizing organic plants over those that are grown using conventional methods. One of the main benefits is that there are no dangerous chemicals that are used during cultivation of the plants. One of the most notable instances of the use of chemical agents is in the process of planting seeds, which is often done at conventional nurseries. Seeds are often purchased from a local seed store and then planted into the garden soil using conventional methods.
Many people who begin organic gardening to do so because they are aware that conventional methods of planting seeds are filled with dangerous chemicals. These chemicals can often leech into the soil and contaminate the water that is used to water the plants. This can lead to the development of harmful bacteria in the water, which then cause serious damage to the local water supply.
A recent study by two University professors found that a certain variety of organically grown fish contained twice the amount of antioxidants compared to a similar sample of conventionally grown fish. In another study Professor Jones of St. George’s College studied the effect of a chemical pesticide on a number of goldfish. When the pesticide was added to the water in which the goldfish were kept the goldfish died all of a sudden. This startling discovery has led to questions as to why the chemical pesticide would have such an effect on the delicate tissue of the fish. There has also been a number of studies that have demonstrated the increased risks of certain types of cancer in humans who regularly eat organically grown foods. The same studies have shown a number of other health risks associated with eating conventionally grown food as well, including heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Organic plants naturally contain a higher level of antioxidants than those grown with the use of chemicals. This is because plants naturally produce free radicals when they are stressed or attacked by insects or predators. Chemical pesticides have the effect of either neutralizing the free radicals or damaging them so much that they cannot be repaired. As a result, the antioxidants in organically grown crops are significantly depleted. This, according to recent scientific studies, has been linked to a number of serious health problems including higher levels of blood pressure, higher levels of cholesterol and lower levels of niacin in blood, kidney disease and prostate cancer.
Organic plants cannot be planted until they are fully grown. There are various factors which determine when a plant is ready for harvesting; these factors include the length of the growing season (growing period), whether the seeds are supplied by natural rainfall or seeds are sown by hand. Organic seeds do not require the same intensive and time-consuming preparation as those sown by conventional methods.
When it comes to the types of pests and diseases that can be present on plants grown with the aid of chemical fertilizers, there are several different classes of prohibited materials. Some commonly used pesticides include herbicides, synthetic pesticides, and fungicides. These are often included on organic gardens in order to control such pests as aphids, mealy bugs and ladybugs. Other commonly used materials which are prohibited in conventional methods include antibiotics, systemicotics and certain hormones.
A new trend within the field of agriculture is the growth of organic farming systems known as “miracle-gro” systems. Miracle-gro is the use of livestock or animals (usually poultry) to fertilize and feed a single bed of plants, eliminating the need for the use of chemicals on the plants. Organic farms utilizing the use of miracle-gro have reported less use of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides than on-farm crops. The overall effect of this method is that soil fertility is enhanced, soil microbial activity is increased and crop health is enhanced.