Our readers have expressed a new-found and growing interest in creating their own organic garden from the comforts of their backyard. Especially after I published my article about Michelle Obama’s organic garden.
So, as a result, I wanted to share a few of my favorite tips for starting a garden that is organic, sustainable and earth-friendly in the convenience of your backyard.
There are numerous benefits to planting your own organic garden at home: First and foremost, you are able to eat the freshest, local, organic fruits, herbs and vegetables around, while at the same time, you act to help reduce the amount of pesticides and toxic chemicals in the environment. And, as organic fruits, herbs and vegetables can tend to be more costly in the supermarket, now is a great time to explore creating your own delicious organic produce at home.
Here is my list of tips on how to set up your own organic garden:
Gardening Tip #1 – Take Time to Plan
Plan your garden before planting your fruits, herbs or vegetables. This will ensure that you reap the best harvest possible. Make a decision on what local fruits, herbs and vegetables grow best in your area and find local sources that sell organic seeds, or you can easily buy organic seeds online.
Do some research. Decide how much space you can use for your garden, and how much money and time you would like to spend. For smaller yards, a container garden works well. You can also make a small herb garden with pots and boxes. By planning you can coordinate what plants grow in the spring, fall, winter and summer to create a year long harvest.
Gardening Tip #2 – Less is More
While it may seem like a good idea to plant every edible plant that you love to eat, it may be better to start with a small, manageable garden in the beginning. In order for you to truly enjoy the benefits of an organic garden, you must be able to control it.
If you plant too many of one plant, you may find yourself selling tomato sauce to all of your neighbors this summer. Start small and expand each season. City dwellers can easily create a small roof-top or balcony garden consisting of pots and raised beds. You can also grow indoors or in a greenhouse during the winter months. For indoor growing I use the aerogarden which works pretty well.
Gardening Tip #3 – Choose Productive Plants
Choose plants that do well in your climate and geography. You can find excellent information on what grows well at your state’s extension office on-line gardening site, nursery, or the local farmers market. Remember, think locally. Nothing can be more frustrating than trying to plant avocados in Maine.
Also, while some plants may grow well in your yard, think about the economics behind what you are planting. Corn, for example is cheap, but is labor intensive. Berries, on the other hand, are quite expensive in grocery stories, and are labor free. They require little money or time to cultivate, and $5 of berry-related supplies can reap over $200 worth of store-bought produce!
Gardening Tip #4 – Share & Barter
If you buy a large packet of seeds and have extras, share with your friends and neighbors. You can also do the same with gardening equipment. By planning and sharing, you can reduce the costs of buying heavy equipment on your own, a process that helps keep overall costs down.
Gardening Tip #5 – Go Organic With Your supplies
Organic seeds can be bought locally or by mail order. Do not use chemical pesticides, herbicides, or any other synthetic chemicals.
There are many natural products for treating weeds, diseases, pests, and soil issues. These natural products are much safer and better for the environment.
Be sure your planting area will not be contaminated with lawn fertilizer or other chemicals. Try to find organic soil and compost or make your own compost by recycling your food waste.
Gardening Tip #6 – Complement Your Plants
Research traditional methods of natural gardening to grow plants that complement one another such as permaculture. Beans and squash grow well together, as well as potatoes and corn. Complementary growing aids in soil nutrients and overall plant success.
Gardening Tip #7 – Have Fun!
You can make gardening an incredibly grounding family affair. Try to have fun and remember, no garden is perfect. Choose some of your favorite plants and enjoy watching their process of growth.
Gardening Resources to Help Get You Started:
Informative Gardening Websites:
- Square-Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew
- You Grow Girl, Informative Blog About Gardening
- GardenWeb – The Internet’s Garden & Home Community”
- Garden Guides: Guide to Container Gardening
- Journey to Forever: Building a Square-Foot Garden
Gardening Books on Amazon:
- The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible by Edward C. Smith
- The Bountiful Container by Rose Marie Nichols McGee & Maggie Stuckey
- Kitchen Harvest: Growing Organic Fruit, Vegetables & Herbs in Containers by Susan Berry
July 13th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Organic planting is the way to go. I’ve been doing it for years and love it.
[Reply to this comment]
July 12th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
I’ve been tossing around the idea of starting a garden in my back yard for a little while now. Might be a good time to start.
[Reply to this comment]
July 1st, 2011 at 7:03 am
Can anyone list some institutes for Organic farming in Asia or anywhere. There should be specialized courses for organic farming.
[Reply to this comment]
June 25th, 2011 at 10:35 am
Hi.
I like this article, I think that it is important to grow your own produce, and it isn’t always as easy as you think. I know because me and my partner have attempted to grow a little herb garden on our balcony and either through a lack of proper care of weather conditions it was not successful.
I just want to thank you for giving some solid information in this article and hopefully it helps our little garden to stay alive the second time around.
Samuel
[Reply to this comment]
June 10th, 2011 at 8:52 am
I’ve actually been growing a lot of smaller herbs in my garden to kind of spice up my meals, and not only has it saved me money…but it tastes better as well! Fresh food is always the best way to go.
[Reply to this comment]
May 31st, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Thanks for the great information. The tip I like the best is to keep it simple. It seems like you could really get in over your head if you start with too much. For me I want to start in the fall (we’re in Texas…) and start with just 2 or 3 vegetables.
[Reply to this comment]
May 23rd, 2011 at 3:52 pm
An important tip you missed is to donate any excess food you may have to a food bank or soup kitchen in your area.
An even better plan is to plant an extra row or two to grow produce for the food bank or soup kitchen. Your extras will make a huge difference for people who often don’t have much access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
[Reply to this comment]
May 2nd, 2011 at 11:48 pm
Now that people are starting there own vegetable gardens, we are going to see a lot more healthy people eating food the way it was meant to be eaten without all the chemicals.
[Reply to this comment]
March 20th, 2011 at 10:22 am
Thanks for the advice.
As an avid gardener I guilty of using chemical for an easy life. However, you’ve just convinced me to give the natural way a whirl.
Thanks
[Reply to this comment]
December 15th, 2010 at 11:25 am
As an avid gardener, this is a great list of tips! The only thing I would add to the list is to test the soil BEFORE starting a garden. You never know what may be lurking in the dirt outside your home.
[Reply to this comment]
December 8th, 2010 at 11:21 am
Great tips, i just started with my mini potato garden
[Reply to this comment]
October 1st, 2010 at 8:30 pm
I truly believe that all home gardens should be organic, the taste and the freshness is unobtainable with more chemical based gardening approaches.
[Reply to this comment]
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Nice list of gardening tips. I could’ve used them when I started my garden. Thanks
[Reply to this comment]
June 19th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
I’m a newbie and have a few questions. I live in an apartment and have no garden access. What would be some vegetables that I can grow indoors? How much space will it take up? How much light and water required? Thanks in advance for your help.
[Reply to this comment]
harvey replied on January 16th, 2011:
You might want to check with your city recreation dep. about a comunity garden plot.
[Reply to this comment]
June 19th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I believe you mean “complement” your plants. “Compliment” your plants means saying nice things to them.
[Reply to this comment]
Linda L. replied on May 23rd, 2011:
I don’t think it would hurt to compliment your plants although you are correct in this context. The title was changed to “complement” but the two appearances in the tip are still mis-spelled.
[Reply to this comment]