Organic Gardening - DOit.television

Organic gardens can flourish in large areas of land, where several acres of orchards can be grown, or in small urban spaces, like a balcony which can grow potted herbs or fruit trees.

Organic gardens do not use manufactured chemicals or genetically modified materials to grow their produce. With organic produce there is little to sacrifice other than artificially uniform shapes and an appearance and resistance to spoilage, which means foods, can sit on supermarket shelves well beyond what is naturally possible.

Growing your own vegetables will reduce your grocery bills and mean you have a superior supply of fresh nutritious vegetables. Gardening can also be a great group activity. Contact your local council or permaculture society to get some tips from fellow green thumbs. Find your Local Community Garden at
http://www.communitygarden.org.au/.

Design & Seeds
Before planting you need to choose an appropriate site. Choose an area which gets direct sunlight (4-5 hours a day) and that has safe easy access to the site. It is also a fantastic idea to jot down what type of garden you want. Consider what type of vegetables you want to grow, the season coming up and how you want your garden to look. Would you like merely an edible garden or a mixture of ornamental and functional plants put together?

Once you've decided the next step will be to get some organic seeds. These can be purchased from certified organic seeds retailers (e.g. Green Harvest) or if you know someone with an organic garden ask them if you could pick a few seeds. Unlike commercially produced seeds, organic seeds are not treated with synthetic materials, sanitizers or chemical conditioning agents.

Open pollinated (or non-hybrid) seeds are preferable to their hybrid varieties, as they will have higher resistance to disease and insect problems. Non hybrid seeds will have a stronger genetic background and are more often pollinated by natural means i.e. pollens and bees.

Soils & Compost
The secret to a great healthy organic garden is the soil. Good soil means healthier plants which are less susceptible to pests and diseases. Ideally the soil should be high in organic matter and the preferred PH is to be neutral to slightly acidic. The soil should have a soft texture, when scooped up in your hand it should be crumbly but when squeezed together it should hold together. Also a good indication of great soil is the presence of garden worms. Using an organic soil mix will provide nutrients for plants as well as providing an atmosphere for the roots to easily get air and water.

Fantastic quality soil doesn't happen overnight but you can create a good vegetable garden bed (even on top of concrete) quickly by using the right ingredients to create the right soil. A balanced mixture of compost, straw, garden soil, sand and fertilizers well help you achieve a sustainable garden bed. By the time the first crop has been harvested the compost and mulch in the bed will be of a fantastic quality soil and ready for the next planting.

Add mulch to the top of a garden bed help plants retain their moisture. A surface of mulch will make sure the soil doesn't loose too much water through evaporation and reduces the need for watering needed.

Composting is important source of nutrients for any garden and it is a great way of reducing your waste. It is easy to build your own compost garden, look online for some information Try Recycling Near You or Permapedia. In some councils and states there is a worm rebate. You will receive a discount for purchasing a worm farm.

Pointer: Liquid worm poo from a worm compost is gold for veggies, flowers and fruit trees but avoid using them on Australian plants as it is considered too rich in phosphorous.

Planting
Whether you raise the seedlings indoors or sow them straight into the ground, they will need special care in the first few weeks. Seeds contain a fat store to provide them energy for the first few days of germination, after that they are dependant on sunlight, water and air to grow. When planting don't set your vegetables too close together as they will end up competing for resources and has been know to increase the chance of fungal diseases. Removing the weaker plants will allow the other plants to grow to their full potential.

Interplanting is where different types of vegetables are planted together. This is only recommended if the veggies don't affect each others growth. Low rooted vegetables like lettuce or spinach can be happily planted with deep rooted vegetables like carrots and beetroot.

Companion planting is based on what plants like and dislike about their neighbours and can seriously help you reduce pests in the garden. E.g. Roses love garlic and will grow well together. You can find list of plants that are good companions online or in bookstores. Try Sustainable Gardening Australia!

Pests And Watering Veggies
A healthy garden is the best way to safeguard against pests– healthy plants will be able to defend themselves against attack and will attract natural pest predators like birds which eat moths, lizards which eat slugs, green lacewings which eat aphids. By simply growing plants that they e.g. lady beetles which eat mildew can be attracted to your garden by growing zucchini's flowers. If pests don't go away there are a few organic products that you can try using in your garden. Although the total elimination of pests is not exactly achievable or desirable, a healthy garden needs a natural balance of them.

Regular watering is needed for a successful crop. Water is such a precious resource, so installing a rain water tank or grey water tank might be a cheap environmentally friendly source of water.

Storing Vegetables
Store your vegetables according to what type of veggie it is and according to the season. Careful handling and storage will lengthen the life of your vegetables, as bacterial moulds are more likely to grow on vegetables and fruits that are bruised. Root crops should be stored in cool locations out of sunlight. Onion and garlic can last for long periods but need to be stored in Hessian or string bags.

Some links for more information:
- Find your Local Community Garden
- Macquarie University Organic Gardens
- Learn through a Gardening Program – Willoughby Council
- Creating your own Compost Bin
- Tips on Companion Planting - Sustainable Gardening Information Page
- Organic Gardening Supplies
- Permaculture Compost Garden Beds – Create your own

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