What Does it Take to be an Organic Gardener?

Posted by Cathy England
August 4th, 2011
Filed in Savory and Sage Tidbits
Tags: healthy living, organic gardening, organic produce, tomatoes

Some may dive into organic gardening with great expectations, and a feeling of pride at the choice they are making. However, when the reality of what it takes to be an organic gardener sets in, expectations become disappointments, and commitment to the choice may begin to fade.

For example, in many regions of the country, this has been an exceptionally cool and wet summer. If this is the first time that an individual has tried organic gardening, they may decide to scrap the whole idea, and return to the use of conventional gardening methods. Due to this weather, peppers are not growing, tomatoes are not turning red, and plants seem to be more prone to disease and rot.

The experienced organic gardener knows that this is part of the process, and resigns themselves to some loss, and accept what they reap. There are other things that make a good organic gardener.

Dedication

As mentioned above, no two growing seasons are exactly alike, and each of those seasons provide different obstacles to conquer.  Some seasons are dry, some are wet, sometimes the wildlife or insects find your garden and destroy them, while other times the garden may be left to grow.

It is difficult when the gardener knows that there are products out there that can solve problems quickly, but that are not organic in nature.  Fighting the urge to toxify the soil in order to grow great veggies can sometimes be an awful battle.  Dedication to the commitment to garden organically is vitally important during the times that things are not going well.

Dedication is also important because more time needs to be spent in the garden looking vigilantly for problems, or research may need to be done on what can be done organically to save your crop. But as you gain the knowledge, you will come to realize the natural processes that make gardening worthwhile, rather than the cosmetic appearance if you stick to chemicals.

Ingenuity and Saving Money By Gardening Naturally

Organic gardening is sometimes expensive to get started because conventional fertilizers and amendments need to be replaced, and organic products are expensive.  As time goes on though, the organic gardener learns many ways that they can decrease costs, to the point where relying on chemicals become much more expensive.

• Re-purpose-Plant seedlings in yogurt cups or margarine containers, use branches for trellises and supports in the garden, borrow what you can from neighbors and friends.
• Go to Auctions-Auctions are a terrific place to find gardening tools, watering systems, power tools to aid in constructing raised beds, produce baskets and canning supplies.  When you think about it, 50 years ago, everyone was an organic garden.  If you happen to find an old farm auction, you are likely to find many treasures for a fraction of the price in the store.
• Talk to neighbors-Let neighbors know that you are gardening, and explain your methods without too much lecturing.  Volunteer to take their leaves, food scraps, grass clippings etc. to place on your compost pile.  Show them where the pile is, and encourage them to place items there even if you are not home.  Make sure to let them know what should not go on the pile.
• Borrow-Part of the mindset of the organic gardener is to use organic practices in order to lessen their impact on the environment.  Borrowing  a wheelbarrow from a neighbor, or hand tools that you do not need often, reduces consumption which is another way to lessen environmental impact.

Patience

Unlike other gardeners who use chemical fertilizers, the organic sometimes does not grow as quickly, as plants are relying heavily on natural elements in the environment.  This means that cool summers, wet weather, or drought can really effect the organic garden.  Sometimes this if frustrating as everyone around you is harvesting while you are waiting for flowering.

Acceptance for Imperfection

At the local farmer’s market, one of the organic growers had some beat up and misshapen carrots on his table.  He had them labeled “pretty carrots”.   They surely taste the same, they just did not look as good as some of the carrots other vendors had.

In your own garden, you may have tomatoes with end rot.  It is not necessary to waste the whole thing, just cut off the rotten part.  Broccoli may not bunch as tightly as it should, or apples may have worm holes.  This is all a part of organic gardening, and learning not to worry about the appearance, but the taste of the food can be tough.  Remember that the beautiful produce paid a dear price to get that way, and that sometimes things happen in the organic garden that make perfect fruit impossible.  Love them anyway.

Overall, being an organic gardener is a very rewarding choice.  You can be sure that the fruits and veggies that you and your family are eating are as healthy and as chemical free as you can make them.  However, it takes a tough attitude and a tough skin as the guy across the fence makes some derogatory comment about your gardening practices while spraying pesticides around his yard!

{This article was originally published on the site in 2009}