In today’s world of burgeoning human population and shrinking open space, it’s getting so that even a small lawn is a huge bonus in urban areas, and an actual garden is a jewel beyond price. As awareness about the increasing problems of pollution and climate change grows, more and more people are looking for ways to lessen our negative impact on the environment, and organic gardening is one that almost anyone can get into.
There are still a lot of misconceptions about the relative expense and effort involved in eco-friendly gardening as opposed to the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Too many folks still have the notion that going green is bound to be a lot of hard work and probably a big mess, or just too complicated to bother with. This is unfortunate, because the exact opposite is true; it’s a matter of working as a partner with Nature, and that’s a powerful partnership.
For starters, plan your new garden or a remodel of the existing one by checking the soil type in different areas and choosing plants that prefer a wetter, dryer, shadier or sunnier environment, for instance. If you have the space, add a little pond. Even the smallest will attract all sorts of wildlife that’s beneficial to your garden, not to mention adding considerable aesthetic attraction.
Water is an essential ingredient, and the very best (and cheapest) source is rainwater. You can be creative with water-catchers, but a simple rain barrel under a downspout on the eaves of your house will provide a substantial amount of the water your garden needs between rainfalls, and save you money on the water bill. The more reservoirs you can arrange, the better your garden will grow.
You can enrich and condition any soil with mulch and compost derived from cut grass, fallen leaves, dead branches etc., kitchen waste, manure from grazing animals and other natural sources. Keep weeds at a minimum with mulch around plants you do want, and take the time to learn which of those weeds might be good to eat – you’ll be surprised.
Fight plant pests with Nature’s weapons such as birds that eat harmful insects and slugs by planting berry trees and shrubs to attract them. Be sure to plant some nectar-rich flowers and herbs to attract bees that pollinate (and butterflies that beautify).
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