Organic gardening is an extremely rewarding process which involves the use of no damaging chemical pesticides, in order to protect the soils, ecosystems, animals and people of the world.
At one time, organic food was reserved for those who were considered to be ‘tree huggers’, but as the world becomes more health-conscious, over the past few decades there has been a huge shift in favour of organic gardening.
Not only is growing your food organically better for you, but it’s also better for your garden and the environment. Here are some of the benefits you’ll see when turning your garden organic:
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Your food will taste better
One thing worth noting about organic fruits and vegetables is that they will not have the uniform, shiny, colourful appearance that you’d see in fruits from the supermarket. But perfect-looking produce is less than ideal, as fruits and veg are often treated with chemicals and other products to make them look more attractive.
As humans in a first world country, we’ve become used to eating with our eyes- but in reality, nothing tastes better than fresh fruit or veg that has just come off the vine- no matter how battered or misshapen it may look.
The explosion of flavour that you get from organically farmed foods bears little resemblance to commercially farmed fruit- and it’s one of the many reasons why people would never make the switch back from organic.
You’re doing your bit for the environment
Since organic farming strictly prohibits the use of damaging chemicals found in pesticides, herbicides, or fertilisers, none of these can run off and get into the water supply. Farming organically also means that you won’t risk harming birds, small animals and beneficial insects.
There are many ways you can tend to your garden without the use of chemicals. If you’re struggling with pests, then using insect netting can soon take care of your problems.
Little Fields Farm offer efficient garden netting to keep pests and other crawlers at bay while still allowing an even distribution of water through the porous material. Their netting is also great for protecting sensitive plants from frost and cold weather.
You will be putting healthier things into your body
If you tend to your garden with toxic chemicals, then naturally, some of these are going to seep into your produce. So if you don’t thoroughly wash your fruits and vegetables, then that chemical residue will enter your body and cause some damage. Organic foods also have a higher vitamin and mineral content than commercially farmed produce, giving you the nutrients that your body craves.
Additionally, you will probably find that you’re exercising more with an organic garden. Anything from planting the seeds to carrying in the harvest and manually inspecting for bugs and pests is going to cause you to get a sweat on. Not only is tending to your garden therapeutic, but it’s also a great way to stay toned and maintain an active lifestyle.
You are guaranteed to save money
Since it costs more to use organic methods in farming, organic food is more expensive to buy, whether that’s from the supermarket, the farmer’s market, or health food stores. In fact, research shows that buying all organic produce costs consumers an extra £900 a year, which is an unfair price to pay for simply desiring good health.
When you grow your own organic vegetables, you have the choice over how much of the produce you end up using, and you’re also free to preserve anything that you won’t get around to eating. Less trips to the supermarket also means that you cut down on fuel costs, and are less likely to fall for a supermarket’s advertising strategies and get drawn into buying something else that you didn’t come in for.
You will be combating climate change
Climate change is a very real issue, so as an organic gardener you’ll be proud to know that you’re doing your bit to combat climate change. Organic farming has been found to be more efficient in its use of non-renewable energy, emitting less carbon from fossil fuels by using less natural gas, diesel, and gasoline.
If you like the decking area and would like to make your own then try this easy to follow guide.
As organic farming prohibits the use of all synthetic fertilisers, then soil quality will be maintained or even improved, which has less of a detrimental effect on water quality and biodiversity.
Your mental health will improve
Gardening and being ‘at one with nature’ has many positive effects on your mental health, by reducing stress, improving your mood and reducing symptoms associated with depression and anxiety.
Gardening organically will give you a real sense of purpose, while using methods that are kindest to the environment will do wonders for your confidence and self-esteem.
One of the beginner gardening kits you can use when starting with organic farming is a mushroom spray and grow box. It’s easy to grow and doesn’t require any expertise in gardening.