| Organic gardening is growing in popularity as people | | | | your organic garden. Classes may be available on |
| increasingly see the need to avoid chemicals and | | | | topics such as organic garden plans, planting seed, |
| synthetic products. Organic gardens also provide | | | | and how to compost. |
| protection form genetically modified organisms (GMO) | | | | * YMCA / YWCA: In some areas, these organizations |
| in the garden. | | | | provide workshops on organic garden topics, with |
| Those who take up organic gardening often are at a | | | | plenty of helpful ideas and tips. These are led by local |
| loss as to where to buy supplies. They don't know | | | | organic garden experts. They may include vegetable |
| what products they need for soil nourishment or | | | | organic gardens and organic gardening of flowers. |
| pest control. They may not know how much water | | | | * Gardening Stores: An increasing number of |
| to supply, or how to go about composting kitchen | | | | gardening stores are beginning to offer organic |
| scraps for their gardens. They need more than a few | | | | garden products, seeds, and supplies. Many try to |
| organic garden tips and ideas. | | | | have at least one person on staff who can give |
| Organic garden helpful ideas and tips are widely | | | | organic garden helpful ideas. |
| available, if you know where to find them. Here are a | | | | * Nurseries: Local nurseries may have helpful ideas |
| few places to begin your search. | | | | and tips for your organic garden. As the demand |
| Organic Garden Helpful Ideas | | | | becomes greater, they are learning that they must |
| One of my favorite organic garden tips is this one. | | | | provide not only organic fertilizer and seedlings, but |
| The most important thing you can do to control | | | | advice also. |
| pests in the organic garden is to keep the soil | | | | * Magazines: Organic gardening magazines have been |
| healthy. Healthy soil produces healthy plants. Healthy | | | | around for many years now, and are filled with |
| plants, like healthy humans, are better able to | | | | organic gardeners' helpful ideas and tips. Visit your |
| withstand disease. | | | | public library and browse the magazines. Some are |
| A second helpful organic garden idea I like is to | | | | aimed at small farming size organic gardens. Others |
| control pests with ladybirds (ladybugs). These | | | | focus on organic gardening of vegetables for family |
| beautiful little red insects with shiny black spots | | | | or farmers' market. Choose one that has the most |
| control aphids naturally and totally. You can order | | | | helpful tips for you, and subscribe for ongoing organic |
| them from several organic garden places on the | | | | garden help. |
| Internet. Until they arrive, spray every part of | | | | * Seed Catalogs (catalogues): Many times, seed |
| aphid-infested plants with well diluted soapy water. | | | | catalogs have not only organic seeds, but also ideas |
| Rinse with clear water. | | | | and tips for the organic garden. Look for major seed |
| My third favorite organic gardening idea is to plant | | | | companies' catalogs. |
| guardian plants around and among tender vegetables. | | | | * Books: If you are new to organic gardening, you |
| Marigolds make the organic garden border colorful, | | | | will want to invest in at least one good book on |
| and ward off many pests. Onions and garlic are also | | | | organic gardens. Books can explain how seeds and |
| great deterrents to pests that would like to break in | | | | produce are certified organic. They can provide |
| and steal organic produce. | | | | organic gardening advice from ants to weed control. |
| Sources for More Organic Garden Helpful Ideas | | | | * Family and Friends: They say we all have a circle of |
| We do not give specific websites here, but most of | | | | 250 acquaintances. Within that circle, you will likely |
| these groups or products can readily be located on | | | | find at least one person who is experienced in organic |
| the Internet. Simply use key words from any one of | | | | gardening and has ideas or tips that will help you. |
| these categories in your search engine to find more | | | | Their own organic garden may be only a container, or |
| organic garden ideas. | | | | it could be 50 containers. Anyone who does any |
| * Cooperative Extension Office: The Cooperative | | | | organic gardening will be eager to share the tips and |
| Extension System is a nationwide network. Every U.S. | | | | helpful ideas they have received. |
| state and territory has a state office at its land-grant | | | | * Internet: The Internet excels in providing |
| university. They also have a network of local or | | | | information. It is a wonderful source of organic |
| regional offices. The staff at these offices includes at | | | | garden helpful ideas and tips. Become a member of |
| least one expert who can give you useful, practical, | | | | an organic gardening forum and share ideas. Read |
| and research-based organic garden helpful ideas. | | | | organic gardeners' blogs. Finally, visit Cornell |
| * Park and Recreation Departments: If you live in a | | | | University's organic garden website. They offer an |
| large neighborhood, your local park and recreation | | | | online class in organic gardening. The professor is sure |
| department will be a good source of helpful ideas for | | | | to have helpful organic gardening ideas and tips. |