Is Organic Gardening Right For You?
By Ed Farris on Thursday, January 19th, 2012 |
Folks who are passionate about gardening are looking through seed catalogs and making decisions about spring planting. The pictures of a bountiful harvest in these publications provide assurance that spring will be coming in the not too distant future.
One question that seems popular among people interested in gardening is how to raise vegetables and fruits organically. There is a genuine concern that long term use of commercially produced pesticides (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides etc.) may harm the environment.
The National Gardening Association (NGA) Web site says that a survey that they conducted shows an increasing number of households in the U.S. that are following organic gardening practices (http://www.gardenresearch.com/ ). Per the NGA, the number of U.S. households that use only all-natural fertilizer, insect, and weed controls increased from an estimated 5 million households in 2004 to 12 million in 2008.
Some aren’t sure exactly what it means to be an organic gardener. Rosie Lerner, Purdue Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist, provided this explanation of gardening organically for an educational session: “Meaning varies, but typically aims to foster a healthy environment for garden plants with appropriate cultural practices and ‘environmentally friendly’ intervention when necessary.”
Lerner mentioned that that one of the main reasons to grow organic is to limit the risks associated with exposure to pesticides. This risk potential involves humans, pets, and wildlife. Organic principles also involve building the soil by increasing organic matter. Cover crops, leaves, crop residue, manure and compost are all possible sources of organic matter.
However, as Lerner points out, it can be difficult to separate “fact” from “myth” when you hear organic gardening ideas. Some testimonials don’t add up when put into practice. Plant disease and pest management can be a challenge in an organic garden.
Products such as bio-fungicides, botanical insecticides, horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps can still damage plants and can potentially cause harm to humans, animals and beneficial insects. It is still very important to read and follow label directions when using these products. One example is an insecticide made of needle-like particles milled from the shells of fossilized sea plants called diatoms. This product is effective in abrading an insect’s body causing it to lose fluid and literally dry out. However, it also may kill predators of pests as well as honeybees.
If you have an interest in organic gardening, it is important to review information from reputable sources. Rosie Lerner has compiled a list of university and commercial grower websites as well as books involving organic agriculture. To obtain a copy of this information, call the Huntington County Extension Office.
For more information, contact Ed Farris, Agriculture and Natural Resource Educator, Purdue Extension – Huntington County Office, 354 N Jefferson – Suite 202, Huntington by calling 260-358-4826.
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