When I talk to people about natural organic living, at some point I will inevitably be asked amid chuckles and eye rolls, "WHY?" What's the big deal? Why give up so many of my favorite things? Why pay more for organic food when I can't tell the difference? Well, this installment of GG will hopefully show you the light. The biggest misconception about organic food is the idea that complicated, or out of the way methods are used to produce it. Organic food is simply food. Food that has not been genetically modified or exposed to synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. You see, over the last few billion years our planet has perfected the best way to grow healthy produce. Plants pull essential trace elements, minerals and nutrients out of the earth, and then either die and decompose themselves, or feed animals which process the plants and return them to the ground from whence they came, replenishing the soil. It's a beautiful cycle. However, our recent history has seen a departure from this harmonious design. In an effort to maximize profits, the largest industrial food producers are saturating the ground with synthetic salt fertilizers, spraying the crops with toxic pesticides, and genetically modifying plant DNA. While these practices have allowed cheaper and easier mass production of food, they are also leading to a decline in our health and the sustainability of the environment.
This is a video of syndicated radio host, Howard "The Dirt Doctor" Garrett talking about the reasons for organic gardening. You'll notice he emphasises avoiding synthetic fertilizers as the most important issue. This is because the health of the ecosystem in the soil is absolutely essential, and without it our food supply is completely unsustainable. There is an underground universe beneath our feet and in fact, there are more organisms in a teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on the planet. Those microorganisms, earthworms, insects, etc. all play a role in breaking down organic matter, making nutrients available for plants, and aerating the soil. Mined salt or chemical fertilizers damage the soil life and build up in the earth over time, depleting the nutrients and actually locking them out from the roots of plants. Before long, once fertile-land can become burned out dirt incapable of growing nutritious food. We can't let that happen.
Is your yard for looking at, or living in?
In addition to all the helpful little critters out there, there are of course those that would like to steal the fruits of our labor without giving anything back. Pests come in all sizes from animals, to insects, to tiny molds and nematodes. To protect against their scavenging, many defense mechanisms have evolved that naturally deter or kill the harmful invaders. Certain plants will secrete chemicals that fight back against pests, or even attract predatory insects to eat them. In organic gardening, we can use these natural methods to control pests very safely and effectively. Unfortunately, scientists have now created toxic pesticides that are extremely effective at killing pests, but the negative consequences from these products are really starting to add up. Here is a study from the University of Florida about the many different kinds of toxins in pesticides and how they affect us. But to me it's just common sense. Take a look at the yard signs after an area has been treated with pesticides. Do you really want to introduce chemicals to your environment that aren't safe for your family or pets? Stay organic, and you'll never have to.
Hungry?
Now for the scariest aspect of modern, high-tech, inorganic farming: GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOs)!!! What may have seemed like science fiction only a few years ago is now a very real problem. Large corporations are manipulating plant DNA and even combining the DNA of plants, bacteria and animals! They say the benefits of GMOs are increased crop yields, resistance to pests, and ability to survive adverse growing conditions. However, if you look around you can find plenty of evidence to the contrary. But even if these claims were true, it is becoming very clear that there are many dangers that could seriously threaten all life on this planet. Certified organic food is not allowed to contain any GMO ingredients, and we need to make sure we keep heirloom strains of crops alive to provide natural, healthy food for generations to come. Here are a few spots on the 'net I've found that carry non-hybrid, open-pollinated seeds. With these varieties you can collect and replant seeds year after year to infinity! http://www.heirloom-organics.com/http://sustainableseedco.com/Organic-Heirloom-Seeds/http://www.mypatriotsupply.com/Default.asp Order some for you and your neighbor, and begin your journey to health and freedom!
As always, thanks for reading, and stay tuned to see me get the garden going! Starting with the next edition of Garbers' Gardens..... "The Plan"
Hey everyone! Thanks for stopping at Garbers’ Gardens! This blog will focus mainly on a large organic garden I’ll be starting this year. I named it after my grandparents, Dick and Marcia Garber. When I was a kid they owned three houses on a beautiful piece of land in southeastern Wisconsin, right on the shores of the great Lake Michigan. They were two of the most genuine, generous, and hard-working people I’ve ever met. Growing up I watched them spend hour after hour in the garden planting beautiful flowers and delicious fruits and vegetables. The lush vegetation created fresh, oxygen-rich air that, mixed with the lake breeze made a tangible peace and serenity I will hold with me the rest of my life.
Garbers' garden in its heyday
Try to stop me from gardening!
Takin' a break in the summer sun
Grandma and Grandpa have since passed on to the next phase of the Great Journey, and the property has regrettably lost some of its former luster without their green thumbs. However, I believe it’s still loaded with potential, and with a lot of love and sweat I can get it back to something they would be proud of. Gardening is in my genes; my parents have continued the tradition at their house, and I’m ready to follow in their footsteps as I take on this challenge.
The 'rents backyard. They have day jobs too.
Mom and me in the garden
I’m going to document step-by-step the entire process of backyard farming including composting, preparing garden beds, starting seeds, rain collection, and much more. I’ll also supplement the blog with instructional videos, so you can see exactly how I use organic techniques to produce my own delicious and nutritious food. In addition to the garden, I’ll also visit topics such as nutrition, sustainability, freedom, self-sufficiency, and whatever else is floating my boat at the time.
Just helpin' Ma with some digging!
So again, thank you for joining me in this endeavor. I plan on making this blog entertaining and informative, and through my trials and tribulations I hope I can help experienced gardeners with techniques and ideas, and inspire new gardeners to join the movement. Local, sustainable farming is absolutely essential for freedom. We must feed ourselves to lead ourselves.
