#2 Topics To Cover

by Doug
(in my garden)

Wow - when we went to do a seminar on Organic Gardening, I think we (or rather I) bit off more than I could chew. I’ve just finished reading the list of questions/requests (again - funny it doesn’t get any smaller) and came up with this list of things to learn.

Feeding Plants
Compost
Compost Tea
Insect Control
Disease Control
Big Pest Control (deer etc)
Companion Planting
Organic Fruit Production
Why Organic Gardening - a general discussion.

And that’s the big picture. Each of these could be a course all by itself.

I confess I’ve struggled with this one and am not quite sure where to take it. I don’t mind doing a course on each of these areas but we can’t cover them all at one time.

Let me refer you to a few areas that have already been covered on my websites.

Compost. You can find a ton of articles answering many of your questions right here.


Plant Disease. You can see a bunch of stuff here and I confess I’m behind on answering questions on this area but...


Pest Control. From the really tiny to the really big - it’s here and the option to ask questions is here too.


So this leads me to the other topics (we can revisit any of the linked ones in the future) and I think the natural lead in is the question of “Why Organic Gardening?” as a lead-in.

I’m going to put together a few thoughts of my own and we can have a bit of a discussion around it. I think it will help us all organize our thoughts.

So that’s where I am. I'd welcome your comments and suggestions below.

See note #3 for the discussion of "Why organic gardening?"




Comments for
#2 Topics To Cover

Click here to add your own comments

Natural Gardening without the crap
by: Sally

Hi Doug - I know you've said this often, but it bears repeating when you write your good stuff.

If the plant goes out healthy, in good soil and growing conditions, it resists most pests.

My broccoli thrives in my raised beds - IF I plant them early and strong. The white butterflies hover, but don't seem to land or lay eggs much. A very occasional blast with the garden hose (a la Doug) washes off the occasional eggs, and I just don't have the crawlies. BUT if I plant them late or water stress them - I'm in for diatomacious earth treatments etc. phooey.

Also - I had no pests on my squash, cuc etc for about 20 years, then suddenly the dreaded beetle appeared, and I've had them since. Do their larvae overwinter?

Thanks for all you do for us.

Sally
Organic resources
by: SwinneySwitch

I live in Texas and have been trying to grow vegetables organically although I am not 100% i try to use no pesticides and or chemcal fertilizers. I don't think it's any more or less expensive just about the same costs involved. Fortunately there are some wonderful resources both for products and organic "recipes" that I have tried. Malcolm Beck, and Howard Garrett both are a wealth of information and you can google them to get their websites. I usually go there for answers to pest questions or weed questions. There is also information about compost tea. If you live close to San Antonio Texas, you might be able to visit a garden center where they brew compost tea available on weekends. I hope this information is enough to get you interested. We have enough pesticides and artificial junk in our ground and groundwater. You can find out how molasses can be helpful to build up soil and beneficial microbes. Linda in Swinney Switch Texas
"Organic" sounds complicated and expensive
by: Beatrice

Hi Doug,
As I learn and grow in my attempts at gardening I used to be wary of the term organic because it always sounded like this creature you had to learn to control, and would need special tools and equipment, and only a select few could master it. Besides, my cotton jeans are organic, petroleum products made of pressurized carbon are organic, but that doesn't help in the garden. I now know organic gardening is not a thing to be feared, but still have a lot to learn. I wish someone could come up with a term that makes the practice sound more approachable. I've heard sustainable a lot lately, but that does not evoke the ease with which organic gardening occurs. And organic gardening does not have to be expensive. Does anyone else have a suggestion for a term that is more accurate and appropriate? Would natural-cycle or life-cycle gardening come close?

Click here to add your own comments














For Site Updates


Subscribe in a reader

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner



Videos

Videos from Doug


Loading...

.