If you are trying to live an eco friendly life, perhaps buying organic produce and reducing the carbon emissions from your home, you may also be interested in organic gardening. Whilst there are, of course, no strict rules in place to govern organic gardening in the way that organic farming is certified, the principals are the same. The aim is to nurture a healthy environment for the growing of plants which does not have a negative impact on the environment.
Basically, organic gardening is about being free from the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides, and this can be achieved in a number of ways. This page gives a very brief overview to get you started, and you can check out the link below for more detailed information.
You will still need to fertilise your garden once you start organic gardening, but this can be done very effectively by making your own compost and making use of fallen leaves for a mulch. If you are growing vegetables, you can also think about crop rotation, which will allow the soil to recover naturally from any deficiency in nutrients which any one crop might cause.
In order to stay pesticide free, you should encourage wildlife in your garden. Animals such as birds and beneficial insects will keep pests under control naturally. In addition, there are some varieties of fruit and vegetable which are naturally pest and disease resistance, so ask you local garden centre for advice.
For further information on organic gardening, visit the website of the charity Garden Organic
