Everyone - including the backyard gardener - who wants to
grow food in a way that is sustainable and that respects
the natural environment can benefit from using the federal
organic guidelines from the Organic Food Production Act
that took effect in 2002. These federal standards for
organic cultivation were designed by people with a profound
knowledge of how to produce food ecologically.
With the home gardener rather than the market gardener
especially in mind, what follows here is an overview and
some highlights of the standards and regulations. For more
details, visit the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
website: www.ams.usda.gov. Click "National Organic Program."
~~Soil~~
In an organic gardening system, soil health is fundamental
to success. Even though natural fertilizers and other
inputs are used in organic gardening, they are minimized by
regular additions of organic material to feed and improve
the soil. This material can come, for instance, from
tilling in cover crops and from using approved soil
amendments such as compost.
Raw animal manures are not to be used as soil amendments
within six months of harvest for root crops. For crops
where the edible part never touches the soil, raw animal
manures are not used within three months of harvest. Sewage
sludge is absolutely banned. Crop residues can be chopped
into the soil, but not burned.
~~Pests~~
Biological pesticides can be used, but should be viewed as
a last resort. Before spraying a pesticide, organic
gardeners can use predators of the pest species, develop
habitat to encourage the natural enemies of pests, and use
controls like traps and non-synthetic repellants.
~~Diseases~~
Prevention is the idea. Plants grown in healthy soil are
naturally resistant to disease. Crop rotation and selecting
the right varieties also contribute to disease control. If,
however, there is still a problem, visit the USDA web site
mentioned above and select from the National List of
biologicals and botanicals that are permitted to certified
organic growers.
~~Weeds~~
The federal organic standards allow no herbicides. Control
weeds by tilling, hand weeding, mowing, etc. Also, natural
mulches (e.g. straw) are useful.
~~Seeds and Transplants~~
These must also be organic for the crop to be labeled
organic.
The backyard gardener who is interested in growing
organically for the nutritional and environmental benefit
rather than for the purpose of marketing, probably doesn't
need all the nitty gritty details of the Organic Food
Production Law.
Just use the basic guidelines and act with respect for
nature, and you're on the way to producing organic food.
It's well worth it: healthier for people and healthier for
the environment.
About the Author:
Life-time gardener Judith Schwader specializes in organic
gardening methods. She shares expertise, humor, and advice
for your gardening success at A to Z Gardening.
Also visit FB Home for additional home and garden information.
