Earth to Earth Gardening

Ecological Cycles

Ecology plays an important role in organic gardening. A quick glance at your garden won’t reveal nature’s secrets. It takes observation, experimenting and a willingness to adjust one’s thinking to align with nature.

Earth to Earth Gardening. What does it really mean? That which comes from earth returns to earth.

Watch and wait for Nature’s Signals

What the earth wants, it receives into its natural domain. Mushrooms are a perfect example of this. A tree takes a lifetime to grow. From season to season, it maintains growth cycles, shedding foliage that becomes rich, black soil. With wind and storms, detached branches break down, adding perfect balance. When the tree trunk begins to die, insects and woodpeckers help it along its final journey. After the trunk moulders into damp soil, tiny white mushrooms sprout. Humans cannot dictate any of this. Ours is merely to wait and be patient with Mother Nature.

The good earth

A good organic garden begins with good soil; rich, black soil infused with a cyclical mouldering recipe. Use your nose to tell you whether or not your soil is good. The earthier the scent as you scoop it up in your hands, the better your gardening results will be. Become familiar with the differences in the scent after a rain storm or after the first thaw in spring.

Learn to recognize the changes by touch Too gritty? Likely a more sandy soil. Too clumpy or hard to the touch? High iron content and a reddish color means your soil is apt to be a type of clay formed by millions of years of rock breaking down.

Compost, compost, compost!

One of the most beneficial assets to your organic garden is your own compost. Return all your garden has produced. Save seeds and dry them. Dead blossoms, leaves and stems are good compost material.

GRRRRRR! Insects!

Insects, i.e., aphids, locusts, worms, etc. all have their ecological jobs to do. This doesn’t mean suffering in silence while your garden becomes a feast for them. There are numerous natural repellents like vinegar and water that are as effective as heavy chemicals that pollute groundwater. Cabbage leaves Lavender oil placed around plants repel slugs. sprayed on leaves help with aphids. Mint is also a good repellent and looks pretty when planted between rows of flowers or vegetables. Coffee grounds serve two purposes as a repellent and a soil nutrient.

Please check back soon for more Organic Gardening Tips!