THE SECRETS OF ORGANIC GARDENING, GO BACK TO YOUR ROOTS!!

Are you like me and are fascinated with the miracle of our natural world i.e, the beauty and majesty of our trees, the myriad  colours of the leaves in autumn, the shade they provide in summer, as well as create micro climates around our homes.
There is a resurgence and a revival in growing trees for:
 -  Locking up or sequesting carbon into the soil
 - As trees are the lungs of the earth, they mop up carbon dioxide, while   oxygenating  the air we breathe
 - Sheltering birds and other animals
 - Providing leaf litter in creating organic humus and top soil
 - Reducing soil erosion, and preventing salinity
 - Flowers that supply bees with nectar and pollen. These trees also act as windbreaks, and provide structure and framework to our parks and gardens.

 For those people who can remember their grandparents' gardens in the country, the aromas of strawberries and other berries, picking tomatoes and digging potatoes are evocative.You may be musing about the limited space around your home, time constraints owing to work and family committments, when you have some spare time you're down at the gym or playing sport with your kids. Yes, all these things have to be factored in, but did you know that even light, or menial gardening is a great work out, not only does it increase your heart rate, you're out in the fresh air, there's stretching and strengthening activities all the whilst being creative, and remembering to only garden as hard as you are able.

I have always grown salad vegetables, herbs, carrots, beetroot, asian greens, shallots and tomatoes interplanted amongst other flowers and ornamental shrubs and perennials. Even when space is limited, pots, large tubs, polystyrene boxes are sufficient to cultivate vegetables or herbs that are easy to grow. Gardening clubs' memberships have escalated over recent years as more and more people are eager to learn, share,swap and trade tips for growing their favourite fruit, vegetables and ornamental plants.
 Gardeners are returning to the ORGANIC ways of cultivating produce the way it used to be grown, before chemical fertilizers and sprays, and over tilling, leading to leaching of natural minerals and nutrients from the soil.There is understandable circumspection surrounding Genetically Modified food plants, there are still too many unknown, long term side effects of G.M produce, and a ground swell of allergic reactions to a whole host of herbicides, and environmental pollutants. While the tabloids continue the 'gloom and doom' regarding the push for carbon reductions, green house gas emissions, and the effects of global warming, there are many ways we as individuals can help.

By starting at the ground level, improving the soil with organic materials as I indicated ealier in this article, leaf litter composted with other vegetable scraps,fruit skins, shredded paper, egg shells, tea/ coffee fines, grass clippings (without seeds) and other  garden waste. Ensure that that the organic materials are cut into small pieces, and cardboard and paper shredded thinly, placed into a compost bin or heap with some garden lime or dolomite, garden soil or bagged soil bought from a garden store. Turn with a garden fork or rotate the bin regularily to oxygenate the composting materials, so as to avoid the odour of methane gas. I use a plastic tube higher than the compost level and drilled large holes along the pipe, and keep it down the middle of the compost bin as a means of drawing oxygen to the soil.      

Now you can start the process of building a healthy organic compost as medium for growing the most flavoursome vegetables, or anything your heart desires, whilst helping the environment...