Organic gardening is growing in popularity as people

increasingly see the need to avoid chemicals and synthetic products.
Organic gardens also provide protection form genetically modified
organisms (GMO) in the garden.

Those who take up organic
gardening often are at a loss as to where to buy supplies. They don't
know what products they need for soil nourishment or pest control. They
may not know how much water to supply, or how to go about composting
kitchen scraps for their gardens. They need more than a few organic
garden tips and ideas.

Organic garden helpful ideas and tips are
widely available, if you know where to find them. Here are a few places
to begin your search.

Organic Garden Helpful Ideas

One
of my favorite organic garden tips is this one. The most important
thing you can do to control pests in the organic garden is to keep the
soil healthy. Healthy soil produces healthy plants. Healthy plants,
like healthy humans, are better able to withstand disease.

A
second helpful organic garden idea I like is to control pests with
ladybirds (ladybugs). These beautiful little red insects with shiny
black spots control aphids naturally and totally. You can order them
from several organic garden places on the Internet. Until they arrive,
spray every part of aphid-infested plants with well diluted soapy
water. Rinse with clear water.

My third favorite organic
gardening idea is to plant guardian plants around and among tender
vegetables. Marigolds make the organic garden border colorful, and ward
off many pests. Onions and garlic are also great deterrents to pests
that would like to break in and steal organic produce.

Sources for More Organic Garden Helpful Ideas

We
do not give specific websites here, but most of these groups or
products can readily be located on the Internet. Simply use key words
from any one of these categories in your search engine to find more
organic garden ideas.

* Cooperative Extension Office: The
Cooperative Extension System is a nationwide network. Every U.S. state
and territory has a state office at its land-grant university. They
also have a network of local or regional offices. The staff at these
offices includes at least one expert who can give you useful,
practical, and research-based organic garden helpful ideas.

*
Park and Recreation Departments: If you live in a large neighborhood,
your local park and recreation department will be a good source of
helpful ideas for your organic garden. Classes may be available on
topics such as organic garden plans, planting seed, and how to compost.

*
YMCA / YWCA: In some areas, these organizations provide workshops on
organic garden topics, with plenty of helpful ideas and tips. These are
led by local organic garden experts. They may include vegetable organic
gardens and organic gardening of flowers.

* Gardening Stores: An
increasing number of gardening stores are beginning to offer organic
garden products, seeds, and supplies. Many try to have at least one
person on staff who can give organic garden helpful ideas.

*
Nurseries: Local nurseries may have helpful ideas and tips for your
organic garden. As the demand becomes greater, they are learning that
they must provide not only organic fertilizer and seedlings, but advice
also.

* Magazines: Organic gardening magazines have been around
for many years now, and are filled with organic gardeners' helpful
ideas and tips. Visit your public library and browse the magazines.
Some are aimed at small farming size organic gardens. Others focus on
organic gardening of vegetables for family or farmers' market. Choose
one that has the most helpful tips for you, and subscribe for ongoing
organic garden help.

* Seed Catalogs (catalogues): Many times,
seed catalogs have not only organic seeds, but also ideas and tips for
the organic garden. Look for major seed companies' catalogs.

*
Books: If you are new to organic gardening, you will want to invest in
at least one good book on organic gardens. Books can explain how seeds
and produce are certified organic. They can provide organic gardening
advice from ants to weed control.

* Family and Friends: They say
we all have a circle of 250 acquaintances. Within that circle, you will
likely find at least one person who is experienced in organic gardening
and has ideas or tips that will help you. Their own organic garden may
be only a container, or it could be 50 containers. Anyone who does any
organic gardening will be eager to share the tips and helpful ideas
they have received.

* Internet: The Internet excels in providing
information. It is a wonderful source of organic garden helpful ideas
and tips. Become a member of an organic gardening forum and share
ideas. Read organic gardeners' blogs. Finally, visit Cornell
University's organic garden website. They offer an online class in
organic gardening. The professor is sure to have helpful organic
gardening ideas and tips.

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