Developing an organic vegetable garden should be considered as much more than just a hobby. They play an important role in safeguarding our environment and they help to develop a sustainable environment. You do not need a large cultivated plot of land to develop an organic vegetable garden; you can develop it in a small space, even in a city, with minimal effort.

It is very inexpensive to develop and maintain an organic vegetable garden; however, the yield you are obtaining from it will be comparatively high and the quality will be the very best. The concept of organic vegetable gardening is based on the knowledge and methods followed over millenniums. In general, terms, developing organic vegetable gardens is a slow process; however, the yield will be more stable and abundant.

Organic vegetable gardens can be defined as the gardens for which we are not using synthetic fertilizers and related products such as pesticides. Ideally, organic manures and composts are used instead of synthetic fertilizers. In addition, the leguminous plants can be planted all around the garden to facilitate nitrogen supply with the help of the biological process called nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen fixation is being done by the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum that is present in the root nodules of many leguminous plants. The main concept of organic gardening is to feed the soil with organic materials; in turn, the soil will fertilize the plants.

You may be wondering what are the uses for developing organic gardens? There are many uses. First, in contrast to non-organic gardens, organic gardens do not pollute the environment. Second, the vegetables harvested from the organic vegetable garden are nutritious! Third, many farmers claim that the vegetables harvested from organic vegetable gardens are very tasty. Lastly, the vegetable plants of organic gardens grow healthy and they are resistant to many plant diseases. In addition, an organic vegetable garden saves you money on vegetables which can now be homegrown.

Organic fertilizers can be prepared using organic waste materials such as animal wastes (e.g. cow dung and fish heads), plant wastes (e.g. decaying plant matter, dried leaves, grass clippings), and kitchen scraps. Composts are very useful organic fertilizers; especially the vermicomposts which are the best organic fertilizers and soil conditioners. These types of composts are prepared by using a unique species of earthworm.

Organic gardens in general, can be developed to cultivate various cash crops that yield flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Be sure to visit and tend to your organic garden periodically in order to take notice of and to eliminate any plant diseases. If you do find any diseased plants, you need to take immediate action. There are various organic pesticides available on the market which you can use for your organic vegetable garden or for whatever type of organic garden you are cultivating. You should handle all pesticides carefully as overdosing or too frequent use may kill even the beneficial insects.

Beverly Clarke manages a network of green living websites offering helpful information and tips on alternative fuels, greenhouse gardening and sustainable development

Why go and spend a fortune at the nursery on new tools, when there is probably a wealth of unused stuff tucked away unused in your own kitchen, or someone you knows kitchen that will more than adequately do the exact job you want, without having to spend a cent.

Just make sure that anything taken from the kitchen really is not wanted there. As well as the fact that such stuff is on a one way permanent trip out to the garden shed.

Here are just a few suggestions of stuff that are useful kitchen refugees,

Old dinner knife for digging weeds out from between concrete sections or pavers.

Old kitchen fork for light weeding in around tight places or where you do not want to disturb root systems that are close to the surface.

Good sharp kitchen knife or a pair of kitchen scissors are great fro dividing up clumps of plants, or for taking cuttings off of a branch.

Kitchen tongs can be used to pick up thorny cuttings or to help you repotting thorny plants like cacti.

Serving tray or placemats to keep things organised or for carrying produce, cuttings or even weeds.

Potato Masher for pushing past a thorny plant or rose.

BBQ or Carving Forks for digging out stubborn rooted weeds and root vegies.

Kitchen funnels for pouring various liquids into containers or for accurate pouring around plants. or to get seed or even small screws & nails into storage packets or bottles.

Chopsticks make great little pot stakes (metal and wooden skewers work too), or construction sets even for some jobs.

I've seen bamboo placemats and chopsticks cut down to make scenery pieces for bonsai planters, along with old aquarium ornaments.

Set of measuring cups and measuring spoons are great as scoops for fertilizers and potting mixes.

Icecream or soup scoops for measuring and scooping potting mix in around new potplants.

Egg rings and biscuit cutters for shaping growing fruit just for fun, or as a simple handheld hoe for light weeding in around plants.

So theres a few things which can obtain a second life out in the gardenshed and garden, nstead of being stored for years in a drawer, or being thrown out or passed on to a charity store.



About the Author:

The Bare Bones Gardener is a qualified Horticulturist and a qualified Disability Services Worker. He hates spending money on stuff which doesnt live up to the promises given. So he looks for cheaper, easier, simpler or free ways of doing the same thing and then he passes these ideas on to others.

Garden Blog - http://barebonesgardening.blogspot.com/