What Is Organic Gardening?
More and more people are considering growing food organically, with the increasing concern about the environment, 
not to mention the continuing increase of prices of grocery produce.
Organic gardening, simply put, means not using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. It is gardening in cooperation with nature, which actually makes it easier conventional gardening. Once you start using organic methods, you will realize the importance of keeping your soil healthy, thus lessening the maintenance and frustrations involved in gardening.
At its core, growing food organically is soil building. With many cases of garden failures resulting from soil, organic gardening is definitely an advantage. Using chemical fertilizer can make the soil healthy, but only in the short-term (usually for one planting only) and does not improve soil quality in the long run.
Compost is the best soil fertilizer and uses natural mineral and organic matter to condition the soil. Ordinary household waste like rotten fruits and vegetables, coffee grinds and even hair and lint can be put in your compost bin. Actually, the more variety of ingredients, the better the composting results.
Remember that, if you previously used chemical fertilizers and pesticides, it takes a few years for nature to break down and eliminate the chemicals from your yard. Using compost can help in this so you can start having healthier plants 
sooner.
Although eliminating weeds, pests and plant diseases and pests will always be a concern of any gardener, organic or not, remember that each weed or pest has a natural enemy, and any plant disease has a cause. You can always minimize their effects using natural methods.
Here are some tips on organic gardening:
- Choose plants which can adapt well to your site conditions, because happy plants will be healthy compared to stressed plants which can be very attractive to pests.
- Use mulching (covering the soil with rotting leaves and other organic matter). It can suppress weeds and moderate soil temperature, as well as feed the soil and prevent erosion.
- Use a variety of plants in your garden and create some diversity. A mix of plants will attract more beneficial insects and prevent pest problems from spreading throughout your garden.
Here is some more advice on using pesticides in your organic garden:
- There may be times when you will need to use a pesticide. A variety of organic pesticides are available in the market. They are effective and are less toxic to humans and other than using chemical pesticides but first, make sure first your garden really has a pest problem and that problem is too damaging. Remember that most organic fruits are not so shiny and attractive, but they are no less edible and healthy; some pest problems are livable.
- Pest problems can also mean because your plants are stressed.
- Remember that not all insects in your garden will cause destruction. Some of them prey on insect pests and are considered beneficial, such as lady bugs and types of wasps which feed on aphids. Animals like birds, frogs, and even snakes contribute to the balance in your garden and can prevent pest problems.