What exactly is organic gardening and why would you want to do it?

People who choose to go the organic route, when it comes to growing their own food, think of their plants as part of a whole system within nature that starts with the soil and includes the water supply, compost, wildlife and insects.

An organic gardener tries, as much as possible, to work in harmony with nature and not use such things as synthetic fertilizers or pesticides on their plants, and also to continually replenish any resources that the garden consumes.

I have outlined seven tips below to help you get the most from your organic gardening efforts.

1. Compost can easily be made from kitchen and other garden waste. Though this is more time-consuming than buying prepared chemical pesticides and fertilizers, it certainly helps by putting garbage to good use.

2. Chemicals that may have an adverse affect on your health are not used during organic gardening. This is especially important when growing fruits and vegetables.

We are told by the chemical companies that the chemicals and toxins we use are safe and, if used according to their directions, have no harmful effects on us. On the flip side, independent research shows that even small amounts of chemicals absorbed through the skin can cause various medical conditions, especially in young children.

A child ingests, on average, four to five times more pesticides from foods than an adult, and this can lead to disease later on in the child's life. These incidents are virtually eliminated when the food is grown organically.

3. Less harm is caused to the environment. Chemicals and toxins are often washed into our waterways, causing death to the wildlife that lives there. Organic gardening practices help to keep the environment safe for future generations of wildlife and humans alike.

4.Organic farming practices help prevent the loss of topsoil through erosion. The Soil Conservation Service says that an estimated thirty billion tons of soil erodes from United States farmlands every year.

5. A simple mulch of pine needles will help to suppress the growth of weeds as well as keeping the moisture in.

6. Cost savings. You do not not need to buy expensive chemical fertilizers and pesticides when gardening organically. Many organic recipes for the control of pests and plant diseases come straight from the kitchen cupboard and other garden waste.

7. In some cases, other plants can be grown as companions to the main crop. An example of this is the marigold, which helps to repel aphids from fruit and vegetables.

8. Mixing one cup of cooking oil with one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap can make a cheap garden pest spray. Put three tablespoons of this mixture in one quart of water and spray on the plants.

Organic gardening is a worthwhile endeavour and the more people who practice it, the better for our environment and over-all well-being. When we garden organically, we are taking from nature and giving back all at the same time.