Buying organic food from a grocery store may not be as easy as you may think.
Even if your fruit is labeled USDA Organic, this may not always be true. In fact, due to all of the scams and scandals that have been reported lately, your product may not be free of synthetic fertilizer, pesticides, or biotechnology.
This is normally because supermarkets and small commercial growers may not have the time and money to have their produce authentically organically certified.
Therefore, if you really want to make sure that your fruits and vegetables are organic, you may want to buy your fruits and vegetables from home gardeners.
Unlike the requirements for a USDA organic label, the home gardener follows a completely different standard (i.e. Certified Wildlife Habitat) that certifies that the vegetables and fruits that they grow are actually organic.
And once these requirements have been met, all the home gardener has to do is place a sign in the yard that says Certified Wildlife Habitat.
That said, if you are thinking about growing organic food on your property, here are the qualifications of the organic litmus test that must be met.
Start with Clean Soil
The property that you plant your garden on should always be clean soil. In fact, even if you move, you need to know if the ground has been tainted with chemicals and pesticides. If so, there are a few things that you can do.
- Remove the topsoil and replace it with clean soil
- It is a huge undertaking so it cannot be done in 1 year
- Identify small sections at a time and then build them up gradually with the new soil.
Is Tap Water Okay to Use?
As you may already know, rainwater and well water are different from municipal water. This is because there is a certain amount of chlorine in the water that everyone consumes.
Though this is true, it is a minuscule amount of chlorine, and will not affect anything. Particularly, as it relates to ensuring the soil is still clean.
(OMRI) Seal of Approval for Pest and Disease Control is a Requirement
When you buy commercial a fertilizer, you need to check out its contents carefully. One of the best ways to do this is to look for fertilizers that have the OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute).
On the other hand, if you prefer to make your own compost, you can mix organic and non-organic together. The pesticide in the non-organic mix is negligible, especially since any pesticides will die out in the heat.
Identify Problems Before You Spray
Before you spray your garden for pests, you need to know exactly what to do.
Here are a few key things that you should know.
- Not all insects are evil
- Some insects are beneficial to its healthy growth
- Only spray for insects that can wreak havoc on a garden
- Do not spray for minor plant diseases
- Identify the real enemy before buying and spraying
- Only use products with the OMRI seal
Organic Seedlings Are Not Optional
If you want to save money on the seeds that you buy, you need to know the guidelines and rules that govern these decisions.
For example, paying loads of extra money on certified organic seeds is not always necessary.
However, before you skip out on paying the added expense, here are a few things that you should look for.
- Seeds with inherent inherently intolerant to downy mildew (i.e. lettuce seeds)
- Vegetable varieties are grown by organic methods only
- Safe Seed Pledge Friendly Companies, do not sell GMO (genetically modified engineered) seeds
What are the Qualifications for an Organic Garden?
A garden is only considered to be organic when it has been grown with the absence of petrochemical-based products like fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
No fossil fuels are a part of these processes. Instead, these gardens are only composed of materials from animals, plants, and minerals.
Is Organic Matter a Requirement for the Soil?
One of the major contributors to your soil’s health is organic matter. Therefore, if you want to improve the overall health of your soil, you may want to add organic matter.
For example, in order to do this effectively, you will need a soil amendment into the topsoil to improve plant growth.
Are Miracle Gro Organic Products Actually Organic?
The answer to this question is no. In fact, if you are buying a standard Miracle Gro organic product, you should read the label.
The Miracle Gro organic (all-purpose) ingredients consist of synthetic fertilizers that’s toxic to the growth of organic gardens.
What are the Best Soil Types for Vegetable Gardens?
To start, you need to make sure that your soil is not compacted or sandy. Therefore, you need to make sure that you are incorporating an even mixture of organic material first.
After which, you can add a variety of different suitable soils for your vegetables, including aged bark (i.e. shredded or ground), and composted leaves.
Quickest Way to Add Organic Matter to Your Soil
As mentioned above, you can always improve your soil by adding a variety of organic matter sources like green manures, aged animal manures, compost, peat mosses, and mulch.
Preferably, the organic matter should be added to the surface of the topsoil in the fall.
Is it Possible to Add Too Much Organic Matter to Your Soil and How Long Does it Take?
Yes, it is possible to go overboard. Even though gardeners are encouraged to add organic matter often, there is a threshold that can be met.
According to Gillespie, the average time to reach a certain build percentage is about 5 to 7 years. Based on the state (i.e. Nebraska), you need to take a variety of factors into account, including mitigating erosion in the soil.
Do Manure and Clay Build Organic Matter?
The answer to this question usually varies based on properties and composition. For instance, when manure is applied to a garden, it is also used as a food source for soil microbes and building organic matter.
Therefore, only small amounts of manure remaining are used as organic matter. The same or similar is also true for clay, especially since it contains organic matter from a variety of different origins.
Can My Soil be Too Rich?
Yes, the soil can be too rich. To maintain a balanced ecosystem, the total make-up of a healthy nutrient-dense, and non-toxic soil is about 5% of organic matter.
What’s the Difference Between Compost and Garden Soil?
The make-up of garden soil and compost are vastly different. Garden soil is composed of non-organic elements like particles of rocks. Compost is made up of materials that you add to garden soil.
Is it Worthwhile to Use Bagged Garden Soil?
Bagged garden soil can be good for garden beds if the label reads potting mix or soil for container-grown plants.
Are garden soil and topsoil the same?
Garden soil may be described in more than one way. Specifically, when the top soil of your garden has been enriched with amendments like compost, potting mix, and other organic matters.
