Start your own organic garden

By Rebecca Harnik

While the summer sun shines down and warm breezes stir the air, my interest in gardens is blossoming.

Getting a garden started can be a great way to connect with nature and create a habitat for a variety of species. When starting up an eco-friendly garden, there are many important things to consider.

Environmentally friendly gardens can improve the health of plants while preserving natural resources and diversity. Organic gardens reduce chemical usage, improve water and air quality, cut down on pollution and can cut back on time and money spent on gardening.

Choosing what to grow in a greenscape can be a challenge and a bit overwhelming, however, it doesn’t need to be. Native species and plants that require less water are always a good choice. Avoid invasive species or those that don’t naturally grow in your area because they are more difficult to maintain, and can harm native plants.

It is also important to know what kind of garden you are intending to keep—flower, vegetable, herb—and make sure that your climate is suitable for the plants that you intend to grow.

Pay attention to your space: how much sun, the size of the area and know how much energy you want to put into it. Perennials, for example, are easier to maintain because they regenerate and do not need to be planted every year.

When preparing for a garden it is important to start with healthy soil. Using an organic compost to enrich soil is a great way to encourage healthy plant growth, and it reduces the need for fertilizers because composted soil is already rich with nutrients. Composting is a great way to help to reuse waste from food and lawn clippings to benefit your garden.

Also, mulching is very helpful—it can naturally prevent many weeds, while keeping moisture inside. Healthy soil attracts natural diversity of small beneficial organisms and will improve the quality of your garden and decrease the need for chemicals or pesticides.

The Environmental Protection Agency lays down five key steps to create a more environmentally friendly garden: maintain healthy soil, plant right for your site, practice smart watering, adopt a holistic approach to pest management and practice natural lawn care.

But not everybody has enough space for their own garden. If you live in an apartment or an area with limited lawn space, try checking out community gardens in your city. Community gardens offer a smart way to bring nature to your neighborhood.

These gardens can revitalize neglected spaces, help connect diverse groups of people within the neighborhood, allow people to share knowledge of gardening and recipes and improve the appearance of a neighborhood. The American Community Gardening Association has a helpful website, and can help locate a nearby garden or offer tips on community gardening.

Now go get lost in a garden! The songbirds and butterflies will thank you, and I bet that you will be proud of your hard work when you’re eating delicious organic vegetables.