In ancient times every village or town was self-sufficient as far as food was concerned. The people in every place raised all crops, grew vegetables and ate only what was grown in their neighbourhood. They knew what was grown in their soil, under the weather prevalent there, and so crops grew well and the product was very good and healthy too. Thus people maintained very good health too.
Then came diversification and people tried to grow every crop and vegetable in any climate, thereby requiring heavy use of fertilizers. While the fertilizers gave a quick boost to the crops and gave a good yield, they depleted the soil of the vital nutrients required for the healthy growth of the plants. Also, the product contained traces of the fertilizers and pesticides used which caused a lot of health problems for the people in the long run.
An alternative to this health hazard is Organic gardening. This method of gardening not only is in tune with Nature, but it also helps people who consume the produce get the nutrition from the organically grown food in a safe way, without any long-term side effects. Organically grown food is very nutritious, healthy, and also tasty. Very often people wonder why vegetables and fruits taste very bland, devoid of their original taste. Some even say that the vegetables and fruits that they grew up eating tasted much better. The reason is simply this – synthetic fertilizers deprive the produce of their original taste, while they make them much bigger in size.
Now there is growing awareness about the benefits of Organic Gardening and its sustainable nature. Many farms – large and small have said no to chemical fertilisers and are pioneering a revolution to promote healthy eating and healthy living. Small-time gardeners are following the example set by their larger counterparts and contributing to the good cause by following Organic methods of gardening.
Why organic gardening? The organic movement advocates growing organic food to improve health, increase biodiversity, help the environment and support local communities. Organic farming is different from conventional farming which uses synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The use of chemical agents in conventional farming has several harmful effects on the environment as well as on human beings.
Organic methods are being advocated by organic farmers around the world to deal with these problems. By practicing organic techniques, you can grow vegetables without using any chemicals or pesticides. If you are planning to grow your own vegetables at home then try organic horticulture to make your garden healthy. Here are some of the reasons why organic horticulture is important for a healthy life:
Environmentally Friendly
Organic gardens have a rich diversity of plants and animals as it does not use any kind of chemicals. Inorganic garden, you can grow vegetables without using harmful chemical pesticides as these affect the soil’s organic content, water bodies, and other living beings. For instance, organic fertilizers do not cause eutrophication which occurs when nitrogen from chemical fertilizers gets washed into rivers and seas to feed algae that choke out oxygen required by fish and other marine organisms.
Organic gardening is an eco-friendly approach towards growing fruits and vegetables at home because this technique leaves your produce uncontaminated with hazardous chemicals.
Healthy And Nutritious Food
Organic horticulture uses natural techniques like green manure or mulching to improve soil fertility instead of chemicals. It uses organic fertilizers made of plant and animal waste to nourish the soil naturally. Organic farming is free from any kind of artificial additives or preservatives, so organic fruits and vegetables are healthy for people in comparison to conventionally grown fruit.
For instance, organic tomatoes have higher Vitamin A content when compared with non-organic ones because organic farming does not use chemical ripening agents that cause an imbalance in organic compounds present in organic tomatoes. Also, organic cauliflowers are believed to have more anti-cancer properties when consumed regularly due to their high sulfur content in comparison with conventionally grown cauliflower.
Water Conservation
Organic gardening conserves water because it helps retain moisture at the root level. The mulches used in organic horticulture help retain the moisture of the soil for a long period. Also, organic farming allows rainfall to accumulate in your organic garden naturally instead of letting the water run off quickly over weeds and pavements.
Healthy Soil = Healthy Plants And Vegies
Organic horticulture helps maintain healthy soil that is free from any kind of chemicals or pesticides residues. The organic fertilizers used by organic farmers nourish the soil with organic matter which retains phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and other vital ingredients required for plant growth.
The use of leaves as mulch increases the organic content in the soil making it ideal for growing vegetables regularly without using any sort of fertilizer or pesticide. When you regularly use organic fertilizers like compost, manure, and leaf mulch then organic vegetables will give a good yield without using any type of harmful chemicals.
Many organic gardeners even advocate companion planting to increase the organic content in soil and help local insect life. In organic gardening, you can grow vegetables by keeping some beneficial insects around your organic garden which can prey on pest insects naturally. You can use garlic or mint as natural insecticides to kill aphids which are a major cause of damage to many organic plants and vegetables.
