If you are an advocate of growing organically, you cannot avoid getting asked the question “is organic food better?”. I love to be able to honestly answer “yes” to that one!

However, that’s not likely a response that appeases either the contemptuous or the concerned inquirer. We must have more information here!

Nutrients Organically grown food contains more nutrients, like vitamins and phytonutrients, than conventionally grown. This has been shown in more than one study. Plants grown in an organic manner do not grow so fast, and therefore are able to store more nutients than their fastgrowing counterparts in the non organic garden.

Less chemicals Bugs, micro organisms and fungi are among the pests that farmers need to protect their crops from. In conventional farming this is achieved through the use of strong chemicals, designed to harm or kill the targeted pests. However, these chemicals also affect other organisms, including you and me. Studies cannot foresee all the impact they can have since they all mix in the body, most likely creating synergi effects we can only guess about. if we eat organic food we at least cut out some of these chemicals from our diet.

Good for you! Most likely you have recently made a decision to start an organic garden, great choice! Read this and you will know where to begin.

Plan your garden!

First, look at your garden during the day. Where is it sunny? Where are the shady areas that perhaps just get a glimpse of sunlight?

Many perennial flowers develop well in the shady parts of the garden, or actually prefer them, whereas most vegetables need lots of sunshine to grow really well and mature properly.

So the ground rule is: vegetables in the sun, and flowers in the shade. But do use the perennials that also want the sun together with your veggies, they will look great together.

Soil preparation

Now it is time to put your shovel in the ground and take a look at your soil. You need to decide whether it is mostly muddy or sandy, and see if different parts of your garden have different kinds of soil.