Organic Gardening Made Easy For A Healthier Lifestyle
Updated: Oct 27
Acute Acupuncture Wellington is not just focused on providing amazing acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Wellington, we are also focused on health and wellness, organic gardening is one of these things. Organic gardening is a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to growing plants for food. Organic gardening focuses on the use of natural materials and methods to maintain soil fertility, control pests, and enhance overall plant health. This Blog Post will explore some of the basics of organic gardening, including its benefits, easy-to-follow practices, and final thoughts on adopting this green gardening approach.
Firstly there are a lot of people out there who think they can't do any gardening or organic gardening because they don't have any space or who are renting. Here are two amazing examples of how you can start your organic garden today with little or no space. Organic gardening is fun for the whole family, my son and I enjoy our time together growing food in our garden. I wanted to share this with you, so you too can bring this enjoyment to your friends and family.
My first Suggestion for this would be getting a Vegepod. a Vegepod comes in 3 different sizes, Small 0.5m x 1m of Growing Space, Medium 1m x 1m of Growing Space, and Large 2m x 1m of Growing Space. Vegepods are sold online and can be shipped to your door or you can pick them up at your local hardware stores or plant shops in your area nationwide.
My next suggestion would be to contact your local Community Garden, they may have availability or you can get your name put on a list for when the Community Garden has an available plot. It depends on the Community Garden but these plots may be free or it may have a small cost to use their facilities. In the grand scheme of things if you are in an apartment or you are renting or flatting I would go for the community garden as you don't have to pack up and move stuff each time you move as this stays at the same location. Use the link provided as this has a list of all the community gardens in the Wellington region. Once you have contacted the garden of your choice your name gets put on a list and they will contact you once a space has become available for you.
Pros and Cons, Vegepod vs Community Garden:
Pros of the Vegepod:
Pros of the Vegepod: 1) Utilising a small space to max out a limited area. 2) Ease of accessibility from where you live. 3) Water saving as the Vegepod has a reservoir for water in the bottom. 4) Great design and ease of usage.
Cons of the Vegepod:
Cons of the Vegepod: 1) Firstly the price of the Vegepod is relatively inflated as this is just plastic. 2) The stand is not included and is an additional price of up to $250. 3) Moving flats will be a big undertaking as you have the dirt and all the accessories to shift along with all your household goods. 4) You may need to buy up to 10-12 bags of potting mix and compost for up to $25 per bag for organic.
Pros of the Community Garden:
Pros of the Community Garden: 1) Little or no expense to get a plot to call yours. 2) Flexibility to create what you want to create so long as you stay organic. 3) The plot is your plot so long as you maintain it. 4) Community-based so you may meet new and interesting people who live in your area and can give helpful tips on how to grow best in your microclimate.
Cons of the Community Garden:
Cons of the Community Garden: 1) The waitlist, you may have to wait a significant amount of time to get a plot. 2) as this is in the community setting there may be visitors to the community garden who take things, who don't belong to the garden. 3) Rules of the community garden, depending on the community garden there may be heavy rules or consequences if they are not adhered to like losing your plot. 4) people always come over and talk to you lol (it's a community garden).
Benefits of Organic Gardening:
Environmental Impact:
Environmental Impact: Unlike conventional gardening methods that rely heavily on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, organic gardening is rooted in natural practices, minimizing harm to the environment or health. By avoiding the use of chemical inputs, organic gardening helps preserve biodiversity, protects water quality, and supports pollinators and beneficial insects.
Healthier Food:
Healthier Food: Organic gardening ensures the production of food that is free from harmful chemicals and residues that get absorbed by the produce. By growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs organically, individuals can enjoy nourishing, flavorful, and pesticide-free produce, which promotes better health and well-being.
Cost-effective:
Cost-effective: Organic gardening often requires fewer inputs, such as expensive synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, leading to reduced gardening costs in the long run. Additionally, adopting organic gardening principles, such as composting, helps recycle organic waste materials, further reducing expenses.
Easy-to-Follow Practices:
Soil Improvement:
Soil Improvement: Healthy soil is the foundation of any successful garden. Begin by adding organic matter like compost, well-rotted manure, or leaf mold to increase soil fertility and structure. This enriches the soil with essential nutrients and improves its water-holding capacity. Also adding perlite and vermiculite to the soil will help enrich the soil. Perlite helps aerate the soil so your plants will not get wet feet and vermiculite retains just enough water for the roots of the plants to draw on.
Weed Management:
Weed Management: Organic gardening emphasizes proactive weed control without the use of herbicides. Utilize practices like mulching, hand weeding, or hoeing to prevent weed growth and competition with crops. It may pay to invest in weed mats, there are some weed mats on the market that are high quality and are reusable for 20 or more years.
Natural Pest Control:
Natural Pest Control: Encourage biodiversity by planting a variety of flowers that attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and bees, which help control pests naturally. Use companion planting techniques, such as growing marigolds with tomatoes to deter pests. Physical barriers, like netting, can also prevent pest access to vulnerable plants.
Organic Fertilizers:
Organic Fertilizers: Replace synthetic fertilizers with organic alternatives like compost tea or fish emulsion. These organic fertilizers provide a slow and steady release of nutrients, improving soil health and promoting robust plant growth. also look into chicken and sheep pellets and organic blood and bone. these will add nutrients to your plants and soil health.
Water Conservation:
Water Conservation: Conserve water resources by employing techniques like drip irrigation or using rainwater harvesting systems. Water the garden early in the morning or evening to minimize water loss through evaporation.
Organic gardening is not only about growing plants for food; it is a philosophy and a lifestyle that respects the environment and nurtures the well-being of both plants and humans. By employing the simple practices mentioned above, anyone can transition to organic gardening. Start by implementing small steps and gradually expand your knowledge and skillset. Embrace the joys of gardening while contributing to a healthier lifestyle and ecosystem.
Organic gardening offers numerous benefits, from reduced environmental impact to healthier produce you consume and cost-effectiveness. By adopting easy-to-follow practices like soil improvement, natural pest control, and water conservation, individuals and families can embark on a journey to a greener thumb with organic gardening. So, seize the opportunity, connect with nature, and get your hands dirty in a sustainable garden that gives back to the earth, your family's well-being, and your overall health.