By Larry Marragay

Imagine yourself eating your favorite strawberries that you grew it on your own. Is it nice to see a part of your garden or in your balcony that is full of strawberries? When you grow your own strawberries, you can save a few dollars from buying it in supermarkets. Surely, you will be delighted when you will now know on how to grow organic strawberries and yard pesticides will help you combat those pesky insects that destroy your crops. Growing strawberries is not as hard as you might think. Just follow these following tips and guideline and in no time you can harvest your own organic strawberries in your own home.

When planting strawberries, we need to consider these three important factors: the sun, fertilized or rich soil, and good drainage. These three are essential for the success of growing your own berries. The first one is the sun. These strawberries need exposure to the sun at least hours a day. So position your plant in the art of the garden where you can expose it to the sun. Next is the soil. When choosing an area to plant, you must clear the area with the weed and grass to make sure that they will not get the nutrients that is intended for the strawberries. Another important thing is that the soil must be well fertilized or has increased organic matter to let you berries grow faster and healthier. Next is proper drainage. Straw do not live well if they sit into the water, they need moisture but too much will kill them. That is why proper drainage is a must when growing strawberries.

After you have selected your site and prepared everything, what you need to choose is the type of strawberry that you will grow. There are three types of strawberries available in the market: the June bearing, the ever bearing, and the day bearing. They are harvested on different seasons according to its types and also, they have their own limitations and strengths.

For the June bearing type of strawberry, as its names says, it only bears its tasty fruits during the month of June. You can buy its seeds during its season, in the month of June. This type of strawberry is a large type and can produce a lot of fruit at the same time. But they will produce fruit during its season only.

The other type of strawberry is the ever bearing. These type produces its fruits between the late spring and early fall. They develop regularly but they are relatively small than the June bearing type. You can harvest these strawberries a lot of time in a season.

The third type is the day neutral type. They produce fruits regularly between spring and fall but they bear larger fruits during the fall season. They are small types but can be harvest a lot of times and the only disadvantage of this type is that they do not usually survive in areas that have hot climates especially in the summer.

 Now, let us go to the fun part, planting the strawberries. It is quite simple to plant these delicious treats, you just prepare the area you chose then, dig a hole and plant it, make sure that the crown of the plant is overlapping the soil. After planting it, water the plants and put some organic materials like dead leaves, manure, or straws to keep it nourished.  There are some advices from planters that you must not plant it near tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, or peppers because these plants can have Verticillium wilt and this can infect and kill your strawberry plants.

After all the hard work of choosing the location and planting the berries, let us now go on with the exhausting part, its maintenance. Strawberries do not like to be soaked in water, but they need sufficient moisture to keep them hydrated and alive. Water it as much as possible but make sure you proper drainage to it. Next is fertilizing the soil. Strawberries really need nutrition so that they can produce healthy looking and delicious fruits. Continuously provide organic materials to continuously give the strawberries the nutrition they need. Also, you need to remove all those weeds that grew out of nowhere.

Next is the pest control. Having pests can really be a big problem in your crops and if it becomes severe you might lose all of your hard work. One of the most annoying pests in growing strawberries is not those insects, but instead, the birds. They love to snatch those berries even if they are still not ripe. If you want them to keep them away from your beloved berries, cover the fruit or the entire plant with nets. There are a lot of bird nets available in your local garden stores or you can buy it online because it is more affordable.

There are also other pests that can feast on your berries, these are the snails. For some reason, they really like these fruits. If you want those snails away from your berries, put copper fences around the plant. They will not try to cross these copper fences because they will create an electric reaction when the copper and their slime come in contact.

Lastly, the most destructive of all the pests are the fungi called verticillium wilt. They can make your plants not grow any fruit and will eventually kill your plants. When your plant exhibits signs of infection with these fungi, you cannot control or remove it. The best thing to do is to discard the infected plant immediately and plant to other areas to prevent re infection. The best way to prevent these from happening is to spray a little pesticide and choose a variety of berries that are resistant to it.

If you follow these guidelines and tips, you will surely harvest a lot of your favorite strawberries and all your efforts will be worth it.

By Donna Ryan

Don’t Eat Non-organic Celery if you Want to Stay Healthy

It’s difficult to believe that the non-organic celery sold in the supermarket is not fit for consumption. However, according to the Environmental Working Group, the veggie is a bit too pesticide-friendly, containing sixty-seven varieties of the harmful substances. That makes eating the food almost as dangerous as smoking cigarettes. Because of the plant’s composition, it can easily absorb the chemicals used in order to keep pests away. What’s more, the finding was made after the United States Food and Drug Administration (USDA) power-washed the plant.

Organic Celery Grows Well in Both Cooler and Warmer Climates

Needless to say, if you like eating peanut butter on celery, you better make sure that both are organic. You can buy organic celery or you might think of growing the vegetable as well. The plant grows a fairly long time throughout the year, so it grows well in a variety of environments. If you live in an area that is warm most of the time, then celery is a good plant to grow during the fall or winter seasons.

Organically Grown Celery will Reap Good Results as Long as It’s Watered and Fertilized

It’s a shame that more organic celery isn’t grown as the plant responds well to organic nutrients. The vegetable does well in partial shade when grown in moisture-retaining soil, and will prove to provide good eating if compost is added on a regular basis. As long as the vegetable is well-watered and the soil is continually nourished, the plant will reap good results when grown organically.

Watch for Caterpillars

When it comes to pest control, you’ll need to watch for caterpillars of the swallowtail butterfly. The best way to eradicate the problem is to simply pick the caterpillars off the stalks. Also, blight can affect celery plants as well, Early and late blight are fungus-type diseases that can be avoided by the rotation of the plants in your garden. If plants do become infected, they should pulled up and thrown away.

Growing Celery Involves Routine Care

Growing organic celery is really not too laborious of process as long as you regularly maintain your garden and make a commitment towards routinely caring for the plant. When organic celery is mature and ready for harvesting, you can harvest stalks separately by cutting the plant at its base. Organic celery is much more flavorful when you pick a variety like Tendercrisp. If you live in a warm climate, then you may want to choose the Tango variety.

Health Benefits of Eating Organic Celery

Of course, you may just want to buy organic celery too and forego planting it in your garden. If that is the case, you’ll find that choosing organic celery will avail you with a number of health benefits. For example, those people who enjoy organic celery experience a reduction in their blood pressure as well as cholesterol count. Also, organic celery has antiseptic qualities – good for preventing kidney disease and urinary tract infections.

Relief from Joint Pain

People benefit from eating organic celery too who suffer from joint diseases, such as rheumatism, gout, or arthritis as the vegetable’s properties reduce inflammation. Celery is helpful in eliminating the build-up of uric acid too which affects the joints and causes gout.

Overall, a Good Food to Eat as Long as It’s Organic

In addition, organic celery contains chemicals and nutrients that work at preventing cancer and improving immune system functioning. Also, people who suffer from migraines find relief by eating the vegetable, which contains coumarins – compounds proven to help in this regard. Consuming organic celery is also beneficial in calming the nerves. Add organic celery to your diet and you will avoid illnesses and diseases, such as joint pain, hypertension, acidosis, anemia, kidney disorders, circulatory problems, and cancer.

By Larry Marragay

Organic and natural food consumers are bombarded with assorted food claiming it is their healthiest option. These days, we are too health conscious and we do not want to subject ourselves on foods exposed and processed on to too much chemicals or pesticides.Usually, if you ask someone to define what a natural food is they would say “um..Natural food is somewhat that does not have lots of chemicals or pesticides in it and just grown naturally,” while on organic side would say,” it is when they are being manufactured or processed without the use of pesticides”.Well they are somehow on the right path as natural and organic term has been used interchangeably. By knowing and understanding them, you have a better control of your health and make you commit to a healthier life as the saying goes,” You are what you eat.” In this article, I will be talking about the benefits of organic food items over the conventional one and will answer the tricky question between the difference of organic and natural foods.

If you are into healthy eating practice adding up some spice of organic foods will make you more successful towards optimum level of health. Organic foods are foods that are developed and manufactured without the use of pesticides, chemical, fertilizers, antibiotic and growth hormone by using natural resources while avoiding pollution, conserving oil and water. There is variety of benefits an organic food has to offer because of the natural environment and the process in which they are grown. While the conventional foods make us prone to disease as we may get possible toxins and chemicals in our body through them. Conventional foods used fertilizer and pesticide, s and all we know pesticides are dangerous to our health. A pesticide used, by conventional means disrupts the human health and the environment. Long term exposure to pesticides will make a gradually make an individual prone to catching up disease and infection such as cancer that will definitely boost down our immune system in the long term.

Every company must pass strict regulation before a product will be out of the market. Only foods that are sealed and labeled ‘’certified 100% organic” by the United States Department of Agriculture or USDA are approved and would definitely worth to buying  for.  Organic food contains a greater amount of vitamins and minerals. In the year 2005, a Social Association study shows that organic cow’s milk contain more nutrients than conventional milk including Omega 3, folic acid, Vitamin A and the antioxidant beta carotene. Experts believe that if the more your children eat organic foods they are less likely expose to pesticides. Due to the rapid demand, conventional method uses chemical fertilizers, farming sprays and chemical herbicides to promote plant growth hence destroying the vitamins and minerals we need. In terms of animal racing, conventional methods use additional hormone and antibiotics for disease prevention and growth. For instance, they use additional hormone to cow to increase its milk production which will never be allowed in organic food. Imagine yourself, if you prefer to eat organic food you are most likely being passed out on eating those antibiotic and growth hormone. If you are planning to have an organic diet by now, this will give you immediate and  protective  measure  to those harsh chemical and toxin exposure. Organic methods, also aims to conserve energy by minimizing the impact on our ecosystem and improving the quality of the soil. If you start eating, organic, whole and unprocessed food items you just do not promote your overall wellness but as well with the environmental sustainability.

Organic food caught a lot of attention these days and organic shopping are getting more and more popular to people who wants to safeguard their health as well the health of their family.  There is even a store exclusive only for organic foods. Now, you can find organic food in every aisle of the store. As I said above, if you want to make sure the product is organic look for a USDA certified label, quality will assure you. These days, you can find organic foods from snacks, juices, data, cheese, dairy products and many more. However, the main concern of the consumer is the price for organic foods are usually ten to fifty percent higher than conventional food items. In case you are in a tight budget there are other cheaper organic alternatives you can find in the market. You can store organic foods longer while inorganic methods or minimally processed foods have shorter duration because of increase water content. Even though organic foods are pricey it is cost effective. Why? Because it maintains our wellness and helps us protect us from disease brought about by chemicals from inorganic food. Imagine spending your money through medical checkup and expensive medicine so never be reluctant investing yourselves on organic foods as all we know “Prevention is better than Cure”

On the other hand natural foods should not be compared to organic foods because “natural food items” refers to the overall product, not on how it was produced. According to The Food Marketing Institute or FMI to be to be labeled as natural foods it should be minimally processed and be free of colors, flavors like stabilizers and emulsifiers. It has nothing to do with how the food was produced. It may have undergone conventional method which exposes it to chemicals or it may be processed through organic method too. In reality, the term natural is misleading us because it is being used to attract consumers. So, if you are still confused between the main difference between them is that organic foods passed the United States Department of Agriculture or USDA in which it should be produced without any means of synthetic fertilizers, chemicals, pesticides, bioengineered genes and growth hormone. The term natural is not yes USDA approved, so natural foods are only reliable if you entrust the company producing it, just beware and do a little research.

By Donna Ryan

Choosing Organic is the Easiest Way to Ensure that your Food is Natural

The easiest way to tell if you are eating foods that are natural is to go directly to the source, consuming organic foods and vegetables that have not been processed. Food manufacturers are in the business to make money, so they are using the consumer’s concern to stay healthy by labeling their foods as natural or all natural products.  What’s more, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not govern the advertising ploys that food producers use. As a result, food companies can use both chemicals and processes that do not exactly support the health claims on their packaging.

Avoid Foods that have Ingredients with Chemical-sounding Names

Therefore, consumers are advised to ignore the labeling on the products they buy and review the ingredients to determine what exactly is contained in the “natural” food they are buying. One way to at least ensure that the foods you are buying are, to some degree, natural is to avoid selecting any food items that have chemical-sounding names – a big red flag that the food cannot exactly be natural or healthy.

MSG – Often Added to Foods Sold as “Natural” Products

Watch out too for the natural-sounding names given to monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is found in many “natural” food products. MSG can cause a number of health problems, including nerve damage to fetuses (if it is contained in the food eaten by pregnant women), damage to the endocrine system, and migraine headaches. So, take note of foods that list MSG as hydrolyzed protein, autolyzed protein, yeast extract or torula yeast.
 
Scrutinizing the Ingredients

Ingredients are listed with respect to their proportion. So, the ingredients that are listed first are what you are mainly consuming. Therefore, if natural-sounding berries or herbs appear toward the end of the ingredient list, their “health” impact is insignificant at best.

Take note too that ingredient listings do not have to include any of the chemicals used to process the food, such as solvents or pesticides. Therefore, again, the best way to make sure that you are safe is to choose foods that use minimal processing or which are classified as organic.

Even sea salt is a processed ingredient and not really natural. In addition, when manufacturers make claims that processed items were derived from nature, it’s more than likely that the foods have been chemically altered. So, while the ingredients may be natural when they are harvested, the processing of the ingredients makes the claim obsolete.

Making a Distinction

Commercial food manufacturers are more interested in appealing to the consumer’s desire to be healthy than actually producing a natural, nutritional food. Therefore, if it’s your wish to eat more healthily, you have to distinguish between the labeling and what’s actually in a product. So, when you are scouting the aisles at the natural health food store, seek out foods that contain ingredients that are termed as raw – often an indicator that the food is better for you. Also, pick whole-grain foods versus enriched grain products. Foods that are sprouted are often higher quality than the non-sprouted kind too. Make the distinction between what is being advertised and what you are actually buying.

By: Daniel Harri

Organic soil contains lots of humus and it holds moisture, while draining well also. It is also
fluffy and filled with all the air that roots of plants need for proper growth. Healthy organic soil
also contains lots of minerals and living organisms, which assists in providing sufficient nutrients
to the plants. A good PH level is also another characteristic of organic soil.

1. Soil living organisms

Healthy soil requires a sufficient organism population. The little organisms make nutrients
more accessible to plants. Furthermore, they help bind soil particles together and thus make
soil fluffy and lose. Examples of soil living organisms include nematodes, earthworms, bacteria,
protozoa, fungi, springtails and mites among others.

Most of these soil organisms may be bought and then introduced into the soil. However, unless
the organisms are introduced in an unsuitable environment, they will not survive. It is best to
first create a good habitat through providing sufficient food, which is the organic matter, and
also water and air they need to thrive.

2. Organic matter

The simple action of adding organic matter or compost will enhance any kind of soil. The
texture and nutrient levels of clay and sandy soils are significantly enhanced. All soils can
therefore be improved with yearly compost applications. You can purchase organic compost
from the local stores or simply make it own your own.

Organic materials like compost help to hold the soil together and assist in moisture retention.
They also store the important nutrients, which are them accessible to plants. Additionally,
compost is essentially the source of food for useful microorganisms.

Making organic compost is as simple as piling green layers like includes livestock manure, grass
clippings and food wasted onto brown layers like leaves. Ensure that the pile is moist at all
times and then frequently turn it.

For those who think that the process of making compost is just too messy or are worried about
rodents getting inside the pile, there are various types of composters accessible for purchase.
This helps contain vegetable scraps, while making turning simple.

3. Mulch

Mulch helps cover the top soil and also insulate it against extreme weather condition. Mulch
comprises of grass clippings, hay, shredded bark and straw. These components help lessen

water loss via evaporation and also deter weed growth. Mulch also breaks down gradually and
thus enhances soil with beneficial organic matter.

The other option when mulching soil is to use inorganic mulches. This kind of mulch is made
up of gravel, landscape fabrics, pebbles and gravel. They help avert quick evaporation and also
prevent weeds from growing just like organic mulch. However, they offer benefit of lasting for
a very long time and do not regular replacement. Inorganic mulch also does not attract rodents
and insects. Nevertheless, inorganic mulch does not offer the benefit of breaking down to add
organic matter. If you want to enhance your soil structure, simply make use of a high quality
and clean garden mulch.

_By: Daniel Harri

Healthy soil has been shown to lessen the need for pesticides or fertilizers. As such, the
importance of making healthy soils cannot be overlooked. You can now make your own healthy
organic soil by reading the following article.

Testing

One method of determining what minerals exactly are abundant or lacking in soil is through
simply testing it. You can test your soil through using your local extension services. These
tests normally measure the levels of various components of soil, which include phosphorous,
potassium, nitrogen, calcium, PH and magnesium. The tests may also display the macronutrient
content of the soil, but this is not important to gardeners who add lots of compost and organic
fertilizers to their soils. You can even carry out the test on your own using a kit for soil test that
you can get from your local agricultural supplier.

PH levels are very important to a plant’s capability of absorbing nutrients. Most nutrients and
minerals are easily accessible when the PH is between 6 and 7. If you have a very acidic or
alkaline soil, it does not really matter if it contains lots of nutrients since the plants will not be
capable of absorbing them. Soil test normally include the PH levels, but you can also get your
own PH Meter to determine the alkaline-acid balance of your garden soil.

It is best to get your soil tested during fall or spring since it is stable during these times.
Additionally, you can also add any organic fertilizer and other amendments during these times
should you find out that your soil falls short of these nutrients and minerals.

Improve your soil

To create healthy organic soils, you ought to add organic matter. This involves adding aged
manure and garden compost or using cover crops or mulch. This is the most effective method
of improving all components of your garden soil. While adding fertilizers is also effective, it will
only replenish specific nutrients and will not do anything for maintaining the good health of the
soil. Organic fertilizer will assist in supplying everything that your plants really need.

Water

Water is important for all life forms, which includes soil organisms and plants. However, healthy
organic soil should contain approximately 25% water.

Soils that have too much space between the pores normally have difficulty retaining water. The
water drains quickly through the soil and therefore is not beneficial to the plants. Likewise, in
silt, clay or dense soils, there is minimal pore space due to high water content. The presence of

too much water typically suffocates soil organisms and plant roots.

In effect, healthy organic soils should have both large and small pore spaces. The addition of
organic matter is highly beneficial to any soil as is helps in improving the soil structure through
forming aggregates. Furthermore, organic matter also retains water and allows plants to use it
whenever they most need it.

Air

Plants require air for not only photosynthesis above ground, but for other crucial processes
below ground. For example, air in soil retains atmospheric nitrogen, which may later be
changed into an easily accessible form to be used by plants. Additionally, soil oxygen also helps
soil organisms to survive, further benefiting the plants.

Organic soil offers sufficient space between particles to retain air that the plants are going to
use. Clay soils generally have small particles and thus it has less air content. In contrast, sandy
soil has the opposite difficulty since it has big aggregates that are spaced out. This excessive
quantity of air created in sandy soils can result in quick decomposition of beneficial organic
matter.

The addition of organic matter, particularly compost, will assist in balancing the supply of air.
Furthermore, avoid stepping inside your garden or using heavy equipment so as to prevent the
soil from being compacted. It is also recommended to avoid working or digging the soil during
wet periods.

Fertilizer

It is still recommended to use liquid or dry fertilizer to add nutrients that may not be accessible
in any other method. Moreover, organic fertilizers function somewhat slower as compared to
their artificial counterparts. The advantage of organic fertilizers is that they release nutrients
over an extended time frame. Ensure that you seek out fertilizers that will not harm the useful
soil organisms.

There are some effective organic fertilizers that are manufactured by respectable companies.
Even though they work slowly, they provide a long lasting effect. Some of the widely used
organic fertilizers are seaweed blends and fish emulsion. Compost tea is another kind of organic
fertilizer that can be made easily and is highly effective.

_By: John Michael Jayme

One of the hottest debates today is the presence of Genetically Modified Organisms. The makers of the GMOs would
claim that they are doing this to increase the production of crops and other consumable items. In humanitarian
standpoint, they are truly making sense. However, the critics of the Genetically Modified Organisms would claim that
this practice creates a great misbalance on the things that we do.

If you think that the Genetically Modified Organisms are not yet that rampant today, you are totally mistaken. From
crops to salmon, you may have already consumed GMOs while you are not aware of it. Researchers alter the genetic
make up of the crops and other consumable organisms in order to increase the supply rushed into the market. As
easy as that, GMOs proves to yield a positive effect on corporations’ income as they increase the expected production

For starters, Genetically Modified Organisms have a different DNA in them. This means that they’ve been “improved”
in the labs in order to fight against viruses and bacteria that could keep the production down. If this is the case, then
what is the fuss then? The problem begins when you mess with Mother Nature. There are different negative effects
associated with this practice. For instance, according to studies where chickens were made to consume GMO feeds;
these chickens ended up fatter than the usual chickens fed with ordinary feeds. This implies that you are going to
increase your LDL more if you consume grains with a modified genetic make up.

There are now countries all over the world banning the entry of GMO consumable foods on their market. According
to their researches, one of the most breakthrough findings that they found was the fact that people consuming GMOs
could actually develop immunity to antibiotics. From a healthcare standpoint, this is bad news. If you are someone
who is trying to have medication, you don’t want to raise the bar when it comes with antibiotics. The reason why this
is so is because of the fact that it is expensive and it is also harder to come up with a stronger antibiotic.

Another thing that worry healthcare practitioners today is the fact that Genetically Modified Organisms can hurt a
person’s liver. Since the liver detoxifies the things ingested by the body, there are researches that suggest that the
liver is really working hard when GMOs are involved. But if you think that this is the worst concern with GMOs, think
again. This is just the tip of the iceberg as it is related to infertility, aging and many other conditions.

The problem with GMOs is that the FDA itself is not really labeling products as such. There are no existing rules in the
US that would tell people that they are actually consuming a genetically modified food. Introduced during the 90s, we
still have no concrete plan on how we should handle this type of concern. According to the statistics today, soy, corn
other crop productions in the US are almost genetically modified. This is the reason why you should make sure that
you are looking into organic products if you are serious on eliminating GMOs in your system.

__The importance of soil organisms in healthy soils cannot be overlooked. In fact, these organisms
are accountable for the optimal performance of key soil functions. Soil biodiversity comprises
of the beneficial organisms that normally spend their life either inside or outside the soil. Soil
organisms embody a large part of the universal terrestrial biodiversity. These organisms carry
out an extensive range of soil process that helps to improve soil fertility in both agricultural
systems and natural ecosystems. The following article contains a brief description of the vital
soil organisms in addition to their ecological and biological attributes.

Micro-organisms

As the name suggests, micro-organisms are minute creatures that are both diverse and
extremely abundant. They include bacteria, fungi and algae among many others. These
organisms have the capability of decomposing almost all existing natural materials. They work
by transforming organic compost into usable nutrients that can easily be absorbed by plants.
The two key groups of micro-organisms are fungi and bacteria.

Bacteria

These organisms are one celled in nature and can be seen only by using an electron microscope
since they are quite small. They comprise the greatest biomass of all soil organisms. Bacteria
are more plentiful near plant roots. They benefit soil through their great contribution in the
general carbon cycle through decomposition and fixation. Some bacteria function effectively
at decomposing, while others help break down some tough substances like fungi cell walls.
Furthermore, bacteria also exude an important sticky substance that assists in binding soil
particles, thus providing soil stability.

Fungi

Fungi are made up of microscopic cells, which can grow into long strands or threads known as
hyphae. The saprophytic group of fungi helps transform dead organic matter to CO2, organic
acids and fungal biomass. Also known as decomposers, these organisms decompose and retain
vital soil nutrients. The mycorrhizal fungi work by colonizing plants roots using a symbolic
interaction. They increase the overall area linked to plant roots, which allows plants to reach
water and minerals and thus use all the available soil resources effectively. Additionally,
pathogens cause death or reduction through colonizing roots and various other organisms.
Many fungi assist in controlling diseases like the process of parasitizing nematodes, which
normally cause diseases.

Micro-fauna

Soil organisms that are considered like micro-fauna include mites, protozoa and nematodes.
These organisms reside in the soil and they feed on plant roots, micro-fauna, micro-fauna and
sometimes bigger organisms. They are necessary for releasing the nutrients that might be
immobilized by other microorganisms.

Nematodes

These are small roundworms present in most soils and they offer immense benefits in
agriculture. They graze on fungi and bacteria and therefore they control populations of
dangerous microorganisms. They reside in soil water and they fill the spaces between the small
soil particles.

Macro-fauna

These are large organisms that are visible without the need of using instruments like
microscopes. Macro-fauna is made up of vertebrates like mice, moles and snakes that dig inside
the soil to gain shelter or food. It also includes invertebrates like earthworms, centipedes and
termites among many others, which feed and live in or on top of the soil.

In both agricultural and natural systems, soil organisms offer lots of benefits since they help in
regulating decomposition, water movement and nutrient cycling simply due to their burrowing
and feeding activities.

By Larry Marragay

The past few years have seen the resurgence of organic farming. People are now more receptive to the idea of organic farming because of its inherent health benefits and the fact that it’s better for the environment. For some farmers and gardening enthusiasts, organic farming is their way of going back to the original method of agriculture and rebelling against harmful additives in food and the chemicals that now deeply saturate our land and water resources. Organic farming works with nature and utilizes techniques like using compost, rotating crops and using organic pesticides and herbicides.

Farmers going organic don’t just allow nature to take over their farms. What a successful organic farmer does is to use everything he knows about farming and combine it with different techniques and materials that would work well with nature. Pesticides are still used even in this type of farming because of the benefits they provide and to ensure that every crop is protected. One of the benefits of using pesticides, whether it’s organic or chemical, is the increase in food production. Almost 40% of crops around the world are lost annually because of crop disease, pests and weeds. Using pesticides can cut down on these losses and give crops a better chance of surviving, resulting in increase food production. The use of pesticides to protect crops can also lead to a decrease in the cost of food. Food prices would naturally go up if food production goes down. The Law of Supply and Demand guarantees this. So protecting our crops through pesticides gives the added benefit of keeping food prices in check. And lastly, another major benefit for consumers would be the high quality of produce that will appear. Protecting crops through pesticides usually result in produce with good color and a firm texture that’s free from insect bites.  

Organic farmers would naturally opt for using organic pesticides. These types of pesticides are obtained from natural sources like animals, bacteria, minerals and plants. Chemical pesticides, on the other hand, are man-made and composed of chemicals and other poisons. They are usually made from synthetic materials that either directly kill the pest or render it inactive. The use of chemical pesticides has a detrimental effect on both our health and the environment. And use of this type of pesticide spreads easily through the wind and causes water runoff, thereby contaminating our water supply and affecting fish and seafood. Residues of chemical pesticides are also found in produce and remain inside animals. Exposure to chemical pesticides are known to cause various health effects that range from a minor irritation of the eyes or skin to deadlier ones like cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, birth defects and fetal death. You should be aware that toxins from these pesticides do remain in the body and can build up in the liver.

Farmers and gardeners understand that diseases and pests in plants are an intrinsic part of nature. The goal is not to eradicate diseases and pests altogether (as this is impossible) but to keep a balance that we all can benefit from. A farmer can try and minimize crop disease and pests by choosing local varieties of crops since these are more resistant to diseases and pests. This is why the use of organic pesticides is generally safer and more beneficial. The ingredients used in them are naturally occurring and biodegradable. The environment is also protected since soil erosion is minimized and there’s no nutrient or chemical runoff that will affect the water supply. Farmers using organic pesticides grow produce that have higher levels of vitamin C and antioxidants. Organic produce is far healthier since it contains less or no agrochemical residues. So adults and children who consistently eat organically produced food have   lower risk of neurological defects.

Farmers typically use different methods to maximize their crops and control weed and pest infestations. Some strategies that farmers usually employ would be to coordinate the time they plant crops to the seasons that pests are less damaging, companion planting crops with other plants that pests avoid like garlic and onion and to use crop rotation to break pest cycles. If pests are still a problem after doing all these things, then an organic pesticide can be used.

There are many different kinds of organic pesticides available in the market today. You can find them in your local hardware or in stores that specialize in gardening and farming supplies. You can also search for companies dealing with organic pesticides online and compare their uses and prices. Make sure you do your research first. Knowing what the most popular and effective organic pesticides are can help you make good decisions and yield great benefits. Some organic pesticides can also be found right in your own home. You can save time and money just by using products that are found in your kitchen or bathroom. Some of the popular and accessible ingredients in making your own homemade organic pesticide are cayenne peppers, charcoal, coffee grounds, detergent, lemon juice, soap, talcum powder and tobacco, just to name a few.  There are even some easy to follow recipes for making organic pesticides that can be found on the Internet. One example is the Vinegar Fungicide. All you need to do to make this is to mix 3 tablespoons of an apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon of molasses to 1 gallon of water. Spray this mixture on your roses to get rid of black spots and other fungal diseases.

While technology has greatly benefited our lives, we should also consider the price that we and our children have to pay for them. Going organic produces food that safer and healthier to eat, it helps local farmers and helps in conserving our natural resources. Using organic pesticides will help sustain these benefits and should be continuously encouraged. So whether or not you’re a farmer who wants to go back to a more natural way of life or just a gardener who loves all things that grow, organic pesticides are the better choice.

_        When humanity transitioned from a hunter/gatherer society into an agricultural-based one, it meant not only a decrease in starvation levels, but also foreshadowed a profound change in our diet. Millennia ago humans subsisted on the “cave-man”, or Paleolithic, diet; we ate whatever was provided in nature, from meats to fish, wild fruits and nuts, roots and vegetables. There were no grains or carbohydrates in the sense that we have today. Carbs are defined as simple sugars, starches, and gums. The paleo-diet only had the sugar that was contained in fruits, not the complex chemically processed and refined sugars we have today.

            Most people have seen or experienced some sort of jungle-like environment. Look at all the abundant plant growth; from towering trees, with triple canopy layers, that block out the sun, down to the mid-level foliage, smaller saplings, giant ferns, even the twisting, turning vines ensnaring everything. Every square inch of jungle floor is covered in some form of plant life. The environments with the most profuse plant growth also have a plentiful supply or source of three ingredients; sunlight, water, and rich, organic soil. As it relates to agricultural farming, the life is in the soil!

            Healthy soil is rich in humus, or partially decayed organic material. Anyone who has been around old river bottom soil will relate how black, crumbly, and rich-smelling it is. Over the millennia, ocean and river bottoms collect all the silt, sediment, and run-off from the land. That also includes weathered and decayed rock, a vital source of trace minerals and nutrients. Through natural earth activity, from earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, etc., this organically rich soil is raised up to become land. It is ideal for growing agricultural produce. Unfortunately, modern industrial farming has reversed the process, so that we now have depleted and literally “dead” growing soils.

            The corporate industrial agri-farm has replaced the traditional “mom & pop” small farms. Prior to the advent of industrial farms, mankind had an almost spiritual contact with the source of their food, organic soils. In fact, there were spiritual practices linked to growing agricultural foods. The farmer had a variety of methods to keep their soils healthy and productive. Certain green crops, like clover, were grown on the fields, and then plowed under, to rejuvenate the soil. Earthworms are a sure sign that you have healthy, organic soil, since they aerate it, allowing moisture and oxygen to penetrate. Composting was standard practice for the old farm ways.

            Modern farms are about profit rather than health. Chemical methods utilizing toxic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, growth hormones, and now GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) are used to produce food that LOOKS beautiful, but is in fact nothing but PLASTIC, DEAD food!! Why is there such an epidemic of nutritional-deficiencies, and related diseases and illnesses, especially in the United States? Park outside a supermarket and count the number of men and women, with huge, fat bellies! Their internal organs have been damaged, especially kidneys and liver. The subject of diet CURING diabetes is worthy of an entire volume of writing!

            The future of humanity regaining its healthy agricultural produce lies in part with the science of permaculture, which is defined as “…an agricultural system or method that seeks to integrate human activity with natural surroundings so as to create highly efficient SELF-SUSTAINING ecosystems”.