Organic Food and the Organic Home Garden.

 

What is organic food? Is it different from genetically modified food? What are the differences? Is it possible to sustain an organic home garden? 

I like to think that the delicious meals that grace my dinner table are not just the result of good recipes and well-practised techniques, but healthy too. So, when deciding to switch to the healthy alternatives of several ingredients, a few years ago, I found I was faced with a few questions; the answers for which got me interested in unravelling the secrets of food.
Hi everyone. Welcome back to my blog.

• What organic food is? 

• Is it different from genetically modified food? 

• What are the differences?

• Is it possible to sustain an organic home garden? 

To begin with, I had some initial questions. I had so many different ideas that it was hard to know which ones were correct and which ones were hearsay. Questions like 

The general idea in Sri Lanka, the country where I’m from, is that organic food is genetically modified. This belief fuels rumours that organic food leads to incurable and sometimes fatal diseases caused by the overuse of hormones, antibiotics and chemical sprays.

What is Organic food and is it different from genetically modified foods?

According to British nutritional therapist Jo Lewin… the Department for Agriculture and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) states that: “Organic food is the product of a farming system which avoids the use of man-made fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives; Irradiation (a process where gamma radiation is use to extend the shelf life of food and eradicate pathogens.), and the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or products produced from or by GMOs are generally prohibited by organic legislation.”

She further states "Strictly speaking; Organic agriculture is an approach to food production that is working towards sustainable environmental, social and economic production."

In organic farming, the agricultural systems rely on crop rotation, animal and plant manures, some hand weeding and biological pest control.

So then, organic farming is a way of farming that pays close attention to nature where fewer chemicals go into the land in the form of artificial fertilizers, weed killers and pesticides which pollute soil and eventually waterways. It is very different from Genetically Modified food, in fact, it is the exact opposite.

It means more wildlife (earthworms, ladybugs and bees) and increased biodiversity.

It means the absence of antibiotics in rearing livestock and genetic modification… Organic farm animals are required to be kept in natural habitats, requiring open-range grazing, clean air and water, and healthy alternative treatments for health and disease management.

What do the experts say?

Much scientific research has been done and results published; results I thought disappointing. What was disappointing was the quick draw at labelling it "not convincing".

loads of research states that “scientists have not been wholly convinced that health claims are completely justified, as the research conducted has not shown consistent results with regards to nutrition… that organic food did not deliver significant health benefits compared to non-organic equivalents”.

However, in more recent years, studies have shown there is evidence that there are more antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and omega-3s in organic fruit, vegetables and dairy and lower levels of nitrates, pesticide residues and heavy metals.

Now how is this not a good thing?

The Organics of years ago.

Some of my earliest memories of my childhood involve keeping Grandpa company as he spent part of his mornings in the garden. He would dig around the trees, sprinkle “green stuff and leaves” around them and cover them up before watering them.

I know now that what he was doing was digging a trench several inches around the base of the plants and trees to loosen up the soil before mixing sun-dried manure (cow dung) and leaf litter into it; replacing it, every six months or so.

That’s how they did it in the 1960s and a little beyond.

As my need to find alternative therapies launched me into research of the secrets of food; I have come to realize three significant things…

• The old ways worked! All we needed was a more efficient way to utilize them.

• The new and improved, man-made alternatives… well, all I will say about them is this; the results speak for themselves. 

• Creation with its diversity (yes, I do believe in creation; especially given where my research has taken me.) has everything needed to support the old ways.

The science of the organic home garden

In the post-COVID-19 world, home gardens have become a popular pastime for young and young-at-heart alike. They help ease a never-ending rise in living costs by delivering an unending fresh supply to a family's table. You can grow fruit and veg in anything from big backyard beds to small stone planters.

In my tramp through time, I have discovered that our home Earth has an ecosystem that supports itself if we let it.

Companion Planting (plant pairing)

Who wouldn’t like to go through life with good friends by their side? And so, it is in the animal and plant world too.

Planting vegetables and fruit trees close by or the same planter with certain herbs and flowers can save your food from pests, prevent diseases, attract pollinators, or even take up nutrients; thereby making your garden a productive one.

Basil does well as a pest repellent and will keep away spider mites, aphids, flies and mosquitoes. It will also improve the flavour of food. So, planting it as a companion to your tomatoes and peppers will keep the pesky critters away without having to resort to chemical treatments.

Marigolds (Calendula) will repel beetles and attract ladybugs that feed on aphids. Let marigolds contribute to keeping your tomatoes, beans, Broccoli, lettuce and melons safe.

Thyme goes well with meat dishes and also with Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, horse radish and collard greens in the garden as a worm deterrent.

Herbs Dill, Parsley and Fennel invite beneficial insects that will pollinate vine crops like pumpkins, squash and melons that can be difficult to pollinate.

Vine crops like squash and pumpkins add living mulch to your plot that reduces weeds and locks in moisture.

Beans fix the nitrogen in the soil so creating a trellis next to your veg patch will enrich the soil.

Other friendly companions…

• Onions next to carrots, tomatoes, beets and spinach.

• Celery next to peppers, cucumbers and lettuce.

• Carrots next to beets, cabbage, parsnips and tomatoes; along with herbs marjoram, savoury, and rosemary.

• Lettuce next to chives, garlic, radish and broccoli.

I enjoyed the advice from the online version of the farmer's almanack for the dos and don’ts of companion planting.

Organic Fertilizing

Good organic fertilizer can only mean compost, green waste (garden cuttings and leaf litter), and composted manure (cow dung or worm castings etc.). 

 The most important point to consider when choosing manure as a fertilizer is how much nitrogen it has in it. Nitrogen is a co-component of plant structures as well as of their internal and external metabolic processes… in short, their survival and wellness depend on it. Composted manure has less nitrogen but is ideal for the home garden as it does not need to be composted before use.

Using dry cow dung for bioremediation is a simple and Eco-friendly method with no harmful byproducts and benefits the garden... Although part of the nitrogen is immediately available, the remainder acts as a slow-release fertilizer, becoming available as the manure decomposes.

So, Grandpa had it right (though I doubt he knew the theory behind it) with his measures of 1-part dry cow manure and 1-part leaf litter mixed into the soil around every tree and bush; and his plants certainly show it with lush leaves, abundant flowers and delicious fruit.

Over the last months, my experiments have been growing well. New seedlings got a rich soil containing Grandpa’s recipe and old friends were placed in hydro phonics with dechlorinated tap water to rid them of the man-made fertilizers I had used (just in time, I might add). Everyone seems to be a lot happier. Repotting these when the first rain of the monsoon begins will begin a season of new growth.

Over the coming months, I plan to do more research into the organic garden and formulate a system for my home container garden. And I shall share my treasures with you, dear reader; right here.

What about you; How does your garden grow? Leave a below and tell me about your garden planting.