| A large part of organic agriculture involves the health | | | | conventional pesticides, petroleum, or |
| of the soil and the ecosystems in which crops and | | | | sewage-sludge-based fertilizers, bioengineering or |
| livestock are raised. Foods certified as organic must | | | | ionizing radiation and synthetic substances. But, there |
| be produced using growing methods that minimize soil | | | | are several general things any organic gardener can |
| erosion and that maintain or enhance the fertility of | | | | do to beat those pests naturally.Many believe that |
| the soil. All the chemicals in the world can't nourish a | | | | organic foods contain a higher level of nutrient |
| garden as well as healthy organic compost.Look for | | | | minerals and much lower levels of heavy metals. As a |
| natural and organic alternatives to chemical fertilizers, | | | | result, the industry has understandably grown from |
| such as the use of compost. Natural fertilizers, | | | | experimental garden plots to large farms with surplus |
| compost and organic materials encourage native | | | | products sold under special organic labels.Today, |
| earthworms. The soil's organic matter contributes to | | | | organic foods are available at supermarkets and |
| good soil structure, and water-holding capacity. | | | | farmer's markets, in restaurants and through |
| Improve the soil with organic matter and fertilizers to | | | | mail-order suppliers, even here on the web.Example - |
| develop the best soil for growing seeds and | | | | organic will insure that the food products you |
| plants.The availability of nutrients from organic | | | | consume contain no genetically modified organisms, |
| fertilizers depends on their breakdown by soil | | | | and are free from irradiation.Purchasing locally grown, |
| organisms, which in turn depends on weather and soil | | | | organically produced fruits, vegetables and meat |
| conditions. Their nutrients are not available to plants | | | | assures you of having the very best food available |
| until the organic matter has decomposed. In reality, | | | | for your family's table. Buying hemp, organic cotton |
| you can't have a good organic garden without a | | | | and recycled products like home furnishings, baby |
| good composter.The use of disease resistance must | | | | clothes, and natural beauty products aid conservation |
| be emphasized within an organic program. In current | | | | of natural resources. Growing organically takes more |
| organic production systems, growers are not | | | | time, requires more knowledge and skill, and, for |
| permitted to use conventional synthetic organic | | | | now, costs more.Francesca Black works in marketing |
| fungicides in their disease management program. The | | | | at Organic Items and Aromatherapy Blends leading |
| national organic program rules prohibit the use of | | | | portals for organic products and natural excercise. |