Learning About Organic Vegetable Farming

If you have been in a grocery store, read a newspaper or even listened to the radio or news recently, chances are that you have come across the word “organic” more than once.

So what is the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear the word “organic”? For many people it means flowers and produce that are grown without the use of pesticides. That is only the beginning, however!
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 In simplest terms, organic vegetable farming generally implies the growing and harvesting of vegetables without the use of synthetic or manufactured additives.  The term “organic” was first used by Lord Northbourne to describe a type of farming that was in contrast to chemical farming. In his book “Look to the Land” he considered the “farm as organism”, and wanted to take a more balanced approach to gardening and farming , rather than just having chemicals take the work out of the process for us. He preferred a holistic method.

In organic vegetable farming, chemicals to avoid include pesticides, fertilizers or any other organisms that have been genetically modified.  The aim is to grow food in its purest form, the way it was done for many centuries before the advent of growth hormones and other additives designed to make our food, bigger, juicier, or otherwise “more appealing” to the mass market.

More Info About Organic Vegetable Farming

Something that may not be as well known to many people is the tedious process involved in order to be able to sell food that is labeled organically certified.

If you are growing your own food, the gardener is free to plant, nourish and harvest their produce any way that is convenient for them without concern for procedure and documentation beyond what suits their own purpose. Put some seedlings in the ground, water, add fertilizer if desired, harvest when ready, and then sell, give away  or eat.  Documentation may be limited to the stakes at the end of the plant rows.
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It’s not that easy when producing certified organic food. In the United States, for example, organic food production is a heavily-regulated, paper trail intense affair. Producers who wish to label and market their goods as organic must be certified by the USDA, meet specific standards that have been set out, and take certain steps to gain organic certification status. This can provide some measure of comfort to the average consumer who would like to know how the food they are putting on their plate has come to be there.

 The down side is that all this added paperwork can also add to the expense of buying organic vegetables.  That’s one reason it’s a great idea to grow your own!

Do-It-Yourself Organic Vegetable Farming Secrets

Soil quality, pest control, yield, and of course flavor are going to be of concern any time you wish to raise a crop, whether it covers acres or a container on a balcony.  You can control every aspect of how your vegetables are grown when you do it yourself. 

Learning about organic vegetable farming, and raising your own organic food is a fun, interesting and rewarding experience!

If you’d like to try it, you can get information about a fully illustrated guide that will provide all the information needed for great family organic vegetable farming here!