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Master Gardeners of Cape Cod

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WHAT IS ORGANIC GARDENING?

A Common Sense Approach

March 2013

Mary Lou Roberts

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WHAT WE’RE GOING TO COVER

• What is the meaning of “Organic?”– How do we identify it?

• How about “Natural?”• Organic Vegetable Gardening• Organic Fruit Gardening• Flowers?• The Wonders of Compost

March 2013

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Master Gardeners of Cape Cod

SHOULD YOU TAKE NOTES?

Please do if you want to remember any of my ‘words of wisdom.’

However, I’ve posted these slides on the Internet.I’ll give you that link and links to

Other important resourcesAt the end.

March 2013

Mary Lou Roberts

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How Many of You Are Organic Gardeners?

Entirely?Partly?Not Sure?

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ORGANIC AND RELATED CONCEPTS

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THE DEFINITION OF ORGANIC

Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. These methods integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.

From the USDA National Organic Program websitehttp://www.ams.usda.gov/

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WHAT ORGANIC IS NOT

• Not Just the Avoidance of Conventional Chemicals

• More Than Just Substituting Organic Inputs for Inorganic Ones

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PROVIDING THE LIGHT, WATER, NUTRIENTS, AIR THAT PLANTS REQUIRE

Courtesy Russell NortonCape Cod Cooperative Extension Education Officer

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HOW DO WE IDENTIFY ORGANIC PRODUCTS?

There are other symbols. This is the official USDA symbol.

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Reece Latron uses a tractor to carry baskets of greens harvested from Amy's Organic Garden in Charles City, VA. While the certification system is rigorous to ensure integrity of the USDA organic label, thousands of producers and handlers continue to invest in these activities to market their products as organic. USDA Photos by Lance Cheung http://blogs.usda.gov/2012/10/10/organic-101-five-steps-to-organic-certification/

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RELATED SYMBOL

Certifies products for use on operations that are certified organic under the USDA National Organic Program.

https://www.omri.org/

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ADDITIONAL SYMBOL

The definition of organic specifically excludes genetically engineered products (GMOs).

Council for Responsible Genetics a non-profit organizationhttp://

www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/

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There is no official definition of

Natural.

‘Natural’ Can Mean Anything a Marketer Wishes!

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THE KEYS TO ORGANIC

• The Soil• Fertilizers, Herbicides and Pesticides• Maintenance, including Watering• Seeds and Plants

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ORGANIC SOILAs Defined by the NOP

• MAINTAIN or IMPROVE the Organic Content of Soil – By Using Compost, for Example

• WITHOUT– Contaminating CROPS, the SOIL itself, or WATER

• Possible Contaminants– Fertilizers with Non-Approved Additives (e.g. Vermiculite with Asbestos

Content)– Disease-Causing Organisms (e.g., Salmonella, E coli)– Heavy Metals (e.g. Lead from paint disposal, Arsenic from Old Orchard

Insecticides and many others)– “Residues of Prohibited Substances”

• http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5087122

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USE ORGANIC FERTILIZERS, HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES

• First, Look for ‘Organic’ and Possibly one of the Symbols

• Then Read the Label – Fertilizers Need Appropriate Balance of NPK and

other Desirable Elements– Herbicides and Pesticides• Are they Appropriate for Your Issue?• At What Time of Year/State of Pest Development Are

They Effective?

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ORGANIC AMENDMENTS

Courtesy Russell NortonCape Cod Cooperative Extension Education Officer

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MINERALS FOR FERTILIZER USE

Courtesy Russell NortonCape Cod Cooperative Extension Education Officer

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CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES TO PEST/HERBICIDES

Sticky Yellow Paper Beneficial Insects

Ladybugs for mail order GardensAlive.comPraying Mantis Egg Case ces.ncsu.edu

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PHYSICAL BARRIERS CAN BE HELPFUL

Photo Courtesy Russ Norton, CCCE

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PLANT AN INSECTARY GARDEN

http://www.pallensmith.com/articles/marge-says-plant-an-insectary

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MAINTAIN THOUGHTFULLY

• Water As Needed– Morning; Keep Water off Foliage

• Intensive Planting and Weed Barriers• Weed ‘Mechanically’ As Much as Possible

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THE DEMO GARDEN APPROACH

At the Fairgrounds Planting Through Black Plastic

Both Photos Courtesy Susan Sweeney, Master Gardener

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PLANTING THE RAISED BEDS

Soaker Hose, Hay Everywhere Black Plastic for Heat Loving

Both Photos Courtesy Susan Sweeney, Master Gardener

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CHOOSING SEEDS AND PLANTS

• To Be Entirely Organic– Use Organic Seeds– Organically-Grown Plants

• How Far You Choose to Go is a Personal Decision

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ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDENING

START EARLY!

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Peas Mid-May

One Raised BedTwo Crops

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Peas Early June

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Peas in Mid-July When Other Vegs are Established

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Kale, Broccoli Raab and Chard early AugustIntensive Planting Chokes out Weeds

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Thin by Eating!

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BUT THIN ADEQUATELY

Raab Smothering Kale Raab Gone

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October 1 – Chard Providing Bountiful Harvest

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Single Plant With Adequate Room Much Larger

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Planting Tomatoes—Getting Manure and Compost Down to Roots

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Seems to WorkCukes and Beans on Same Trellis Didn’t

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HAVE SOME FUN!

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Purple Beans Get Attention

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Profusion of Sunflowers—Also Edible

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Beans Use Sunflowers for Supports

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MAINTAIN

WEED AND WATER FAITHFULLY

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PLASTIC, CAGES KEEP PRODUCE OFF GROUND

Zucchini Directly on Plastic ‘Home Made’ Tomato Cages

Both Photos Courtesy of Bob Brancale, Master Gardener

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INTENSIVE, SUCCESSION PLANTING OF VEG WITH DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS

Courtesy of Bob Brancale, Master Gardener

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Carefully Maintained Blackberries with Bird Deterrent Photo Courtesy Al Saperstein, Master Gardener

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Blueberries in the Demo Garden

Photo Courtesy Bob Brancale, Master Gardener

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ADD EDIBLES

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Calendula, Fennel in mid SeptemberFall Peas in Background

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Nasturtiums

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Basil Flowers, Other Herbs, are Excellent

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Pansies in early January

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OTHER EDIBLE FLOWERS

• Bachelor’s Buttons• Dianthus• Some Marigolds in Addition to Calendula– Signet Paprika, Mexican Marigold Mint

One Theory is That If the Leaves are Edible,Flowers are Also (Borage, for example)

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TRY A WINTER GARDEN

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Prepping for Winter

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Winter Greens in January

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Mustard Greens Cut Back

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Arugula, Volunteer Garlic Early January

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Garlic for Next Spring

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Early January Snow

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THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF COMPOST

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How Many of You

Make Compost?

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COMPOSTING

Composting is a process by which organic wastes are broken down by microorganisms,

generally bacteria and fungi, into simpler forms.

From UMass Extension Fact Sheet “Waste Management and Composting”

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BASIC COMPOSTING ISSUES

• Materials – 30 Carbon: 1 Nitrogen• Temperature = 160°– 3’ x 3’

• Environment– Warm, Damp Well Aerated

• Container

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I Use Both a Plastic Composter and Wire Bins

Note Soil fromNon-Organic

Flower Containers

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SOME DESIRABLE MATERIALS

http://extension.umass.edu/cdle/fact-sheets/waste-management-and-composting

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UNDESIRABLE MATERIALS

• Too Much Nitrogen, Water, Large Items• Cooked Material, Especially Meat• Inorganic Materials• DISEASED PLANT MATERIAL

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THE ULTIMATE GOALS

• Abundant, Healthful Food for Our Families and Communities

• Sustainable Practices for the Environment

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MASTER GARDENERS OF CAPE COD

THANK YOU!

Questions/Discussion?

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A FEW RESOURCES• • UMass Cooperative Extension many good fact sheets written for the MA farmer or gardener• http://ag.umass.edu/• • • Maine Organic Farmers & Growers Association fact sheet• http://www.mofga.org/Portals/2/Fact%20Sheets/TB%201%20Organic%20Gardening%20Basics.pdf• • Composting Website• http://howtocompost.org/• • Waste Management and Composting fact sheet• http://extension.umass.edu/cdle/fact-sheets/waste-management-and-composting• • Edible Flowers• http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/hil/hil-8513.html• • Organic Gardening Soil Amendments• http://www.your-vegetable-gardening-helper.com/organic-gardening-soil-amendments.html• • • Videos• • How to Grow an Organic Garden• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFsSlS7IHBg• • Composting• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKG8xRTFktg• • • Newsletters, etc. (there are many, but 2 I especially like are)• • Mother Earth newsletters• http://www.motherearthnews.com/• • Renee’s Garden• http://www.reneesgarden.com/•