IT'S THE PRINCIPLES OF THE THING

                                                                                                            Sunday, February 19, 2012

GARDENBEAR ORGANIC’S

Principles of Good Gardening

 We thought long and hard about our ultimate mission and it came down to this…we want to be the place for organic gardening advice where the tools are practical and the education you receive is thoughtful and accessible.

 Let’s get down to the essentials:

1.     Respect the Earth

Take care of Mother Earth so that all of us and all the generations to come can thrive and keep her in balance.  Every type of gardening can be productive, successful and more profitable without compromising the Earth's delicate eco- system with harmful chemicals.  Don't pollute! You are where the clean-up begins and ends.  

2.     Respect the animals`

Appreciate wildlife. All animals, from family pets to animals in the wild, deserve to be treated humanely. We recommend that you create an inviting space in your garden for butterflies, birds and other creatures. If you are concerned about wildlife coming too close to home, look for ways to coexist with animals or to protect your property humanely.

3.     Keep it clean

Don’t permit debris tto accumulate. Don't permit damaged or dying leaves to remain on your plants. . Don't permit  past-ripe food to remain on the ground or on the plant.  Keep up with your weeding.  It's good to remember the mantra ‘weed ‘em and reap.’  Aesthetics are important.  Don't allow tools, hoses,  debris piles, or idle 'stuff' to sit around. 

4.     Every five dollar plant needs a fifty dollar hole

I know that this sounds a little corny but this is where it all begins.  You must take great care to provide the best environment you can for the food you grow.  Your health depends on it.  And you'll get a whole lot more satisfaction when you ensure your success with good soil.   Further reading on the importance of soil.  Even further reading on the importance of soil.  From farmcommunity.com, even.

5.     Share your bounty

Here are a few websites that demonstrate some of the far-reaching result of 'sharing your bounty'.  You can start bye being a good neighbor.  Give the kids next door a few delectable yellow pear tomatoes to munch on.  Once you've crossed the threshold into overflowing bounty you can open your hearts to the poor and the hungry like these folks:

http://www.ampleharvest.org/

http://freshmoves.org

http://foodforward.org/tag/excess-fruit/

6.     Touch your garden

Plants are living things and respond to external stimulation.  This means groom and examin your plants often.  It even helps to talk to your plants!  While they probably can’t hear you, talking to your plants reinforces attention to your ecosystem.  You're more likely to catch problems in their early stages this way.

7.     Don't follow the beaten path

 Experiment with new varieties.  Try vegetables you've always had an aversion to.  Look at your neighbor's gardens and try out some of their good ideas.  Look for inventive ways to stake up floppy, uncontrollable vines.  Keep innovating, all the time!  Be a part of this organic process

Now that you have been introduced to GARDENBEAR ORGANIC: Principles of Good Gardening, it's time to get started in the garden.

As you explore our blog, you will soon notice that our mission is woven into everything we do. It is our goal to provide you with positive, progressive and inclusive directions to help you on your journey.  You will recognize and appreciate not only what you've done, but what you will be doing for yourself and for everyone around you.

We love to hear from our readers, so keep in touch whether it’s a question, comment, picture or tip!