Organic gardening is the way of growing fruits and vegetables with the use of natural resources and products.

1. Making compost from kitchen and garden waste is a lot easier than most people think. Although it may be a little more time-consuming than purchasing ready made chemical fertilizers and pesticides, it undoubtedly helps to put garbage to good use and in doing so saves the environment.

2. Organic farming does not use harmful chemicals that may potentially have an adverse affect on your health. This is particularly important when growing vegetables. Chemical companies often tell us that the chemicals we use are pretty safe if used according to direction, but a lot of research has shown that even small quantities of poisons absorbed through the skin can cause serious illnesses such as cancer, especially in kids.

3. On average, children ingest four to five times more cancer-causing pesticides from foods than adults. This can lead to various complications and diseases later on in their lives. With organic gardening, these incidents are lessened and the risks drastically reduced.

4. Keep in mind that pesticides contain toxins that only have one purpose – and that it is to kill living things. Poisons are frequently washed into our waterways, causing death to fish and polluting their habitat. Organic farming is less harmful to the environment.

5. The Soil Conservation Service says that an estimated 30 – 32 billion tons of soil erodes from U.S. farmlands every year. Organic farming practices help prevent the loss of topsoil through erosion.

6. Organic farming is cost effective. With organic gardening you don’t need to purchase expensive chemical pesticides and fertilizers. A lot of the organic recipes for pest and disease control come straight from the kitchen cupboard. At times other plants can even be grown as companions to the main crop. A good example of this is the marigold, which helps to repel aphids from vegetables.

- A simple mulch of pine needles will help to suppress the growth of weeds as well as keeping the moisture in.

- Mixing 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap and 1 cup of cooking oil can make a cheap garden pest spray. Put 3 tablespoons of this mixture in 1 quart of water and spray on plants.

Organic gardening practices help to keep the environment safe for future generations.