Be Smart! Start your own Garden!

 By Mathew Grubb

In this day and age many people find it imperative to be cautious concerning the food they consume. This has been the effect of a transition in social thought concerning what we put in our bodies, how it affects us, and what amount of control we can exercise over what we eat. The term 'Organic' has risen from this social phenomenon and though many grocery stores these days still sell vegetable products sprayed with chemicals and pesticides, there has been a noticeable upturn in the number of people growing their own food. Fear of contamination is a huge concern for those not wanting to purchase food that has not been certified by the FDA as 'Organic'. Recent tests commissioned by the UK government have found that washing pesticide sprayed vegetables thoroughly at home, might not even be enough.

 "Researchers looked at apples treated with the

 insecticide chlorpyrifos, fungicides captan and 

carbendazim, and antioxidant diphenylamine. 

They found: ‘The residues of diphenylamine and 

carbendazim were not decreased by washing, 

but were decreased in the peel and core samples by

 cooking.Diphenylamine is not dangerous, however 

carbendazim is banned in the US as it has been linked to 

cancer, birth defects and disruption of cell development."  

Source   

Research such as this, provides steady reasoning and incentive to avoid these pesticide ridden vegetables, and begin planting your own, pesticide free. Vegetables grown without added chemicals, will grow slightly slower and risk more chance of being eaten by bugs, therefore making it more expensive in stores. Another reason why organic produce is more expensive, is that it often comes from local farms which have less infrastructure and funds readily accessible to help them sustain their businesses. 

A Healthy Garden in 6 Steps!

1: Finding a Spot

Scout out a location that receives adequate sunlight that you will have easy access to for maintaining and watering. 

2: Choosing Plants

 While keeping in mind your region and time of the year, choose the proper tasty vegetables you enjoy.

3: Making a Home

By properly fertilizing your soil. You can create and ensure your plants are in a healthy "bed".

4: Feeding

By feeding your plants compost by making from scratch or buying for cheap, you can give your plants essential organic nutrients that will help them grow.

5: Watering

Having a good source of water is key to the plants survival. Watering your plants often is key to their growth. Often can seem tedious, but watching them grow can be rewarding!

6: Protection

Making sure your plants don't get eaten alive is key while maintaining a sustainable organic practice. Here is a great list of potential sources for your garden