AN INTRODUCTION FOR GROWING YOUR OWN VEGETABLES OGANICALLY

It has been clear for some time that organically grown food is good for our health and the environment in general. Now it becomes apparent we can help in the fight against greenhouse gasses and global warming by growing fruit and vegetables using organic methods at home.

Chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides contribute to water pollution and they often take significant amounts of fossil fuels to produce. Then there is the cost to the earth, in atmospheric pollution, of transporting them.

When crops are grown organically biological methods are used to ward off diseases and pests so there is no need to use chemicals or poisonous sprays. Organically grown foods are, as we all know, more expensive to buy but they are quite cheap if you grow them yourself. Growing your own fruit and vegetables will also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused during commercial growing and transportation of crops to the supermarkets.

You don't need a green thumb to grow your own vegetables. People used to do it all the time and you don't need to know all that much about it. Most vegetables grow from seeds. Sow them in mid spring and, once they sprout, keep them weed free and supply them with food and water. The process is not, of course, completely trouble free but even a complete novice can usually harvest enough to keep them supplied with fresh, poison free, succulent vegetables throughout the year.

Eating naturally grown food eliminates any possible contamination from poisonous chemicals for you and for the soil the food is grown in. Watching things you have planted grow is rewarding, even exciting, but there is also a lot more flavour in home grown produce as anyone who has eaten them can testify.

Supermarket fruit and vegetables look good with their uniform size and shape but, all too often, they lack flavour. Fruit and vegetables come a long way to be sold to us as "fresh" in grocery stores. Often the produce has been stored for some time which explains why fruit that appeared perfect when purchased begins to rot from inside quite quickly. If the food has little flavour and rots easily how can we be sure it still has all the nutrients it is supposed to contain?

Ideally you will have a section of land available to plant your crops into but even a balcony pot can supply you with some things, such as tomatoes, for your table.

For those who do have some land here is a crash course on how to grow your own fruit and vegetables. Take it step by step and do your bit to reduce greenhouse gasses, keep your family healthy, and please your tastebuds.