PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC GARDENING
The essential principle of organic growing is stewardship of the soil, basically managing the soil in an organic manner ensures that the soil quality is maintained and enhanced for future generations.
Other principles of organic growing are
- Principle of Health
Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible.
- Principle of Ecology
Organic Agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.
- Principle of Fairness
Organic Agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities
- Principle of Care
Organic Agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment.*
All of the above principles underline the basis of organic agriculture worldwide. This is true for everyone who gardens organically whether you are a commercial producer or you grow food organically in your small urban backyard.
Either way you are part of a dynamic community which is growing worldwide. The benefits of organic growing are enormous but probably the most important one is that you get delicious healthy food which doesn’t cost the earth!
* IFOAM – International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements www.ifoam.org
A more general definition of growing food organically is growing food without the use of artificial fertilisers or chemicals