People tend to look for certified “organic” and “pesticide-free” labels on the packaging of fresh produce before tossing them into their carts, and for good reason.

Organic foods are reported to contain higher levels of nutrients and beneficial plant compounds than their commercial counterparts. It’s also safe to assume that organic foods contain little to no chemicals from pesticides and artificial fertilizers.

But there’s a catch to these benefits. Organic foods are often priced higher than their non-organic counterparts. Of course, this presents a problem for people on tight food budgets with little to no room for indulgences like pricier organic foods.

But it doesn’t have to be a toss-up between nutrition and budget. It’s possible to get the best of both worlds with a little thing called organic gardening.

What is organic gardening?

One of the most common misconceptions among beginner gardeners is that organic gardening is no different from traditional or conventional gardening. But nothing could be further from the truth.

As the name implies, organic gardening places great emphasis on natural methods of gardening. These include creating organic fertilizer, composting and using natural plant-based insecticides to deter pests.

Traditional gardening, on the other hand, might not follow these practices to a tee. Even beginner gardeners can make the mistake of using store-bought fertilizers and artificial soil mixes that are chock-full of chemicals.

Benefits of organic gardening

Organic gardening has several nutritional and environmental benefits. Take a look at some of them below:

Fresh, delicious produce

Picking fruits, herbs and vegetables straight from the plants has its merits. For one thing, you’re guaranteed fresh, organic produce. Most of the produce available in supermarkets are bred to grow into uniform shapes and sizes to make them more attractive for shoppers. However, this form of artificial breeding tends to affect flavor and nutrient content.

No chemicals

Sometimes, labels are just that: labels. Even with explicit “organic” and “pesticide-free” stickers slapped onto fruits and vegetables in the store, you can never be sure if these are guaranteed to be so. Multiple studies have found strong correlations between chemicals in pesticides and neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, so it’s best to err on the side of caution.

Better diet and nutrition

There’s no better motivation to eating more fruits and vegetables than having them right on hand. A sustainable organic garden makes it easier to stick to a balanced diet and make better food choices over time. No more excuses not to eat those veggies!

Less food waste

Having an organic garden also leads to less food waste in the long run. Instead of chucking food scraps into the trash bin, turn them into organic fertilizer for plants. You can also mix kitchen scraps with pet waste and other biodegradable materials to create compost.

Conserve water

Organic gardening also saves water better than conventional gardening. Over time, the use of organic fertilizer and compost will enrich the soil with organic matter. This will help retain soil moisture better, thus reducing the need to water plants often.

Cost-efficient food

Remember all that talk about food budgets and pricier organic foods? You can throw those worries out the window with organic gardening. Having clean, nutritious foods on hand can also discourage spending on fast foods and take-home meals.

Organic gardening is a holistic approach to growing plants. It offers a host of unique nutritional and environmental benefits. Start an organic garden for a clean, efficient and sustainable source of fresh and nutritious produce.

Read more articles about the benefits of organic gardening and gardening tips at HomeGardeningNews.com.

Sources:

BHG.com

HomeForTheHarvest.com