The benefits of eating organic, locally grown produce are many.  In addition to being good for you, nothing comes close to the taste of fresh produce, or to the feeling of pride and accomplishment you have when serving a dish made from your homegrown vegetables.

 

The idea of fending off bugs and disease without chemical aids may seem daunting at first, but you don't have to be a master gardener to create a successful organic vegetable garden.  Just keep in mind some simple guidelines:

 

  1.  Don't bite off more than you can chew.  If you've never cared for a vegetable garden before, consider starting with a raised bed or two, or even with some large pots. You'll be more likely to be successful if you don't overwhelm yourself the first year.

  2.  Don't underestimate the importance of quality soil.  If there's one secret we could share, it would be to add rich organic material (such as compost) to your soil.  Plants that have the right nutrients available to them not only grow larger and faster, but they're also stronger and better able to naturally resist disease and pests.

  3.  Group complimentary plants together - Corn, beans and squash or tomatoes and basil are good examples of plants that "like" each other.  Some plants have a symbiotic relationship with one another where a particular plant actually repels pests that another plant is susceptible to or secretes a chemical that another plant can use.

  4.  Inspect your vegetable garden regularly and deal with disease or pest issues promptly.  There are many great resources out there from local professional gardeners (find someone well-versed in organics) to reputable websites such as Organic Garden Pests.

5.  Stagger your planting times to ensure a continuous harvest for much of the growing season and more opportunities to sample your delicious homegrown produce.