Making Organic Farming Practices Accessible to Filipino Farmers

For an agricultural country that was among the first in South East Asia to explore organic farming, most people would assume that by now the Philippines would be a leader in organic farming. But sadly, this is not the case.

How To Raise Pigs Using Organic Farming - Know The Advantages Before You Start Raising Pigs

Consumers are becoming aware of the health benefits of organic vegetables and organic meat. Now you can go to the market and select between commercial and organic products. But why buy if you can produce? Due to the growing popularity of organic farming, farm owners and hog raisers are switching to organic pig farming and organic feeds. Cooperatives are constantly giving seminars and programs on how to raise pigs using organic methods.

One of the traditional ways on how to raise pigs is as simple as letting them graze in pastures and open range farms. In here, pigs are allowed to grazed grass, plants, and even herbs as its food. The idea is to utilize the natural ventilation and the sun to provide better environment for the pigs. These also serve as an exercise for the pigs to keep them healthy and leaner.

The open range farms also make sure that clean and beneficial plants are scattered around the pasture. Plants like lemongrass and guava leaves are good for the pigs digestive system while turmeric produce tender and juicy meat. Pigs are also introduce to organic diets which include organic corn, flax seed, buckwheat, barley, roasted soybeans, and vitamins and minerals designed for organic production. Corn shots are also given several days before butchering to integrate a sweeter taste to the meat.

Organic farming eliminates the consumption of antibiotics, hormones, and animal products, which can cause certain diseases both to the pigs and the consumers.

De-worming of pigs can also be natural. Garlic is a good alternative for antibiotics and commercial dewormers. Mince the garlic and mix directly to the feeds. Ongoing treatment is recommended to eliminate the worms and prevent them from coming back.

Wondering how to raise pigs at home? If you do not have a grazing land but live near an organic farm then your problem is solved. Purchasing directly from organic farms and farmer's market assures you of fresh produce. Sometimes organic farms also allow fellow farmers to use their land, as the pigs' manure can be instant compost for their plants. You can also purchase fruits in the market as a treat for the pigs.

One of the drawbacks of organic farming is the cost. Organic feeds cost more than conventional feeds. If you stay within the pasture area, it may cost a little lower but this will not ensure a proper diet for the pigs. The high cost of organic pig farming will also affect the selling price when it gets in the market. Diseases that require antibiotics may be substituted by natural remedies but sometimes cannot be prevented to cure the sick pigs.

Organic farming is a natural way on how to raise pigs. Pigs produce from organic farms are leaner and healthier. You are assured that it is fresh and is not touched by toxic antibiotics or genetically modified food. Although it may cost more to produce, the benefits and assurance that you get from organic farming cannot be upended by non-organic and commercially produced products.

So keep these points in mind. You will find that learning more about how to raise pigs does not need to be difficult when you're learning from someone who have experienced. Learn more tips on how to raise pigs here: http://www.howtoraisepigs.com

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Organic Farming Enhances Food's Taste - Organic Farming Plus Points

The power of modern organic farming is mostly unrealized, but local and organic food markets are reaching a tipping point. The growth of organic farming has been determined by small, independent producers and also by purchasers. The organic trend has developed responding to an expanding interest for organic items. Back in the early eighties, lots of farming and consumer groups began seriously pressuring for government regulation of organic production.

National specifications for organic food production are now well established and purchasers can be confident in the organic label. Some US States passed their particular legislation regarding organic production.

With more and more interest being given to the effect diet can have on our bodies, it's inevitable that the question will occur as to whether or not there is a certain advantage of organic food. Organic food fans will claim - with no hesitation - of their increased energy and general health. As we look at the correlation between what we eat and our health and longevity, it makes perfect sense that we must also consider the possible benefit of organic food.

Majority of commercial crops are raised using fertilizers and various other chemicals who kill weeds and insects that can harm the crop. Extended use of these synthetic chemicals can weaken the soil and start to upset the eco-system in the ground. Furthermore they contribute to a few of pests developing a tolerance to these substances which encourage the further production and usage of stronger noxious chemicals.

The contrary to all this is to grow plants organically. Organic fruits and vegetables are cultivated without the use of pesticides and are free of preservatives or additives on every level. Organic farming is a more time consuming process of production and requires more time to replenish the natural eco-system too. Building an organic farm involves taking time to tear out weeds manually, use other animals and insects to fight pests and where this doesn't work, using different ways of dealing with the many organisms that harm crops. Fertilizer will be compost or animal dung. Thus, organic food is not exposed to chemical substances of any kind while its growing, handling, manufacturing or packaging. Organic farming has grown as one of the sectors of the future as ever more consumers are demanding the most nutritious and natural items for their families.

Many shoppers know of the fact that you can get not only organic produce but organic meats as well. This allows you to change your entire dietary lifestyle if you so wish, without the need to give up on such things as meats and dairy products, replacing the non-organic products as a better alternative.

In the case of animal goods, such as meat and dairy, animals are provided only organic food. This simply means that they do not consume any non-organic foods in their diets at all from the very beginning. There is also the major benefit of not having any sort of antibiotics pumped into these animals as well as not being subject to other potentially harmful toxins. Traditional agricultural producers are in the practice of using a bunch of synthetics to dairy cows trying to increase their size and milk result. Organic agricultural farmers - under rigorous federal government specifications - are forbidden from using any such chemical substances; chemicals, that have to be said, that have not been analyzed deeply enough to decide upon their long-term repercussions.

If you do your grocery shopping in a store where organic foods are offered, you will find the organic meats and dairy products to be for sale. The same is true, maybe especially more so, of online organic food vendors.

Yet another advantage of organic farming is its ability to impact us on our environment as a whole. Minimizing our exposure to chemically altered food and saving our planet from useless contact with unnatural toxins. Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are chemically managed even while they are still in the ground, stuffing the soil with an unnatural cocktail that modifies its characteristics indefinitely - and perhaps seeps into our water sources. Organic farming maintains land in its natural condition and protects our water resources.

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The Role Of Animals In Organic Farming

Farm animals are an important an integrated part of most organic farms. They make valuable contributions to the productivity and sustainability of organic agricultural systems. In addition to this strong economic bond between humans and animals in organic farming, there also is a moral (and sometimes emotional) bond to animals as sentient and fellow beings on this planet. This imposes a responsibility on humans for the welfare of farm animals. However, the development of organic animal husbandry has been slower than the organic plant production. There are several reasons for this, historical and philosophical as well as the fact that research on animal production often is more expensive and difficult to carry out compared to crop research. However, organic animal research has increased considerably in several European countries lately and resulting from this, improved efficiency and productivity can be expected in organic animal production, as well as better animal welfare.

There is a big interest in organic farming in Europe, both among politicians, consumers and farmers. Organic agriculture is subsidized by the EU, and the Commission is currently working on an Action Plan for organic food and agriculture. Animals are an important part of most organic farms and research to develop better organic systems is now performed in many European countries. Thus we can expect organic animal production to increase during the years to come. At the same time there are challenges and dilemmas that the organic movement and organic farmers must face and solve to improve animal production and to maintain credibility and trust among consumers, for example in relation to animal welfare.

In organic farming, agriculture is often referred to as an agroecosystem. An agroecosystem is a community of plants and animal interaction with their physical and chemical environments that have been modified by people to produce feed, fibers and other products for human consumption and processing. The goal of organic farming is to design a quilt of agroecosystems within a landscape unit, each mimicking the structure and function of local, natural ecosystems, thus acquiring their resilience and sustainability. Ideally, the organic farmer manipulates the natural ecosystem to achieve sustainable production, using an understanding of ecological relationships while trying to minimize the use of external inputs and harm to the environment.

Although it is possible to create agroecosystems without farm animal, animal provide substantial advantages for system productivity and sustainability. For example, farm animal have an important role in processing biomass and recycling nutrients. Organic farming systems with herbivores are generally more productive than those without them. The animals can fill trophic niches that otherwise would not be utilized, for example marginal lands otherwise unsuitable for agriculture. However, in order to create sustainable agroecosystems, the animal component must meet certain requirements:-

1. The selection of species and breeds must be adapted to crop production suitable for the area, to available resources on the farm or in the region, and to local agro-climatic conditions.

2. The number of animals must be balanced in relation to the possible crop production and available resources.

3. Rearing systems must be designed to avoid harming the environment and to minimize the use of fossil energy.

Ruminants, such as cattle and sheep, have a particularly important role in agroecosystems since they process leguminous forage plants. These are the backbone of organic crop production because of their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. To obtain sufficient nitrogen in an organic crop rotation, about one-third of the crops should be legumes. In practice this means that organic animal production must be based on ruminants (and that these are fed like ruminants). In contrast, monogastric animal, such as pig and poultry, require high quality protein in their diets. These animals can be considered as competing with humans for food, at least to the extent they use protein sources suitable for direct human consumption. Thus, it is sometimes argued that monogastric animals should be considered marginal in organic farming, primarily to be fed on agricultural wastes. They also can contribute to the agroecosystem by producing useful services, such as biological weed or pest control.

Development approaches for organic animal production in developing countries has to be based on realistic and practical situations. First, one must recognize the limitation and complexities of export market for animal products, while there exists greater market opportunities for organic animal products locally, for instance indigenous chicken meat and eggs. Practical approaches for organic farming should be based on and developed from locally existing animal production systems which already have close resemblance to prescribed organic practices, such as those mentioned earlier for ruminant and indigenous chicken production. The local standards and guidelines for organic animal farming ought to be initially considered and developed from such existing animal husbandry practices. Further development of such standards will be a continuous process based on practical experiences gained from production, processing, and marketing of the resulted organic animal products.

The Success of the promotion of organic animal farming at national level will depend on many important factors including government policies and legislative supports, socio-economic infrastructure, farm training and extension as well as other technical supports.

http://www.enterfarm.com

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Humic Acid As a Soil Conditioner

There are many products on the market that can serve as a soil conditioner to help correct deficiencies in the soil to help it better support plant life. One of the most impactful organic soil conditioners out there has got to be humic acid.

Humic acid is still a relatively new concept to most and is not widely available at most lawn and garden stores, but serious organic gardeners and organic farmers are very familiar with what it can do and how it helps all types of soil.

Humus materials are complex aggregate of brown to dark colored amorphous substances, which have originated during the decomposition of plant and animal residues by microorganisms, under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, in soils, composts, peat bogs, and water basins. "Humic acid" is the commercial term often used to refer to the combined humic and fulvic acid content found in these naturally occurring deposits. Humic acid is known to be among the most bio-chemically active materials found in soil. The best humic acids come from Leonardite coal, which is made of of humified substances dating back thousands of years.

Humic acid has the ability to improve clay soils by breaking it up and allowing better water penetration and can improve sandy soils by adding back necessary organic matter to help with water and nutrient retention both of which aid in root growth and development. Humic acid also plays a vital role in the improved nutrient uptake of plants by acting like a carrier of nutrients and also by unlocking previously unattainable nutrients for the plants.

Another important role of humic acid is its ability to stimulate microbial activity in the soil. Humic acid provides a necessary carbon based food source for which the microbes to thrive on. Soil microbes play a vital role in helping plants obtain nutrients like phosphorous as they are responsible for solubilizing this nutrient so that it can be stored by the humic acid and available for the plant. Soil microbes are also important in improving the structure of the soil. Soil microorganisms will break down organic matter in the soil, thus building more humus and adding to the porosity of the soil, which can aid in aeration and water retention.

As like other soil amendments, humic acid is not intended to necessarily replace fertilizers, however they are an excellent complement to fertilizers and will enhance fertilizer programs, possibly even reducing the amount of fertilization needed and with the cost of nitrogen on the rise, fertilizer reduction is a good thing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Casey_Coke

Organic Gardening - Macroorganisms and Composting

The reason your compost pile stops cooking is because the environment for the aerobic organisms have changed to a humus material that is ready for your gardening needs. This doesn't mean that there isn't life still in the pile working hard for you. Macroorganisms are the next important stage of life that takes over once the cooking process ends. They are a larger organism that many of them feed off the earlier inhabitants that controlled the compost pile.

This diverse group of organisms keep improving your compost by mixing and turning the pile and adding they on nutrient rich casting throughout. The most common of this group to the home gardener is the earthworm, others include beetles, centipedes, enchytraeids, fermentation mites, flies, nematodes, millipedes, pillbugs, sow bugs, springtails and wolf spiders.

Leaving your pile to sit for a few weeks once it has cooled will bring this next for of life into your rich humus compost to continue the process of adding more valuable nutrients that will greatly benefit your gardens soil structure and the plants you are growing.

Composting is a way of recycling your organic household and yard waste just as nature does in it's natural environment. It is the best and most efficient way to add the natural rich nutrients back into your gardens soil. Improving your gardens soil by these natural methods will greatly benefit the crops you are growing, allowing them to thrive and produce a high yielding healthy crop that is healthier for you along with the environment.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

[http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Yazo

Humic Acid Benefits on Clay Soils

The bane of every gardener's existence is clay soil. In addition to feeling like you are gardening in your driveway, clay soil makes ordinary tasks like watering and feeding plants a major problem. Soils with high clay content hold water and do not drain well, which causes root problems in plants. If the roots are in trouble, the whole plant will soon be in trouble. Clay particles also hold tightly to nutrient particles, which makes it more difficult for plants to take up the nutrients they need from the soil. There is a way to help your hard-packed, low organic matter clay soil: add a soil conditioner with humic acid.

Chemical Problems in Clay Soils

Humic acid benefits plants in numerous ways. The first is that it facilitates ion exchange. Humic acid has a higher cation exchange capacity, or CEC. That means it is easier for soil nutrient particles to move within the soil, and thus to be taken in by plants. Soils treated with humic acid have much better nutrient availability. Humic acid does not directly supply the plants with nutrients, but it does make what nutrients are in the soil easier for plants to access. Humic acid also influences the pH of the soil, which affects nutrient availability. Clay soils with very low humus levels can become overly acidic, resulting in poor conditions for plant growth. Humic acid increases the buffering capacity of the soil, and allows pH to remain steadier.

Oxygen Problems in Clay Soils

An oxygen problem can technically be classified as a chemical problem, as well. Low amounts of oxygen and oxygen exchange in soil cause problems with plant roots. Plants are said to "eat" carbon dioxide and release oxygen. That is more or less true, to a point. Plants take in carbon dioxide to use in photosynthesis, the chemical reaction catalyzed by sunlight where plants make sugars from carbon dioxide and water. When plants use the sugars or starches they have made during photosynthesis, the process is called respiration. Oxygen is needed for respiration, and plants get that oxygen from the soil-taking it in through their roots. Overly clayey soils often do not have the spaces needed for oxygen in the soil. Wet, clayey soils that are completely saturated have no space for oxygen. When plants cannot take in oxygen through their roots, they suffer. Humic acid and humus helps create spaces in the soil for oxygen to be available to plant roots.

Humic Acid and Nutrient Uptake

In addition to nutrient availability, nutrient uptake is an important part of plant growth. If the nutrients are there, but the plants cannot absorb them, the nutrients do not benefit the plant growth. Research has also shown that humic acid makes the cell walls of plants more receptive to nutrients and more permeable to the nutrients. This saves gardeners money, as well as encourages healthy plant growth. If you feed your plants and they cannot take in the food, you have wasted time and money, and potentially polluted the groundwater.

In addition to the many other ways that humic acid benefits plants, it does help neutralize the effects of soils high in clay content, making them more hospitable for plant growth.

Casey Coke is a Marketing Manager for Natural Environmental Systems, LLC. The company is a global supplier of humic acid and other organic soil conditioners.

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Soil Basics - Creating Fertile, Healthy Soil

Have you ever looked at the soil in your garden and considered it as anything more than soil? If not you should because there is a lot more there than meets the eye. It performs many functions that you may not be aware of and having good quality soil in your garden is essential for your plants. In this article we will look at the functions of soil, what different types there are and finally some ways to make it healthier.

Functions of Soil

The most immediately apparent function of soil is a medium to support plant life. It provides support both physically and biologically. Physical support is provided by allowing the plant to grow its roots through the soil to hold itself in place. Biological support is provided by its ability to hold nutrients and water that the plant needs. It also supports other types of life as well. Microorganisms and insects live in the soil and they in turn aid plant life by helping to decay organic material and adding structure to the soil. Soil allows the growth of food crops which are consumed by humans and also plants used in the creation of medicines. Microorganisms like fungi and bacteria that live in soil and are used to produce antibiotics. All life on earth is dependent on it either directly and indirectly. This includes the plant life in your garden.

What is Soil Made of?

The four major components of soil are mineral matter, organic matter (humus), water and air. Mineral matter refers to the inorganic elements in the soil e.g. stones, gravel and makes up to 40%-60% of its volume. This part of the soil usually originates from the bedrock that lies beneath the soil. Organic matter (humus) is the decayed remains and waste products of plants and animals and has a great effect on the chemical properties of the soil e.g. availability of nutrients. Almost 40%-60% of a soil's volume can be space and this is occupied by water and air.

Different Types of Soil Texture

Soil texture is defined as the size distribution of different mineral particles. These mineral particles are at their most basic level the following: sand, silt and clay. Sand particles are 2 to 0.05 mm diameter, silt particles are 0.05 to 0.002 mm diameter and clay particles are Clay soil

Contains a high percentage of clay particles and feels lumpy to the touch. The small size of the clay particles means that they clump together quite readily and there is less room for air spaces. Consequently clay soils have poor drainage and do not hold nutrients very well. This is a heavy soil and is sticky when wet making it hard to work with. As much as possible you should take steps to improve the drainage of this type of soil. You will learn how later on in this article.

Silty soil

Contains a high percentage of silt particles and feels smooth to the touch. This soil is a well drained soil due to the size of the particles allowing space for water to permeate. This soil holds nutrients more readily than clay soil due to the spaces. It is easy to cultivate but can be compacted quite easily.

Sandy soil

Contains a high percentage of sand particles and feels gritty to the touch, Allows for quite a lot of space in between particles and as a result is very free draining. This has its disadvantages however as it does not hold water and essential nutrients can get washed away.

Loamy soil

This is the best type of soil texture you can have in your garden. This is soil whose properties are controlled equally by the percentages of clay, silt and sand particles. It is well drained but does not loose water too easily as is the case with sandy and sometimes silty soils. The fact that it retains water means it also retains nutrients for your plants to use. It has a great structure and is easy to cultivate.

What Makes a Soil Healthy?

Healthy soil must be fertile and have a good structure.

For a soil to be fertile it must have nutrients readily available and a pH value at a recommended level for the plants that will reside in it. Nutrients that should be available are the essential nutrients nitrogen (leaf growth), phosphorous (root growth) and phosphorous (overall health). As well as the essential nutrients there should also be trace elements like calcium and magnesium. The pH level of the soil refers to its acidity or alkalinity and each plant has its own preferred value range. Plants placed into fertile soil will grow up to be very strong and healthy specimens (that is if other conditions like light levels and climate are favourable as well).

The other determiner of a healthy soil is its texture. We learned about different types of soil texture earlier in this article. Soil having a loamy texture is the healthiest and it should be strived for if at all possible. In general a soil that retain nutrients and allow water and air to permeate it will be beneficial for the life of your plants.

How to Create Healthy Soil

No matter what type of soil you have the addition of organic matter will work wonders for its health. Organic matter is plant and animal residues in varying forms of decomposition. It will replenish the nutrients in your soil and improve its texture. You may have heard countless times about adding your leftovers and glass clippings to a compost heap. This is a great idea as your compost is the best form of organic matter. Compost in an advanced stage of decomposition (dark and without smell) is magic for your soil. It encourages microorganism activity causing soil particles to clump together and form aggregates. The aggregates allows for spaces in the soil therefore increasing its drainage. This is especially beneficial for clay soils, which have poor drainage. Other forms of organic matter are animal manure and peat moss.

If your soil is lacking in nutrients and you don't have access to a compost heap you have a choice of using inorganic or organic fertilizers. Inorganic fertilizers (inorganic salts, manufactured chemically) can be purchased at your local garden and are applied in a dry form that is raked lightly at the base of a plant or in a liquid form. While inorganic fertilizers will work fine they have a number of disadvantages: they release their nutrients too quickly and there is some evidence to show that plants develop a resistance to inorganic fertilizer methods over time, requiring more and more to achieve the same effect. Organic fertilizers are more in tune with nature because they are created from the remains or by-product of an organism. They act slower but they 'amend' the soil rather than the quick 'feeding' it like inorganic fertilizers.

The pH of your soil will also affect its fertility. Each plant has its own preferred pH value range. To learn more pH and how to change it read my Soil pH article here: http://www.gardenstew.com/blog/e3-9-soil-ph-and-its-effect-on-your-garden.html.

Conclusion

Soil like a lot of things in the garden requires maintenance. We have learned about the different types of soil texture, what constitutes a fertile, healthy soil and how to create it if it does not exist. The next step is to step out into your garden, take a look at your soil and help your plants out if your soil is of a poor quality. Your plants will thank you ten-fold believe me. Good luck!

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Why is Earthworm Compost Essential For Healthy Plants?

Earthworm compost or worms casting are actually worms excrete or dropping or worms poo and is a natural by-products of earthworms which is rich in organic matter.

The presence of earthworms indicates a healthy soil condition and environment. The activity of earthworms help to circulate or aerate the ground by burrowing, tunneling and loosening the soil structure. It also improve the soil drainage system where it helps to reduce any stagnant water in the soil, which could be harmful to the plant roots.

As it burrows and moves along in the soil, it digest plants fiber, leaves, twigs, fallen branches or manure and mix and sift with the soil. It helps in enhancing decomposition of material resulting to the formation of humus. Humus is like glue that keep and hold the soil together. This helps in preventing erosion and improve the soil moisture holding ability.

The earthworms produces worms castings which looks like fine and tiny grain of rice in soil color. It contains smaller particles of earth which is held together by its intestinal fluid excrete during digesting process.

Worm casting is a type of highest grade compost and it contain mineral and organic matter in a soluble form. The casting is odorless and free from any chemical content. The nutrient can easily be absorbed by the roots of the plants as the texture is finer.

Worm castings is excellent ingredient as a soil conditioner as well as fertilizer. The castings is rich in live micro organisms and growth nutrients. It also contains some acidic elements which condition the soil and make the soil neutral in PH. It keeps the soil balance in not too acidic and not too alkaline, vital for the plant growth.

Free from disease pathogens, worms casting keep the plants from diseases and it helps to promote the growth of healthy plants and vegetables.

More compost is produced with the help of composting earthworm, the red worm or red wriggler as the most popular and widely used, with less effort and in shorter time. In the right environmental condition where the weather is not too hot or too cold with plenty of food, the worms will happily eat and digest the food and convert it into valuable compost daily.

Shaz Green is an earthworm farming enthusiast and an enjoys helping others in this amazing hobby. For more great information on earthworm farming for quality earthworm compost [http://www.earthwormcompostguide.com/earthworm-compost/], please visit [http://www.earthwormcompostguide.com]

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Organic Gardening - Types of Composting Methods

Composting is a very simple and basic method of turning organic household and yard waste into a very valuable rich humus material that will greatly benefit your organic garden. The key to having a successful composting operation is to choose a system or technique that best fits your needs.

There are a number of factors that can give you the reason for the type of system you want to use for your composting operation. The space you have to work, the amount of compost you want to produce, what you want to use the compost for, types of material you are composting, the time you want or have to spend working on composting and last the appearance, how neat you want your composting operation to look. Personal preference is going to be a major part in the choice you make.

The different types of systems can be from homemade to commercially bought kitchen composter, tumblers and different style bins, along with the methods of vermi or worm composting, pile, trench and sheet composting.

All these systems have there own unique method of turning organic household and yard waste into a priceless rich humus matter that will greatly benefit your crops and other plants when applied to your organic gardening practices.

Composting is a basic process that has been involved in gardening practices for centuries. It is the same system that is used by nature to supply the plants that grow naturally all over the world. It is not only a method of turning organic matter into valuable humus, it is a valuable renewable resource that will greatly benefit the soil structure in your garden and let your plants live a happy and healthy life.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

[http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Yazo

Plant Nutrition - Chemical Fertilizer and Compost Compared

Which form of plant nutrition is better in broad terms - chemical fertilizer or compost? Fertilizers, whether chemical or organic, supply to the plants the elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and iron that are essential to their growth and develop.

Compost is bulky organic matter, of either plant or animal origin, which has to break down to an inorganic or mineral state before the essential elements can be taken up by the plants' roots. For this reason, manufactures of fertilizer products tend to dismiss compost as not being fertilizer at all. If the term "fertilizer" is defined as narrowly as they find convenient, then this may be true. It is blatantly false however, to imply that compost is not a source, albeit indirectly, of plant nutrients.

Why Chemical Fertilizer?

Applying chemical fertilizer is the most efficient, cost effective method of feeding plants. One only has to look at the farming industry, with its massive, annual consumption of fertilizers, to see that this is the case. It is, together with chemical pest control, the main reason behind the high prices in the supermarkets of organically grown produce, whose growers do not use chemical fertilizer.

If chemicals give farmers get better yields in the field, then logically, they should provide superior results in the garden as well. Indeed, in the first year or so after planting the garden, this often appears to happen; the trees and shrubs may grow quicker, while flowers are both more numerous and stronger in color.

To achieve similar performance with compost, one has to use massive quantities - about 30 liters per square meter when preparing the soil - a method that is clearly far more expensive and laborious. Yet more and more landscape professionals, not only organic gardeners, choose to use compost. Why is this case?

Soil Conditioner

The most significant benefit of compost is in its role as a soil conditioner, for in the long term, the health and vitality of the soil is infinitely more important than the short-term boost provided by chemical fertilizers. Compost, whether commercially prepared or homegrown, is the humus of a natural eco-system. For what works in nature, works in the garden too.

Organic matter in the soil is raw material for a vast variety of organisms, from microbes to the earthworm. A high humus percentage builds up the soil's fauna and flora, which dramatically increases the aeration of the soil, reduces the level of pathogenic organisms, and actually improves plant nutrition, by improving the availability of trace elements such as magnesium and iron.

The advantages of humus as a soil conditioner are negated by the long-term application of chemical fertilizer. The population of earthworms is virtually eliminated while the reduced range of organisms generally, creates favorable conditions for pest and disease organisms to take root, unbalanced by the natural predators that are part of a healthy eco-system.

Jonathan Ya'akobi

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Ya'akobi

Compost - Four Tips For Success

If you've started making your own compost, congratulations! It's one of the best ways of adding humus to the soil. Experts agree that feeding plants with humus is exactly the way nature intended them to feed. It makes sense therefore that the compost you make should have a high colloidal humus content to improve the fertility of the soil and the healthy growth of your plants. Unfortunately most composting methods aim for a crumbly soil like substance, which is not humus.

If you make compost properly, then it will not smell and does not need turning. You definitely don't need fancy or expensive equipment like tumblers or compost bins.

If you end up with compost that is like rich dark soil it's okay, it will still be beneficial to your plants even though it doesn't have a high humus content. Next time you can get a far higher quality result by following my top 4 tips for successful composting:

1. Mix It Up:

The different types of organic matter need to be well mixed. For the composting bacteria to thrive, the nitrogen and carbon materials need to be in close contact

2. Juicy stuff

The compost pile needs to constantly moist throughout the whole pile for the duration of the process. The correct moisture level is similar to that of a damp sponge.

3. All at once

The pile needs to be created all at one time, from materials that you have collected and kept separate until you are ready to make your compost pile. Otherwise, you will be only composting small amounts at a time and they will all be at different stages.

4. Give it some oxygen

The compost bacteria which will help turn your materials into rich colloidal humus compost need air, so your compost pile needs airflow. How you provide airflow without turning your pile I'm not going to tell you here!

Tony Spinelli is a composting [http://mycompostsecrets.com] enthusiast and loves his homegrown veggies. For more articles on the secrets to effective compost making, please visit Tony's site http://www.mycompostsecrets.com [http://mycompostsecrets.com]

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Humus - Organic Soil and the Ecosystem

A healthy soil is one that is rich in nutrients and life, it is the building block of any organic garden. Soil is complex and a delicate ecosystem all in its own. A complex community of organisms, that convert a large variety of inactive organic materials into the essential nutrients plants need to thrive. Chemical fertilisers can destroy these organisms that provide the healthy, nutrient rich soil your plants need and pull you, along with your garden into a cycle of dependency.

The major principle of organic gardening is to feed the soil and let the soil feed the plants. Feeding the soil organic matter that it needs to support the complex community of organisms living in it naturally, working the soil and turning the natural minerals into nutrients that plants can benefit from.

Having a healthy, nutrient rich garden soil can have larger effects to the ecosystem. It supports life and a world all of it's own. It is a place where plants can grow and thrive. These plants attract other life like insects, toads and birds that all work together keeping the environment in balance. The ecosystem in your own organic garden is a world of it's own, and a health one when organic gardening practices are used.

Go Green in your yard and garden, be kind to nature. Organic gardening is a great way help improve the environment. It is a chemical free method that will help keep the air we breath clean and the water we drink safe.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

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