Organic Gardening

vegetables urrounde by circle with organic beneath (CanStockPhoto:27093295 (C) yupiramos)

Organic gardening essentially uses methods and materials that are free of synthetic fertilizer and chemical pesticides or herbicides. It relies totally on the natural resources and processes available to maintain healthy soil, plants, and beneficial insect populations. It takes time and effort, but don't get discouraged, after everything comes into balance, you will prosper. Gardening organically reduces risks of contaminating the soil and ground water and relies on a healthy environment for the growth of microorganisms that mineralize organic matter back into the soil. In order to become certifiably organic there are certain requirements and here you can find the need to know to do just that. It is a relieving feeling that what you put in your mouth from the organic garden is free of any chemical that may have harmful effects.

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Question:

My compost pile was doing very well, but after the recent rains we have had it really smells bad. What happened and what can I do about it?

Answer

Your compost pile is too wet and therefore has very little if any air available to the organisms that break down organic matter in it. Anaerobic respiration or fermentation has taken over and is causing the bad smells.

Control

Turn over the compost pile to get more air introduced into it. This will allow normal decomposition of the organic matter. Try and keep the compost pile as moist as a well-rung out sponge throughout the pile. In the desert the outside of the pile dries out quickly. Re-wet the surface every couple of days as needed.