The Benefits of Organic Gardening:

Gardening isn't really a foreign concept to us. We understand from a small to industrial or commercial scale what it is to garden or mass produce vegetables, fruits and herbs for our consumption.

What it is to create an organic garden, is to develop it without using our present day habits of implementing chemicals to enhance our produce in size or growth speed, or chemical (unnatural) fertilizers or pesticides. All of which, we are now realizing are, in fact absorbed into our food supply and have adverse affects on our health in one form or another, as well as our environment -which again, affects our ability as to sustain long term livelihood as a species on the planet; should we destroy the very place in which we live and manner in which we survive. All this in consideration, it is a conscious learning process and state of awareness that we come into, together and are able to take steps individually and collectively.

Permaculture, simply stated, is taking the same idea of organic gardening and bringing it back into our present day living. It was a way of life many years ago, before we began the creation of chemicals and processing during our continual advancement. This doesn't mean our technology is all bad, however, we are to consider being conscientious in our creativity, for our own well being and all inclusive.

When we take a look at the basic meaning of Permaculture, which means to bring a balance or stable productive system for humans where the elements are designed to support and feed one another or essentially self-sustaining; it is the same idea as was practiced in the older traditional Native cultures that maintained their foods (organic gardening) in a format where it was all closely grown together to sustain one another, i.e. when one item in the crop died off when it was complete it was left to compost and feed the garden naturally and turned under, as well as the nutrients from various plants fed one another while growing and some shaded others as needed to grow better, etc.

An example, is growing green beans next to corn, whereas they grow up the stalk and right next to these are the squash which covers the ground and all which limits weeding.

Another example is creating a raised circle of herbs; much like in a pyramid fashion, of your choosing, closely together, i.e. Basil, Oregano, Parsley, Chives, Peppermint, Bee Balm, Rosemary and Cilantro, all of which limits weeding and the shape allows for easy reach and watering.

The idea of community behind Permaculture and organic gardening is to "commune" in "unity," regardless if we are to take into consideration that it is a neighborhood community and garden share project that we are working together; a city wide or just the bringing together of ones family and those in ones home and the direct intention of being inclusive verses exclusive and human beings working together to interact with nature.

One of the philosophies of the Permaculture communities is recognizing how working together, regardless if in small numbers of two or large city wide groups, it brings folks closer together when it is intention and working on one such sustainable item that everyone has a mutual need and interest in for as long as this earth can continue and we work together to keep it so - being intentional, even in our smallest of ways, in our own back yard with each other; can make a big difference.

There are some helpful tools in making your garden a little more sustainable, from your own composting, to ensuring you are planting your items or grouping them closely together (however, not so close it doesn't permit proper lighting or growth expanse; generally a few inches apart is beneficial).

You can discover more training on Permaculture styles and techniques through the local organization.

Another beneficial factor to consider is collecting and using rainwater through natural rain watering and Irrigation systems. A recommendation is one called the Olla irrigation system which is found defined on youtube.com, which you can follow the highlighted links in this article.

In summary, this should give a little insight and some informative links to get one started or support your goals in organic gardening and Permaculture.