Organic Gardening at Home

Introduction: Why Go Organic?

• What “organic gardening” really means.
  
  

• Benefits of natural methods: safer food, healthier soil, pollinator protection.
  
  

• How chemical fertilizers and pesticides harm long-term soil health.
  
  

• The mindset of organic gardening — working with nature, not against it.
  
  

Understanding Soil Health

• Soil as a living ecosystem — bacteria, fungi, worms, and microbes.
  
  

• The 3 key nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K).
  
  

• How to test your soil naturally (pH test kits, visual signs).
  
  

• Building fertile soil with compost, mulch, and organic matter.
  
  

💡 Tip: Healthy soil = fewer pests and stronger plants.

Natural Fertilizers: Feeding Your Garden Naturally

• Overview of organic fertilizer types:
  
  

• Compost – nutrient-rich and balances soil structure.
  
  

• Worm Castings – boosts growth and microbial life.
  
  

• Bone Meal – phosphorus for roots and blooms.
  
  

• Blood Meal – quick nitrogen source.
  
  

• Fish Emulsion – natural all-purpose feed.
  
  

• Manure (aged) – adds slow-release nutrients.
  
  

• How and when to apply each type.
  
  

• Avoiding overfertilization naturally.
  
  

 DIY Fertilizer Recipes

• Compost Tea: Boosts plant immunity and soil microbes.
  
  
  Mix compost + water, let steep 24–48 hrs, strain and spray.
  
  
  

• Banana Peel Tea: For potassium-loving plants (tomatoes, peppers).
  
  

• Eggshell Powder: Natural calcium source for preventing blossom end rot.
  
  

• Coffee Grounds: Adds nitrogen, attracts worms.
  
  

• Epsom Salt Spray: Supplies magnesium for leafy greens and tomatoes.
  
  

💡 Tip: Rotate fertilizer types for balanced nutrition.

Organic Pest Control: Protecting Without Chemicals

• Why natural pest control is safer for soil and pollinators.
  
  

• Focus on prevention, not reaction:
  
  

• Crop rotation.
  
  

• Healthy soil = resistant plants.
  
  

• Regular inspection and pruning.
  
  

• Safe, homemade sprays:
  
  

• Neem oil spray (universal pest deterrent).
  
  

• Garlic & chili spray for soft-bodied insects.
  
  

• Soap spray for aphids and mites.
  
  

• Diatomaceous earth for crawling pests.
  
  

Common Garden Pests & Natural Solutions

Beneficial Insects & Companion Planting

• Encourage good bugs:
  
  

• Ladybugs (eat aphids),
  
  

• Lacewings,
  
  

• Bees (pollination),
  
  

• Parasitic wasps.
  
  

• Companion planting guide:
  
  

• Basil → repels mosquitoes & flies.
  
  

• Marigold → deters nematodes.
  
  

• Nasturtium → traps aphids away from main crops.
  
  

• Garlic → repels many pests naturally.
  
  

• Plant flowers around vegetables to attract pollinators.
  
  

Seasonal Organic Gardening Tips

• Spring: Add compost, start seedlings indoors.
  
  

• Summer: Mulch heavily, water early morning, pest patrol.
  
  

• Fall: Add cover crops (clover, rye) to enrich soil.
  
  

Winter: Compost kitchen scraps, plan next year’s rotations.