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Why go organic?
THE word organic has been used so much and stamped on so many products that it barely registers as meaningful anymore.
Despite its overuse, organic is a helpful word in the garden.
Organic gardening means eschewing the use of synthetic products in favor of those derived from naturally occurring sources.
It has tangible benefits on both individual and community levels.
Adding organic matter (material derived from things that were once living) to the soil reduces the need for artificial irrigation by
helping the garden retain water longer, allowing it to filter down into the water table instead of running off into the sewer. That’s good
for utility bills, the water table, and our local stormwater system.
Over time, an organic garden has fewer pests than a conventional one. Many pests primarily attack unhealthy plants, Stenersen
explains. As soil health improves, so does plant health, making them less attractive to pests and more nutrient-dense when harvested.
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