Organic Herbs

Organic herbs are grown using organic farming practices. Organic farming techniques exclude the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Besides, organic farming also involves fostering natural processes. Enhancing soil health is the cornerstone of this style of farming. Although the cultivation of organic herbs has been done since a long time, the implementation of the correct techniques is very vital to get the correct results. With the emergence of different forms of chemicals and pesticides, people have gradually given up the traditional techniques of cultivation and have opted for these convenient and fast techniques. However, regular consumption of such chemically grown herbs can cause a lot of health hazards in the long run. This is the reason why the popularity of organic items, such as herbs, is being felt in the present times.

Organic Herb Gardening

The secret to organic herb gardening is to observe and understand how nature works and plan your gardening techniques based on how these herbs survive and grow in their natural settings. The first and foremost requisite for this process is a rich and fertile soil, to start with. For this, you can start adding compost to the soil, which will gradually make it fertile over a period of time. Compost is often called the �black gold� of gardening and can be easily prepared by turning the kitchen waste and yard scraps into compost by using a compost bin. Adding compost to the soil also helps if the area is extremely acid, as in regions of heavy rainfall.

Compost also benefits if the soil does not have the ideal pH range or if the soil has too much clay or is low in organic material. A natural way of adding compost to the cultivated area, particularly when you are low in available composted material, is the process of munching. A classic illustration of nature�s own compost cultivation is the forests. You can easily recreate the natural munching process that forests achieve by the effect of earthworms, bacteria and other inhabitants, by spreading garden waste like shredded leaves, over the garden dirt.

Soil drainage is also critical to organic herb gardening. Mixing in compost is the best way to improve drainage. You can also try digging out a good quantity of the soil, around 16 inches deep, and placing a layer of fine gravel at the bottom. In this form of gardening, a variety of methods is employed to improve soil health. These include crop rotation, green manure, cover cropping, compost application, and mulching. Organic farming involves use of natural fertilizers, such as seed meal, rock phosphate and greensand, instead of chemical fertilizers. Organic herb gardening is gaining popularity because it reduces or eliminates external agricultural inputs, particularly synthetic ones, and promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health.

Apart from keeping the soil fertile and rich, organic herb gardening helps to prevent the growth of weds, thereby helping to retain the moisture in the soil. Another great way to organically grow herbs is by planting them side by side, in such a way that they behave in a synergistic manner, benefiting each other and thereby resulting in healthier plants. This process of companion planting has been known and carried out since a long time. A classic example of such companion planting is the �Three Sister� combination of beans, squash and corns. Whatever be the process of organic gardening, one thing is for sure; it keeps you away from the harmful chemicals and promotes natural products.