Dear Editor
I would suggest The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible by Edward C. Smith and The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control
Mr Rawles,
In my humble opinion, many blog readers haven’t got a clue about gardening/farming without artificial/soil depleting chemicals. The reason “commercial” farmers must use these items is due to their monoculture crops grown in the same thousand + acre plots year after year. When the soil is robbed of it’s water holding ability, when the basic elements for plant growth must be replenished artificially year after year, the end result is soil that is, for all practical purposes, useless.
I have been gardening on our 2+ acres since 1999 using organic methods. The biggest factor in my yearly plantings has been the use of my homegrown vermicompost (worm castings). It is far and away the best soil amendment for adding living microriza, fungi and bacteria that aid plant roots in taking up nutrients that are immediately available as opposed to compost which requires further decomposition from finished pile to field application. Further, vermicompost is hydroscopic. It holds moisture in the soil, thus enabling plants to withstand fluctuations in watering.
Crop rotation is vitally important as well as soil amending. Together with adequate watering, these two gardening techniques will just about guarantee the absence of any and all plant pests and diseases and give you the most productive plants and the healthiest produce. I have never experienced thrips, whiteflies, tomato hornworms, cutworms or a myriad of other nasties and I give all the credit to worm castings that have gone into my clay soil over the last decade.
I don’t believe for a moment that it is necessary to rely on man-made fertilizers and pesticides for the home gardener/farmer. After all, the reason we choose to raise our own food is based on health concerns. Let it be known that I am not a whacked environmentalist, but neither do I see any reason for being ambidextrous in both organic and commercial methods of food production when “doing it naturally” is far superior.
With that said, it would behoove survivalblog readers to incorporate a vermicomposting setup to their gardening plans. Start-up costs are minimal, but the results are priceless. – Carolyn on The Divide
Jim,
Since most folks seem bent on using non-hybrid seeds to their SHTF gardens, I think eschewing the use of pesticides and commercial fertilizer is fraught with peril. Most hybrid vegetable varieties have been bred for pest and disease resistance in addition to better yields. Heirloom varieties will likely be much more susceptible to ailments that chemicals can prevent or cure.
There is nothing at all wrong with organic gardening, and certainly nothing wrong with growing non-hybrid food, but I sure wouldn’t bet my life on it – especially until things are more established and alternate food sources become more available. SHTF is not the time to be a tree-hugger – survival comes first.
I think the most practical approach is to have both heirloom and hybrid seeds and also have plenty of fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides available – just in case. If you don’t need any of the above they will be valuable barter items.- Matt R.
Mister Rawles,
The debate on organic gardening could go on endlessly like Ford versus Chevy and wheelgun versus automatic. I’ve got to agree with your suggestion: be ready and able to do both kinds of gardening–both organic and with chemicals.. To lock one’s self into just one mode or the other could detract from your chances of survival. Be prepared for all scenarios! – Gil H.