How can we grow organically?

Organic growers replace the usual commercial chemical inputs with natural products such as compost, rock dust fertilizers and seaweed products. Because organic growers do not use fast acting synthetic inputs, they must rely on the combination of high levels of soil microbial activity and humic acids for nutrient exchange.

Organic growers must become very good farm managers to succeed. Organic growers have to know how to work with nature at many levels, and in every farming decision, starting with choice of crop, right through to post harvest handling. Good horticultural and agricultural commonsense and simple cultural methods are very important for organic growers, but they also benefit from recent scientific advancements and technological innovations. Organic growers use all the usual modern tools such as precision planters and bed formers, and computerized irrigation management; and some less-common ones, such as thermal weed control (flame and steam), and brush hoes. Organic growers also use hi-tech pest control products such as Trichdex and BT, insect pheromones and up-to-date spraying technology. New research often confirms old proven techniques, such as the use of milk sprays to combat mildew on zucchini or beans.

All “organic growers” try to work with nature in every growing decision, including:

• Crop and variety selection, for vigour, early establishment and pest resistance
• Planting times, to achieve early vigour and to avoid periods of major pest activity
• Irrigation management, to obtain maximum benefit from reduced water use
• Pruning and training, for plant health and vigour and to encourage sunlight penetration
• Disease control, using resistant varieties, rotations and permitted natural products
• Natural fertility building, using techniques such as the use of crop rotations, legumes, reduced tillage and non-inversion tillage, as well as natural fertility from crushed mineral rocks, humates, seaweed and recycled organic matter
• Pest control, utilizing techniques such as encouragement of beneficial organisms, traps and barriers, plant extracts and other naturally occurring insecticides.