What kind of vegetable garden will you have in 2008? 

 

Some gardeners don’t realize that they have a choice between conventional and organic.  The grocery stores are offering a bigger variety of organic foods.  There are also specialty stores that offer mostly organic foods.  Have you ever wondered just what organic means?

 

In everyday terms, it means that organic vegetables were grown without using chemical fertilizers, and pesticides to control insects.  Also, the seeds used were not genetically modified with organisms (GMOs) in a lab. 

 

In conventional farming, GMO seeds are used so after a crop has been planted and has emerged through the soil, the farmer can use a powerful chemical spray on the plants without harming them because the seeds were genetically modified to be immune to the harmful chemical.  Some corn and soybean seeds are GMO to withstand being sprayed with glyphosphate, the chemical used to kill most weeds.  It saves time and labor for the farmer, but do we know the long-term effects of GMOs to the human body?  Do some research if you still have questions.

 

Organic seeds are specifically bred and selected for characteristics that allow them to do well in organic growing conditions.  These traits include disease resistance, high seedling vigor, vigorous root and root hair growth, insect resistance, high nutritional content and naturally beautiful appearance.  Organic seed catalogs provide organic seeds and suggestions for safe weed control and pest management.  Conventional seed catalogs also offer some organic seeds and products. 

 

If you have compared prices of organic vegetables, you know they cost more, but our health care is also costly.  Organic vegetables also have much more flavor.  Try them and compare the difference.

 

Well, now you know and the choice is yours.  Growing 100% organic may not be easy to implement in the beginning, but you need to know the difference.

 

Remember to spend lots of time researching your options.