The Secret to Organic Gardening

Part of the secret to successful organic gardening lies in nurturing and maintaining a healthy soil ecosystem, where soil biology, trace minerals, and soil structure work in harmony to support plant growth.

1. It's all about Soil Biology: Organic gardening thrives on a diverse and active soil biology ( more boots in the ground), which includes beneficial microbes, earthworms, fungi, and many other various soil organisms. I call them The Invisible Army of the soil. These organisms break down organic matter, convert nutrients into plant-available forms, and protect plants from harmful pathogens, which are very important in the recycling process. The key is to avoid synthetic chemicals and any toxins that can disrupt this natural balance, instead focusing on adding organic matter like live compost and mulch to feed the soil’s living community. City water is very toxic to all living things, especially soil biology, so get a whole-property water filter. The absence of this Invisible Army of the Soil is the death of all life on earth.
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2. Trace Minerals: Plants need more than just nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to grow—they also require trace minerals (96) such as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper, to name a few. These minerals are essential for processes like enzyme function and photosynthesis, all the cycles in nature require trace minerals as their core. Organic practices emphasize the replenishment of these minerals through various natural methods, from water cycles to nitrogen to carbon and on, and natural amendments like rock dust, seaweed, or compost, which helps to build a well-rounded, nutrient-rich soil.
   
   Soil Structure: Healthy soil structure is fundamental for optimal plant growth. Good soil structure allows for proper drainage, root penetration, and air exchange. It is the foundation of this invisible city of invisible workers. From there comes everything needed for healthy disease and pest-free growth.
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3. Organic matter, Especially compost, improves soil aggregation and helps form stable soil particles, creating a crumbly, loamy texture. This enhances water retention in sandy soils and improves drainage in clay soils, allowing plants to access water and nutrients more efficiently. Organic matter is the condo and manufacturing plant where the soil biology live and work.

In summary, it is to treat the soil as a living system and focus on its biology, increasing mineral balance, and physical structure. By maintaining healthy, biologically active, mineral-rich soil, organic gardeners create an environment where plants can thrive naturally and sustainably without the need for additional inputs other than what Mother Nature decides.

“The secret to an amazing organic garden and property is to always combine the soil biology with as many sources of trace minerals as possible, thus providing the essential components that will allow the soil biology to do its job. It is also important to get as many different sources of soil biology as possible, different sources of race minerals like rock dust, sea 90, kelp, various animals, and mix them all in your compost production”

"Don’t try to understand the effect just learn the cause. Control the cause, and you control the effect.”

Learn these two different methods, and you will do well with your garden.

Any questions?
Please email me at andylopez@invisiblegardener.com

Reference this article in the subject line. See you next week!