GARDEN
3 tips for designing an organic garden Well-designed gardens produce the most food with the least work, and are cheaper and easier to maintain. We like these basic principles and best practices from the Ecology Center, a 28-acre Regenerative Organic Certified™ farm and education center that serves as a hub for southern California’s ecological movement.
try TO mimic nature
A thick layer of mulch mimics the leaf litter in a forest to protect your plants, direct water, and look good. And companion plants, or plants that are grown together to benefit each other, can help reduce pests, increase pollination, and improve soil health.
CHOOSE multifunctional plants & trees Select items that have multiple benefits for abundance. For example, a fruit tree provides a seasonal treat, surplus for winter canning, and shade for plants to grow beneath it.
start small & build from there
Start small, use time-tested, low-impact methods and plan to build in phases as you obtain more resources. Instead of starting with an expensive hydroponics system that depends on a constant supply of outside materials, try natural fertilizers and make nutrient-rich compost and worm tea with ingredients from your own garden.
Visit the center or donate to support their movement curating ecological experiences for everyone, by visiting THEECOLOGYCENTER.ORG >>>
Eco-Living Guide
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