Organic Gardening

 

HEARTLAND RANCH HAS STARTED ITS FIRST BEDS OF ORGANIC GARDENING TO TEACH THE YOUTH IT SERVES ABOUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND HAVE HEALTHIER, LESS TOXIC FOOD FOR CONSUMERS.

Organic Gardening refers to the system in which plants are grown in an organic environment. According to the USDA regulations, those who are involved in the process of organic gardening are prohibited from using irradiation, sewage sludge or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in organic production. This type of food production would be certified as organic farming or gardening.

Accordingly, the important aspects of organic gardening will include the following

* Those who engage in organic gardening or farming can't use synthetic or chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
* There should be a systematic approach in organic gardening. This means that a system needs to be implemented. This system will describe the methodologies about sowing, production and reaping of plants.
* Records must be also kept which will keep a track of the products till they are sold.
* Buffer zones should be maintained so that there are no inadvertent contaminations from the gardens and the farms, which use the conventional method of farming or gardening

Those involved in organic gardening understand the importance of crops, the soil, the pests and the insects as well as the interdependency of all these factors. Organic gardening helps to care and the nurture the very soil of the crops. Thus the benefits that we get are naturally grown flowers, trees and plants.

HOW IS OUR GARDEN GROWING?

This latest report comes from Joyce McNish, our Executive Assistant. As each phase of this project becomes a reality, we cannot help but get more and more excited about Heartland's Future!

On Saturday May the 10th, members from four generations came together to bring the Heartland Ranch Organic Garden to life. Working hard that day was Wink, 87 years old, a WWII Army vet, skilled carpenter and lifelong gardener, by his side was his great-grandson Levi who will be four in June. Working with Wink and Levi was Zack, a dedicated, hard-working young man of 15. Three ladies graced the garden with their presence, Debbie, Joyce and Robin (we are unsure of their actual ages, although two did admit to being young grandmothers).

The day started with Wink and Zack sawing landscape timbers in two in order to make 4x4 foot beds, as the beds were made secure and plastic sheeting was applied then in went the "Black Gold" donated by Windwood Bul k Center (this "black gold" was made in part with the barn droppings from our very own horses!). It was interesting to watch as "our ladies" (Debbie and Robin), loaded tub after tub of the dirt and hand carried it across the field, not realizing until after the last tub was dumped that they had wheelbarrows at their disposal (LOL).

Also, intriguing to watch was great-grandfather and great-grandson, sitting on the ground planting potatoes, "make sure the eyes are up, Levi"; "cover them over just like this"; "now we need to water them"; generational wisdom being imparted to the very young!

We have 8 4x4 beds, these include a bed each of potatoes, bush beans, onions and okra (the seed for the okra has been passed down through the years from Debbie's grandmother, (another generational link)). Sugar Baby watermelons; cantaloupe; sweet peppers; cucumbers; yellow tomatoes, red tomatoes; Zucchini and yellow squash plants were all gently placed in the ground, as was radis hes and lettuce seeds.

As a group, we stood back and admired our work and as the Bible says, "It was very good". One last bit of wisdom was shared by our "seasoned" gardener, Wink, as he bowed his head and said "one plants, one waters, but it is God who gives the increase"!

I was at the garden yesterday, we have rows of tiny lettuce and radishes already peeking through the ground and the other plants seem to be thriving also. Truly God is giving us an increase. I can't wait for our first group of Cowpoke Campers to arrive on June 9th, so that we may show them and teach them the joy and the wonder of the way a garden grows......will keep you posted on the progress!