I have several gardens in Chicagoland. My community garden plot is a sunny patch of clay where I can grow my veggies. I decided we would grow organic. Simply put I didn’t want my wife and I to ingest toxins.
[Even as a kid I had an aversion to poisons, both mentally and physically. I’m a child of the 70s; and in elementary school we were told about the negative environmental effects of toxins and pollution, such as bald eagle deaths from DDT and burning rivers in Ohio. The basic message-- toxic chemicals are bad. Unlike many other school lessons, it stuck. It was reinforced by my reaction to poisons. Whenever my mom would spray for ants or wasps, the smell would upset me. My nose would become irritated and my head would ache. I figured both the ant and I were alive, so whatever kills the ant can’t do me much good. Plus, that skull-and-crossbones on the side of the can didn’t look too healthy.]
All community gardens should adhere to organic practices because of the close proximity and chemical drift. It is just a common courtesy. One inconsiderate person can contaminate the entire garden. It only requires one application to take the “organic” out of the garden.
My plot has raised beds and an area for row crops. Over the years I’ve grown a cornucopia of produce, including: serviceberries, blackberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries, heirloom tomatoes, heirloom peppers, sweet potatoes, okra, corn, onions, shallots, carrots, winter squashes, cucuzzi, lettuces, spinaches, arugula, mustards, heirloom beans, peas, etc. Although the space is dedicated to veggies, I gotta have some ornamentals too. Witch hazels, lilies, columbines, trilliums, asters, goldenrods, and other decorative flowering plants are dispersed throughout the garden to help bring pollinators and beneficial insects.
Rotating crops and having a variety of plants are both methods to reduce pests and disease. However, in any communal garden you are going to have pest problems. And my problems have been legion. Squash bugs have ruined the squashes. Western corn rootworm beetles have attacked the beans and okra. Aphids are perennial problem for the tomatoes and peppers. Rabbits, voles, and mice do damage to roots, leaves, and fruits. Powdery mildew and fungal wilts also make occasional appearances.
When problems arise, it truly can test your commitment to organic methods. When an aphid infestation ruins your peppers or western corn rootworm beetles decimate your beans, sustainable practices are not your first thoughts. Those would be horror and revenge. But hold fast. There are lots of ways to fight pests and remain organic. This blog is dedicated to that pursuit.
