Interest in organic gardening has blossomed in the last few years. The idea of using as few manufactured chemicals as possible is something that appeals to many gardeners, especially those who grow fruit and vegetable crops for eating. Although going organic may mean that you have to sacrifice glossy supermarket looks for better tasting crops, most people think this is a price worth paying.

The broad philosophy behind organic methods is to take a holistic view of gardening. This naturally takes into account:

• Conserving natural resources.
• Avoiding pollution and health hazards.
• The interdependence of all life forms in your garden.
• Establishment of a balanced ecological habitat for plants, animals and humans.

In this section, we discuss the first principles of creating an organic vegetable garden.