Page 5 - Organic Gardening 3 Part Series

Preparation

Success depends upon preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure
to be failure" Confucious

The single most important factor
for the success of your organic
garden is preparation. Without
conducting proper research and
gathering all your information

beforehand you will most likely fail
at your first attempt. It will cost
you time and money and may
even discourage you from the idea
completely.

There are several things that you
will need to know before you can
decide on the types of food you'll
be growing. These are:

 Determine the sun exposure in the areas you are considering for your
garden.
 Research the climate and understand your planting zone.

 If possible, have your soil tested. If you're not sure where to do it contact
your local Agricultural Extension Office, a local college or university or
perhaps one of your local gardening clubs.

Armed with this information you should be able to determine which fruits,
vegetables, and herbs will grow best in your space. Now, that you know where
you want to put your garden, you just need to decide how big to make it.

In order to prevent ending up with an overabundance of zucchini (zucchini bread
anyone?), and too little of the spinach or kale you envisioned, you'll need to
research the yield for each fruit or vegetable you’re considering.

Choose a spot which has plenty of air circulation, an ample water supply, and
loose, rich soil with proper drainage.