The Complete Yoga Community

Living close to the earth,” says Barry Slabbert of James Barry Garden Designs, is a manner of living that today “has become synonymous with other more trendy terms like ‘organic this’ and ‘eco-friendly that’”. What we understand to be organic in terms of eating, living and growing is in fact simpler than we imagine, explains Barry, who embraces a balanced and common-sense approach to a field of inquiry that’s become fraught with classifications and certifications.

The first record of farming dates as far back as the ancient Egyptians whose hieroglyphics revealed methods of planting that were more align with the relationship between nature and the environment than we realise, Barry says. The cycles of the moon, the seasons and the lay of the land were as critical to crop growing as was their worship of the Gods.

“The use of pesticides for mass farming began in the 1940′s as a result of burgeoning population numbers and wartime technology. In fact, many of these chlorine-based products are still available today,” Barry says. But according to him, what many people don’t realise is the devastating effect these chemical fertilisers and toxins have on the soil.

Equally concerned about the use of inorganic fertilisers on the soil and plants is Malcolm Thompson of Wildflower Nursery, a purely indigenous 50-year established nursery situated in Fourways, Johannesburg. “Plants thrive in an environment that they are naturally adapted to. Indigenous plants add value in creating symbiotic relationships for local wildlife like birds and insects,” he says.

What’s vital to plants health and survival is further attributed to the micro-organisms that inhabit the soil creating a healthy underground environment for plants to grow in. Malcolm says that we should think carefully before using insecticides as “toxins remain active in both the plant species and soil for many generations to come”. Also, as Malcolm explains, “insecticides may in fact be killing many other ecologically useful insects and micro-organisms that are beneficial to the plants survival”.

The term “organic” traditionally means not using any chemical pesticides or fertilisers because they are damaging to the environment. But experts warn that some organic substances like tobacco dust can be toxic too and urge consumers to read labels carefully. It is understood that organic gardening is then more a philosophy of gardening and not a style or design. You still need to plant at the right times, prune, control pests and mow the lawn.

Understanding the interrelationship between all elements in the garden – the ecosystem – of life and decay, of pollination and natural pest control and the synergy of plants are all associated with organic gardening or, more liberally, making a connection with the earth – an earth touch, so to speak.

Val Wright, an avid gardener of many years, believes that “nature has a way of sorting itself out”. She says that “understanding the natural intelligence inherent in all nature, is the key to successful gardening”. Creating a lifestyle that is geared towards creating harmony for your natural surrounds and creating balance through recycling and being water-wise and getting involved in community clean-up programmes is a great way of offering respect to nature and developing self-respect for ourselves and the sustainable future of our country, she says.

If you are thinking about growing your own herbs and veggies to eat, organic gardening is something you should think about as the sprays, fertilisers and insecticides you use could be harming you too.