Alive and Well Organic Gardening

Our gardening methods stem from a deep respect for plants and the natural environment. We have a great appreciation for the wealth of benefits that plants provide. In cultivating gardens, Alive and Well Organic Gardening strives to enhance the health of the plants, the soil, and the surrounding community. As organic gardeners we do not use synthetic fertilizers, toxic chemicals, or unnecessary gas-powered tools.

Through careful selection of plant material that is suited to the site’s cultural conditions, we foster a healthy garden that requires minimal intervention. In our plantings, we like to include native and adapted plants, edible plants, pest and disease-resistant plants, and plants that attract pollinators and beneficial insects and birds. We also diligently work to remove invasive species that threaten native habitats. Pruning is done to improve the health of trees, shrubs, and vines and to highlight their natural beauty. Fruit trees are pruned to increase yield. Shearing is only done with hand shears in formal landscapes as requested by the homeowner.

When pests and disease reach unacceptable levels we use the least toxic methods to deal with them. We try to use methods that will kill the pest without harming beneficial insects. Biological controls, blasts of water, dormant oil sprays, and traps are some of our lines of defense.

We believe that it is critical for gardeners to build the soil so that it is capable of storing water, nutrients, and carbon now and for future generations. Nurturing soil microorganisms is crucial since they break down organic matter into humus and make nutrients available to plants. When nutrients are lacking in the soil, we use organic fertilizers (seed meals, glacial rock dust, kelp, fish, lime, etc). Since natural organic fertilizers must be broken down by microbes before the nutrients are available to the plant, they do not leach readily from the soil.

Mulching allows us to add organic matter to the soil in a way that makes worms and microorganisms happy. As worms come to the surface mulch and then carry the organic matter downward, they aerate and mix organic matter into the soil. Other benefits of applying mulch include the following: it breaks the impact of heavy rainfall and thus reduces compaction, it suppresses the growth of annual weed seeds, it helps retain moisture, it keeps soil particles from splashing against the house or flowers, it protects the soil from temperature extremes, it protects the soil from wind erosion and acts as a warm blanket in the winter, and it is aesthetically pleasing.