Organic Farming

What Is Organic Farming

What Is Organic Farming?

While the term organic gets thrown around and misused a lot, the idea is pretty straight forward: leverage natural systems that control pests, regenerate nutrients, build soil tilth and increase biodiversity, while avoiding inputs that come from large global supply chains and indiscriminately burn through soil biology.

Key principles include:

  • No synthetic chemicals
  • Building soil biology and tilth
  • Protecting water quality
  • Increasing farm ecosystem biodiversity
  • Sustainable practices that regenerate resources

Latest Organic Farming Articles

What is Organic Farming? A Comprehensive Guide

Last Updated: June 7 2025 | Reading Time: 25 minutes | Author: Reagan Nesmith | Level: Beginner to Advanced

Abstract

This guide explains organic farming methods and practices. Organic farming works with nature, leveraging the power of living soil, ecosystems teeming with life. Our organic farm in Northern California is a working example of these methods in action. This guide covers soil health, pest control, and certification. Both new and experienced farmers will find useful information here.

Introduction

Organic farming can not only sustain the world’s food supply but also revitalize ecosystems all over the planet. By enhancing & utilizing natural systems, farmers cultivate healthy, nutrient dense food, without using synthetic chemicals, thereby preserving the soil’s living ecosystems & biodiversity. This approach not only benefits the environment but also human health, promising a sustainable future for agriculture.

This guide is a (somewhat) comprehensive resource that equips you with everything you need to know about organic farming. From the basics of starting an organic farm to the specifics of what to grow and how to succeed, this guide provides practical advice and real-life experiences shared by farmers. By learning from the experiences of others, you can embark on your organic farming journey with confidence and a sense of empowerment.

Why This Guide Matters

  • Tons of information in one place
  • Based on real farming experience
  • Updated with new research
  • Written by certified organic farmers

 

History of Organic Agriculture

Ancient Agriculture & Traditional Farming Methods

Humans have a wonderfully complex history with plant cultivation and shaping soil ecosystems all over the world. It’s hard to say exactly when and where the first major effort to cultivate a specific monocrop at scale first occurred, evidence from Sumerian tablets shows by 3000 b.c. a wide variety of crops (barley, wheat, legumes, dates, ect.) were already being cultivated and tracked. Infact, the Summerians grew so much barley and wheat without rotating crops, it’s theorized that this led to increased soil salinization and their eventual collapse.

From Egypt to China and all over the Mediterranean, many cultures have contributed to the modern implementation of organic farming by laying a framework of practices, replete with experiential knowledge. Even though these cultures lacked large mechanized field implements or thousands of chemical weapons to wage war on diseases and pests, some were still able to completely degrade and render valuable resources useless.

“To be a successful farmer one must first know the nature of the soil” this quote, attributed to the Greek leader, philosopher & historian Xenophon (430-355 b.c), still holds true today. Xenophon wrote the ‘Oeconomicus’ a socratic dialogue focusing on Athenian house & land management, unique for providing insight on the ideal use of cover crops, crop rotations and animal husbandry.

Even the so called ‘hunting & gathering’ tribes of the Americas had forms of cultivation and land management, with oak trees being prime examples of an important perennial food source cared for by generations of people. Fire also played a large role for many tribes, being used to control and trigger the germination of certain cultivated species.

History Of Organic Agriculture

Agricultural Revolution (18th-19th century)

Starting in the industrial hub of Britain, expanding outward to the colonies of the crown and beyond, the 18th century saw huge advancements in agricultural equipment, animal/plant breeding and brought crop rotation back into the focus for many landowners. The invention of a horse drawn seed drill made it easier to increase crop yield and used less labor, as a result, it became more financially feasible for many to engage in crop rotations again, something that had fallen out of style in Europe and its colonies during the 14th -16th centuries.

A popular rotation regime, known as the ‘Norfolk four course’, included a first year of wheat, second of turnip, third of barley and fourth of clover or ryegrass. Livestock would graze the turnip and clover down while the humans used the grains for themselves. This four year course would increase productivity for many by reducing the time fields were fallow. Many noticed the improved benefits of this mix on the soil, and this became a popular area of elite study, bringing about a new era of ‘scientific’ agriculture.

The Agricultural Depression

The Agricultural Depression & ‘Green’ Revolution (1920s-1960s)

After the second world war, an era defined as the ‘Green Revolution’ brought about new, streamlined methods of growing vast monocultures without the hassle of cover crops & rotations. By utilizing reworked chemicals from the defense industry, a parade of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides & herbicides,were produced at massive scale, starting a new era, the war on agricultural pests.

Many products were mass marketed & subsidized by the USDA, as farmers around this time were struggling financially. The American agricultural sector was still in shock, rebounding from disastrous efforts to expand production during World War I, followed by risky loans, massive debt & market crashes. The infamous ‘Great Depression’ of the 1930’s would seal many a tenant farmers’ fate. This, combined with the advent of mechanized agricultural implements like tractors, gave rise to the perfect storm of desperation & dependency.

The 1950’s saw an explosion of pesticide production and widespread use, between 1947 & ‘52 more than 10,000 new pesticides were registered with the USDA, total production jumped by 300 million pounds and rose again in 1960 to 600 million pounds. Of course, the 1960’s would also bring about great change, there was a growing awareness of the negative effects many of these chemicals were having on human and animal health, largely spearheaded by farmworkers and landowners, tired of being exposed to these dangerous chemicals.

Organic Pioneers

Sir Albert Howard (1873-1947) became famous for his work in India, learning from rural peasants there about composting methods and popularizing the now world famous ‘Indore method’ of layered trench composting. Howard was quoted as saying: “the health of soil, plant, animal and man is one and indivisible.” He is the author of many books and papers that have become essential to the organic movement, including: The Waste Products of Agriculture (1931) The Soil and Health: A Study of Organic Agriculture (1947) & Harnessing the Earthworm (1947).

George Washington Carver (1864-1943) came from humble beginnings but would become one of the most important Agricultural scientists of the 20th century. He was enamoured with botany, known as the ‘plant doctor’, and shocked by the practice of planting back-to-back cotton crops on sharecropper land, often leaving families without food and depleted soil. He did everything in his power to educate himself on the problems of the poor cotton farmers, stressing the need for crop rotation, compost and nitrogen fixation. He developed extension programs for outreach and researched hundreds of applications in his private lab for these new crops, adapting the growing soil health movement to southern agricultural systems.

Lady Eve Balfour (1898-1990) the daughter of an Earl, decided to ditch her dainty duties to play in the dirt, and at the age of 17, became the first woman to study agriculture at an English university. After her studies, she used her inheritance to purchase a farm, where she would continue her research. In 1939, she pioneered the first long term, side-by-side study of organic and chemical-based farming which later became the basis for her pivotal 1943 book, The Living Soil. In 1946 she co-founded the Soil Association, the first international organization advocating for sustainable and organic agriculture.

Jerome Irving Rodale (1898-1971) went from an electrical equipment manufacturer, to a key player in the growing soil health and organic movements of the early 1900’s. Compounding health issues led him down a path of increased awareness towards personal health, food quality and agriculture, culminating with the purchase of a farm in 1940 that would become known as the ‘Rodale Organic Gardening Experimental Farm’. He spent the rest of his life writing, publishing and marketing the growing organic movement to American audiences, one of his popular publications, called ‘Prevention’, focused on disease prevention with diet and exercise.

Creating Standards & Legislation (1970’s-Today)

The first organizations to put together organic practices, verification regimes and create a certification process were the Rodale Press (1971), Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA formed in 1972), California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF formed in 1973) and Oregon Tilth (1974).These groups would all inspire the California Organic Food Act of 1979, which legally defined organic practices within the state but lacked funding for enforcement.

The Organic Food Production Act, passed in 1990, established national organic standards, funds organic practices, regulates production/handling of organic products, maintains a list of prohibited substances and supports a third party verification regime. The act also created the National Organic Program (NOP) and the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) both of which have authority over what pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and other inputs can be used in organic production.

Today, the organic label is under threat from bad actors manipulating the market with highly processed foods and questionable practices. Many global companies and revolving door regulators engage in ‘greenwashing’, using misleading marketing, deceptive packaging and vague political promises to hinder the organic movement. It’s more important than ever to know your producers, as many as you can, and buy local, as often as possible.

Standards And Legislation
Getting Certified Organic

Getting Certified Organic

The Three-Year Transition

Before a farm can be certified as organic, the land must be free of chemicals for 36 months. This ‘Three-Year Transition’ period is a crucial step in the certification process, during which no prohibited substances can be used. While crops cannot be sold as organic during this time, farmers can prepare for certification by following these steps: Stop using all prohibited inputs, start keeping detailed records, build soil health naturally, learn organic methods, and apply for certification.

Steps to certification:

  1. Stop using all prohibited inputs
  2. Start keeping detailed records
  3. Build soil health naturally
  4. Learn organic methods
  5. Apply for certification

Choosing a Certifier

All certifiers follow USDA rules. But they differ in cost and service. Compare these factors:

  • Location and travel costs
  • Fee structure
  • Customer service
  • Inspector availability
  • Market recognition

Popular certifiers include:

  • CCOF (California-based)
  • Oregon Tilth (Northwest)
  • MOSA (Midwest)
  • QAI (International)
    Real Organic Project (Nationwide)

Certification Costs

Small farms pay $500-1,500 per year. Large farms pay $3,000-10,000. The USDA reimburses up to 75% of costs (USDA, 2023). Maximum reimbursement is $750.

Most farmers recover costs through:

  • Premium prices (20-50% higher)
  • Direct sales to consumers
  • Restaurant contracts
  • Farmers market sales

Required Records

Keep records of everything:

  • All inputs purchased
  • Planting dates and varieties
  • Field activities
  • Harvest amounts
  • Sales by field
  • Equipment cleaning
Good records make inspection easy, they also help you farm better.

Building Healthy Soil

Understanding Soil Biology

Healthy soil is not an inert substance, devoid of life, waiting to be filled with inputs. Soil should be a living material, full of biology and conditioning, so that life can feed and thrive. One teaspoon of healthy grassland soil contains billions of bacterial cells, fungal networks that help hold soil together and predators like protozoa and nematodes.

Adding Organic Matter

Organic matter can be thought of as material from a previously living organism that is actively decaying, or a product of decomposition. One of the easiest ways you can get organic matter into your soil is with compost or grazing animals.

Compost can be made in a variety of ways and comes in two forms, anaerobic and aerobic. Anaerobic compost is made without the presence of oxygen, usually in bags, digesters or trenches, while aerobic is done with oxygen present, which involves mixing materials and providing airflow.

As a general rule of thumb, aerobic compost will always have more benefits than purely anaerobic, as the oxygen and heat kills more pathogens, has a higher diversity of life and breaks down more completely as a result. Typically, anaerobic compost is easier to get as millions of tons are produced every year from dairy manure, sewage sludge and agricultural waste in massive digesters across the country.

Grazing ruminants is the superior way of maintaining abundant soil biology as these moving biological reactors spend all day and night processing organic matter into inoculant for your field. They also disperse it themselves, which is an additional money saving feature.

Other organic matter sources:

  • Cover crop residues
  • Aged animal manures
  • Leaf mold
  • Grass clippings
  • Wood chips (for paths)
Soil Biology

Testing Your Soil

Soil tests are very helpful for understanding the composition and biological density of your precious pay dirt, insights gained can inform and direct decisions about cover crops, inoculants and pathogens. There are many independent labs and even universities that can do various types of tests, a few popular methods are Haney, CASH and PLFA tests. Common indicators to look for include:

  • Organic matter percentage
  • Nutrient levels
  • pH balanced
  • Biological activity
  • Heavy metal content

Walking your garden, checking the soil, pulling plants, inspecting roots and smelling soil can also give you an idea of how the profile might change throughout the year:

  • Squeeze test for texture
  • Smell test for biology
  • Earthworm counts
  • Water infiltration rate

Cover Crops Build Soil

An essential part of the organic farming toolkit, cover crops are paramount to land management, they’re used to create specific soil conditions, ecosystems or draw in beneficial insects that support your main cash crop and animals. Cover crops can be employed as a single species, like if you need a large amount of organic matter, nitrogen fixation or weed suppression before a cash crop, or sown in mixes. Generally mixes function better for animal forage, drawing in beneficials and cultivating abundant microorganisms.

Best cover crops by function:

  • Nitrogen fixation: Legumes, clovers, field peas
  • Biomass production: Rye, oats, barley, sunflower, hemp
  • Pest suppression: Brassicas, radish, sorghum, wheat
  • Quick germination: Buckwheat, vetch, clover, oats
    Soil compaction: Radish, ryegrass, alfalfa, sunflower
Natural Pest Control

Natural Pest Control

Prevention First

Disease and pest control starts with good preventative practices, like rotating crops, planting cover that will attract beneficials and maintaining good composting practices, all are an essential part of organic farming with a biodynamic mindset.

Encouraging Beneficial Insects

Parasitoid wasps, ladybugs, hoverflies and mantids are some examples of the awesome predators you can attract and cultivate when you plant the right crops and let a living border overwinter. Many perennial plants will also attract and house beneficials, they should also be incorporated into borders or hedgerows.

  • Yarrow brings ladybugs
  • Dill attracts parasitic wasps
  • Alyssum feeds hoverflies
  • Fennel supports many benefits

Physical Controls

Simple methods work well:

  • Row covers exclude pests
  • Hand-picking large insects
  • Water spray for aphids
  • Sticky traps for monitoring
  • Mulch prevents some pests

Biological Controls

Use nature’s pest controllers:

  • Release ladybugs for aphids
  • Beneficial nematodes attack grubs and pathogenic fungi
  • Bt spray controls caterpillars
  • Parasitic wasps target many pests
    Biological foliar sprays

Organic Sprays

Use these as a last resort:

  • Insecticidal soap
  • Neem oil
  • Pyrethrin (from chrysanthemums)
  • Diatomaceous earth
  • Garlic-pepper spray

Always check OMRI listings first (OMRI, 2023).

One key part of preventing pathogens and pests in your cash crops is by keeping clean barns and processing spaces, make sure you’re properly composting and removing all those plant debris!

Planning Crop Rotations

Why Rotation Matters

Diverse crop rotations are the core principle of organic, biodynamic systems. Without crop rotations, pathogens build up in the soil, nutrients are drained and soil structure degrades. Corn monocultures are often susceptible to damage from the corn borer and rootworm, both of which can be managed with rotations.

Basic Rotation Principles

Follow these rules:

  1. Don’t repeat plant families for 3-4 years
  2. Follow heavy feeders with light feeders or fixers
  3. Include nitrogen-fixing crops, inoculate if necessary
  4. Add soil-building cover crops to increase organic matter
  5. Consider root depths for help with compaction

Sample Four-Year Rotation

Year 1: Tomatoes (heavy feeder)

Year 2: Carrots (light feeder)

Year 3: Cabbage (medium feeder)

Year 4: Beans (nitrogen fixer)

Then start over with tomatoes.

Planning Crop Rotations Img

Keeping Track

Make sure to keep a log of weeds, insects, soil conditions and weather. All of this will help you make modifications to your rotations or cover crop mix, observe issues before they become problems and maximize your lands potential!

Use simple codes:

  • T = Tomato family
  • B = Bean family
  • C = Cabbage family
  • R = Root vegetables
Making Compost Img

Making Compost

The Basics

Organic farmers should be making aerobic compost, this involves layering carbon rich materials (browns) with nitrogen rich materials (greens) and making sure there’s enough water and oxygen for microbes to do their work.

  1. Carbon (browns)
  2. Nitrogen (greens)
  3. Oxygen (turning)
  4. Water (moisture)

Getting the Mix Right

Use 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen. That’s about three buckets of leaves to 1 bucket of grass clippings. Microbes need carbon and nitrogen, among other things, to create proteins essential for life, excess nitrogen will alter the microbial community in a way that favors species using nitrogen, reducing the diversity and nitrogen density of your compost.

Browns include:

  • Dry leaves
  • Straw
  • Wood chips
  • Paper
  • Sawdust

Greens include:

  • Fresh grass
  • Food scraps
  • Fresh manure
  • Green leaves
  • Coffee grounds

Managing the Pile

Aerate the compost pile by turning, agitating and mixing. Apply water as necessary, you don’t want the pile drying out!

When It’s Ready

When turning the compost, pay close attention to its texture and smell, that way you can get an idea of when your product might be done. The finished compost should have a sweet, earthy smell, not be too sticky and black in color.

This takes:

  • 2-3 months with regular turning
  • 6-12 months without turning
  • 3-4 weeks in a tumbler

Benefits of Volcanic Soil

Mineral Content

Our soil is formed from water breaking down a basaltic lava flow, where rain and snow filled a valley with mineral rich sediment over millions of years. The alluvium is deep, well draining, and creates sandy-loam soils full of essential minerals like iron, magnesium and potassium.

Key minerals include:

  • Boron for cell walls
  • Zinc for growth hormones
  • Iron for chlorophyll
  • Copper for reproduction
  • Molybdenum for nitrogen use
Benefits Of Volcanic Soil Img

Physical Properties

Since our soil is considered relatively young, formed from weathered ash and ejecta, it’s full of non crystalline materials that have a high surface area and are good at reacting with biology. Known as amorphous solids, these minerals have a high water holding capacity, increase soil aggregation and form a strong bond with many essential nutrients, like phosphorus.

This prevents:

  • Root rot
  • Fungal diseases
  • Nutrient leaching
  • Compaction problems

 

Long-Term Fertility

Due to the framework of this biodynamic soil and our organic practices continuing to improve it, long term fertility is easy to achieve. Even without volcanic soil, one can achieve magnificent results applying the basic doctrines of organic farming: crop rotation, cover cropping, grazing/composting and biodynamic pest control!

Pros and Cons of Organic Farming

Advantages

Environmental Benefits
  • Builds topsoil instead of eroding it
  • Protects water from chemical runoff (by not using them)
  • Increases farm biodiversity
  • Sequesters vast amounts of carbon
  • Uses less fossil fuels
Health Benefits
  • No pesticide, herbicide, fungicide, ect. residues on food
  • Higher nutrient density
  • Safer for farm workers (including pollinators!)
  • Protects children’s health
  • Reduces antibiotic resistance
Economic Advantages
  • Premium prices (20-50% more)
  • Growing market demand
  • Lower input costs over time
  • Drought resilience saves money
Farm Benefits
  • Improved soil each year
  • Natural pest resistance develops
  • Preserves heirloom varieties
  • Builds farming community
  • Knowledge lasts generations

Challenges

Production Issues
  • Land transition period can be challenging
  • More hand labor is needed
  • Fewer pest control options
  • Weather affects yields more
Economic Challenges
  • Certification costs money
  • More planning required
  • Equipment costs
Knowledge Requirements
  • Steep learning curve
  • Complex biological systems
  • Must observe constantly
Market Challenges
  • Limited processing facilities
  • Distribution can be difficult
  • Must educate consumers
  • Competition from imports

Making the Decision

Organic farming suits people who:
  • Care about the environment
  • Enjoy learning and observing
  • Have patience for transitions
  • Want to build soil health
  • Can access organic markets
Think twice if you:
  • Need maximum yields immediately
  • Dislike detailed management
  • Have no organic market access
  • Want simple solutions
  • Can’t afford the transition

Common Questions

Getting Started

How long does certification take?

This can vary depending on what type of inputs you’ve used on your land and how recently. To certify, the NOP requires that no prohibited chemicals have been used on the plot for the previous 3 years.

What records do I need?

Records that certification agencies require can include a detailed breakdown of your Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), the inputs you use (foliar sprays, compost, OMRI approved fertilizers), and harvest/sales logs.

Can I use manure?

Yes, NOP standards require the compost is made from certain materials and reaches 130-170 degrees fahrenheit. Make sure to double check with your certifier.

Are greenhouses allowed?

Greenhouses are allowed, but there are specific rules for enclosed, containerized or hydroponic systems, make sure to check with your certifier.

Soil Management

How much compost do I need?

Start with 3-4 inches on poor soil, then add 1-2 inches yearly. That’s about 3.5 cubic yards per 1,000 square feet for each inch.

What cover crops work best?

Check out the cover crop section for more info as this varies depending on what your soil and crops need. Generally, mixes work better than monocrops for continued use or self seeding (think forage mixes).

Can I till the soil?

The less you open up your soil, the better. However, tillage is necessary for many crops and soil types, if you need to till you should be thinking of minimizing them time your soil goes without cover.

How often should I test soil?

Yearly soil testing is recommended, you should test every other year at the very least.

Pest Management

What stops aphids naturally?

Syrphid flies, soldier beetles, ground beetles, predatory mites, entomopathogenic fungi, garlic spray, neem oil are some organic ways. If they are in the flying, ‘nymph’ stage, sticky traps can also work.

How do I prevent fungal diseases?

Properly spacing plants is one of the best ways, crop rotations are another important method and thorough cleaning of equipment / storage spaces is key. Nematodes can also be used to control certain species of pathogenic fungi.

Do organic pesticides work?

Yes, but differently. They break down faster. They target specific pests. They need good timing. Use them with other methods.

What about deer and rabbits?

Fencing and dogs are the best way to prevent deer and rabbits from entering your garden space. For large fields, control is a bit more nuanced, you might need to fire off some warning shots.

Crop Management

When do I harvest garlic?

Watch the leaves, when 4-5 bottom leaves brown, its usually getting close. When this occurs it’s time to start checking your bulbs! You can do this by carefully removing some dirt from the top half of the bulb and look for clove divisions. You’ll want to see well defined cloves.

What spacing do organic crops need?

As much as you can, depending on crop type and desired yield. More space also allows for intercropping with another cash crop or cover.

Which varieties grow best organically?

All varieties will grow well organically! When you have high producing, biodynamic soil you can even try the varieties people have trouble with!

How do I water organically?

Watering with an organic mindset means watering in the morning or dusk, using the most efficient tools possible and with mulch or ground cover wherever possible.

Complete A-Z Glossary

A

Aeration

Adding air to soil by loosening it

Allelopathy

When plants release chemicals that affect other plants

Amendment

Material added to improve soil quality

Annual

Plant that completes its life in one growing season

Aphid

Small insect that sucks plant sap

B

Beneficial insects

Bugs that help farmers by eating pests

Biennial

Plant that lives for two years

Biodiversity

Variety of living things on a farm

Biodynamic

Farming using cosmic rhythms and special preparations

Biological control

Using living organisms to control pests

Biomass

Total amount of plant material produced

Broadcast

Scattering seeds or amendments over a wide area

Buffer zone

Strip between organic and conventional fields

C

Carbon footprint

Amount of carbon dioxide released

Carbon sequestration

Storing carbon in soil

Cash crop

Crop grown primarily for sale

Catch crop

Quick crop grown between main crops

CCOF

California Certified Organic Farmers

Certification

Official approval as organic

Cold frame

Structure protecting plants from cold

Companion planting

Growing helpful plants together

Compost

Decomposed organic matter for soil

Compost tea

Liquid fertilizer from steeping compost

Cover crop

Plants grown to protect soil

Crop rotation

Changing crops in the same location

Cultivar

Cultivated plant variety

Cultivation

Loosening soil to control weeds

D

Decomposer

Organism breaking down dead matter

Direct seeding

Planting seeds in the final location

Disease resistance

Plant’s ability to fight disease

Double digging

Deep soil preparation method

Drip irrigation

Water system dripping at roots

E

Ecosystem

Community of living things

Erosion

Loss of soil from wind or water

F

Fallow

Land left unplanted to rest

Fertigation

Adding fertilizer through irrigation

Foliar feeding

Spraying nutrients on leaves

Food web

Network of what eats what

Fungicide

Substance controlling fungal diseases

G

Germination

When seeds begin growing

GMO

Genetically Modified Organism

Green manure

A cover crop grown for soil improvement

Greenhouse

Structure for controlled growing

Ground cover

Low plants covering the soil

Growing season

This time when plants can grow outdoors

H

Habitat

Natural home of plants or animals

Hardening off

Preparing indoor plants for outdoors

Hardiness zone

Climate region for plant survival

Heavy feeder

Plant needing many nutrients

Heirloom

Traditional variety saved through generations

Herbicide

Chemical that kills plants

Humus

Stable organic matter in soil

Hybrid

Plant from two different parents

I

Inoculant

Beneficial bacteria for seeds

Insectary

Area attracting beneficial insects

Integrated Pest Management

Multiple pest control methods

Intercropping

Growing multiple crops together

Invasive

Non-native species causing harm

IPM

See Integrated Pest Management

J

John Jeavons

Developer of bio-intensive method

K

Kelp meal

Seaweed fertilizer

L

Leaching

Nutrients washing from soil

Legume

Nitrogen-fixing plant family

Light feeder

Plant needing few nutrients

Living mulch

Ground cover plants as mulch

Loam

Ideal soil texture

M

Microclimate

Small area with unique conditions

Micronutrients

Nutrients needed in small amounts

Microorganisms

Tiny soil life forms

Monoculture

Growing only one crop

Mulch

Material covering soil surface

Mycorrhizae

Beneficial root fungi

N

Natural farming

Growing without synthetic inputs

Nematode

Microscopic worm

Nitrogen fixation

Converting air nitrogen to plant food

No-till

Farming without turning soil

NPK

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium

Nutrient cycling

Movement of nutrients through the system

O

OMRI

Organic Materials Review Institute

Open-pollinated

Plants breeding true from seed

Organic matter

Dead plant and animal material

P

Pathogen

Disease-causing organism

Perennial

Plant living many years

Permaculture

Permanently sustainable agriculture

pH

Soil acidity or alkalinity measure

Photosynthesis

Plants making food from sunlight

Plant family

Related plant groups

Polyculture

Growing many crops together

Predator

Organism eating other organisms

Q

Quick release

Fast-acting fertilizer

R

Raised bed

Garden bed above ground level

Rhizosphere

Soil zone around roots

Row cover

Fabric protecting crops

S

Season extension

Techniques for longer growing

Sheet mulching

Layering materials to build beds

Solarization

Using the sun to kill soil pests

Soil amendment

Material improving soil

Soil structure

How soil particles arrange

Soil test

Analysis of soil contents

Succession planting

Staggered planting for continuous harvest

Sustainable

Can continue indefinitely

Symbiosis

Organisms helping each other

T

Thinning

Removing extra plants

Tillage

Turning or breaking soil

Tilth

Soil’s physical condition

Topsoil

Upper soil layer

Trace minerals

Elements needed in tiny amounts

Transition period

Three years to organic

Transplant

Moving the plant to a new location

Trap crop

Plant attracting pests away

U

USDA Organic

Federal organic program

V

Vermicompost

Worm-made compost

Volunteer

Self-sown plant

W

Water holding capacity

Soil’s water storage ability

Weed suppression

Preventing weed growth

Windbreak

Plants blocking wind

X

Xerophyte

Drought-tolerant plant

Y

Yield

Amount harvested

Z

Zone

Climate region for plants

Related Resources

Learn more about specific topics:

How to Grow Garlic

Detailed growing guide

Certified Organic Garlic

Understanding standards

Garlic Blog

Regular farming updates

Health Benefits

Why organic matters

Customer Reviews

Real farmer experiences

Reference

California Certified Organic Farmers. (2023). History of CCOF. https://www.ccof.org/page/our-history

Howard, A. (1940). An agricultural testament. Oxford University Press.

Ingham, E. (2009). Soil biology primer. Soil and Water Conservation Society.

Organic Materials Review Institute. (2023). OMRI products list. https://www.omri.org/

Rodale Institute. (2020). History of the Rodale Institute. https://rodaleinstitute.org/why-organic/organic-basics/rodale-history/

United States Department of Agriculture. (2023). National organic program. https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/programs-offices/national-organic-program

Ready to Start Organic Farming?

Begin with healthy soil. Choose the right crops. Stay committed to natural methods. Success takes time but lasts forever.

For help with organic garlic, explore our growing guides. Or contact us with questions.