I don’t know about you, but I love to get my hands in the dirt. And with the
rising costs of food, growing concern over pesticide usage, genetically
modified foods, and food handling procedures, it just make sense to try
your hand at organic gardening. But where to start? I want to share some of my
favorite resources that helped me to get started and lend me constant
inspiration and encouragement.

Books

• The All New Square Foot
  Gardener by Mel Bartholomew. ISBN 13: 978-1591862024 – This book is a great way to get started, especially if you have very limited space in your yard.
• Food Not Lawns by H.C. Flores ISBN-13: 978-1933392073 – This book really gives a different perspective on the typical American yard.
• The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control: A Complete Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping Your Garden and Yard Healthy Without Chemicals ISBN-13:978-0875967530 – Great book to have on hand for reference in your garden.
  Remember-Bugs are our friends!
• Rodale’s All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Resource for Every Gardener by Fern Marshall Bradley and Barbara W. Ellis ISBN 13:8-0875965994 – Another great resource book
• The New Organic Grower: A Master’s Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener by Eliot Coleman ISBN 13: 978-0930031756- This book is really going to help you get started and help give you some direction.

Websites and Blogs

• Bountiful Gardens, http://www.bountifulgardens.org – This site is a great resource for open-pollinated, organic, and/or non-genetically modified seeds for your vegetable garden at a very reasonable price.
• Path To Freedom, http://www.pathtofreedom.com – Home of the Urban Homestead, these folks will amaze you with what they have done with a little over 8,000 sq. ft. of property. And they give you tips on how you can do it too!
• The Deliberate Agrarian, http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com – If you ever wanted to find out the most effective way to kill and clean a chicken, this is your place! Who knows, some day it might come in handy!
• Dave’s Garden, http://davesgarden.com – This is a great place to meet other
  gardeners, swap seeds, and pick up tips

Remember that your local library and your local
Agriculture Extension are great resources to find information and get you
started in your organic gardening adventure. Gardening is also a great activity
to get the kids outside and teach them a love for nature and the outdoors.

Happy gardening!

Kimbra Gonzales, http://felicitas.blogspot.com