EcoSuperior Environmental Programs

Gardening Naturally: A Guide to Growing Chemical-Free Flowers, Vegetables, and Herbs

By: Ann Reilly

Rachel Carson's name might be best remembered for her 1962 book, Silent Spring. Taking a stand against pesticides and herbicides that were damaging the ecological balance of our earth, her position against the indiscriminate use of chemicals and the resulting pollution of the land and waters caused public outcry and increased awareness of the value of natural farming and gardening. In response to her warnings, DDT and a number of other toxic chemicals were eventually banned.

Although the overall use of insecticides has unfortunately increased since the publication of Silent Spring, a growing  number of Americans has also realized the value of natural gardening, which permits no toxic chemicals to be applied to the soil or the plants.

Insecticides have been used by farmers and gardeners for many years. The oldest of these include pyrethrum and rotenone, which are plant-derived chemicals that do no harm to man and animals and are still in use today. Later, toxic chemicals based on mercury, arsenic, and nicotine were introduced, and during World War II, these were followed by DDT. New insecticides based on nerve gases and organic phosphates were introduced shortly thereafter...