Organic Gardening Tips: Build Soil, Grow Food Naturally

Rising organic food costs drive backyard growing. The foundation: soil preparation with free, home-produced compost.

Soil First

Test and aerate soil. Balance sun/shade for chosen crops. Build fertility with compost (leaves, grass clippings, vegetable scraps)—free, nutrient-dense, and improving with age.

Composting: pile materials in an out-of-the-way spot. Turn occasionally. In weeks, rich humus forms beneath. Spread around plants or incorporate before planting.

Organic gardening starts with soil—and the best soil comes from your own waste stream.