What is Veganic Gardening?

Veganic gardening is the process of farming using no animal products or by-products. No bone meal, no manure, no fish products, or any other type of product that has its origins in animal matter. The basic belief is that these products are the direct result of the food production industry and, therefore, are exploitative of the animals.

The by-products that result from the animal husbandry business also help keep the industry profitable, as they are cheap and easy to produce. This is unacceptable to most veganic gardeners, and thus, they look for other ways to provide their gardens with nutrients. Genetically modified materials or artificial chemicals are also verboten when using this gardening technique.

The concept of veganic gardening calls for minimally-invasive tilling of the soil, introducing little or no foreign matter other than natural compost. Raised gardens help plants thrive and decrease the chances of any soil diseases infecting the crops. Keeping the soil constantly covered in decaying plant matter, keeping the soil properly aerated and using companion planting techniques are all veganic gardening techniques.

Composting is one of the most effective methods for veganic gardeners to enrich the soil. Plant matter, such as weeds tilled from the soil, twigs, rotting vegetables and fruits, and fallen leaves all serve to make an effective and nutritious compost for the garden. Some vegan gardeners use unusual methods to ensure their garden has enough nutrients.

One such method is using human waste (most often their own). Self-contained composting toilets serve a multitude of purposes, such as controlling the amount of waste released into the ecosystem. For veganic gardeners, though, composting toilets allow them compost their own waste in a controlled environment safely, and then use it to fertilize their gardens. Aged urine is high in nitrogen, phosphorous, and postassium: all nutrients that gardens require to remain healthy. A healthy individual’s solid waste has multiple nutrients that, when used properly, help the veganic gardener's crops thrive.

Fortunately, you don't have to save your own waste to succeed with a vegan garden. You can also use worm composting, a method which uses earthworms to turn your food scraps into the perfect fertilizer for your garden. This fertilizing approach is perfect for people who don’t have room for a hot compost pile, or who live in homes without a yard, such as a condominium or apartment.

Other approaches to veganic gardening exist, such as agroforestry (gardening in a forest) and each method has its advantages. With a bit of ingenuity and planning, you can have a fruitful vegan garden.

Vegan Organic Network

http://www.veganorganic.net/

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