GARDENING
Which method is right for you?
TRADITIONAL & ORGANIC
From Old MacDonald to today's commercial farmers, you dig or till up the ground, amend it with fertilizers and then plant your seeds and water as needed. Weed and pest control is where traditional and organic methods diverge with organic growers using a more limited range of weed and pest control sprays. Organic growers are also known for using compost, which has been shown to be hugely beneficial across almost all gardening methods.
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Advice on starting a traditional garden
CONTAINERS
Growing any number of plants or dwarf trees in a container. Useful for less cold hardy plants. Requires fertilizing and be careful not to underwater or overwater.
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Vegetables that are perfecto for a container garden.
Fruit Tree Varieties that grow well in pots.
AQUAPONICS & HYDROPONICS
What is the difference between the two? Both grow food in a soil free environment. Hydroponics uses water soluble nutrients to feed the plants whereas aquaponics creates a balanced ecosystem by pumping water from a fish tank, creating a water filter for the fish and allowing the plants to feed on the fish waste. These methods require reservoirs and some type of pump, with the exception of the Kratky Method of hydroponics. Aquaponics can be difficult in Illinois because it is generally an outdoor system that relies on a fast growing, warmer water fish like tilapia.
NO-TILL : DEEP MULCH
There are various techniques that can fall into this category, including the Ruth Stout Method which uses straw and Back to Eden Gardening which uses wood chips. Generally, these methods save 70% water use over conventional gardening and help with weed suppression.
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More about Ruth Stout and a modern implementation of her method.
More about Paul Gautschi and the Back to Eden method.
PERMACULTURE
Incorporates a no-till method of planting to build soil health and focuses on companion planting "guilds" as a means of fertilizing, and pest/disease control. The aim is to replicate natural plant growth to create a more balanced ecosystem: F = Fruit tree : U = Understory (chop and drop, green fertilizer) : N = Nitrogen fixer : G = Ground cover. Guilds often incorporate a nitrogen fixing shrubs or tree, or a dynamic accumulator in the understory, like clover or comfy.
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Getting started with your permaculture garden.
More information on the different parts of plant guilds.
KOREAN NATURAL FARMING
Focuses on mycorrhizal relationships and building the biodiversity of the soil. Heavy in organic chemistry with a goal of increased GI tract health in the end user.
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How to Guides on gathering Indigenous Micro Organisms (IMO).
RESOURCES
A grab bag of information that benefits any method of growing plants.
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LOCAL
Lincoln Memorial Garden Wildflowers
List of Central Illinois Gardening Groups
Growing Zone Chart - zoom in to see your neighborhood
Planting Schedule Central Illinois
Planting Schedule with Seed Spacing Guide
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MISC