An organic garden is attainable, cost-effective, and easier than you think.
It's a common misconception that organic gardening is more time-consuming, expensive, and complicated than what is seen as "ordinary" gardening, where in reality commercial gardens are more difficult to keep thriving. Think about how much time and money you've spent on artificial fertilizers, toxic pesticides, constantly watering and replacing plants that don't take -- for an average Torontonian, this can add up to hours of frustration and hundreds of dollars spent over a single season.
The term "organic" refers using an ecological method of garden care that respects and strengthens the natural environment. We focus on enhancing the vitality and health of your soil, preserving biodiversity, promoting animal welfare, and preserving the ecological integrity of your garden environment. No synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or GMOs are permitted in organic care. Legally, "organic" is a certification that designates you have complied with the rules and standards set out by a certifying federal board, the Canadian Organic Standards (COS). With a bit of knowledge and help from your gardening friends at Toronto Horticulture, you can have a beautiful, healthy garden that meets and even exceeds official organic standards!
Here’s our promise to you!
Our promise, adapted from the Canadian Organic Standards, includes the following:
to protect your living environment, minimize soil degradation and erosion, decrease pollution, optimize biological productivity and promote a sound state of health in your garden
to maintain long-term soil fertility in your garden by optimizing conditions for biological activity within your soil
to maintain biological diversity within your ecological system
to recycle materials and resources to the greatest extent possible within your garden space
to provide attentive garden care that promotes the health and meets the behavioural needs of pollinating birds, butterflies, bees, and other essential garden bugs
to carefully prepare and process organic products and handle materials in a manner that maintains the organic integrity and vital qualities of the products at all stages of garden care
to rely on renewable resources in locally organized garden systems as much as possible