Pod+4-+Organics

Organics ** Organic Gardening: ** Everyone should know the basics of how to start and maintain an organic garden in order to help our environment and our bodies. Here we will give tips and step by step instructions on how to do so. Organic gardening begins with soil quality. The best way to create healthy soil for plants is by creating a compost pile. Materials put in a compost pile must be biodegradable, such as grass clippings, straw, uneaten food (plant materials, no meat or processed food), fallen leaves, and of course animal manure. These materials can be divided into two categories: brown and green. The green materials include manure, grass clippings, and plant materials from the kitchen. Brown materials include shredded newspaper, straw, fallen leaves (but too many leaves reduce nitrogen content), and dead flowers. To begin, find an area three feet long by three feet wide, and lay down a thick layer of brown materials, a few inches thick. Put a thin layer of soil on top of that, and then a thick layer of green materials. Repeat until the pile is three feet tall. (Some gardeners use a compost bin, which keep the compost contained in one area. This is not necessary, but it is not frowned upon; it's all about personal preference. Also, if using a compost bin, use non-toxic materials to ensure that no contaminants leak into the soil. This would poison the plants.) Every few weeks, use a pitchfork to turn the pile. Steam will rise. This is good! Steam means that the materials are decomposing and becoming soil. When the inside of the pile has become black and looks like soil, that is a strong indicator that it //is// soil, and can be used in your organic garden! The rest of the materials yet to be fully decomposed can be used as a starter for your next compost pile, necessary to continue caring for your green garden.   Organic gardeners do not use pesticides or man-made fertilizers to increase crop growth or keep insects away. This constitutes to paying a lot of attention to the plants and soil; one must pull out weeds, make sure the soil has sufficient nutrients, and attend to any sick plants. Ladybugs are an excellent organic pesticide because they are natural predators of the aphids who eat a lot of plants in a garden. Consuming organic produce is always better for the body and environment because of the absence of chemicals that can be harmful overtime to both humans and organisms in the surrounding area. For extensive information pertaining to organic gardening, follow these links: []  []
 * Pod 4 is not only working to design a land lab, an organic garden, and a new trail, but we are promoting the idea of a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. This can be achieved through knowledge: the understanding of our environment, how we can use it efficiently, and how we can change it for a better future. **

 **Organic Vitamins/Medicine:** Herbal medicine is also known as herbalism or botanical medicine. It involves the use of natural plant products for treatment. Certain treatment herbs, or plants which fight disease, contain chemicals with curative properties. Herbal medicine is perhaps the oldest form of healthcare. Herbs were used by virtually every primitive culture. Successful herbal treatments have become the basis for many modern medicines. For example, the willow tree has certain properties that help cure headaches. Benefits of an organic health supplement:  <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">[] Organic stores offer foods that are free of chemicals and other synthetics used in most foods and produce. Most grocery stores offer organic foods, but there are so many other brands it is often difficult to decipher which is which. For this reason, markets such as the Mustard Seed Market and Cafe sell nothing but organic food. (For more info on the Mustard Seed Market see "Supporters of our Environment" to the left.) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #2cd82c; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> []
 * They contain only complete whole food vitamins.
 * These supplements do not have any sea shell, rock or coral derived minerals.
 * Organic whole food vitamin supplements include homeopathic minerals.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">They increase the intake of whole foods, such as seeds, nuts and grains
 * Organic Stores:**