Things I learned from organic Gardening.

I haven't been growing things in my yard for a very long time, but in the past 6 months, I have learned quite a lot from it.

A few of my tomato and bell pepper plants

1. Organic is not hard! When I first started, I expected quite a bit of work, research and on the spot problem solving since I wanted to grow everything organically. I mixed up a spray bottle of organic pest and weed control (turns out, its just vinegar and water) and put it with my gardening tools. I have never once used it. The only pests I have come across are my dog and toddler. They eat my stuff all the time, but the only bugs I find near my plants are just chillin'. They don't eat the fruits of veggies, they haven't compromised the roots of stems at all and only occasionally i will notice some of the leaves have tiny holes in them.

2. Organic veggies taste WAY different than what you buy in the store. Did you know bell peppers can be juicy? Cucumbers have much more rich taste. Broccoli is sweet and turns the most brilliant green when cooked.  Strawberries are incredibly sweet. They are like candy. Some are sweet, some are sour. At least my mini berries are. I haven't gotten my first tomatoes yet, but I'm so ready for them!

3. Leaves are the best mulch. Also they are free.

4. When I have used weed killer (in a different flower garden) it had horrible results. It killed a few weeds, but it also damaged my flowers quite a bit. They no longer look healthy, and I still have weeds.

 5. It is very good therapy to work in the garden. There is something about it, the dirt, plants, bugs, worms, water, all working together so naturally that is very soothing and pleasing. I like knowing that I am not only doing something new and learning, but I am giving something back to nature as well as helping to feed my family. I guess that doesn't make much sense, but anyone who has worked in a garden will know what I am talking about.

My strawberry plant that was naturally planted from a half eaten, dropped berry courtesy of the dog

 So.... Why isn't everything organic? I don't get it. It's not much harder. It's less expensive, not harmful to the soil, our bodies, our air, our water, or our energy crisis. I thought it must be super hard if no one was doing it, but it really isn't! I guess if you have 5,000 acres of GM corn, it might be harder.... but who wants a country of nothing but corn? We have a fuel shortage coming. How are we going to sustain a whole country on corn that is hardly edible (its grown to make into high fructose corn syrup, corn starch, corn meal, or cow food for the most part)

...that's good and all, but what do YOU think?
Have you learning anything from gardening? 
What is your favorite mulch and fertilizer?
Is pulling weeds worth it?