| Organic Gardening Glossary |
- B
- bacteria: Microorganisms that grow in
soil, freshwater and seawater. Bacteria
are important in recycling biodegradable
material and in efficient plant, animal
and human growth.
- beneficial: Good or helpful.
- C
- castings: Earthworm manure, an
organic fertilizer rich in microorganisms,
nutrients and minerals.
- compost: Decayed organic matter.
Odorless, and rich in nutrients.
compost material:
- banana peelings
- cantaloupe rinds
- coffee grounds
- corncobs
- cucumber skins
- eggshells
- human hair (clean)
- leaves
- pine needles
- potato skins
- tea grounds
- compost pile: A pile of leaves, grass
clippings and yard waste, and you have
a pile of soon to be naturally fertilizer.
- E
- earthworm: Earthworms (also called
nightcrawlers) are very important
animals that aerate the soil with their
burrowing action and enrich the soil with
their waste products (called castings).
Good soil can have as many as
1,000,000 (a million) worms per acre.
- ecosystem: A system formed by the
interaction of a community of organisms
with their physical environment.
- environment: The area in which
beneficial organisms, plants and animals
exists or lives.
- G
- garden: A part of land or a yard where
plants are grown. Vegetables, flowers,
fruits, herbs, trees, bushes and grass
are parts of a garden. Man made
structures and animals are also parts of
a garden.
- I
- inorganic: Not coming from living
organisms or what was once alive.
Composed of minerals rather than living
material and are man made.
- L
- landscape: The visible features of land
or a yard. These features could be
plants, animals or structures such as
furniture, a patio, lighting fixtures or
water fountain.
- loam: Rich soil composed of clay, sand,
and some organic matter.
- M
- microorganisms: Living creatures that
are too small to be seen with the naked
eye that help to improve the soil.
- N
- native plants: Plants that grow
naturally in a specific region or area.
- O
- organic: Coming from living organisms
or what was once alive (plant waste and
manures).
- organic fertilizer: A natural fertilizer
that comes from living things such as
animals and vegetable matter that
increases soil fertility.
organic fertilizers:
- compost
- worm castings
- alfalfa meal
- rock phosphate
- bone meal
- green sand
- fish emulsion
- organic gardening: Organic
gardening is a method of gardening
using organic (natural) fertilizers,
compost, beneficial insects and without
using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
- ornamental: Any plant grown for its
good looks or beauty.
- R
- redworms: A common worm used for
vermicomposting.
- resistant: Able to not be infected by
disease or some other force.
- S
- soil: Soil is made up of mineral
particles, organic matter, air, and water.
The mineral particles are called sand,
clay, and silt. Loam is a mixture of sandy
soil, clay, and organic matter. The
organic matter acts like a sponge to hold
water.
- sustain: To make something continue
to exist.
- V
- vermicompost: Worms (redworms)
feed on decomposing organic matter
that will produce a nutrient-rich soil
amendment called castings.
vermicompost material
(worm food):
- apple peelings
- banana peelings
- cantaloupe rinds
- citrus peelings ( in small amounts at
a time ) - coffee grounds
- corncobs
- cucumber skins
- human hair (clean)
- leaves
- pine needles (composted)
- potato skins
- stale bread
- tea grounds
Earth911.com delivers
actionable local information on
recycling and product
stewardship that empowers
consumers to act locally, live
responsibly and contribute to
sustainability.
actionable local information on
recycling and product
stewardship that empowers
consumers to act locally, live
responsibly and contribute to
sustainability.
