Gardening as Nature Intended
The industrial revolution gave rise to great social change and provided the technical expertise to manufacture many of the nutrients needed by plants. As cities grew, less people were involved in farming and the very nature of food production changed. Small mixed farms gave way to large farming enterprises and machinery replaced people. The convenience of chemical fertilizers, pest control and disease control soon led to the replacement of past organic methods of soil management and crop production.

These new methods became entrenched in home gardening, with chemical gardening becoming the ‘traditional’ way. The chemical approach has been to treat symptoms; chemical nutrients for deficiency symptoms insecticide use if insects appear, weedkillers to control weeds and various controls for diseases.
However, the continued use of chemical products reduces the nutritional capacity of the soil, increases disease and weed problems and reduces the quality of the plants being grown.

The organic approach is to view the garden as a natural eco-system, with a definite relationship between the soil and the plants that are grown. Caring for the soil results in a healthier eco system where all participants thrive. A sound garden eco-system is built on the balance of these four key components.

        
Minerals.
Minerals are essential to soil and plant health. There are a large number of minerals, some of which are known nutrients (eg. Phosphorus, magnesium, potassium) and others whose purpose is not clearly understood but whose presence is proven to encourage healthier plant growth and less disease and insect damage. Australian soils are old and highly degraded. Evidence from geology and palaeontology shows that at one time the soils and plants were much higher in essential minerals.
As minerals were removed from the soil they were deposited in the ocean by natural processes.  Ocean plants contain significantly higher levels of minerals than current land plants. The ocean is an excellent source of mineral supplements with products based on ocean fish and seaweed being a significant source of minerals for home garden use. Even when minerals are present their availability can be restricted if micro-organism populations are not present to assist in their uptake.

Organic Matter.
Organic matter and the compounds it supplies are critical to soil health. Not only does organic matter physically improve the structure of soils, the humus content has an amazing capacity to retain plant nutrients. Organic matter also encourages soil micro-organisms and earthworms that play an essential role in making nutrients available to plants. Compost, manures and manure based organic fertilizers all provide valuable organic matter to the soil.

Soil Organisms.
Soil organisms are essential for soil and plant health. Earthworms play a significant role in breaking down organic matter and by creating tunnels through the soil  provide access for air and water. Micro-organisms are fundamental in converting nutrients and minerals into an available form and are actively involved in the process of nutrient uptake by the plant roots. So important are micro-organisms to the health of plants that plant roots exude certain types of sugars to assist and encourage the micro-organisms.
Micro-organisms are killed easily by a number of different chemical products. Chemical fertilizers, weedkillers, fungicides and insecticides can all be responsible for depleting the soil of essential organisms. 

Nutrients.
Plants require a large number of nutrients and minerals for healthy growth. The nutrients that are required in the largest amounts are Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. These nutrients are found in most fertilizer products in a concentrated chemical form. These concentrated chemical forms are usually lacking in the minor or trace elements that are also essential for plant growth. Unless used at very low rates chemical fertilizers will kill soil micro-organisms and earthworms. As a result of their chemical form, chemical nutrients are also either leached easily from the soil, or react with other chemicals converting to forms that are unavailable. The long-term result is the acidification of the soil.
The use of organic nutrient sources avoids the problems that chemical fertilizers cause to the soil. Organic nutrient sources from animal manures, ocean fish, blood and bone and similar products provide the major and minor nutrients needed by plants. Importantly, these nutrients are in a form that encourages the growth of micro-organisms populations that are essential for making the nutrients available to the plant roots.

Photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is where all these aspects come together. Photosynthesis is the process where plants use water; nutrients and minerals from the soil and with the aid of sunlight are able to produce sugars. It is these sugars that provide the energy for plant growth and development.  Calcium, boron, magnesium, phosphorus and nitrogen are vital for photosynthesis to proceed and for the transfer of nutrients to, and sugars from, the leaves.

The key to healthy vigorous plant growth is a healthy soil. By ensuring a balance of minerals, organic matter, beneficial organisms and organic nutrients it is possible to achieve better growth with less pests and diseases. Importantly, where food is being grown the produce will have higher levels of minerals essential for human health and no chemical residues.
With Amgrow Organix products, caring for your garden as nature intended is simple and easy. Being 100% organic and totally natural you can be assured that they will be better for the environment, your garden and you. 

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