Organic farming is a holistic approach that promotes recycling of resources, biodiversity and ecological balance. One of the most important components of organic production systems is fostering a healthy and productive soil system.

Good soil health is directly related to optimum crop well-being. Practices such as crop rotation, composting, manuring and cover-cropping all can improve soil composition and biodiversity and ultimately help increase productivity.

When starting an organic garden or orchard, begin with certified organically grown seeds or seedlings. To protect your organic garden from drift of synthetic materials from neighboring areas, install buffers (such as hedges, berms and windbreaks) to protect the integrity of your area.

Organic systems employ naturally occurring substances such as plants, animals or mineral substances for pest control, fertilizing, weeding and other purposes. Man-made chemicals are highly discouraged. Naturally occurring plants, animals or mineral substances that are not manufactured by a chemical process typically are approved materials for organic crop production.

Growers may refer to the national list of allowed and prohibited substances or the Organic Materials Review Institute's reviews of approved substances (www.omri.org; click on listed products).

Conventional soil amendments such as general-use fertilizers (i.e. 10-20-20 or 16-16-16) are avoided in organic production systems. Organic replacements include materials such as green manures, blood meal, fish emulsion, fish meal, rock phosphate, bone meal, worm casting, rock dust, bat guano, natural potassium sulfate, humate, agricultural limestone, calcified seaweed, coral, oyster shells, gypsum, kelp meal, etc.

Increased biodiversity and minimized pesticidal treatments help safeguard natural predators and parasites in organic systems. However, pest and disease control measures are still necessary.

Physical and mechanical controls such as traps, row covers, nets, pruning, tillage, burning and such are often used. Crop rotation helps to minimize the buildup of pests by eliminating the host material. Also, choose pest-resistant crop varieties when available.

Improve field sanitation practices (i.e., removing diseased plants) to minimize disease buildup. Mulching, mowing, timely tilling, intercropping and flaming are weed-control measures that require no synthetic inputs.

Currently, there are plant-derived pest-control sprays approved for organic production available for sale at local garden shops. When looking for materials approved for organic systems, look for the OMRI label (pest controls, fertilizers, potting soils, etc.).

Want to learn more? The University of Hawai'i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources will be holding a two-day workshop on organic farming in Hawai'i at Windward Community College on Sept. 7 and 8. Workshop cost is $60, which includes lunch, transportation and a tour of a local organic farm.

For more information, visit www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/organic/events.asp.

Jari Sugano is an extension agent with the University of Hawai'i-Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Reach her at suganoj@ctahr.hawaii.edu.