1. Organic Gardening
In plain terms, organic gardening means growing without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. In larger terms, it is a focus on the larger ecosystem. This type of gardening looks for solutions that improve the health of the soil, the plant, and the animals that surround the garden. Usually this involves a lot of compost and cover crops.
2. Biodynamic Gardening
This is similar to organic gardening in that it doesn’t use any synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, but this is soulful gardening. Beyond a concern for the larger ecosystem, biodynamics look to work in concert with the rhythm of nature both on earth and in the stars. This is a gathering together of many ancient techniques from many cultures. A fundamental concern is the health of the soil using biodynamic composting (often energized, acting like a sort of herbal tea for the garden).
3. Companion Planting
Companion planting involves the use of plant relationships that encourage prolific growth, and repel or attract insects. In our garden, we plant basil, parsley, and borage among our tomatoes for increased vigor, decreased disease, and more prolific blooming.
4. Succession Planting
Succession planting involves planting your garden in waves to ensure that there is a crop of a particular vegetable coming on continually through the spring, summer, and fall.
5. Permaculture
Often done with perennial and native plants, the goal of permaculture is the creation of a self-sustainable system. This type of gardening avoids tilling and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides because the goal is to create a community of plants, soil, people, insects, etc. that work together to keep the garden going without continual disruption.
6. Hydroponics
Hydroponics is soil-less gardening that involves “rooting” the plants in a continuously circulating liquid fertilizer.This type of gardening avoids tilling and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides because the goal is to create a community of plants, soil, people, insects, etc. that work together to keep the garden going without continual disruption.
7. Conventional Gardening
Some gardeners make use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides in varying degrees. The amount just depends on the particular desire of the individual.
8. Square Foot Gardening
Square foot gardening is small space gardening that takes marks off the garden in square foot increments. This type of gardening attempts to grow plants closer to maximize space and minimize the need for weeding. It also makes use of succession planting.
9. Mittlieder Method
This is a type of small space (think apartment) gardening that makes use of both soil based and hydroponics techniques. Even more space is saved when this is combined with vertical gardening.
10. Lasagna Gardening
Lasagna gardening involves layering compostable materials, finishing with a layer of dirt on top. Often used for gardening where weeds have gone out of control, the idea is to smother the weeds and create a good, rich soil for the future.
