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About usAbout OrganicVegetableGardening.org
Research you can grow from
We are an independent guide to growing vegetables the organic way. Our editorial team reads university extension and USDA research, then turns it into clear, practical guides for home gardens across the US.
We don’t run a test garden or sell a method. We check what the research supports and tell you where it applies.
Field notes on this site
- Operated by
- CHT Organic Farm
- Written for
- Home vegetable gardeners in the US
- Byline
- Editorial Team
- Main sources
- Extension services and USDA
- Pesticide rates
- Never published. The label rules.
- Paid placements
- None
- Corrections
- Usually within a week
- Last reviewed
- November 2026
Why This Site Exists
Organic gardening advice travels fast, and the word organic gets stretched along the way. A spray gets called safe because it is natural. A load of manure gets called organic because it came from a farm.
Some of that advice holds up. Some of it can cost you a season, or a bed of tomatoes. So we go back to the source, say what it supports and say where it applies.
Here are four things you’ll hear over the garden fence, checked against the research.
If it’s organic, it’s safe to spray.
Some natural pesticides are as toxic as synthetic ones, or more. The label still governs.
Clemson ExtensionAny manure or compost is fine for organic beds.
Some pasture herbicides survive composting and can damage beans, peas, tomatoes and potatoes.
NC State ExtensionA home garden isn’t organic without certification.
There is no organic standard for home gardens. Certification matters once you sell.
NC State Extension, USDATreated wood will poison your vegetables.
Copper rose only within about an inch of modern treated boards, with no rise in the vegetables tested. Certified farms still can’t use it where it touches soil.
Oregon State Extension, USDAFour Rules Every Guide Follows
These four rules shape every page on the site, from a one-crop growing guide to a gear comparison.
- RULE 1
Soil comes first
Organic growing is built on soil health, so our guides start with the soil before they reach for any product.
- RULE 2
Prevention before sprays
Rotation, resistant varieties and barriers come first. When a spray appears, the label is in charge.
- RULE 3
The source sits in the sentence
Every figure that changes by region, crop or season names its source right beside it.
- RULE 4
We say what isn’t known
Where research is thin or two sources disagree, we show the range and say so instead of guessing.
What We Cover: The Garden Plan
The site is laid out like a garden plan. Eight beds, each one a topic, joined by paths. Step into any bed to see every guide inside it.
Who We Write For
Every garden starts somewhere. Most readers are at one of these stages, and each stage has a good place to begin.
- Seed
Thinking about it
You want to grow food without synthetic chemicals and wonder where to begin.
- Sprout
Patio and container growers
A few pots on a balcony, porch or step, working with limited sun and soil.
- Leaf
Raised bed and backyard gardeners
One bed or a dozen, building better soil a little more each year.
- Flower
Community gardeners and teachers
Shared plots with shared rules, school gardens and youth programs.
- Fruit
Small growers who sell
A market table or farm stand. The USDA exempts sales of $5,000 or less a year from certification, but the organic rules still apply.
The Editorial Team
Five editors share the work. A guide passes through at least two of them before it goes live. That is why every guide carries one shared byline: Editorial Team.
Team Member One
Managing editor
Chooses which reader questions get a guide, sets the order of work and signs off on every page.
- Coverage plan
- Final edit
- Reader mail
Team Member Two
Soil and fertility writer
Writes the compost, cover crop and fertilizer guides from extension soil research and the federal organic rule.
- Compost
- Cover crops
- Soil tests
Team Member Three
Crops and planting writer
Builds the crop family guides, with planting times matched to zone and season.
- Crop guides
- Seed
- Rotation
Team Member Four
Plant health writer
Covers insects, diseases and weeds the IPM way: describe the signs, prevent first, leave diagnosis to local experts.
- Insects
- Diseases
- Weeds
Team Member Five
Fact checker
Opens every cited source and checks each figure, unit and crop name against it before anything goes live.
- Figures
- Sources
- Corrections
None of us claims a test garden, trial plots or harvest results. Our work is reading the research carefully and reporting it straight.
How a Guide Grows
Every guide follows the same six stages, from a reader’s question to a page you can trust. The last stage feeds the first, just like compost.
- Seed
Start with a real question
Each guide begins with something gardeners actually ask, such as whether straw or leaves make the better mulch.
- Roots
Go to the primary source
We read the extension publication or the USDA rule itself, not a summary of it.
- Sprout
Match it to conditions
A planting date from Georgia won’t suit Minnesota. We note the region, zone and season each figure fits.
- Leaves
Check every figure
The fact checker compares each number, unit and crop name against the source.
- Harvest
Publish with sources named
The guide goes live with its sources in the text and a review date at the top.
- Compost
Review and feed it back
Reader reports and source updates send a guide back to step one.
Where Our Guidance Stops
Every garden has a fence. These are ours, and they are here to protect your plants, your food and you.
We don’t run a test garden
No trial plots, yield claims or “what worked for us” stories. We report what the research found.
We don’t diagnose plant problems
We describe common signs. A county extension office or Master Gardener volunteer can tell you what is actually wrong.
We don’t publish pesticide rates
The product label sets the rate, timing and safety steps. Oregon State University notes the law requires following it, organic products included.
We don’t rule on certification
Only a USDA-accredited certifier can decide whether a practice or material passes on a certified farm.
We don’t test products
Gear guides draw on manufacturer specifications and patterns in owner reports, and say which is which.
When in doubt, call your county extension office. Local experts know your soil, your pests and your state’s rules better than any website can.
Where Our Information Comes From
Think of it as a seed library. Each drawer holds one kind of source, and every guide draws from the top drawers first.
Research-based publications from land-grant universities. They are our first stop for soil, planting, crop and pest guidance.
The National Organic Program standards, the federal organic regulations and USDA tools such as the zone map.
For pesticides, fertilizers and gear, the product label and the spec sheet come first. A label is a legal document. A sales page is not.
Patterns across verified buyer reviews, used only for durability and ease of use, and always named as owner reports in the text.
What we never cite
- Forums and social media groups
- Other blogs and review sites
- Product marketing claims
- Unnamed "experts say" claims
How the Site Is Funded
Some gear guides include affiliate links. If you buy through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. That income keeps the site running.
It never decides what we cover or what we recommend. Read the full affiliate disclosure.
What money can’t buy here
- A spot in a guide or a higher ranking
- Sponsored or paid-for guides
- A softer word about a product’s weak points
Corrections and Updates
Spotted something that looks wrong? Good catch. Here is how we weed it out.
- Step 1
You flag it
Email editor@organicvegetablegardening.org with the page and the line in question. A source link helps.
- Step 2
We check the source
The fact checker reopens the original publication and confirms what it actually says.
- Step 3
We fix and date it
Corrections usually go live within a week, and the guide’s review date changes.
We also review a guide when:
- A USDA organic rule changes.
- An extension service revises the publication we cited.
- A product label or the zone map changes.
- A reader reports a problem.
Our full standards for sourcing, reviews and corrections are in the editorial policy.
Contact the Editors
We read every message and aim to reply within three business days.
Corrections and sources
Found an error or a better source? Tell the editors.
General questions
Site questions, topic ideas and everything else.
Sick plant or mystery bug?
Your county extension office and local Master Gardener volunteers can identify plant problems where you live. We can’t diagnose from a photo.
OrganicVegetableGardening.org is operated by CHT Organic Farm.
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