DEFINING EDICULTURE – THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FOOD-GROWING AND GARDENING

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There are as many forms of garden as there are individual gardeners and specific sites. However, there are definite, scientific principles which are necessary for the successful production of organic food. Industry standards in the domestic garden and garden centre market are often incompatible with the requirements of growing organic food, encouraging the excessive use of transport and instant “solutions” such as chemical and mechanical interventions. Although related, growing organic food is a distinctly different activity from what most of us understand as ornamental or non-food gardening. Projects concerned with the former need to clearly define themselves as distinct from the latter.

Whilst wishing to encourage organic and ecological practice in ornamental gardening, food production should be considered as a priority for the use of organic inputs, which are by their nature often only available in limited amounts.