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A vegan lifestyle has increased exponentially over the last few years, as people switch out animal products for plant-based alternatives. The primary focus within veganism ultimately lands on a vegan diet, but it has increasingly become apparent that it impacts other areas of daily life as well. An example of this can be found in the garden. The products and practices used within your garden may not yet match your diet.
Like with a vegan diet, the aim which vegan or veganic (vegan organic) gardening is that no animals are harmed, and yes that includes slugs. This does not mean animals should be excluded for the garden, in fact with veganic gardening wildlife is encouraged. Without the wildlife found in your garden your plants cannot flourish and thrive.
Read on too discover more on veganic gardening.
How to grow vegan food
How to deter pests without harming them
What vegan products to use?
How to grow vegan food
When it comes to growing your own, it is important to consider how animal products are used. Growing vegan is not as hard as you may first think. It is not something you can necessarily change all at once. If you are an experienced gardener, you may have become custom to specific gardening methods and changing your whole approach all at once could seem overwhelming. The good news is that there may be aspects of your gardening that is already vegan and there is no single way to garden veganically.
It is of the opinion, by many, that soil fertility cannot be maintained without manure, as it is known for containing a healthy mix of carbon and nitrogen. However, this is not true. A Greek farmer has proved that there is a natural compost alternative, using olive trees, that is just as (if not more) effective as manure.
Animal manure should not be used in veganic gardening as it is a by-product of battery farming. By buying and using animal manure, consequently it is supporting the meat industry. It could be considered that fruits and vegetables grown in this environment are not vegan.
As you want to avoid harming the wildlife in a veganic gardening approach, digging is something to be avoided. Within soil is a high complex ecosystem so to avoid disrupting this, a no-dig approach is advocated.
Instead of digging up the soil and mixing compost within it, simply lie mulch on top. The worms within the soil will pull the nutrients in the mulch down into the soil. This is not to say a spade should never be picked, in some circumstances digging cannot be avoided.
When it comes to the mulch it is important to use natural materials and if choosing compost, we recommend making your own so that you know exactly what is in it.
Investigate the products used in your garden. Do any of them contain ingredients derived from animal products? If you find that you have products that are not vegan, gradually begin to swap them out for an organic vegan alternative.
Not only is growing your own vegetables cheaper and healthier, it also ensures that your veg is grown in vegan materials.
How to deter pests without harming them
Pests in your garden are inevitable. And deterring them without harming them could seem like an impossible task but it is possible.
The easiest way to do this to keep your garden tidy so that they don’t have anywhere to hide.
If you don’t want pests anywhere near your plants, give them an area they can thrive. You could do this by creating a log pile or a bug hotel.
Another option would be to create a broader around your plot of marigolds. Both the root and the scent of the flower repel pests.
Rotate your crops throughout the year, it prevents the pests and diseases from spreading in the first place.
Use a non-toxic pest deterrent. These products don’t harm the slugs. The slugs cannot cross over it, they simply must turn around and head in a different direction.
What vegan products to use?
Don’t use:
-Animal manure
-Pesticides or any other chemical that could harm or kill animals.
-Low quality compost- some composts can include animal materials.
-Animal based meals such as bone meal.
Do use:
-Organic vegan fertilizers: such as Alfalafa meal fertiliser or Seaweed fertiliser
-Homemade compost
-Natural pest deterrents such as copper tape
-Plant-based meal: such as alfalfa, soybean and kelp meal ( high in nitrogen)
For many, veganism has had a positive impact on gardening practices and overall wellbeing. A great example of this would be Ellen Mary Gardening.
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