Many farmers are starting to garden organically because they are able to produce virtually the same yield of crops in a cost-effective manner. You can also do this at home, but first you have to understand certain principles.

Organic vegetable gardening does not make use of any fertilizers, nutrients or pesticides. Nature is your partner because you will be using two things to make it all work - sunlight and water. We don't produce these ourselves but you have to find the ideal area for your garden and provide adequate drainage.

Aside from sunlight and water, you can help the crops to grow by using a compost heap from leftover food, chipped bark, leaf moulds, garden compost and manure. Mix these together and then spread throughout your garden.

To keep your vegetable garden disease free, good sanitation is essential. Make sure that you wash your hands and tools thoroughly with soap before you work on your garden. Gardeners who use tobacco products should wash their hands especially, because many plant viruses can be passed through tobacco to your garden.

Some people use dead animals or meat products. You don't put these in the soil but leave it for a couple of weeks in the bin and wait for maggots to appear. This is what you use to help fertilize your garden.

Another helpful creature is the earthworm because it digs deep into the ground and aerates the soil, bringing various minerals to the surface which provide better drainage. Earthworms also leave casting behind that experts say is five times as rich in nitrogen phosphorous and potassium.

Organic gardening is challenging since you have to deal with unwanted guests. Some of these pests include crickets, gypsy moth caterpillars, slugs and squash bugs. In the past, people used fertilizer to kill them but in an organic setting, the best weapon is the toad. The toad is known to eat almost every type of insect. In some cases, you don't have to buy a toad. They may come in to your garden as long as you set the ideal environment for them. Put in a small pond and you may have some new occupants protecting your garden within days.

Plants can also be used to protect your vegetables. For example, the rosemary, sage or thyme is an effective deterrent against butterflies.

Despite all the flowers and creatures that nature has to offer, crop rotation is seen as the best way to keep the soil fertile. If you planted one particular kind of vegetable for this season, change it with another for next season and then return to the first after this one is harvested.

The principles behind organic vegetable gardening are very simple. You just have to put them into practice, and then harvest the vegetables you planted weeks ago.

As a final thought, it's always best to continue your education by reading as much information as you can find. There are many other ways to increase your success when planting an organic vegetable garden and enjoy fresh, healthy vegetables to eat all year round.