Washington DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) does not allow the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides in the garden. Upshur Community Garden abides by this rule by using only organic gardening methods. Consider using organic materials in your gardening as well, old newspapers for weed prevention instead of plastic, use cotton string, or jute twine instead of plastic or nylon strings when tying plants to stakes or making climbers for beans and peas.
Organic Fertilizers
Several types of organic fertilizers are available on the market which include:
Organic Herbicides
There are several organic alternatives to chemical herbicides for killing weeds. Two that work quite well are Household Vinegar and Boiling Water.
Organic Pesticides
You can try this recipe to keep squirrels and other rodents away from your plants. Place 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper into one quart of water and bring to a boil, remove from the stove and let cool. Once cooled strain through cheesecloth and pour into a spray bottle then apply to tomatoes or other vegetables that the squirrels like most. Be sure to wash your hands and your harvested vegetables thoroughly. Putting coffee grounds, bone and blood meal around your plants has been known to help as well.
Companion Planting
Several herbs and flowers can be planted in your garden to ward off pests which include: