Principle 3: Use Resources Responsibly

Rainwater collection from the side of a polytunnelReduce, reuse, and recycle is an important part of organic growing. This efficient use of materials and energy helps to maintain the natural environment and conserve resources.

Where possible, the organic grower uses natural resources, such as wood and plant material, and sources them locally, to reduce their energy footprint.

If there is a need for a non-natural resource, such as plastic, then we should consider the following:

  • Can I buy a plant-based product instead?
  • Can it be easily repaired or reused?
  • How will I dispose of it at the end of its life?

Sometimes it is a positive challenge to be an organic grower, one where you can use your consumer power, particularly at garden centres, to encourage organic practices.

All resources are finite, and waste should be avoided. For instance, the capture of rainwater is invaluable, instead of using precious mains water. Indeed, some natural resources should not be used at all, like woodland leaf litter, either because they are scarce, or because they are important within their natural habitat.