Plants require more time, energy, and care to control pests and diseases than they expected. To address these problems, homeowners use chemical treatments and pesticides that endanger human health and safety, and create an environment that makes plants dependent on routine and expensive property maintenance contracts. Plant health suffers because the roots are unable to absorb the nutrients they require.

Material that has more organic carbon than in other items has been called peat or muck. Not all organic soil recipe accumulates in or under water. Materials of organic origin range from fresh plant tissue to the more or less stable black or brown degradation product (humus) formed by biological decay. The organic matter is a potential source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur; it contains more than 95 percent of the total nitrogen.

Other nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron can be similarly conserved through green manuring. Nitrogen from poultry manures (non-composted) is more quickly available than N in manure from cows, horses, and sheep. This is because poultry manure contains significant amounts of uric acid, which is readily decomposable. Nitrogen (N) is the most frequently limiting nutrient for crop production. Organic farms need to supply N through sources such as legumes, animal wastes or by-products, plant-processing by-products, or limited additions of mined mineral deposits.

Composted manure resembles a very rich, dark soil. It is easy to work into the soil, improving organic soil drainage and moisture retention. Compost should be maintained at temperatures of 55-60 degrees C (130 to149 degrees F) for a period of several days,if possible up to two weeks. Composting reduces pathogens in several different ways. Compost's ability to create a living, self-sustaining plant and soil community capable of protecting the soil makes it a wise choice to help lengthen the useful life of our earthen infrastructure. Typically, an organic soil amendment is less than 10% of a project's installed costs.

Animals and worms, ladybugs, lacewings, etc, are free to go where they wish which is where the habitat is best for them. Ladybugs, for example, will clean out the aphids in a garden in short order and then be gone. Animals and humans garden organically as partners. A fundamental principle of organic gardening is that we feed the plants by feeding the soil.