A basic definition for Organic Gardening is simply gardening without the use of synthetic additives like pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers. Many organic gardeners, and indeed the philosophy of organic gardening, goes much further with an emphasis on building soil health and gardening in harmony with natural systems. Organic Gardening provides many benefits to the local ecosystem and our environment, including reducing pollution of our waterbodies from fertilizer runoff, reducing stormwater runoff by increasing soil water retention, and by helping to protect our pollinators by eliminating pesticide use.