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RE: [GWL]: Rodale Press

Yvonne brings up a perfect example of the dilemma.  Her Dawn Redwood was in
danger of being lost because of a very serious attack of Japanese beetles.
The "organic" approach did not work and the life of the tree might be in
danger.  Instead of turning to Sevin, which is an organophosphate type
insecticide (similar in chemistry to Diazinon and Dursban) which may or may
not have worked because of the difficulty of spraying a whole tree, she
could have used Bayer's new Tree and Shrub insecticide which uses the same
chemistry as that used in Merit, the very effective, and apparently
environmentally safe grub killer.  This stuff is poured into the soil as a
drench any time of the year, except when the ground is frozen.  The tree
absorbs the chemical.  It is therefore a systemic that lasts for 12 months.
It kills Japanese beetles after they take their first bite.  It doesn't
bother beneficials since they don't take bites out of the tree.  The stuff
doesn't hurt earthworms, doesn't affect the soil bacteria or the root fungi
in the root system.  It is absorbed by the tree and does not leach into
ground water.  It does all the right things in terms of maintaining a
healthy ecosystem above ground and below ground.  Because it is synthetic,
it is out of bounds for the "organic" gardener.  I believe there is room for
discussion here.  If I'm close to losing my tree and I'm applying this stuff
only once just around the tree, I'm really feeling like that is a good idea.
Should I pour the stuff under every tree and every shrub on my property
every year, just in case?  Absolutely not!  If the Dawn Redwood is in the
right place and is living in soil filled with organic material, then most
years, it can fight off the Japanese beetles on its own.  It's just those
times every 6 to 8 years when the Japanese beetles seem to take over the
world that maybe that synthetic product, used properly, is an appropriate
tool for the caring homeowner.  I think it makes sense and I care a whole
lot about the condition of my ecosystem.

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: Yvonne Cunnington [y*@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2001 9:11 AM
To: Gardenwriters@topica.com
Subject: Re: [GWL]: Rodale Press


Jeff Ball wrote: In my view Organic Gardening lost its edge when the powers
that be in the late 80's refused to compromise on J.R. Rodale's 1948 rule
that all synthetic pesticides are bad.  Those of us who bought into the
catechism of Rodale back in the 60's and 70's have learned a few things in
the ensuing years, and the hard and fast rules of J.R. don't hold up much
any more, in my view at least.
_____________________

As always, a most interesting observation from Jeff, and I'd like to hear
more on this topic. In Canada, several municipalities have passed bylaws
banning the use of pesticides for so-called cosmetic purposes, and recently
a court challenge of these bans by two lawn care companies was essentially
thrown out by our supreme court. (I'm oversimplifying the case to keep
things brief.) Public opinion is divided and very emotional. I was talking
with our local newspaper's garden writer recently, and he doesn't want to
touch the topic with a 10 foot pole. Can there be a compromise between
organic practices and judicious, reasoned use of synthetic pesticides? All I
know is when my newly-planted and thriving Dawn Redwood is virtually
defoliated overnight by a horde of Japanese beetles, I'm sorely tempted to
get out the Sevin and throw my self-imposed no-pesticide rule out the
window. (This, after going around for weeks, knocking hundreds of the damned
beetles into a pail of soapy water in Rodale-approved fashion.)

As for Rodale's OG, like many magazines, it has doubtless seen its
readership age and its circulation stagnate, and the new format is a way to
try to entice a new, younger readership into the franchise. Moribund
magazines need to attract new readers, and you can't blame them for trying
but this strategy never fails to upset the core readership. -Yvonne
Cunnington, Ancaster, Ont.

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