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Re: Startling statistic

Having worked on the Seeds of Change catalog and website for the last few years, I've been quite interested in the discussion about organic gardening. I am surprised that no one has mentioned organically grown seeds as an integral part of organic gardening and agriculture. Conventional seed production can be one of the most chemical intensive aspects of modern agriculture as crops stand in the field for longer periods of time and the tolerance of weed seed in the final product is low. Furthermore, organically grown seeds are trialed and produced under organic conditions and often exhibit better seedling vigor, disease resistance and other traits that are important to organic growers. As far as I'm concerned, organic gardening starts with organic seed.

I agree with the general sentiment that most organic gardeners eschew commercial organic pest control preparations in favor of healthy soils, mechanical barriers like row cloth, (maybe the most important pest control available to gardeners), and home-made preps like compost teas and garlic/soap sprays. I will say though, that we sell a lot of Hot Pepper Wax, Maxi-Crop, Earth Juice and Organic Gem fish fertilizer. I have also noticed in my travels to organic farms in the last year that most larger scale growers are relying in Bt based products and releases of beneficial insects, as well as other newly OMRI approved applications for pest control. It seems to me like the very part-time backyard/patio gardener ( a core Seeds of Change customer) and the time-challenged market grower are the ones using commercially available preps while the rest of us committed organic gardeners are content to rely on compost tea, hand pick potato beetles, encourage diverse garden ecosystems, and grow enough healthy crops to beat the pests.

Regards to all,

Scott Vlaun,
editor@seedsofchange.com

P.S. Deer Fencing is probably our #1 pest control product.




On Saturday, October 18, 2003, at 09:56 PM, fran gustman wrote:

I would think that organic gardeners use much less in the way of any kind
of pesticide. I don't buy anything: I make insecticidal soap, use a
strong spray from a hose, squash aphids, mash slugs under rocks, soak
cayenne pepper in soap and water and spray crocus to combat bud-eating
devil squirrels, etc.
Around the Boston area, organic gardening is strong and healthy.
You can find organic products in any garden-oriented store in the
suburbs. But as I say, I bet most organic gardeners don't buy them - for
a small garden, anyway, you just don't need them.

Fran

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