Re: Dormant oil spray
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Re: Dormant oil spray
- From: C* N* <c*@best.com>
- Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 14:45:12 -0800 (PST)
From: K1MIZE@aol.com
Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 03:04:26 EST
I meant to say I didn't THINK either dormant oil spray or sulfur were in
line with organic gardening principles. I wasn't dismissing them in any
way. I've used both on my fruit trees. I have to say, however, that I
didn't notice a great deal of improvement over years that I didn't use
them. I'm sure that there must be an organic gardener out there who could
settle this for us.
My two cents:
Certified organic gardening has lists of things (and practices) you can and
can not use. Dormant oil and sulfur spray are on the okay lists for most
(many? all?) certifying bodies.
Organic gardening principles are about feeding the soil, nuturing an
ecosystem that handles problems, and not relying on "quick fixes." Since
dormant oil is made from petroleum, it is not something beneficial to the
soil or the plant. It merely kills bugs in a fairly environmentally
unobstrusive way. I would agree with Kurt and say that it is not really in
line with organic gardening principles.
Also, regarding other parts of this thread: there is a difference between
organic vs inorganic (as in chemistry) and organic vs nonorganic (as in
gardening). Things like malathion may be organic chemicals but they are
definately not part of anybody's definition of organic gardening.
Cyndi
_______________________________________________________________________________
Oakland, California Zone 9 USDA; Zone 16 Sunset Western Garden Guide
Chemically sensitive/disabled - Organic Gardening only by choice and neccessity
_______________________________________________________________________________
"There's nothing wrong with me. Maybe there's Cyndi Norman
something wrong with the universe." (ST:TNG) cyndi@consultclarity.com
http://www.consultclarity.com/
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