Re: organic gardening

In a message dated 99-09-11 12:06:15 EDT, Anne in Chicago wrote:

>> ...  Is it coincidence? The weather? Is the garden now in balance?  Have 
the
 rest of you noticed lighter infestations this year?  Whatever the
 reason, I'm grateful and I'm going to keep on doing nothing as long as
 possible.<<
 
Anne, I do not think it's a coincidence. And you are right that after using 
pesticides, it takes a few years to restore the balance of nature.  I'm 
convinced that while pesticides may solve pest problems in the short term, in 
the long run they do just the opposite -- they create pest problems by 
killing off the pests' natural predators.  Once you start spraying you have 
to spray more and more and more because you have destroyed the natural 
balance.  Roughly 90% of all insects are beneficial.  Who in their right mind 
would want to kill those?  Especially since pesticides are costly, smelly and 
dangerous to people, pets and the environment.  The thing pesticides do best 
is make profits for their manufacturers. What a racket --- the more product 
their customers buy, the more they have to buy.  Almost like pushing drugs!  

My advice to anyone who cares to listen is to kick the habit!  I don't spray 
and I don't have any pest problems aside from some occasional slug damage 
(for which there are many organic solutions, as recently discussed on this 
list).  

I don't know about Chicago, but here in Missouri, after two very mild winters 
and no spring freezes, we have had more insects than I have ever seen.  More 
pests, but also more predators, so the final effect in the garden is the same 
-- things are in balance.  Isn't nature wonderful!    --Janis

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