Re: organic gardening

Well said Janis, I couldn't agree more with your theory. Years ago when I 
grew lots of hybrid teas, I sprayed for everything, religiously.  I sprayed 
the trees when I saw the slightest hint of fungus or caterpillars, I sprayed 
the vegetable garden for the regular myriad of destructive critters. I was 
vigilant. Tremendous pain and extremely stressful. (I was constantly worrying 
about children and pets - I panicked if anyone stepped foot out of the house 
while I sprayed for fear the poison would drift ... what a nightmare!)          
                                                                        I've 
been trying to grasp the full meaning of what Paul said about the 
relationship between beneficials and pests not being relative to the 
increased number of beneficials. On one hand it makes some sense, yet on the 
other -- based solely on my own experience - I feel there is an improved 
environment directly relative to non-chemical preventative measures. The less 
I interfere with chemicals, the fewer problems I have had with pests. 
Unscientific explanation, yes, but true enough, nonetheless. I think I've 
tried almost all of the slug remedies, and still have found nothing as 
effective as the simple saucers of beer strategically placed. But this year I 
opted to do nothing and I've had fewer slugs than ever before. (And I have 
kept the beds watered!)                                                         
                It also has to do with other factors. The whole idea of 
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is based the choices we make in our 
gardening decisions. What we plant, where we plant and how we respond to the 
problems of pests etc.              As far as roses go, I think we expect far 
too much of them. Hybrids do perform better with all of the attention they 
require; but they, like anything which demands a consistent program of 
chemical rituals for optimum performance, become immune to those chemicals in 
time, a vicious cycle is begun. Not only are these chemicals very expensive, 
they're detrimental to our environment and that ofcourse adversely alters the 
balance of nature.                                                  It took 
me a few years to accomplish, but I eventually kicked the hybrid rose habit 
and went strictly with Antique varieties. I haven't sprayed anything but 
Safer insecticidal soap in four years and I must have over 75 roses that are    
 all doing beautifully -- and blooming their heads off!                         
                                                                                
                    There are lots of very helpful sites about the use of 
pesticides and IPM approaches to gardening. Here are several:                   
                    National IPM Network        <A 
HREF="http://ipmwww.ncsu.edu/">National IPM Network        North 
CarolinaCo...</A>       National Pesticide Network  <A 
HREF="http://ace.ace.orst.edu/info/nptn/">National Pesticide 
Telecommunications Network...</A>                                               
            
    Holly                                                                       
    zone 7

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index