I'm sure any garden can find things to take exception to in this
article. Mostly the article makes errors of omission.
For example
Myth: Organic pesticides are less toxic than synthetic ones
I can't think of any organic pesticide that is as toxic as Sevin, but
the whole point of organic gardening is to avoid pesticides in the first
place, and that is done using Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Spraying
Milk Spore in the Fall is better than waiting until the following summer
and being tempted to use Sevin on Japanese beetles. Ladybugs will help
you control aphids with no sprays at all. Identify your problem first,
before treating it.
Myth: Add sand to loosen heavy, clay soil
If all you were going to do was add sand, the statement above would be
true, but garden soil is ideally, 30 - 40% silt, 30 - 40% sand, and 20 -
30% clay. This soil then needs 5 - 10% organic material.
I'm working what was originally heavy clay soil. I have added some sand
(maybe 10% of the top 12 inches) but by and large, I have found that
feeding the soil encourages the earthworms, and if you have earthworms,
you have garden soil.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/2/maude
http://english.aljazeera.net/video/middleeast/2010/07/201072816515308172.html
Posted by Frank on August 2, 2010, 3:04 pm
On 8/2/2010 2:35 PM, Billy wrote:
>> http://www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/demystifying-garden-myths.aspx > I'm sure any garden can find things to take exception to in this > article. Mostly the article makes errors of omission. > For example > Myth: Organic pesticides are less toxic than synthetic ones > I can't think of any organic pesticide that is as toxic as Sevin, but > the whole point of organic gardening is to avoid pesticides in the first > place, and that is done using Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Spraying > Milk Spore in the Fall is better than waiting until the following summer > and being tempted to use Sevin on Japanese beetles. Ladybugs will help > you control aphids with no sprays at all. Identify your problem first, > before treating it.
Excellent lecture years ago by Bruce Ames. He pointed out that major
defense mechanism of plants are toxins. I know you are afraid of man
made chemicals but it's hard to beat toxicity of those in nature ;)
Posted by Bill who putters on August 2, 2010, 3:40 pm
> On 8/2/2010 2:35 PM, Billy wrote: > > > >> http://www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/demystifying-garden-myths.aspx > > > > I'm sure any garden can find things to take exception to in this > > article. Mostly the article makes errors of omission. > > > > For example > > Myth: Organic pesticides are less toxic than synthetic ones > > > > I can't think of any organic pesticide that is as toxic as Sevin, but > > the whole point of organic gardening is to avoid pesticides in the first > > place, and that is done using Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Spraying > > Milk Spore in the Fall is better than waiting until the following summer > > and being tempted to use Sevin on Japanese beetles. Ladybugs will help > > you control aphids with no sprays at all. Identify your problem first, > > before treating it. > > > Excellent lecture years ago by Bruce Ames. He pointed out that major > defense mechanism of plants are toxins. I know you are afraid of man > made chemicals but it's hard to beat toxicity of those in nature ;)
This is true as pointed out here
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5811970262253299997#
But I look at it just like I look at back ground radiation. We live
with the potential for cancers and added input adds to the genetic
chance of dealing with a bad interaction may increase. So I tend to go
lower exposure and hope my genes agree. Why poison when it is not a cure
just a response to nature practicing selecting breeding.
--
Bill S. Jersey USA zone 5 shade garden
What use one more wake up call?
globalvoicesonline.org
Posted by Billy on August 2, 2010, 3:54 pm
> On 8/2/2010 2:35 PM, Billy wrote: > > > >> http://www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/demystifying-garden-myths.aspx > > > > I'm sure any garden can find things to take exception to in this > > article. Mostly the article makes errors of omission. > > > > For example > > Myth: Organic pesticides are less toxic than synthetic ones > > > > I can't think of any organic pesticide that is as toxic as Sevin, but > > the whole point of organic gardening is to avoid pesticides in the first > > place, and that is done using Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Spraying > > Milk Spore in the Fall is better than waiting until the following summer > > and being tempted to use Sevin on Japanese beetles. Ladybugs will help > > you control aphids with no sprays at all. Identify your problem first, > > before treating it. > > > Excellent lecture years ago by Bruce Ames. He pointed out that major > defense mechanism of plants are toxins. I know you are afraid of man > made chemicals but it's hard to beat toxicity of those in nature ;)
At least natural toxins degrade, not so POPs: aldrin, chlordane, DDT,
dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, polychlorinated
biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated
dibenzofurans, toxaphene, or (PAHs) carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons, and certain brominated flame-retardants, as well as some
organometallic compounds such as tributyltin (TBT).
The gift that keeps on giving. (Ger) das Gift ----> (Eng) Poison
Yes, they scare me, Frank, and if you had any sense at all, they would
scare you too.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/2/maude
http://english.aljazeera.net/video/middleeast/2010/07/201072816515308172.html
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