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Is organic gardening viable?
*** note the cross post ***
Hi all :) I have just finished reading an online book "Chemicals, Humus, and The Soil" written by Donald P. Hopkins. This book is available through the agriculture library at http://www.soilandhealth.org. It seems to me that Mr Hopkins makes a very strong case in favour of using the fertilisers that are not permissible under the "rules" of organic gardening. Although Mr Hopkins has discussed this matter in the context of commercial farming it seems to me that as home growers we are also looking for best yield for least cost (direct and labour) and that the arguments he presents are mostly just as valid for home growers as for commercial. Mr Hopkins emphasises to a very great extent the need for large amounts of organic matter in the soil but is also convincing in his argument that the amounts of humus that are required to provide sufficient nutrients for the high density planting that both home and commercial growers favour is difficult for the home grower and expensive to the point of impossibility in the case of the commercial grower to obtain. I wonder if anyone else has read this book and can comment on the validity of the arguments put forward by Mr Hopkins. Also, are there any peer-reviewed studies regarding the "taste" of organic vs. non-organic produce (presumably these would be double blind trials) and the bio-availability of nutrients in organic vs. non-organic produce. Obviously, I would prefer at least abstracts to be available via the internet. Ivan. |
Is organic gardening viable?
Ivan McDonagh wrote:
*** note the cross post *** Hi all :) I have just finished reading an online book "Chemicals, Humus, and The Soil" written by Donald P. Hopkins. This book is available through the agriculture library at http://www.soilandhealth.org. thanks for the url. Looks very helpful. ....snip..... Although Mr Hopkins has discussed this matter in the context of commercial farming it seems to me that as home growers we are also looking for best yield for least cost (direct and labour) and that the arguments he presents are mostly just as valid for home growers as for commercial. Umm , I think different people garden for different reasons. Having a vegetable garden is an optional activity for most people these days and those that have them do so for different reasons. Some of the ideas are; 1) it is a relaxing activity, 2) greater variety of foods, 3) greater variety of types, 4) reduced agricultural chemical intake, 5) self reliance, 6) skill development, 7) other. |
Is organic gardening viable?
G'day, I'm glad you jumped in Terry, a bloke could earn a PH.D answering this one in detail! China Wingham NSW p.s. Ivan, yours is a fair post, but while you are at your library, also check out a book by the name of 'The One Straw Revolution', also interesting reading. |
Is organic gardening viable?
G'day, I'm glad you jumped in Terry, a bloke could earn a PH.D answering this one in detail! China Wingham NSW p.s. Ivan, yours is a fair post, but while you are at your library, also check out a book by the name of 'The One Straw Revolution', also interesting reading. |
Is organic gardening viable?
"Ivan McDonagh" wrote in message ....snip... Mr Hopkins emphasises to a very great extent the need for large amounts of organic matter in the soil but is also convincing in his argument that the amounts of humus that are required to provide sufficient nutrients for the high density planting that both home and commercial growers favour is difficult for the home grower and expensive to the point of impossibility in the case of the commercial grower to obtain. I wonder if anyone else has read this book and can comment on the validity of the arguments put forward by Mr Hopkins. I haven't read the book but I adopt the philosophy of "ideology grows no potatoes" By all means take the long view and care for the soil, air and water, and animals and ourselves. Let's do this using the best information at hand. Accept that the resources of the earth are limited and need to be managed carefully. There is very good evidence that maintaining organic matter in the soil is important, that broadacre monoculture using synthetics has drawbacks and for many other ideas espoused by organic grower. Consider the converse too: I recently listened to a great heap of claptrap about why "natural" pyrethrins should be used to kill insects instead of synthetic. These people were discussing the issue most seriously. If you are going to kill insects then be aware of the consequences of killing them and make a good decision whether it is worth it or not. Don't waste time on the ideological question of whether the poison came out of a test tube; it's still poison. It is more useful to debate how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. It would be similarly stupid to think that you can get sustainable good results with only "chemical" fertilisers and just as stupid to never use them under any conditions. David |
Is organic gardening viable?
Ivan McDonagh wrote in message . 67.67...
*** note the cross post *** Hi all :) I have just finished reading an online book "Chemicals, Humus, and The Soil" written by Donald P. Hopkins. This book is available through the agriculture library at http://www.soilandhealth.org. It seems to me that Mr Hopkins makes a very strong case in favour of using the fertilisers that are not permissible under the "rules" of organic gardening. Although Mr Hopkins has discussed this matter in the context of commercial farming it seems to me that as home growers we are also looking for best yield for least cost (direct and labour) and that the arguments he presents are mostly just as valid for home growers as for commercial. Mr Hopkins emphasises to a very great extent the need for large amounts of organic matter in the soil but is also convincing in his argument that the amounts of humus that are required to provide sufficient nutrients for the high density planting that both home and commercial growers favour is difficult for the home grower and expensive to the point of impossibility in the case of the commercial grower to obtain. The correct answer is "It depends". There are two aspects of non-organic gardening, pesticides and fertilizing. Here in Michigan many pests, present further south, are simply absent due to cold winters, and one can really go organic on that count. The only recurrent problem I have is with vine borers. So if I were willing to go without zucchini, and accept some ragged holes in my collards and kales, I could indeed be perfectly organic (I cover the zucchini and accept the holes, if you are keeping score). As far as organic matter it is true that, past 10 or 20%, there is a diminished advantage in adding more. When you do add more, you gain moderate amounts of fertilizer and the increased levels of humus increase the plant's overall health and therefore resistance to several stresses, including drought and pests. It is also possible that you gain in micronutrients content by using compost. I have to wonder how sweeping a statement one could make viability. Suppose I needed extra N and P in my yard (or in my commercial farm), I could do that with a a single box each of bone meal and bloodmeal, which are viable organic amendments for a farm as well. No need to drag a ton of leaves across the yard or bring twenty dumptrucks into the farm. I would also like to know if any kind of rock dust is organic or not, since it is mined after all. Besides the more restricted choice of veggies (and more limited productivity) for a farmer at a given location and time, there is the more strict rotation that organic agriculture forces you into, which, as a farmer, will diminish your ability to follow the market. There is the obvious improvement in water quality and the lesser evolution of major pests. If your goal is to have a garden with carefree, healthy veggies, that grow well in your locale, and without insisting on growing varieties which need chemicals, organic is certainly a viable way of gardening. When you are organic, in a sense, you are taking care of several problems (soil conditioning, fertilizing, reducing weeding and watering, improving plant health and vegetable nutrient content) with the single act of applying two inches of compost in the spring. It is very efficient for the home gardener. |
Is organic gardening viable?
"Terry Collins" wrote in message ... Ivan McDonagh wrote: *** note the cross post *** Hi all :) I have just finished reading an online book "Chemicals, Humus, and The Soil" written by Donald P. Hopkins. This book is available through the agriculture library at http://www.soilandhealth.org. thanks for the url. Looks very helpful. ...snip..... Although Mr Hopkins has discussed this matter in the context of commercial farming it seems to me that as home growers we are also looking for best yield for least cost (direct and labour) and that the arguments he presents are mostly just as valid for home growers as for commercial. Umm , I think different people garden for different reasons. Having a vegetable garden is an optional activity for most people these days and those that have them do so for different reasons. Some of the ideas are; 1) it is a relaxing activity, 2) greater variety of foods, 3) greater variety of types, 4) reduced agricultural chemical intake, 5) self reliance, 6) skill development, 7) other. Don't forget the big reason: The food tastes so much better! Ray |
Is organic gardening viable?
"Terry Collins" wrote in message ... Ivan McDonagh wrote: *** note the cross post *** Hi all :) I have just finished reading an online book "Chemicals, Humus, and The Soil" written by Donald P. Hopkins. This book is available through the agriculture library at http://www.soilandhealth.org. thanks for the url. Looks very helpful. ...snip..... Although Mr Hopkins has discussed this matter in the context of commercial farming it seems to me that as home growers we are also looking for best yield for least cost (direct and labour) and that the arguments he presents are mostly just as valid for home growers as for commercial. Umm , I think different people garden for different reasons. Having a vegetable garden is an optional activity for most people these days and those that have them do so for different reasons. Some of the ideas are; 1) it is a relaxing activity, 2) greater variety of foods, 3) greater variety of types, 4) reduced agricultural chemical intake, 5) self reliance, 6) skill development, 7) other. Don't forget the big reason: The food tastes so much better! Ray |
Is organic gardening viable?
"Ray Drouillard" wrote in
: "Terry Collins" wrote in message ... Ivan McDonagh wrote: SNIP Don't forget the big reason: The food tastes so much better! Ray It's this sort of anectodal evidence, Ray, that I'm curious about - one of my friends had a load of vegies from my totally organic garden last year and maintained how much better they were than the chemically grown ones. Yet I genuinely couldn't say definitely one way or the other ... sure, they were nicer but was that just a matter of being 5 minutes old versus being at least 5 days old? Thanks for the comment though :) Ivan. |
Is organic gardening viable?
"Ray Drouillard" wrote in
: "Terry Collins" wrote in message ... Ivan McDonagh wrote: SNIP Don't forget the big reason: The food tastes so much better! Ray It's this sort of anectodal evidence, Ray, that I'm curious about - one of my friends had a load of vegies from my totally organic garden last year and maintained how much better they were than the chemically grown ones. Yet I genuinely couldn't say definitely one way or the other ... sure, they were nicer but was that just a matter of being 5 minutes old versus being at least 5 days old? Thanks for the comment though :) Ivan. |
Is organic gardening viable?
I have to agree. For me, that IS the big one.
Steve Ray Drouillard wrote: Don't forget the big reason: The food tastes so much better! Ray |
Is organic gardening viable?
Ivan McDonagh wrote:
.....snip....... Mr Hopkins emphasises to a very great extent the need for large amounts of organic matter in the soil but is also convincing in his argument that the amounts of humus that are required to provide sufficient nutrients for the high density planting that both home and commercial growers favour is difficult for the home grower and expensive to the point of impossibility in the case of the commercial grower to obtain. From what I remember from high school agriculture some 30 years ago, if you apply chemical fertilisers direct to a (basic) soil, then your plants only have a short time (the time it takes to leach through) in which to take up the nutrients, etc that the chemical provided. Adding organic matter to the soil provides an enormous amount (relative) of places/sites for the chemicals to be bound/held/delayed so there is a greater store of chemical for the plants to later take up and the chemical is less easily leached out of the soil. So Mr Hopkins ideas have been adapted in modern agriculture. "Organic" to me is a system of certification and thus something is "organic" if it is certified to be organic. End of story. Some farmers are making a living being organic famrers. End of story about cost, etc. So that answers your question in the subject. Okay, we are forced to live in a capitalist world and the capitalist world just exploits resources to enable some people to maximise the amount of money they make at the expense of other people and the environment. So, not all farmers can afford to be successful organic farmers. because as you say, the cost of that organic matter can be too high. If you look at the nutrient cycle as per human activities, we have a few 1000 (?) farmers growing food, that is 99% shipped to capital cities for sale (99%) and consumption (95%)(Yes, some of it goes back - weird). So basically our cities are drowning in shit each year. To prevent this happening, we pump it out to sea. What %? and What % is now sold as landscape fill, etc? So, if a farmer wants to do what is right by the environment, they then have to pay for cartage of that organic matter back to his farm, which for most means that the costs of farming inputs are too high and they would not have a commerically viable farm. Note, that book was written in 1948 and transport infrastructure has greatly changed since then. Instead, farmers tend to produce organic matter on the farm by growing other crops, e.g, sub-clover with crops to directly provide nitrogen, pastures that stock eat and defecate, etc. As a home gardener, 1) I compost all food scraps and if I am feeling energetic, shred and compost the newspaper, etc. Worry about energy cost of shredding and have only just workerd out that it all had a ph of 5, which is why is made negligible difference. 2) obtain bulk animal manures, (e.g horse and chicken), occassionally as chance and carrying capacity allows. Actually, I know where I can get trailer loads of stable stuff for free (Cobboty, NSW), but I have to let it stand for weeks as the horses are regularly wormed and it has a very large component of sawdust, so I tend not to. 3) buy commercial compost off the chicken farmers and mushroom farmers and use that. Costs, but easily to handle, store (bagged) and use. and it worked on the tomatoe this summer as we had a nice crop. however, the beans were awful. |
Is organic gardening viable?
"Ivan McDonagh" wrote in message 7.67... "Ray Drouillard" wrote in : "Terry Collins" wrote in message ... Ivan McDonagh wrote: SNIP Don't forget the big reason: The food tastes so much better! Ray It's this sort of anectodal evidence, Ray, that I'm curious about - one of my friends had a load of vegies from my totally organic garden last year and maintained how much better they were than the chemically grown ones. Yet I genuinely couldn't say definitely one way or the other ... SNIP As I understand it, someone did some blind tests to prove or disprove the claim that home-grown veggies taste better, and the results basically were that even the home growers couldn't tell their own produce from supermarket bought produce. I don't know whether this was cooked, raw or a mixture of both. But I don't care, there's nothing to beat the smug feeling of knowing that you grew what you're eating. And I could smug for England. Steve |
Is organic gardening viable?
"Ivan McDonagh" wrote in message 7.67... "Ray Drouillard" wrote in : "Terry Collins" wrote in message ... Ivan McDonagh wrote: SNIP Don't forget the big reason: The food tastes so much better! Ray It's this sort of anectodal evidence, Ray, that I'm curious about - one of my friends had a load of vegies from my totally organic garden last year and maintained how much better they were than the chemically grown ones. Yet I genuinely couldn't say definitely one way or the other ... sure, they were nicer but was that just a matter of being 5 minutes old versus being at least 5 days old? Thanks for the comment though :) Ivan. I wasn't commenting about organic gardening. I was replying to this comment: Umm , I think different people garden for different reasons. Terry mentioned a lot of good reasons to garden, but the superior quality of home-grown food is one of the biggest reasons for growing one's own food. Ray |
Is organic gardening viable?
"shazzbat" wrote in message ... "Ivan McDonagh" wrote in message 7.67... "Ray Drouillard" wrote in : "Terry Collins" wrote in message ... Ivan McDonagh wrote: SNIP Don't forget the big reason: The food tastes so much better! Ray It's this sort of anectodal evidence, Ray, that I'm curious about - one of my friends had a load of vegies from my totally organic garden last year and maintained how much better they were than the chemically grown ones. Yet I genuinely couldn't say definitely one way or the other .... SNIP As I understand it, someone did some blind tests to prove or disprove the claim that home-grown veggies taste better, and the results basically were that even the home growers couldn't tell their own produce from supermarket bought produce. I don't know whether this was cooked, raw or a mixture of both. But I don't care, there's nothing to beat the smug feeling of knowing that you grew what you're eating. I wonder who did the study. I wonder what veggies were used. Radishes and lettuce might be difficult, but I have yet to see a store-boughten peach that comes even close to one that was picked ripe from the tree (as opposed to being picked green and ripened after being severed from its source of sugar). The same sort of goes for tomatoes. It isn't as much an issue of vine-ripening, but there is a taste that comes with home grown tomatoes that is missing in the store-boughten fare. Perhaps buying some of the $3.00/pound premium tomatoes would fix that, but I wouldn't bet on it. Ray Drouillard |
Is organic gardening viable?
In article ,
"Ray Drouillard" wrote: "Ivan McDonagh" wrote in message 7.67... "Ray Drouillard" wrote in : "Terry Collins" wrote in message ... Ivan McDonagh wrote: SNIP Don't forget the big reason: The food tastes so much better! Ray It's this sort of anectodal evidence, Ray, that I'm curious about - one of my friends had a load of vegies from my totally organic garden last year and maintained how much better they were than the chemically grown ones. Yet I genuinely couldn't say definitely one way or the other ... sure, they were nicer but was that just a matter of being 5 minutes old versus being at least 5 days old? Thanks for the comment though :) Ivan. I wasn't commenting about organic gardening. I was replying to this comment: Umm , I think different people garden for different reasons. Terry mentioned a lot of good reasons to garden, but the superior quality of home-grown food is one of the biggest reasons for growing one's own food. Ray Plus it's just plain damn fun to go out to the yard and pick your lunch and cook it fresh off the plants... :-) Tastier too. :-d At least in my experience. Sometimes tho' I have to wonder if it's worth the water bills! K. -- Sprout the Mung Bean to reply... ,,Cat's Haven Hobby Farm,,Katra at centurytel dot net,, http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...user id=katra |
Is organic gardening viable?
In article ,
"Ray Drouillard" wrote: "shazzbat" wrote in message ... snip But I don't care, there's nothing to beat the smug feeling of knowing that you grew what you're eating. I wonder who did the study. I wonder what veggies were used. Radishes and lettuce might be difficult, but I have yet to see a store-boughten peach that comes even close to one that was picked ripe from the tree (as opposed to being picked green and ripened after being severed from its source of sugar). The same sort of goes for tomatoes. It isn't as much an issue of vine-ripening, but there is a taste that comes with home grown tomatoes that is missing in the store-boughten fare. Perhaps buying some of the $3.00/pound premium tomatoes would fix that, but I wouldn't bet on it. Ray Drouillard There is nothing on gods green earth more heavenly than a VINE RIPE tomato fresh off the vine! Most sweet 100 cherry tomatoes never even make it into the house. G Eat them puppies right off the vine, sun warmed. ;-d Fresh picked string beans steamed right off the vine run a close second. G I think it is more of a question of freshness. Really, but that's just my opinion. I also just love to go and pull fresh onions for that day's brunch. K. -- Sprout the Mung Bean to reply... ,,Cat's Haven Hobby Farm,,Katra at centurytel dot net,, http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...user id=katra |
Is organic gardening viable?
"shazzbat" wrote in
: But I don't care, there's nothing to beat the smug feeling of knowing that you grew what you're eating. Yes, absolutely! The fulfilment of a dream of some years of growing my own vegies is the reason I started in the first place - just for the "smug" factor. Unfortunately growing vegies will be actually be of quite some economic importance to me by this time next year and hence my interest in factory fertilisers versus non-factory - I'm sure I will be able to realise my needs without factory fertiliser but if using factory fertiliser will be cheaper in terms of land, currency and labour and doesn't necessarily sacrifice health and/or taste then I'm all for it. And I could smug for England. This is some use of the word "smug" with which I'm not familiar Steve Ivan. |
Is organic gardening viable?
"shazzbat" wrote in
: But I don't care, there's nothing to beat the smug feeling of knowing that you grew what you're eating. Yes, absolutely! The fulfilment of a dream of some years of growing my own vegies is the reason I started in the first place - just for the "smug" factor. Unfortunately growing vegies will be actually be of quite some economic importance to me by this time next year and hence my interest in factory fertilisers versus non-factory - I'm sure I will be able to realise my needs without factory fertiliser but if using factory fertiliser will be cheaper in terms of land, currency and labour and doesn't necessarily sacrifice health and/or taste then I'm all for it. And I could smug for England. This is some use of the word "smug" with which I'm not familiar Steve Ivan. |
Is organic gardening viable?
Terry Collins wrote in
: Ivan McDonagh wrote: SNIP "Organic" to me is a system of certification and thus something is "organic" if it is certified to be organic. End of story. Some farmers are making a living being organic famrers. End of story about cost, etc. So that answers your question in the subject. Oh yes! I'm not arguing at all against those people who can do it - I honestly believe that if it was possible for all farms to be independent of factory fertilisers then that would be best. Okay, we are forced to live in a capitalist world and the capitalist world just exploits resources to enable some people to maximise the amount of money they make at the expense of other people and the environment. Although I agree to a certain extent with your statement I don't think I used that point as a thesis. If I did it was completely unintentional - much as I dislike the fact, I have accepted that I am living in a capitalist country and that not everything that is done in the name of capitalism (or any other form of politics-ism) is necessarily good for the world. SNIP So, if a farmer wants to do what is right by the environment, they then have to pay for cartage of that organic matter back to his farm, which for most means that the costs of farming inputs are too high and they would not have a commerically viable farm. Note, that book was written in 1948 and transport infrastructure has greatly changed since then. This is one of the points that the book makes as I'm sure you know. I'm aware that transport infrastructure has changed since then but so has the requirements of a commercially viable farm. That is, as the population has continued to grow we have either of more product per hectare being required or more hectares being required. In either event, it seems to me that whatever cost efficiencies have been gained in transport will be lost through the greater bulk of material being used. Instead, farmers tend to produce organic matter on the farm by growing other crops, e.g, sub-clover with crops to directly provide nitrogen, pastures that stock eat and defecate, etc. I wasn't aware that this is large-scale practise. Thanks. SNIP From the snipped advice regarding composting, I also compost what I can and am looking at getting in grass clippings and chook manure to build up the sand that I currently have. Perhaps I erred by mentioning the book but I wanted to be clear that I was not being "anti-organic" and that my questions had, at least, a reasonably sensible basis. Ivan. |
Is organic gardening viable?
Terry Collins wrote in
: Ivan McDonagh wrote: SNIP "Organic" to me is a system of certification and thus something is "organic" if it is certified to be organic. End of story. Some farmers are making a living being organic famrers. End of story about cost, etc. So that answers your question in the subject. Oh yes! I'm not arguing at all against those people who can do it - I honestly believe that if it was possible for all farms to be independent of factory fertilisers then that would be best. Okay, we are forced to live in a capitalist world and the capitalist world just exploits resources to enable some people to maximise the amount of money they make at the expense of other people and the environment. Although I agree to a certain extent with your statement I don't think I used that point as a thesis. If I did it was completely unintentional - much as I dislike the fact, I have accepted that I am living in a capitalist country and that not everything that is done in the name of capitalism (or any other form of politics-ism) is necessarily good for the world. SNIP So, if a farmer wants to do what is right by the environment, they then have to pay for cartage of that organic matter back to his farm, which for most means that the costs of farming inputs are too high and they would not have a commerically viable farm. Note, that book was written in 1948 and transport infrastructure has greatly changed since then. This is one of the points that the book makes as I'm sure you know. I'm aware that transport infrastructure has changed since then but so has the requirements of a commercially viable farm. That is, as the population has continued to grow we have either of more product per hectare being required or more hectares being required. In either event, it seems to me that whatever cost efficiencies have been gained in transport will be lost through the greater bulk of material being used. Instead, farmers tend to produce organic matter on the farm by growing other crops, e.g, sub-clover with crops to directly provide nitrogen, pastures that stock eat and defecate, etc. I wasn't aware that this is large-scale practise. Thanks. SNIP From the snipped advice regarding composting, I also compost what I can and am looking at getting in grass clippings and chook manure to build up the sand that I currently have. Perhaps I erred by mentioning the book but I wanted to be clear that I was not being "anti-organic" and that my questions had, at least, a reasonably sensible basis. Ivan. |
Is organic gardening viable?
Ivan McDonagh wrote:
.....snip..... Unfortunately growing vegies will be actually be of quite some economic importance to me by this time next year and hence my interest in factory fertilisers versus non-factory - If that is the case, work out how much your motor vehicle costs to run, because you will need to factor that into everything you do food wise. The cheapest food is bulk buying at the markets. The early markets where all the grocers buy, not the retail/paddy's type. the problem then becomes with what to do with 40kg bags of carrots, etc. which you can always compost 50% {;-). Otherwise, start looking around for supplies of organic matter; manure and compost. Perhaps a local restaurant won't mind you taking vege scraps away. If you are going to handle meat scraps, you really have to know what you are doing with composting as it can smell = problems with neighbours. Look at race tracks, they are generally quite happy for people to take the manure away. |
Is organic gardening viable?
Ivan McDonagh wrote:
.....snip..... Unfortunately growing vegies will be actually be of quite some economic importance to me by this time next year and hence my interest in factory fertilisers versus non-factory - If that is the case, work out how much your motor vehicle costs to run, because you will need to factor that into everything you do food wise. The cheapest food is bulk buying at the markets. The early markets where all the grocers buy, not the retail/paddy's type. the problem then becomes with what to do with 40kg bags of carrots, etc. which you can always compost 50% {;-). Otherwise, start looking around for supplies of organic matter; manure and compost. Perhaps a local restaurant won't mind you taking vege scraps away. If you are going to handle meat scraps, you really have to know what you are doing with composting as it can smell = problems with neighbours. Look at race tracks, they are generally quite happy for people to take the manure away. |
Is organic gardening viable?
Ivan McDonagh wrote:
....snip..... This is one of the points that the book makes as I'm sure you know. I'm aware that transport infrastructure has changed since then but so has the requirements of a commercially viable farm. That is, as the population has continued to grow we have either of more product per hectare being required or more hectares being required. In either event, it seems to me that whatever cost efficiencies have been gained in transport will be lost through the greater bulk of material being used. Generally, a farmer is required to produce more with less. So their yield per acres has to be up and they have less workers and bigger machinery. And as a general rule (at least in this country - Australia) they also require more land. To give you an example. After WWII, my wife's uncle obtain a soldier settler grant and started dairy farming with 40 head and two farm assistants. By the time he retired/sold out, he was milking 200 head by himself. The land exception is agriculture that is really an industrial process, e.g. chickens for meat and eggs, aquaculture (modern, not farm dams), mushroom growing, feedlots (cattle, pigs), some vegetables (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers) etc. Transport wise, modern trucks are far more powerful, thus carry more faster, which means the driver is more efficent, but also B-doubles also means that the driver is also able to carry a double load. This all reduces the cost component of transport. the increased amount is more to do with population growth and the sad fact that Australia largely imports any manufactured item. |
Is organic gardening viable?
On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 23:25:51 -0500, "Ray Drouillard"
wrote: "shazzbat" wrote in message ... But I don't care, there's nothing to beat the smug feeling of knowing that you grew what you're eating. I wonder who did the study. I wonder what veggies were used. Radishes and lettuce might be difficult, but I have yet to see a store-boughten peach that comes even close to one that was picked ripe from the tree (as opposed to being picked green and ripened after being severed from its source of sugar). The same sort of goes for tomatoes. It isn't as much an issue of vine-ripening, but there is a taste that comes with home grown tomatoes that is missing in the store-boughten fare. Perhaps buying some of the $3.00/pound premium tomatoes would fix that, but I wouldn't bet on it. Yeah, but... "home grown" and "organic" are not the same thing. Backing up the thread a bit, we come to 'taste tests' between organic and non-. There's no question that a tomato picked in one's own garden, or a peach from one's (or one's neighbor's) tree is superior to well-travelled produce, whether they've been fertilized with (organic) goat manure or something in a plastic bag. |
Is organic gardening viable?
"Ivan McDonagh" wrote in message 7.67... "shazzbat" wrote in : But I don't care, there's nothing to beat the smug feeling of knowing that you grew what you're eating. Yes, absolutely! The fulfilment of a dream of some years of growing my own vegies is the reason I started in the first place - just for the "smug" factor. Unfortunately growing vegies will be actually be of quite some economic importance to me by this time next year and hence my interest in factory fertilisers versus non-factory - I'm sure I will be able to realise my needs without factory fertiliser but if using factory fertiliser will be cheaper in terms of land, currency and labour and doesn't necessarily sacrifice health and/or taste then I'm all for it. And I could smug for England. This is some use of the word "smug" with which I'm not familiar Great! I'm even more smug now. Smugger even. :~) Steve |
Is organic gardening viable?
On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 22:32:45 +1100, Terry Collins
wrote: Ivan McDonagh wrote: ....snip..... Unfortunately growing vegies will be actually be of quite some economic importance to me by this time next year and hence my interest in factory fertilisers versus non-factory - If that is the case, work out how much your motor vehicle costs to run, because you will need to factor that into everything you do food wise. snip Otherwise, start looking around for supplies of organic matter; manure and compost. Take a look at those two statements. It's *obviously* going to be cheaper (in terms of auto/truck use) to bring home a few bags of commercial/chemical/non-'organic' fertilizer than chase around for and transport manure and compost. If you work in labor costs, cheaper still. I think the limit in this line was 'organic' advice to keep manure in a bucket on an apt. balcony rather than commit the 'crime' of feeding a potted tomato (or rose -- it's been some time) with a little convenient and readily-available Miracle-Gro. 'Organic' is lovely. Recycling waste of all sorts into useful nourishment for plants. It's just not too practical for all gardeners. I *adore* cow manure because it just *looks* so rich and nourishing...in its plastic 40lb bag which I can bring home in the trunk of my (compact) car. Shoveling and transporting *real* manure for a good-sized garden is just not an option. And there's no guarantee it's 'nature's most perfect food' for plants. At least evil 'chemical' fertilizers can be formulated to supply the necessary ingredients for many plants. Perhaps a local restaurant won't mind you taking vege scraps away. On your bicycle? Or on your back? If a restaurant is separating veg scraps from used napkins, emptied ashtrays, and plate-scrapings, the owner is probably saving for his *own* compost pile. Look at race tracks, they are generally quite happy for people to take the manure away. It's your own fault. You introduced the transportation issue. :-) You're advising the previous poster to spend a couple of days a week chasing around to restaurants and race tracks to find and transport large-volume materials to replace a couple of bags of the chemical nutrients plants require? I don't understand why 'artificial' fertilizers have such vociferous opponents. AFAIK, plants don't care whether their nitrogen and phosphorous comes from cowpats or granules. The previous poster is looking at real-life issues, and doubtless already uses all the 'organic' processes he can manage. *His* cost/benefit analysis appears to have come down on the side of manufactured fertilizer. Makes sense to me. He's not talking about wholesale DDT spraying, or lowering the water table to keep his golfcourse green. |
Is organic gardening viable?
On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 12:12:27 -0000, "shazzbat"
wrote: "Ivan McDonagh" wrote "shazzbat" wrote And I could smug for England. This is some use of the word "smug" with which I'm not familiar Great! I'm even more smug now. Smugger even. After a recent car accident, I was offered some settlement for "pain and suffering." While my pain was minor, I replied that I could 'suffer' at Olympic standard. I haven't the self-confidence for competitive smugging. Although I compete as an amateur. |
Is organic gardening viable?
"Frogleg" wrote in message ... On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 23:25:51 -0500, "Ray Drouillard" wrote: "shazzbat" wrote in message ... But I don't care, there's nothing to beat the smug feeling of knowing that you grew what you're eating. I wonder who did the study. I wonder what veggies were used. Radishes and lettuce might be difficult, but I have yet to see a store-boughten peach that comes even close to one that was picked ripe from the tree (as opposed to being picked green and ripened after being severed from its source of sugar). The same sort of goes for tomatoes. It isn't as much an issue of vine-ripening, but there is a taste that comes with home grown tomatoes that is missing in the store-boughten fare. Perhaps buying some of the $3.00/pound premium tomatoes would fix that, but I wouldn't bet on it. Yeah, but... "home grown" and "organic" are not the same thing. Backing up the thread a bit, we come to 'taste tests' between organic and non-. There's no question that a tomato picked in one's own garden, or a peach from one's (or one's neighbor's) tree is superior to well-travelled produce, whether they've been fertilized with (organic) goat manure or something in a plastic bag. Some people are purists :-) I prefer to eat veggies that don't require the removal of chemicals before eating. Also, whether or not you add ammonium nitrate or whatever to the soil, having good humus in the soil makes for better produce. Also, while the plants themselves don't need much in the way of trace minerals, we need them. You won't find selenium and the like in a bag of chemical fertilizer, but you'll find a variety of minerals in the dairy doo, compost, or whatever you are using. Ray |
Is organic gardening viable?
"Ivan McDonagh" wrote in message 7.67... "shazzbat" wrote in : But I don't care, there's nothing to beat the smug feeling of knowing that you grew what you're eating. Yes, absolutely! The fulfilment of a dream of some years of growing my own vegies is the reason I started in the first place - just for the "smug" factor. Unfortunately growing vegies will be actually be of quite some economic importance to me by this time next year and hence my interest in factory fertilisers versus non-factory - I'm sure I will be able to realise my needs without factory fertiliser but if using factory fertiliser will be cheaper in terms of land, currency and labour and doesn't necessarily sacrifice health and/or taste then I'm all for it. According to my research (to quote Dorothy Ann), the important thing is to have soil that is rich in organic matter. If you want to supplement that with stuff from bags, you probably won't be able to tell the difference. Chemical insecticides and the like, however, have to be used with care -- if you use them at all. Ray |
Is organic gardening viable?
"Katra" wrote in message ... In article , Plus it's just plain damn fun to go out to the yard and pick your lunch and cook it fresh off the plants... :-) Tastier too. :-d At least in my experience. Sometimes tho' I have to wonder if it's worth the water bills! That's why we want to buy that bit of property that has a crick running through it. We are pretty well assured of being able to buy the house and about ten acres of surrounding land, but the owner doesn't seem to want to sell us the creek. Oh well, I can always put in a shallow well and a windmill. It'll add some atmosphere, and go well with the old barn. :-) Ray |
Is organic gardening viable?
In article ,
"Ray Drouillard" wrote: I wonder who did the study. I wonder what veggies were used. Radishes and lettuce might be difficult, but I have yet to see a store-boughten peach that comes even close to one that was picked ripe from the tree (as opposed to being picked green and ripened after being severed from its source of sugar). The same sort of goes for tomatoes. It isn't as much an issue of vine-ripening, but there is a taste that comes with home grown tomatoes that is missing in the store-boughten fare. Perhaps buying some of the $3.00/pound premium tomatoes would fix that, but I wouldn't bet on it. I wuldn't either -- I've paid the premium for truss tomatoes and, while they taste better than the cheap ones, they have nothing on home-grown for flavour. OTOH I can fully believe that a home-grown iceberg lettuce doesn't taste much better than a shop one. A home-grown cos lettuce outshines a shop one, though -- even when grown under far-from-ideal conditions, ie with me as gardener! -- Chookie -- Sydney, Australia (Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply) "Jeez; if only those Ancient Greek storytellers had known about the astonishing creature that is the *Usenet hydra*: you cut off one head, and *a stupider one* grows back..." -- MJ, cam.misc |
Is organic gardening viable?
On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 20:59:28 -0500, "Ray Drouillard"
wrote: "Frogleg" wrote Yeah, but... "home grown" and "organic" are not the same thing. Backing up the thread a bit, we come to 'taste tests' between organic and non-. There's no question that a tomato picked in one's own garden, or a peach from one's (or one's neighbor's) tree is superior to well-travelled produce, whether they've been fertilized with (organic) goat manure or something in a plastic bag. Some people are purists :-) I prefer to eat veggies that don't require the removal of chemicals before eating. This is where I quarrel with the purists. I don't care for insecticides and I don't use them (except once, in a pot where Japanese beetles were devouring a woodruff plant). I *have* used Bt San Diego to control Colorado potato beetles. In Virginia. :-) *I* don't want to wash stuff off my veg either. But I see a difference in the level of 'sin' between wholesale use of pesticide and a little MiracleGro. That is, I think that fertilizers, perticides, and herbicides should be separate categories, not lumped together as "evil chemicals." Also, whether or not you add ammonium nitrate or whatever to the soil, having good humus in the soil makes for better produce. Also, while the plants themselves don't need much in the way of trace minerals, we need them. You won't find selenium and the like in a bag of chemical fertilizer, but you'll find a variety of minerals in the dairy doo, compost, or whatever you are using. Selenium is found in the soil, and in animal protein, as well as in some veg. If the soil is deficient in a given area, local animal poo and compost will be, too. In which case, the mineral can be applied as...commercial fertilizer! http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ncs/news...7/selenium.htm When someone posts that they're starting a garden and want to know what brand of fertilizer to use, I often reply that lively plants need more than a sprinkling from a bag of granules. I go on and on about the benefits of compost, not so much for nutrition but for general soil improvement, aeration and water drainage/retention. But if someone posts about an obvious nitrogen deficiency, I'd recommend ammonium nitrate. Animal poo does *not* appear to be perfectly balanced fertilizer. Good? Yes. Perfect, convenient, without any downside? No. I think we essentially agree that mad-dog conviction on either side of the organic-chemical Great Divide are wrong-headed. There are too many gray areas in a controversy that is often seen as black&white. |
Is organic gardening viable?
On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 20:59:28 -0500, "Ray Drouillard"
wrote: "Frogleg" wrote Yeah, but... "home grown" and "organic" are not the same thing. Backing up the thread a bit, we come to 'taste tests' between organic and non-. There's no question that a tomato picked in one's own garden, or a peach from one's (or one's neighbor's) tree is superior to well-travelled produce, whether they've been fertilized with (organic) goat manure or something in a plastic bag. Some people are purists :-) I prefer to eat veggies that don't require the removal of chemicals before eating. This is where I quarrel with the purists. I don't care for insecticides and I don't use them (except once, in a pot where Japanese beetles were devouring a woodruff plant). I *have* used Bt San Diego to control Colorado potato beetles. In Virginia. :-) *I* don't want to wash stuff off my veg either. But I see a difference in the level of 'sin' between wholesale use of pesticide and a little MiracleGro. That is, I think that fertilizers, perticides, and herbicides should be separate categories, not lumped together as "evil chemicals." Also, whether or not you add ammonium nitrate or whatever to the soil, having good humus in the soil makes for better produce. Also, while the plants themselves don't need much in the way of trace minerals, we need them. You won't find selenium and the like in a bag of chemical fertilizer, but you'll find a variety of minerals in the dairy doo, compost, or whatever you are using. Selenium is found in the soil, and in animal protein, as well as in some veg. If the soil is deficient in a given area, local animal poo and compost will be, too. In which case, the mineral can be applied as...commercial fertilizer! http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ncs/news...7/selenium.htm When someone posts that they're starting a garden and want to know what brand of fertilizer to use, I often reply that lively plants need more than a sprinkling from a bag of granules. I go on and on about the benefits of compost, not so much for nutrition but for general soil improvement, aeration and water drainage/retention. But if someone posts about an obvious nitrogen deficiency, I'd recommend ammonium nitrate. Animal poo does *not* appear to be perfectly balanced fertilizer. Good? Yes. Perfect, convenient, without any downside? No. I think we essentially agree that mad-dog conviction on either side of the organic-chemical Great Divide are wrong-headed. There are too many gray areas in a controversy that is often seen as black&white. |
Is organic gardening viable?
I have not read this book, but I have practiced organic gardening on a
suburban block with favourable results and I believe organic gardening is viable if approached in the correct manner. There may be some exceptions for using pesticides, especially on fruit trees with introduced pests that have no natural predators (I.e. That dam cherry slug that attacks my plums, pears and cherry tree) But otherwise, with careful planning and paying attention to 'past season' errors you should find pesticides are not really necessary. Mr Hopkins is accurate in saying a that large amounts of organic matter are required in the soil. i.e. compost, as Australian soil is generally of poor quality. We should not even double dig our soil , but build compost/raised beds where possible. Chemical fertilizers will not 'fix' the soil. Compost over time, with continued use, will improve soil quality. (if you crop rotate and minimise digging) But building compost I NOT hard to do and organic matter is not difficult to obtain.(everyone throws it out) Also you won't need 'heaps' of space. First you need to 1. Invest in a tree mulcher ($150 up) and possibly by a trailer (2nd hand in the trading post) 2. Locate a cheap and local 'manure' pit. I live in Victoria, outer eastern suburbs. There is a local horse track not too far from my house. I can collect a trailer load of horse manure for $5.00. 3. Make a compost heap. I won't go into the semantics of how to make a good compost. A good resource is 'The Rodale Book of Composting' Deborah I Martina and Crace Gershuny, Editors. Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania. You can make 'moveable' compost beds. Try and make your compost 'hot' as it kills weed seeds. When the compost is finished make it a raised bed and plant and start another compost heap. I collect organic matter for about a month, picking up neighbours trees they have cut, my lawn clippings, weeds etc etc. (anything organic even newspaper) I then go and collect the manure and start up a seriously hot compost. SO that fixes up your 'soil' issue and now all you have to do is deal with the pests. P.S and if you have to buy soil, while it is slightly more expensive, choose mushroom mulch. It is worth the extra expense. You will have near compost quality soil and it will retain moisture more easily. To deal with pests in an organic manner takes some planning. And you will get pests all the same. Its the 'how much' damage they do that is the issue VS How much does the pesticide cost/what am I eating it for etc factor. So now you need a little bit of knowledge on pest behaviour. Pests find their food by either smell or sight. So you want to confuse them. There a many books on 'companion' planting, good pests/bad pests. Repelling pest plants etc etc that can assist with 'keeping' pests at bay. There is so much knowledge in fact that it can get confusing, and you may start thinking, 'Hey I will just SPRAY'. But I have found with a limited amount of knowledge that a few tricks work well. Don't plant the same vegetables all in a row. Its like a sitting target. The pests see/smell it SO EASILY. Especially the cabbages, cauliflowers, etc (the Brassica family) Garlic works well in most places as a repellent. Set up 'sacrifice Brassica's. The cabbage I plant these at the edge of the bed and they always gets decimated by pests. However, the other Brassica's are usually free to mostly free of snails/slugs. Introduce a pond and frogs into your backyard to catch the bugs. We eat anywhere between 20 to 80% of our own food during meals. Probably averaging 60% This is our 2nd summer crop. I am keeping an online diary of my garden ( nearly 2mth behind at present) www.jeack.com.au/~kirsty As to the taste test between organic VS non-organic VS home grown. I eat mostly organic vegetables (seasonal when possible except avocados my addiction) Sometimes, I will admit you don't notice a difference in the foods. And some can seen even 'better' as non-organic. Below are examples that do compare noticeably for me. Tomatoes non-organic = Pretty dam tasteless. No flavour and a strange flour like texture organic = Still pretty tasteless. Normal tomato texture. home grown = Fantastic. Peaches non-organic = From what I recall seemed ok organic = Alright, some had a slightly bitter aftertaste. Smaller in size than non-organic home grown = As big as the non-organic, very sweet, no bitter aftertaste Potatoes non-organic = Taste floury and weird organic = Taste wonderful home-grown = Taste as good as organic, easier to clean. Lettuce No difference between any, but is expensive. Home grown lose leaf's very easy to grow. Capsicum non-organic = Big and watery. Not much taste but twice the size of organic organic = Smaller in size, less watery. Slightly more flavour home grown = Never been very successful. In all for 'value' non-organic. But how much water has been used to justify that SIZE is my question. However, in saying the home grown tomato's are fantastic I did have some exceptions. These were the seeds that self sprouted from the organic vegetable scraps I fed to my chickens. They were perfect in shape, stayed on the kitchen bench 'ripening up for days longer than other 'variety's and tasted a lot less 'fantastic' than say the Tommy toes. The moral of this is. Even organics grow tomatoes for 'shelf life' and 'appearance's over flavour. Definably grow your own. "Ivan McDonagh" wrote in message 7.67... *** note the cross post *** Hi all :) I have just finished reading an online book "Chemicals, Humus, and The Soil" written by Donald P. Hopkins. This book is available through the agriculture library at http://www.soilandhealth.org. It seems to me that Mr Hopkins makes a very strong case in favour of using the fertilisers that are not permissible under the "rules" of organic gardening. Although Mr Hopkins has discussed this matter in the context of commercial farming it seems to me that as home growers we are also looking for best yield for least cost (direct and labour) and that the arguments he presents are mostly just as valid for home growers as for commercial. Mr Hopkins emphasises to a very great extent the need for large amounts of organic matter in the soil but is also convincing in his argument that the amounts of humus that are required to provide sufficient nutrients for the high density planting that both home and commercial growers favour is difficult for the home grower and expensive to the point of impossibility in the case of the commercial grower to obtain. I wonder if anyone else has read this book and can comment on the validity of the arguments put forward by Mr Hopkins. Also, are there any peer-reviewed studies regarding the "taste" of organic vs. non-organic produce (presumably these would be double blind trials) and the bio-availability of nutrients in organic vs. non-organic produce. Obviously, I would prefer at least abstracts to be available via the internet. Ivan. |
Is organic gardening viable?
Frogleg wrote in
: On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 22:32:45 +1100, Terry Collins wrote: I don't understand why 'artificial' fertilizers have such vociferous opponents. AFAIK, plants don't care whether their nitrogen and phosphorous comes from cowpats or granules. That was actually one of the points made in the book that I referenced in the original post. The way the author described it makes good sense to me. The previous poster is looking at real-life issues, and doubtless already uses all the 'organic' processes he can manage. I do and I'm looking for ways to increase that still further. *His* cost/benefit analysis appears to have come down on the side of manufactured fertilizer. Makes sense to me. It seems that way at the moment based on the responses I've had. He's not talking about wholesale DDT spraying, or lowering the water table to keep his golfcourse green. No, definitely not! The *huge* amount of grass clippings, equally huge amounts of chook poo and, possibly, a smaller amount of clay are all at least partly focused on reducing water requirements as much as possible. And my position on *no* factory pesticides remains firm - increased productivity through factory fertilisers is one thing but I haven't seen a cogent argument yet as to why a well managed, mixed crop would need a pesticide. Thanks to all who responded. Ivan. |
Is organic gardening viable?
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Is organic gardening viable?
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Is organic gardening viable?
On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 22:32:45 +1100, Terry Collins wrote:
Ivan McDonagh wrote: ....snip..... Unfortunately growing vegies will be actually be of quite some economic importance to me by this time next year and hence my interest in factory fertilisers versus non-factory - If that is the case, work out how much your motor vehicle costs to run, because you will need to factor that into everything you do food wise. The cheapest food is bulk buying at the markets. The early markets where all the grocers buy, not the retail/paddy's type. the problem then becomes with what to do with 40kg bags of carrots, etc. which you can always compost 50% {;-). Otherwise, start looking around for supplies of organic matter; manure and compost. Perhaps a local restaurant won't mind you taking vege scraps away. If you are going to handle meat scraps, you really have to know what you are doing with composting as it can smell = problems with neighbours. Look at race tracks, they are generally quite happy for people to take the manure away. One problem with racetracks and other sources of manure is that they sometimes spray their manure with pesticides to keep the flies away. |
Is organic gardening viable?
On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 22:32:45 +1100, Terry Collins wrote:
Ivan McDonagh wrote: ....snip..... Unfortunately growing vegies will be actually be of quite some economic importance to me by this time next year and hence my interest in factory fertilisers versus non-factory - If that is the case, work out how much your motor vehicle costs to run, because you will need to factor that into everything you do food wise. The cheapest food is bulk buying at the markets. The early markets where all the grocers buy, not the retail/paddy's type. the problem then becomes with what to do with 40kg bags of carrots, etc. which you can always compost 50% {;-). Otherwise, start looking around for supplies of organic matter; manure and compost. Perhaps a local restaurant won't mind you taking vege scraps away. If you are going to handle meat scraps, you really have to know what you are doing with composting as it can smell = problems with neighbours. Look at race tracks, they are generally quite happy for people to take the manure away. One problem with racetracks and other sources of manure is that they sometimes spray their manure with pesticides to keep the flies away. |
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