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Steve Harris 12-08-2003 04:33 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
In article ,
(Alan Gould) wrote:

A few fag ends infused in water overnight would make a very
effective insecticide, but it caused a lot of health and safety
problems.


But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com

Nick Maclaren 12-08-2003 04:43 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

In article ,
(Steve Harris) writes:
| In article ,
|
(Alan Gould) wrote:
|
| A few fag ends infused in water overnight would make a very
| effective insecticide, but it caused a lot of health and safety
| problems.
|
| But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

Organic, biodegradable and generally ecologically good. Not so
safe for humans, though ....


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Alan Gould 12-08-2003 07:13 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
In article , Steve
Harris writes
But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

No. It is neither organic, nor legal.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

Alan Gould 12-08-2003 07:13 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
In article , Nick Maclaren
writes
| But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

Organic, biodegradable and generally ecologically good. Not so
safe for humans, though ....

Does it work on trolls Nick?
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

Nick Maclaren 12-08-2003 09:13 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
In article ,
Alan Gould wrote:
In article , Steve
Harris writes
But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

No. It is neither organic, nor legal.


Are you using the word "organic" in the sense of Organic(TM)?

It is assuredly (a) organic in the chemical sense, (b) organic in
the sense that it is a natural plant extract, (c) organic in the
sense that it is ecologically almost harmless and probably organic
in other senses, too.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Nick Maclaren 12-08-2003 09:13 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
In article ,
Alan Gould wrote:
In article , Nick Maclaren
writes
| But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

Organic, biodegradable and generally ecologically good. Not so
safe for humans, though ....

Does it work on trolls Nick?


Dunno. You would have to try it and see.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Franz Heymann 12-08-2003 09:13 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

"Alan Gould" wrote in message
...
In article , Steve
Harris writes
But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

No. It is neither organic,


If you are referring to nicotine, you are wrong.

nor legal.


Franz Heymann



Michael Berridge 13-08-2003 02:08 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

Nick Maclaren wrote in message ...

In article ,
(Steve Harris) writes:
| In article ,
| (Alan Gould) wrote:
|
| A few fag ends infused in water overnight would make a very
| effective insecticide, but it caused a lot of health and safety
| problems.
|
| But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

Organic, biodegradable and generally ecologically good. Not so
safe for humans, though ....


Nicotine in itself is not that harmful, otherwise you wouldn't get
nicotine patches to help you kick the smoking habit. It is the by
products of setting light to it, and all the other chemicals that have
been added, that cause the problems.

Mike
www.british-naturism.org.uk





Michael Berridge 13-08-2003 02:25 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

Nick Maclaren wrote in message ...

In article ,
(Steve Harris) writes:
| In article ,
| (Alan Gould) wrote:
|
| A few fag ends infused in water overnight would make a very
| effective insecticide, but it caused a lot of health and safety
| problems.
|
| But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

Organic, biodegradable and generally ecologically good. Not so
safe for humans, though ....


Nicotine in itself is not that harmful, otherwise you wouldn't get
nicotine patches to help you kick the smoking habit. It is the by
products of setting light to it, and all the other chemicals that have
been added, that cause the problems.

Mike
www.british-naturism.org.uk





Michael Berridge 13-08-2003 02:29 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

Nick Maclaren wrote in message ...

In article ,
(Steve Harris) writes:
| In article ,
| (Alan Gould) wrote:
|
| A few fag ends infused in water overnight would make a very
| effective insecticide, but it caused a lot of health and safety
| problems.
|
| But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

Organic, biodegradable and generally ecologically good. Not so
safe for humans, though ....


Nicotine in itself is not that harmful, otherwise you wouldn't get
nicotine patches to help you kick the smoking habit. It is the by
products of setting light to it, and all the other chemicals that have
been added, that cause the problems.

Mike
www.british-naturism.org.uk





Alan Gould 13-08-2003 06:07 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
In article , Nick Maclaren
writes
No. It is neither organic, nor legal.


Are you using the word "organic" in the sense of Organic(TM)?

It is assuredly (a) organic in the chemical sense, (b) organic in
the sense that it is a natural plant extract, (c) organic in the
sense that it is ecologically almost harmless and probably organic
in other senses, too.

Noted.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

Franz Heymann 13-08-2003 08:44 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Michael Berridge wrote:

Nick Maclaren wrote in message ...
In article ,
(Steve Harris) writes:
| In article ,
| (Alan Gould) wrote:
|
| A few fag ends infused in water overnight would make a very
| effective insecticide, but it caused a lot of health and safety
| problems.
|
| But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

Organic, biodegradable and generally ecologically good. Not so
safe for humans, though ....


Nicotine in itself is not that harmful, otherwise you wouldn't get
nicotine patches to help you kick the smoking habit. It is the by
products of setting light to it, and all the other chemicals that have
been added, that cause the problems.


Er, no. Nicotine is extremely poisonous, and it is very easy to take
a fatal overdose if you extract it from tobacco.


A large fraction of the usual garden plants (the majority?), not counting
the vegetable garden, is poisonous. I don't go around eating and drinking
extracts from them, and I see no reason why they should be banned.

[Franz Heymann]




Nick Maclaren 13-08-2003 09:12 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

In article ,
"Franz Heymann" writes:
|
| A large fraction of the usual garden plants (the majority?), not counting
| the vegetable garden, is poisonous. I don't go around eating and drinking
| extracts from them, and I see no reason why they should be banned.

Actually a minority, and there is little difference between the flower
and vegetable gardens. The main reason for banning such things is
that bureaucrats don't like uppity peasants.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

martin 13-08-2003 09:13 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
On 13 Aug 2003 07:49:34 GMT, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:


In article ,
"Franz Heymann" writes:
|
| A large fraction of the usual garden plants (the majority?), not counting
| the vegetable garden, is poisonous. I don't go around eating and drinking
| extracts from them, and I see no reason why they should be banned.

Actually a minority, and there is little difference between the flower
and vegetable gardens. The main reason for banning such things is
that bureaucrats don't like uppity peasants.


it's not, but if believing that makes you feel good............
--
Martin

Nick Maclaren 13-08-2003 09:13 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

In article ,
martin writes:
| |
| | A large fraction of the usual garden plants (the majority?), not counting
| | the vegetable garden, is poisonous. I don't go around eating and drinking
| | extracts from them, and I see no reason why they should be banned.
|
| Actually a minority, and there is little difference between the flower
| and vegetable gardens. The main reason for banning such things is
| that bureaucrats don't like uppity peasants.
|
| it's not, but if believing that makes you feel good............

Would you like to propose your hypothesis, so that we can all
have a good laugh?

Please remember that, in science, a hypothesis must fit the facts
to be worth taking seriously.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Rodger Whitlock 13-08-2003 07:44 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 15:39 +0100 (BST), Steve Harris wrote:

In article ,
(Alan Gould) wrote:

A few fag ends infused in water overnight would make a very
effective insecticide, but it caused a lot of health and safety
problems.


But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)


Please dismiss the word "organic" from your vocabulary as regards
both gardening (and farming) and chemical identity.

Technically speaking, any chemical compound that contains at
least one carbon atom is "organic". The category embraces
everything from carbon dioxide and sugar (both lethal in large
enough doses) to virulent poisons of which small doses can kill
you in a few seconds.

Nicotine, the active insecticidal compound found in tobacco, has
a very high level of toxicity for mammals. You are a mammal. It
is much less safe for you than the usual non-organic (sensu
confusu) insecticides.

The fact that it is derived directly from a natural source in no
way makes a solution of cigarette butts a safe insecticide.

To replace "organic" in reference to horticulture goings on, use
the phrase "free of petrochemical derivatives not occurring in
nature" and you will be more accurate and focussed in your
objections -- which, I might add, I am in reasonable agreement
with.


--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Mary Fisher 13-08-2003 07:44 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 



A few fag ends infused in water overnight would make a very
effective insecticide, but it caused a lot of health and safety
problems.


But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)


Please dismiss the word "organic" from your vocabulary as regards
both gardening (and farming) and chemical identity.

Technically speaking, any chemical compound that contains at
least one carbon atom is "organic". The category embraces
everything from carbon dioxide and sugar (both lethal in large
enough doses) to virulent poisons of which small doses can kill
you in a few seconds.


No! Really?


To replace "organic" in reference to horticulture goings on, use
the phrase "free of petrochemical derivatives not occurring in
nature"


Oh come on!

Some usages of words we have to accept according to context. This is a
gardening group.

Mary



Alan Gould 13-08-2003 09:12 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
In article , Mary Fisher
writes

Some usages of words we have to accept according to context. This is a
gardening group.

Very good point Mary. In this group references to 'organic' are assumed
to be about organic gardening practices unless otherwise indicated.

Urg has a FAQ on the subject of organic gardening at:
http://www.nugget.demon.co.uk/MetaFA...gardening.html
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

Martin Brown 13-08-2003 09:12 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
In message , Michael
Berridge writes

Nick Maclaren wrote in message ...

In article ,
(Steve Harris) writes:
| In article ,
| (Alan Gould) wrote:
|
| A few fag ends infused in water overnight would make a very
| effective insecticide, but it caused a lot of health and safety
| problems.
|
| But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

Organic, biodegradable and generally ecologically good. Not so
safe for humans, though ....


Nicotine in itself is not that harmful, otherwise you wouldn't get
nicotine patches to help you kick the smoking habit. It is the by
products of setting light to it, and all the other chemicals that have
been added, that cause the problems.


Nicotine is a remarkably deadly poison! You can just about extract LD50
for humans from a couple of cigarettes using the right solvents. What
protects smokers is that burning is a very inefficient way to absorb it.
And addict patches contain only tiny amounts of the active ingredient.

As an insecticide it also had the annoying problem of frequently being
contaminated with tobacco mosaic virus. And despite it's name the TMV is
rather promiscuous about the plants it will infect. In the days when
nicotine was still licenced for greenhouse use it caused serious
operator casualties. Mistakes with nicotine extract could be severely
punished because of its high mammalian toxicity and skin penetration.

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

Franz Heymann 13-08-2003 09:42 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

"Rodger Whitlock" wrote in
message ...
On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 15:39 +0100 (BST), Steve Harris wrote:

In article ,
(Alan Gould) wrote:

A few fag ends infused in water overnight would make a very
effective insecticide, but it caused a lot of health and safety
problems.


But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)


Please dismiss the word "organic" from your vocabulary as regards
both gardening (and farming) and chemical identity.

Technically speaking, any chemical compound that contains at
least one carbon atom is "organic". The category embraces
everything from carbon dioxide and sugar (both lethal in large
enough doses) to virulent poisons of which small doses can kill
you in a few seconds.

Nicotine, the active insecticidal compound found in tobacco, has
a very high level of toxicity for mammals. You are a mammal. It
is much less safe for you than the usual non-organic (sensu
confusu) insecticides.

The fact that it is derived directly from a natural source in no
way makes a solution of cigarette butts a safe insecticide.

To replace "organic" in reference to horticulture goings on, use
the phrase "free of petrochemical derivatives not occurring in
nature" and you will be more accurate and focussed in your
objections -- which, I might add, I am in reasonable agreement
with.


At last someone has said it straight out in this ng. Folk should realise
that it is quite silly to use the term "organic" versus "inorganic" in the
contexts in which they are commonly used in agri- and horticulture. The
more sensible dichotomy is between *beneficient* and *deleterious*
substances. Both "organic" and "inorganic" substances in use in
horticulture have examples in both camps.

If a chemical does a lot of good and a minimum of harm, I will gladly use
it, whether it is correctly or incorrectly classified as "organic" or
"inorganic".

[Franz Heymann]



Franz Heymann 13-08-2003 09:42 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
t...



A few fag ends infused in water overnight would make a very
effective insecticide, but it caused a lot of health and safety
problems.

But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)


Please dismiss the word "organic" from your vocabulary as regards
both gardening (and farming) and chemical identity.

Technically speaking, any chemical compound that contains at
least one carbon atom is "organic". The category embraces
everything from carbon dioxide and sugar (both lethal in large
enough doses) to virulent poisons of which small doses can kill
you in a few seconds.


No! Really?


Yes, really.

To replace "organic" in reference to horticulture goings on, use
the phrase "free of petrochemical derivatives not occurring in
nature"


Oh come on!


The sentence to which you are objecting is quite strictly correct.


Some usages of words we have to accept according to context. This is a
gardening group.


Gardeners should realise that they frequently get their knickers in a twist
through the misuse of terms which have prior definitions differing from
those they *think* are correct. It has, for instance, occurred in this very
thread. "Organic" itself is a case in point. There is a great tendency to
call "beneficient" chemicals "organic" and others "inorganic".

I have just rechecked the definition of the term "organic" in the Penguin
Dictionary of Chemistry.
".........Organic chemistry is now the study of the compounds of carbon,
whether they be isolated from natural sources or synthesised in the
laboratory.........."

[Franz Heymann]



martin 13-08-2003 09:42 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 20:20:10 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:

Gardeners should realise that they frequently get their knickers in a twist
through the misuse of terms which have prior definitions differing from
those they *think* are correct. It has, for instance, occurred in this very
thread. "Organic" itself is a case in point. There is a great tendency to
call "beneficient" chemicals "organic" and others "inorganic".


It helps to sell organic food at vast prices to the naive, who think
that they are getting something clean and natural, rather than just
more stuff sprayed with approved "organic" chemicals.
--
Martin

Franz Heymann 13-08-2003 10:32 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

"martin" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 20:20:10 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:

Gardeners should realise that they frequently get their knickers in a

twist
through the misuse of terms which have prior definitions differing from
those they *think* are correct. It has, for instance, occurred in this

very
thread. "Organic" itself is a case in point. There is a great tendency

to
call "beneficient" chemicals "organic" and others "inorganic".


It helps to sell organic food at vast prices to the naive, who think
that they are getting something clean and natural, rather than just
more stuff sprayed with approved "organic" chemicals.


Indeed. I wish I could make my better half understand that.

[Franz Heymann]



martin 13-08-2003 10:32 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 21:15:29 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:


"martin" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 20:20:10 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:

Gardeners should realise that they frequently get their knickers in a

twist
through the misuse of terms which have prior definitions differing from
those they *think* are correct. It has, for instance, occurred in this

very
thread. "Organic" itself is a case in point. There is a great tendency

to
call "beneficient" chemicals "organic" and others "inorganic".


It helps to sell organic food at vast prices to the naive, who think
that they are getting something clean and natural, rather than just
more stuff sprayed with approved "organic" chemicals.


Indeed. I wish I could make my better half understand that.


There was a very good program on BBC about it.
According to them the Organic Food Industry have a large book full of
approved alternative natural chemicals. Copper was the alternative
thing to put on potatoes.
--
Martin

Mary Fisher 13-08-2003 11:12 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 


Gardeners should realise that they frequently get their knickers in a

twist

It seems that you're the one with twisted knickers. We all know what's meant
without being pedantic.



I have just rechecked the definition of the term "organic" in the Penguin
Dictionary of Chemistry.
".........Organic chemistry is now the study of the compounds of carbon,
whether they be isolated from natural sources or synthesised in the
laboratory.........."


As a one-time organic chemist I know that.

You shouldn't make assumptions.

Mary

[Franz Heymann]





Laurie Moseley 13-08-2003 11:34 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
"It seems that you're the one with twisted knickers. We all know what's meant
without being pedantic."

No we don't all know what's meant - that is the whole point of this discussion.
It is a writer's responsibility to try to avoid misunderstandings on the part
of their readers. That is why we have a common language.

More generally, those who call other people "pedantic" are usually being
woolly. Unless you are very careful in your use of words, there is always a
danger of miscommunication, and of your readers not understanding you in the
way that you thought that you intended.

Pedantry is one of the great safeguards of freedom and democracy. Let's start a
"Save pedantry" campaign.

Laurie
Laurie (Laurence) Moseley

Plus Ultra

Expert Systems, Decision-Making, Argentinian Tango & Golf

martin 13-08-2003 11:34 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
On 13 Aug 2003 22:24:37 GMT, (Laurie Moseley) wrote:

"It seems that you're the one with twisted knickers. We all know what's meant
without being pedantic."

No we don't all know what's meant


Panto: Oh Yes we do!

--
Martin

Rodger Whitlock 14-08-2003 02:02 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 18:25:46 +0100, Mary Fisher wrote:

But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)


Please dismiss the word "organic" from your vocabulary as regards
both gardening (and farming) and chemical identity.

Technically speaking, any chemical compound that contains at
least one carbon atom is "organic". The category embraces
everything from carbon dioxide and sugar (both lethal in large
enough doses) to virulent poisons of which small doses can kill
you in a few seconds.


No! Really?


To replace "organic" in reference to horticulture goings on, use
the phrase "free of petrochemical derivatives not occurring in
nature"


Oh come on!

Some usages of words we have to accept according to context. This is a
gardening group.


I am of the opinion that the horticultural word "organic" covers
such a wide assortment of tendencies, trends, practices, and fads
(to say nothing of sins, errors, and willful ignorance) that it
is meaningless. There's a touching idea about, that if it's
"organic" (or "natural" or even "herbal") that it's Truly
Wonderful and Utterly Harm-Free.

Now tell me, just what do ~you~ mean by "organic" when you use it
in reference to gardening, horticulture, farming, food
production, etc? Be specific. I'm curious, very curious.

--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

sw 14-08-2003 04:42 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
martin wrote:

On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 20:20:10 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:

Gardeners should realise that they frequently get their knickers in a twist
through the misuse of terms which have prior definitions differing from
those they *think* are correct. It has, for instance, occurred in this very
thread. "Organic" itself is a case in point. There is a great tendency to
call "beneficient" chemicals "organic" and others "inorganic".


It helps to sell organic food at vast prices to the naive, who think
that they are getting something clean and natural, rather than just
more stuff sprayed with approved "organic" chemicals.


Possibly. But some of us are capable of distinguishing between the
chemicals used on conventional crops and those used on Organic crops.

regards
sarah


--
Think of it as evolution in action.

Franz Heymann 14-08-2003 08:23 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

"martin" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 21:15:29 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:


"martin" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 20:20:10 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:

Gardeners should realise that they frequently get their knickers in a

twist
through the misuse of terms which have prior definitions differing

from
those they *think* are correct. It has, for instance, occurred in

this
very
thread. "Organic" itself is a case in point. There is a great

tendency
to
call "beneficient" chemicals "organic" and others "inorganic".

It helps to sell organic food at vast prices to the naive, who think
that they are getting something clean and natural, rather than just
more stuff sprayed with approved "organic" chemicals.


Indeed. I wish I could make my better half understand that.


There was a very good program on BBC about it.
According to them the Organic Food Industry have a large book full of
approved alternative natural chemicals. Copper was the alternative
thing to put on potatoes.


Where do they place slaked lime? It is not a natural chemical, but is
produced by calcining limestone and allowing the quicklime produced in this
manner to be hydrated. What is natural about this??

Franz

--
Martin




Franz Heymann 14-08-2003 08:24 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

"sw" wrote in message
...
martin wrote:

On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 20:20:10 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:

Gardeners should realise that they frequently get their knickers in a

twist
through the misuse of terms which have prior definitions differing from
those they *think* are correct. It has, for instance, occurred in this

very
thread. "Organic" itself is a case in point. There is a great

tendency to
call "beneficient" chemicals "organic" and others "inorganic".


It helps to sell organic food at vast prices to the naive, who think
that they are getting something clean and natural, rather than just
more stuff sprayed with approved "organic" chemicals.


Possibly. But some of us are capable of distinguishing between the
chemicals used on conventional crops and those used on Organic crops.

Must I then take it that organic food == food grown with nice tasting
chemicals and ordinary food == food grown with nasty tasting chemicals?

Franz



Franz Heymann 14-08-2003 08:24 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
t...


Gardeners should realise that they frequently get their knickers in a

twist

It seems that you're the one with twisted knickers. We all know what's

meant
without being pedantic.


Actually, you don't. Please, without looking at what I recently said about
lime, tell me whether it is organic or inorganic.



I have just rechecked the definition of the term "organic" in the

Penguin
Dictionary of Chemistry.
".........Organic chemistry is now the study of the compounds of carbon,
whether they be isolated from natural sources or synthesised in the
laboratory.........."


As a one-time organic chemist I know that.

You shouldn't make assumptions.

I made no assumptions anout your profession. I only commented on the vague
usage of the term "organic" in gardening circles.
I have gardened for close on seventy years, and I have felt no need to
classify anything as "organic" or otherwise in the gardening sense. I use
ony the categories "beneficient" and "harmful" in the current context.
This avoids me falling into the trap of ever calling copper sulphate and
lime "organic" and DDT "not organic".

Franz

Franz



Kay Easton 14-08-2003 10:02 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
In article , Franz Heymann notfranz.
writes

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
et...



A few fag ends infused in water overnight would make a very
effective insecticide, but it caused a lot of health and safety
problems.

But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

Please dismiss the word "organic" from your vocabulary as regards
both gardening (and farming) and chemical identity.

Technically speaking, any chemical compound that contains at
least one carbon atom is "organic". The category embraces
everything from carbon dioxide and sugar (both lethal in large
enough doses) to virulent poisons of which small doses can kill
you in a few seconds.


No! Really?


Yes, really.


"Irony doesn't work on usenet" ;-)
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

martin 14-08-2003 10:13 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 21:39:59 +0100, (sw) wrote:

martin wrote:

On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 20:20:10 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:

Gardeners should realise that they frequently get their knickers in a twist
through the misuse of terms which have prior definitions differing from
those they *think* are correct. It has, for instance, occurred in this very
thread. "Organic" itself is a case in point. There is a great tendency to
call "beneficient" chemicals "organic" and others "inorganic".


It helps to sell organic food at vast prices to the naive, who think
that they are getting something clean and natural, rather than just
more stuff sprayed with approved "organic" chemicals.


Possibly. But some of us are capable of distinguishing between the
chemicals used on conventional crops and those used on Organic crops.


The customers who buy "organic" products in supermarkets have no way
of knowing.

Many of the "organic" alternatives are now on the EU banned list of
chemicals. Many of the alternative chemicals being used were far more
dangerous than the current stuff used by normal commercial growers,
according to the BBC. There's a lot of pseudo science about. I blame
rotten education.

My wife grows vegetables on an allotment organically. She and other
members use no chemicals. To me that's what organic is all about.
--
Martin

martin 14-08-2003 10:13 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 07:20:30 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:


"sw" wrote in message
...
martin wrote:

On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 20:20:10 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:

Gardeners should realise that they frequently get their knickers in a

twist
through the misuse of terms which have prior definitions differing from
those they *think* are correct. It has, for instance, occurred in this

very
thread. "Organic" itself is a case in point. There is a great

tendency to
call "beneficient" chemicals "organic" and others "inorganic".

It helps to sell organic food at vast prices to the naive, who think
that they are getting something clean and natural, rather than just
more stuff sprayed with approved "organic" chemicals.


Possibly. But some of us are capable of distinguishing between the
chemicals used on conventional crops and those used on Organic crops.

Must I then take it that organic food == food grown with nice tasting
chemicals and ordinary food == food grown with nasty tasting chemicals?


I think folksy old fashioned names for chemicals are better than real
chemical names. :-)
--
Martin

martin 14-08-2003 10:13 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 09:14:02 +0100, Kay Easton
wrote:

"Irony doesn't work on usenet" ;-)


Have you tried spraying it on your potatoes? :-)
--
Martin

Laurie Moseley 14-08-2003 10:13 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
This is the problem. It's the usual trap of trying to make "I understand it in
this way" mean "Everyone understands it in this way". That is one of the
reasons why communication is often so poor.

Could this be the basis for many divorces ?
(Insert Smiley)

Laurie
Laurie (Laurence) Moseley

Plus Ultra

Expert Systems, Decision-Making, Argentinian Tango & Golf

dave @ stejonda 14-08-2003 11:32 AM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
In message , martin
writes
My wife grows vegetables on an allotment organically. She and other
members use no chemicals. To me that's what organic is all about.


how do their crops grow without water?

--
dave @ stejonda

Franz Heymann 14-08-2003 03:23 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
Xref: kermit uk.rec.gardening:159427


"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...
In article , Franz Heymann notfranz.
writes

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
et...



A few fag ends infused in water overnight would make a very
effective insecticide, but it caused a lot of health and safety
problems.

But surely this insecticide is pretty organic? :-)

Please dismiss the word "organic" from your vocabulary as regards
both gardening (and farming) and chemical identity.

Technically speaking, any chemical compound that contains at
least one carbon atom is "organic". The category embraces
everything from carbon dioxide and sugar (both lethal in large
enough doses) to virulent poisons of which small doses can kill
you in a few seconds.

No! Really?


Yes, really.


"Irony doesn't work on usenet" ;-)


True.

Franz



Franz Heymann 14-08-2003 03:23 PM

Banned Herbicides & Pesticides
 
Xref: kermit uk.rec.gardening:159428


"Laurie Moseley" wrote in message
...
This is the problem. It's the usual trap of trying to make "I understand

it in
this way" mean "Everyone understands it in this way". That is one of the
reasons why communication is often so poor.

Could this be the basis for many divorces ?
(Insert Smiley)


How on earth are we supposed to know what you are talking about, when you
have stripped off all headers and every vestige of context?

Franz




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