Successful Organic Gardening
These three basic rules of organic growing are more common sense than anything else.
l. No pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers in order to avoid the poisons and salt-based soluble fertilizers that are so destructive to life, and that inevitably pollute our bodies, our soil, and water
2. Rotate crops in order to encourage beneficial insects and reduce pressures from harmful insects and plant diseases.
3. Have a soil building plan in place and working in order for beneficial micro-organisms to break down the complex materials in the soil and provide nutrients in a useful form for plants.

While skimming the May/June issue of Organic Gardening Magazine, I noted the feature article, “The World’s Most Fragrant Flowers,” which goes on to describe more than 150 superscented plants. I think to myself - what a knockout topic to write about in my next column. But alas, I remember that I’ve already assigned myself the agreeable task of writing more about organic gardening. In past columns I have alluded to organic growing practices and have yet to give you the complete lowdown.

Let’s set the stage with a little history of the organic movement. Until World War II, almost all growers used organic growing techniques and often used botanical pesticides derived from plants. Pyrethrum and rotenone are two well-known and widely used botanical dusts. Both are contact poisons and, as such, are relatively toxic to a wide range of organisms, including humans. They are, however, short-lived in the environment, and not known for the kinds of long-term health and pollution problems associated with synthetics. Sprays made from pepper or garlic juice have also been used since time immemorial as pest and disease controls, respectively. Garlic juice depends on its sulfur content for effectiveness, as sulfur is toxic to all kinds of bacteria and fungi.

During World War II, the first generation of synthetic pesticides, developed primarily as a result of Allied chemical warfare research, were the organochlorines, or chlorinated hydrocarbons. The most famous of these is DDT; but others, some even more toxic, include Chlordane, Aldrin, Endrin, and Deildrin. These are all nerve poisons. In addition to their effectiveness at killing not only inspect pests but other wildlife, they are responsible for numerous human deaths and illnesses. They persist both in the environment and in the tissues of plants and animals (including humans), so that exposure to these extremely toxic chemicals is cumulative over time. Though some of these synthetics are now banned from use in the United States (most notably DDT), they continue to be sold to third world countries where they are not banned and are used in growing food crops, which, thanks to the terms of NAFTA and GATT, are shipped right back to the United States for consumption. This practice is known as the circle of poison.

Just about this time, J. I. Rodale, founder of Organic Gardening magazine, shows up to save the day. Since 1949, the Rodale Institute, located in the Pennsylvania Dutch countryside, has led the way for organic farmers and gardeners. The Rodale Institute, whose motto is Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People, is an experimental organic farm, which has produced much of the data and techniques that transformed organic farming from a fringe concept into a practical alternative to chemically based agriculture.

Much of the creditability at the Rodale Institute stems from the Farming Systems Trial, an experiment that has been running at the farm since 1981. The trial directly compares organic farming practices with chemical methods and stands as the Institute’s most significant scientific achievement. There are 12 acres planted in soybeans, corn, and wheat that look rather unremarkable. The difference, however, lies in the soil. One-third of the crops receive conventional chemical fertilizers and pesticides; another third receives a combination of cover crops and manure for fertility; and the remainder receives cover crops only. In their simulation of different types of farms, raising the most commonly grown grain crops in America, the organic plots have shown comparable yields to the chemical plots, especially over time as the soil builds up with organic matter. Rather than going at an impetuous and heedless pace, regenerative farming/gardening follows the deliberate pace of nature. This is good.

Next month we’ll explore the various organic ways of preventing pests from attacking your garden without using chemicals. Stay tuned for tips on the use of beneficial insects.

In the meantime, you may just have to pick up a copy of Organic Gardening magazine to get the scoop on those 150 fragrant flowers.

See you in the garden!

(Lamont is president of the Mountains Chapter of Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (http://main.nc.us/cfsa_mountains/) as well as a seasoned speaker on organic gardening practices. She can be reached at garden_girrl@yahoo.com)

 

Back to Top
The Smoky Mountain News