Re: [compost_tea] Re: Tric...source????

From: Jeff Lowenfels <jeff.lowenfels_at_gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2011 08:07:00 -0800

Yeah, I agree with your assessment, Tim….We'd be seeing lots more green c=
ornmeal!!!!

Jeff L


Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Tim Wilson" <thegoodjob_at_hotmail.com>
> Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Tric...source????
> Date: September 4, 2011 7:16:10 AM AKDT
> To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
> Reply-To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
>
> It seems illogical that a soil fungi like Trich would be contained in cor=
nmeal. It is more likely that cornmeal promotes the growth of naturally occ=
uring Trich
>
> Tim
>
> --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, Jeff Lowenfels <jeff_at_...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > > From: "Howard Garrett" <membership_at_...>
> > > Date: September 2, 2011 5:38:09 AM PDT
> > > To: jeff_at_...
> > > Subject: Howard Garrett Newsletter - Cornmeal Controversy
> > > Reply-To: membership_at_...
> > >
> >
> > >
> > > Newsletter
> > >
> > > CORNMEAL - CONTROVERSY
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > This is email I recently received about cornmeal. It was obviously on=
 some blog, but this blather pops up often.
> > >
> > > IS THIS TRUE?
> > >
> > > Cornmeal Myth Busted
> > > Posted by Linda Chalker-Scott
> > >
> > > If you've followed the link to column in question, you'll see that th=
e original "research" is attributed to one of Texas A&M's research stations=
 in Stephenville, TX. But it's not really research - it's just an observati=
on on what happens when you don't plant the same crop two years in a row; i=
n this case, rotating corn and peanuts reduces peanut pathogens. This is ha=
rdly news - it's one of the reasons agricultural scientists recommend crop =
rotation as part of an IPM program and has been for decades.
> > >
> > > Then we're referred to "further research" (at an undisclosed location=
) where cornmeal was shown to contain "beneficial organisms." Well, no, cor=
nmeal doesn't contain organisms, beneficial or otherwise. Microbes can grow=
 on cornmeal, and in fact cornmeal agar is commonly used in labs as a growt=
h medium for many species of fungi, and has been for decades.
> > >
> > > Nevertheless, we're informed that a gardening personality has "contin=
ued the study and finds cornmeal effective on most everything from turf gra=
ss to black spot on roses." This is directly refuted by Dr. Jerry Parsons, =
who by happy coincidence is an extension faculty specialist at Texas A&M. H=
is informative (and hilarious) column on brown spots in lawns states "Latel=
y there have been claims made that corn meal and a garlic extract is effect=
ive. This is absolutely false! Everyone trying to do the "environmentally f=
riendly-to-a-fault" thing have been wasting their money. They would have be=
en better off making corn bread and using their garlic for cooking purposes=
!"
> > >
> > > Dr. Parsons continues: "Let me explain how these University tests and=
 recommendations have been misrepresented in a desperate attempt to find an=
 organic fungicide. The corn meal was investigated by a Texas A&M pathologi=
st as a way to produce parasitic fungi used to control a fungus which occur=
s on peanuts." (This directly relates to my earlier point that cornmeal aga=
r has a long history of use in fungal culture.)
> > >
> > > It boils down to this: if you have a healthy soil, it will probably c=
ontain diverse populations of beneficial microbes, including those that con=
trol pathogenic fungi. You don't need to add cornmeal - it's simply an expe=
nsive form of organic material. So you can ignore the directions in the art=
icle on how to incorporate cornmeal into the soil, or make "cornmeal juice"=
 to spray on "susceptible plants." Just nuture your soil with (repeat after=
 me) a thick layer of coarse organic mulch.
> > >
> > > (As a footnote, let me say how annoying it is when gardening personal=
ities grant themselves advanced degrees or certifications in their titles. =
C'mon folks - if your information is so great, do you really need to preten=
d you’re someone else?)
> > >
> > > This is my response to this recent email.
> > >
> > > This is great. Dr. Joe McFarland ran the research station in Stephenv=
ille that discovered the anti-fungal properties of cornmeal due to the impr=
essive control provided by the tricoderma fungus in the cornmeal. That corn=
meal works is irrefutable.
> > >
> > > Isn’t it interesting that these same anti-cornmeal people do =
recommend an expensive product from a chemical company that contains tricod=
erma. Cornmeal has it and is a lot less expensive.
> > >
> > > Here are the links to just some of the cornmeal reports we have gotte=
n. Cornmeal,Cornmeal and Its Many Uses Newsletter,Cornmeal for Thrush, Corn=
meal Juice,Cornmeal Uses and Reports, Cornmeal: Organic Fungus Control for =
Plants, Toenails & Skin Problems
> > >
> > > If you have questions on this newsletter or any other topic, tune in =
this Sunday from 8am - 11am CST to the Dirt Doctor Radio Show. The call-in =
phone number is 1-866-444-3478. Listen on the internet or click hereto find=
 a station in your area.
> > >
> > > Shop in the Green Living Store for all of the products I recommend in=
 the Organic Program. Also products are available in theDirt Doctor's Corne=
r of your favorite garden center.
> > >
> > > Please share this newsletter with everyone in your address book and a=
ll your friends on Facebook and Twitter to help me spread the word on organ=
ics. As school begins, the weather cools, and the pace of life picks up aga=
in, have a great Labor Day celebration.
> > >
> > > Naturally yours,
> > >
> > >
> > > Howard Garrett
> > >
> > > Forward this newsletter to family and friends and ask them to
> > > Sign up for Howard Garrett's Newsletter.
> > >
> > > Dirt Doctor, Inc. P.O. Box 140650 Dallas, TX 75214
> > > Copyright(c) 2011
> > >
> > > If you no longer wish to receive Howard Garrett's Weekly Newsletter,=
 
> > > click reply and put Unsubscribe in the subject line.
> > >
> > >
> > > Dirt Doctor
> > > blog
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Plant A Row For The Hungry...and read "TEAMING WITH MICROBES: THE ORGAN=
IC GARDENER'S GUIDE TO THE SOIL FOOD WEB."
> >
>
>


Received on Sun Sep 04 2011 - 12:58:12 EDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Tue Feb 07 2012 - 13:58:12 EST