[compost_tea] Organic Plant Protection

From: Ted Peterson <ted.peterson_at_tcsn.net>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2004 16:16:58 -0800

Folks:

One of the things I do is volunteer for our local library. From time to ti=
me, people donate books and we sell them at book sales to raise money to su=
pport the library acquisition program. So, I'm going through sorting donat=
ed books (One of the benefits is that sorters get to take books they like f=
or as little as $.50 and a maximum of $1.00. I get a lot of books that way=
.) and I run across Organic Plant Protection by Roger B. Yepson, Rodale Pre=
ss, 688pp., 1976. So I scoop it up to add to my library.

I plan to review this in the light of more current Rodale organic-oriented =
publications and was wondering if anyone on the list has had experience wit=
h this book. I don't think there is a more recent edition. Libris searche=
s turned this up as the only published edition.

A cursory look shows discussions about the potash properties of granite dus=
t and the following on Herb and Flower tea sprays:

" . . . Oregon herbalist Marion Wilbur has concocted a tea of strong herbs =
noted for their insect-repelling qualities: 4 parts American wormwoor; 4 pa=
rts desert sage; 2 parts erigeron; 2 parts eucalyptus; 2 parts sliky wormwo=
od; 1 part yerba santa; and 1 part wild buckwheat. . . A tablespoon of the=
 mixture is added to a pint of hot water and simmered for about 15 minutes.=
 . . She also found this tea useful in eliminating fungus, damping-off, an=
d insect troubles on flower seedlings, especially when the plants are water=
ed with the solution once a week." Organic Plant Protection, p.116. (The e=
lipses are commentary that was unnecessary for the post.)

The book also goes on to state that this mixture works on ants. There is a=
 whole section on mollusks and mollusk controls. (Critters I am especially =
interested in controlling.)

Anyways, if others have experience with this book -- which is full of recip=
es by the way -- I would be interested in the feedback.

Ted Peterson
SOE






Received on Thu Dec 16 2004 - 19:48:17 EST

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