Subject: Re: One Straw Revolution
From: dianne@lox.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca (Dianne Murray)
Organization: Achilles Internet Ltd.
Date: 10 Aug 1997 06:39:33 GMT
Message-ID: <MOD$970810.21405@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$970803.28011@rec.gardens.ecosystems>


In article <MOD$970803.28011@rec.gardens.ecosystems>, "Bill Robinson" wrote:
>
>William D. Hulet said,
>
>> Fukuoka killed off all of his parents orange trees when he first
>>tried to change to organics, "cold turkey".
>
>I think a lot of us had problems going 'organic'.

>Simply quitting the use of toxic pesticides and throwing the burden of
>control onto a damaged ecosystem is not realistic.

Exactly. Three words -> [IPM] Integrated pest management. It's comparable
to slowing down smoking as opposed to cold turkey. :)

Probably the most important thing is that the soil needs to be
revived and encouraged... the soil itself is its own ecosystem.
Toxics interfere with that.

Another thing is breeds - many modern breeds and hybrids have
trouble functioning without the use of pesticides and heavy
fertilizer inputs. I think a switch to breeds that can
cope in a natural environment is definitely the way to go
instead of all these pumped and buffed modern transgenic hybrids we're seeing
that are abit like growing prchids in the desert - they can't make it without
heavy maintainance. they are unfit for where they are grown usually.

Finding planst that fit the microclimate and suchforth is
very important.

Also, I have seen cases where you can ween a plant off of fertilizer
dependency - this is a lot like weening anyone off a drug.
It requires ruthless patience and persistance and dedication initially but
this pays off over a short-time when you take the long-view.

IPM and organic methods have been shown to be cheaper after a two year
investment [roughly] in intensive backbreaking work. Wish I had
the ref. here :-/

We did this switchover in the front yard... hand weeding all the
dandelions and composting them. After the initial time investment it's
been much easier to control them through just deadheading and picking
them for salad etc.

-D.