USDA Definition
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I was taken back just a little as I realized how what the USDA deemed as organic, and which fruits and vegetables should really be purchased as 100% organic, and to watch people in the produce isle in this depressed economy, wanting to provide the very best for thier families, I see many dupped by the current buzz. This is our first year, although Mark and I have grown gardens on a much smaller scale years prior, this is the first year for 75% of our land used to grow our produce. The fields were carefully prepared, with much mowing, raking and burning to clear the land and rid the field of as many pest as possible. I have carried a spray tech license for landscape pest and weed control taught by my father who whole heartedly believe there was control before pesticides, yet sometimes he would say sis you got pull out you big weapons, meaning the spray rig and hose would have to be filled and pulled, but keep in mind, don't waste my money on the chemical!
Many problems and issues that arise in the garden can be controled by tilling and watering and some knee time on pulling weeds, as you airated the roots and fertilize. And many natural fertilizers such as pot ash will send many pest a running. Then he taught pest have life cycles, and hitting that cycle at the hieght of reproduction killing the old and in most cases a week later kills the new. That would allow the greatest decrease of pest in two light sprays. Very little chemical used and safer for human consumption. Our produce that we grow by type, typically carry a low chemical residue for chemical absorbsion, which means that in our setting and pesticide practises the low residue is greatly ruduced. It is the skins that absorb the chemicals, and the ability to clean the skins of the fruits and veggies. Take tomatoes for example, it is sprayed the skins does not allow very much penitration to the fruit it houses, and a good washing will remove what is left on the skins, unlike a starwberry, with its delicate thin skin where the chemical is absorbed into the fruit. So when looking to give your family the best, I believe in organics, but organics does not mean zero pesticides, it means to greatly reduce the need for use of pesticides. If one light spray of the squash bugs rids the plant from utter destructions, and the removal of the squash that are on the plant after the spray, then the new squash is untouched by the pesticide, and plants live to produce a safe vegetable for consumption. Sure we loose a few dollars, but if I can not serve it to our families why would I want to you to serve it to yours?
