I agree that simply following organic guidelines required for certification
does not imply that the system is ecologically sustainable. But why is
point 3 required?
Cheers!
Terry
> Bluestem Associates wrote:
>
> > 1) There is nothing that prohibits a conventional grower from using
> > some or all of the techniques commonly attributed to (but rarely
> > employed by) "organic" farmers. Such as good rotations, green manures,
> > compost, refugia for beneficial insects, etc, etc.
> >
> > 2) There is nothing that prohibits a conventional grower from using
> > some or all of the slowly available mineral nutrients commonly
> > attributed to (but rarely employed in) "organic" production. Such as
> > rock phosphate, sul-po-mag, gypsum, etc. etc.
> >
> > 3) Combine 1 and 2 with judicious use of carefully selected chemical
> > fertilisers (such as ammonium sulphate, mono-ammonium phosphate,
> > potassium chloride and micronutrients) along with judicious use of
> > carefully selected chemical pesticides (such as Imidan, Roundup, and
> > assorted fungicides).
> >
> > I would say that with such a system the conventional grower will
> > harvest a better *quality* product than the vast majority of organic
> > growers who, in their stubborn infatuation with materials issues, may
> > get it right about not using "chemicals" but generally miss the boat on
> > soil building, mineral nutrients, organic matter management, nitrogen
> > fixation, understanding the weed community .... and on and on.
>
> Bart's comments are right on the money. The quest for healthy food, higher
> nutrition, and environmental responsibility does not end with adopting
> organic
> practices. The recipe is found somewhere in points 1,2, and 3 above.
> --
> Steve Groff
>
> "Enhancing the Environment" http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com/
> Cedar Meadow Farm
> 679 Hilldale Road
> Holtwood, PA 17532 USA
>
[Terry Kelly] ~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~
Terry C. Kelly
Institute of Natural Resources
College of Sciences, Massey University
Palmerston North, New Zealand
T.C.Kelly@massey.ac.nz
phone: +64 6 350-5517
fax: +64 6 350-5680
The green Earth is the meadow we graze in, the ground we are shaped from,
the daily bread that keeps body and soul together.
- The Sacred Balance by David Suzuki, 1997
~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~
>
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