[Y.E.A.H]

its hard being completely organic but who is ? who try's to be ? and who doesn't bother

i was just wondering  

[cob nut]

We try to be organic with fertilizer & pest control...did have to resort to some non-organic spray for the whitefly on the brussels last year though 

[Y.E.A.H]

i used ant spray 2 years ago. that wasn't organic 

[kermit]

Ive been really annoyed with the anti organic lobby of late - the recent reports that organic is probably no better for you.  Im certain thats not why the majority of us go organic (either shoppers or growers) - its because it is sustainable and makes sense.  We need to stop piling artificial nutrients and poisons into the soil.  If anyone remains sceptical, google for satalite photos of the algae growth off the bay of biscay - not good.

Taking this argument further, Im almost pro-GM now, at least that isnt adding manmade fertiliser or insecticide into the environment and, realistically, the globe needs to start producing more food, fast. 

[mumofstig]

Funny, but GM frightens me more  it's not adding manmade ferlilizer....it's adding man made seed

[DavidT]

It`s not so much adding man made seed. It`s adding man manipulated genes and hormones. which IS NOT organic. Kermit, if you garden within a half mile of someone who uses chemicals then you ARE NOT growing organically.

[Ice]

I think Blackcap1000 meant organic within reason, not to soil society standards.   Please lets not go off topic unless the OP wants to.

[kermit]

It`s not so much adding man made seed. It`s adding man manipulated genes and hormones. which IS NOT organic. Kermit, if you garden within a half mile of someone who uses chemicals then you ARE NOT growing organically.

I take the point about GM - but realistically somethings gotta give, and GM scares me less than more and more fertilizer and insecticides (oh, and more rainforest clearance).  

Re the 2nd point about others nearby 'polluting' my organic crops, yea I knew that, but you didnt read my post.  I dont care too much if what I eat (and my kids) is organic or not, the main motivation for growing / buying organic is the same as why I buy peat-free compost - the environment.

[mumofstig]

I have used weedkiller, just to clear the ground at first, and I have used bug clear this year on the whitefly on my cabbage

But I do try not to use sprays and I don't use inorganic fertilizers. So I suppose I'm only half way there  

[DavidT]

It`s not so much adding man made seed. It`s adding man manipulated genes and hormones. which IS NOT organic. Kermit, if you garden within a half mile of someone who uses chemicals then you ARE NOT growing organically.

I take the point about GM - but realistically somethings gotta give, and GM scares me less than more and more fertilizer and insecticides (oh, and more rainforest clearance).  

Re the 2nd point about others nearby 'polluting' my organic crops, yea I knew that, but you didnt read my post.  I dont care too much if what I eat (and my kids) is organic or not, the main motivation for growing / buying organic is the same as why I buy peat-free compost - the environment.

More and more fertilizer? You can`t get more organic than Fish, blood and bonemeal. Or bonemeal, or seaweed meal or dried blood. You are quite happy to feed your kids modified hormones? Please NEVER move to South Wales.lol

[Ice]

I try to use the minimum and never use chemicals within two weeks of harvest.  Netting and fleece are my greatest helpers.  I am going to introduce more complementary planting next year too.

[DavidT]

Enviromesh, apparently, can prevent most insect pests.

[mumofstig]

Enviromesh, apparently, can prevent most insect pests.

But it doesn't stop the bl@@dy whitefly from getting on your cabbage
You see I do try to use organic methods

[kermit]

It`s not so much adding man made seed. It`s adding man manipulated genes and hormones. which IS NOT organic. Kermit, if you garden within a half mile of someone who uses chemicals then you ARE NOT growing organically.

I take the point about GM - but realistically somethings gotta give, and GM scares me less than more and more fertilizer and insecticides (oh, and more rainforest clearance).  

Re the 2nd point about others nearby 'polluting' my organic crops, yea I knew that, but you didnt read my post.  I dont care too much if what I eat (and my kids) is organic or not, the main motivation for growing / buying organic is the same as why I buy peat-free compost - the environment.

More and more fertilizer? You can`t get more organic than Fish, blood and bonemeal. Or bonemeal, or seaweed meal or dried blood. You are quite happy to feed your kids modified hormones? Please NEVER move to South Wales.lol

Absolutely, BF&B all the way.  Im just saying that, in global terms, there isnt enough food being produced, and the quantities of fertilizer and insecticide at current levels are having a disastrous impact already.  And no, I probably would choose not to buy / grow GM if it came to it, but thats not to say it isnt the lesser of two evils in solving the worldwide food shortage.  And if my measly crop last year is anything to go by, we're all doomed!  Sheesh, talk about being misquoted...

[Ice]

[  Sheesh, talk about being misquoted...

This is why I asked everyone to keep on topic.  This can become a very contentious issue.