Is Everything Organic also “Safe?”

Posted by Katie Elzer-Peters
October 23rd, 2008
Filed in Fruits, Veggies and Herbs
Tags: ebook, pesticides, poison, synthetic

As a horticulturist that spent years in school and countless (boring but useful) hours in pesticide training, I am always wary of people that give all organics a blanket approval. To be a true organic gardener, there are some things you need to know about organic gardening. One of the best reference books I have ever picked up on the subject is The Truth about Organic Gardening, by Jeff Gillman. It was just published this spring and is already a must-have for every gardener’s bookshelf. I love the book because it gives a balanced treatment to the idea of organic gardening and presents a clear course of action for gardeners that want to garden in an earth-friendly manner. At some point, I’ll do a full-scale review of the book. In the meantime, here is some fast and friendly information for your organic knowledge arsenal. (Can something in an arsenal be friendly?)

The Truth about Organics

-The term “Organic” literally means something containing carbon. Some people thing that organic produce and flowers are grown completely without pesticides. That is not true. Organically grown fruits and vegetables or flowers can have had pesticides applied–it is just that the pesticides used were not synthetically produced in a lab.

-Organic pesticides are sometimes, but not always, safer than synthetic pesticides. It is better to find ways to plant and garden without the need for pesticides at all. By their very nature, pesticides are designed to kill or disrupt something’s natural life cycle. In my eyes, that makes any pesticide not really safe.

-Taking a pesticide training class at your local cooperative extension can help you be a better organic gardener. That might sound completely wacky, but it is not. The pesticide licensing classes designed to help landscapers and farmers that treat pests frequently and on scales large and small are helpful for the home gardener. More damage is done to the environment by homeowners incorrectly applying pesticides andfertilizers than by large scale farmers that follow regulations. There are tragic stories of pesticide poisonings in homes where the parents did not correctly store and apply the pesticide and fertilizer, resulting in their children or pets becoming seriously ill or dying.

The pesticide training classes will help you learn how to identify insects, viruses and other plant pests. The classes usually go over IPM, or Integrated Pest Management, techniques that help gardeners take a more holistic approach to gardening. The classes also help gardeners learn how to correctly measure and apply treatments to their gardens.

-There is no official “organic” designation for home gardeners. The “organic” label is applied to commercially produced and marketed products, not products from home gardens. Homeowners and gardeners can essentially self-label whether they are organic or not. In the commercial realm, organic products are grown without using any chemicals or inputs on a list monitored by government agencies and inspected by international watch groups with varying standards.

Why Bother with Organic Gardening?

If there is no official certification, and the safety of organically produced items variable, why go through all of the trouble? For the most part, organic gardening is safer and preferred to gardening with a “spray first, ask questions later” mentality. Organic gardening does not just refer to the chemicals used, but is an entire gardening philosophy espousing good inputs like compost, wise water use and habitat gardening. The truth about organic gardening is that it is worth it.