PTP_2008_09_Organic

Plants That Produce

Are You Gardening Organically?

By Richard Frost

The word “organic” has a variety of meanings among people and organizations, especially in relation to gardening and agriculture. Here is an attempt at itemizing the horticultural connotations in use today. Some of the labels are my own creations:

· Bio-organic – all supplements must be from non-synthetic biological sources. For example: worm-castings that attract micro-organisms that are deleterious to pests or diseases are good, but naturally occurring minerals (e.g., sulfur) are not o.k.

· Progressive – any non-synthetic sources of nutrients or controls are valid. For example: naturally occurring minerals or oils extracted from plants are o.k. This is often what nursery professionals mean by “organic”.

· Rational – any non-synthetic sources of nutrients or controls are valid, along with synthetic versions of the same compounds. Examples include: humic acids produced from inorganic carbon (e.g., coal mine tailings), and pyrethrins produced from organic alcohols instead of extract from the flower heads of Pyrethrum (Tanacetum species). This is typically what conventional garden product advertising means by “organic”.

· Certified Organic – this phrase is regulated in the state of California. The state and USDA statutes describe it as methods and materials that do not significantly perturb the environment. In practice it amounts to “rational organic” with a formulary list. For example, weed control by glyphosate (e.g., Remuda™) is not on the list, but burning weeds down with a propane torch is permitted.

· OMRI Certified – an independent product certification which is also equivalent to “rational organic” with a formulary list. For more information, see www.omri.org.

· Earth-Friendly – there is no real concern with synthetic vs. non-synthetic, but methods are chosen that have low or zero emissions, and materials are chosen which are not deemed to be harmful to the practitioner’s property and health. Compost piles and recycling are common.

· Green – any non-synthetic sources of nutrients or controls are valid, but the materials and methods must involve very low or zero environmental pollutants and impact. Materials mined or shipped with high emission vehicles are out. Local steer manure is out too, because cattle are not considered “green”.

· No-GMO – does not grow genetically modified organisms (GMO). For most people in this group, GMO refers to genetic modification through RNA chemistry or seed irradiation and not micropropagation from whole plant cells or hybridization by controlled cross-pollination.

· Heirlooms-Only – grows only plants designated as heirlooms. Case law in the U.S. has established that an heirloom is a plant that is (1) off-patent and (2) reproduces true from seed. Note that some heirlooms are GMO’s. “Heirloom” is frequently abused by resellers of seeds.

· Open-Pollination – grow only plants (typically heirlooms) from seeds produced by “open pollination”. Hand pollination is taboo. For many of these people, the commercial approach of an isolated greenhouse containing plants and a bee box is o.k. Advertisers’ pictures of open fields are sometimes unrelated to the product origin.

· Strict – applies more than one of the above philosophies recursively. Example: Alfalfa meal is not organic if it was not grown bio-organically, or in a green fashion, or if it is a GMO, or the descendent of a GMO.

Are you gardening organically? It all depends upon what definition you want to use‼

SDHS member Richard Frost is also member of the California Rare Fruit Growers. For more information, see www.plantsthatproduce.com.