Organic Fertilizer: Beyond the Crap
How do you use organic fertilizers to make your soil healthier? How do you bring depleted soil back from the brink of uselessness? What are the important things to look for when shopping for organic fertilizer? Find the answers you need to successfully use the wide variety of organic fertilizers from the database.
Most people I know would love to eat an all organic diet every day. But the reason I hear most often as to why people don’t go organic? “Organic food is so expensive!”
Yes, it’s true. With the exception of some basic staples such as bread, organic foods do tend to cost more than their inorganic counterparts. But once you learn why, it does feel a bit easier to shell out the bucks for organic foods.
Why organic tends to be pricier:
(1) Organic prices are higher because of retail markups. Organic farms, compared to conventional ones, tend to be smaller, local, and seasonal. Retailers have to source with more suppliers who provide less predictable quantities. All of this takes more time and more work. Conventional farmers are able to keep prices lower because of sheer volume.
(2) Organic food provides higher profit margins for those who produce it. That doesn’t mean organic farmers are ripping you off- increased farm income is a very good thing because it provides jobs and prevents bankruptcies and strengthens farming communities.
(3) Organic food simply costs more to produce. Certified organic food is very tightly regulated, and it takes a lot of labor to produce. In the United States, labor is more expensive than chemical pesticides.
In my opinion, these three reasons make organic food worth the extra cost. If my money is going to pay for a hard day’s work and support a local farm, then I think that’s fantastic. But the fact of the matter is that these reasons don’t magically lower the prices of the organic food. So if organic shopping is still putting a strain on your pocketbook, here are some ways to save money.
Ways to shop organic for less cost:
(1) Buy in bulk. Organic foods are often cheaper when they are purchased in bulk because it eliminates excess packaging.
(2) Shop in season. It is always worth checking out what is in season in your area at any given time. Buying foods fresh, local foods when they are in season, then freezing or canning them for later consumption is an awesome way to save money.
(3) Investigate private label products. We all know that sometimes we pay more just for a brand name label. And studies have shown that oftentimes these brand name products taste no different from the store brand. We simply spend more money on the brand name product because we tend to associate it with a clever commercial, or a happy childhood memory. When shopping organic, definitely consider store or “generic” brands, as they tend to be cheaper.
(4) Use coupons. Okay, I’m not saying to get all freaky about coupons like that ridiculous TLC show. Just try to use coupons when you can. Many organic food companies have good coupons on their website, so check it out before you go grocery shopping.
(5) Visit farm stands, farmers’ markets, and cooperative food marts. These are awesome resources for local and organic foods. Again, you will save money just because many of the products are without fancy packaging and advertising. If you have a local co-op, look into becoming an owner, as you can receive special discounts and coupons.
(6) Prioritize your organic items. If you drink milk every day, then organic milk should be high at the top of your list of organic products, even if it costs more. You may wish to purchase conventional items for those you use less. Also, make sure to check out the Dirty Dozen list from the Environmental Working Group to determine which fruits and vegetables you should always purchase organic.
(7) Become a member of a CSA. A CSA, or community supported agriculture, is essentially like being a member of an organic produce club. You pay a designated amount in order to receive organic produce for the duration of your local harvest season. My local CSA at Cottle Organics of Rose Hill, NC is extremely reasonable, at a cost of only $300 for the 12-week season. That breaks down to $25 a week for a large box of produce that is easily enough to feed four people. Plus, it’s only week four and so far I’ve received a wide variety of produce that I probably would not otherwise be brave enough to pick out at the grocery store.
Image source: Organic Authority.com
Resources:
Raising Elijah, by Sandra Steingraber, De Capo Press, copyright 2011.
In October of 2002, the USDA approved four different labels for food products containing organic ingredients. So if you see an “organic” claim on a box of cereal at the grocery store, it does not always necessarily mean that the ingredients are all organic. Here is how the four different labels break down:
(1) 100% Organic
This one is fairly self-explanatory, I think. It is basically the “top tier” of organic food products. If you spot this label on a processed food product, it means that 100% of the ingredients are certified organic and have been grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products did not take antibiotics or growth hormones. The USDA has a special label for these products. However, not all foods that are 100% organic necessarily bear this label, because it is not a legal requirement. Most companies do use the USDA label, since it allows the consumer to quickly identify the product as one that is certified organic.
(2) Organic
Products that are labeled “organic” mean that between 95% and 99% of the ingredients are certified organic. The label “organic” often appears on cosmetics and hygiene products as well, as it may be difficult for products such as shampoo and face creams to contain 100% organic ingredients. These products often still contain small amounts of inorganic ingredients, such as potassium sorbate, a common preservative. Again, foods that are organic commonly bear the USDA label, although they are not required to,
(3) Made with Organic Ingredients
Foods that say they are “made with organic ingredients” must contain at least 70% organic ingredients. The remaining 30% of the ingredients must contain no genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It is wise to read the ingredient label on a food item that is labeled as “made with organic ingredients.” The organic ingredients will be listed, and are often denoted with an asterisk* or a double asterisk**.
(4) Less than 70% Organic Ingredients
In this case, you actually won’t see any organic claims on the front of the package at all. This is because if a food product has less than 70% organic ingredients, it may not claim to be “organic” on its label. In this case, you will see the organic ingredients listed only as such in the ingredient list on the side panel or back of the package.
Overall, less than 70% organic ingredients is certainly not a bad thing. (Plenty of people would argue that any amount of organic ingredients are better than none.) Take a cereal made with corn, for example. If corn is the first ingredient, and it is listed as organic on the ingredients label, while the following ingredients are not, I would argue that this corn cereal is still a good choice. This is because if the corn is organic, you can rest assured that it is not genetically modified corn.
Converting land to official USDA organic status is a three-year process. There is a two-year conversion process consisting of building up the fertility of the land. Produce grown in the first year cannot be stated as organic. In the second year produce may be stated as “in conversion.” It is not until the third year that produce may be stated as fully organic.
So if you see food products with the organic label, it means that the farmers of those ingredients went through a long and detailed process to achieve that certification.
The President's Cancer Panel Recommends Eating Organic
Written by Susan Z. Miller
We all know that there are many different reasons to eat organic. Some people choose to eat an organic diet because it is better for the environment; organic farming helps to combat climate change, and prevents damage to water resources. Some go organic for human rights reasons, to help protect farmers and their families from the serious risks associated with handling agricultural chemicals. But the most common reason to eat an organic diet is for personal health concerns. Eating organic is the most trustworthy way to avoid genetically modified organisms, ionizing radiation, antibiotics and synthetic hormones in your diet.
Over the last several years, continuing studies have shown that the toxic pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides in conventional foods have been linked to birth defects, and a number of serious health related issues. Now the President’s Cancer Panel has acknowledged that consuming an organic diet also helps to reduce your exposure to environmental chemicals that can increase the risk of contracting cancer.
So what exactly is the President’s Cancer Panel? It is a board of three members, at least two of whom are distinguished scientists or physicians, who are appointed by the President. The President’s Cancer Panel then monitors and executes activities of the National Cancer Program and reports directly to the President.
The report, which was delivered to President Obama in May of 2010, is entitled “Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now.” It reveals that exposure to environmental contaminants, such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides, can be harmful to human health and increase one’s risk of contracting cancer. Further highlights directly from the report include:
- “Exposure to environmental contaminants can result in harm to health because they may alter or interfere with a variety of biologic processes, including hormone production and function, DNA damage, and gene expression or suppression.”
- “Children can be exposed to toxins in utero via placental transfer and/or after birth via breast milk.”
- “The number and prevalence of known or suspected carcinogens is growing. Many environmental contaminants are manufactured synthetic chemicals; waste and by-products of industrial processes; chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals used in farming and for landscaping; chemicals used in other commercial activities; combustion by-products of petroleum-powered engines; water disinfection/chlorination by-products; and both man-made and natural sources of radiation.”
- “In the United States, about 42 billion pounds of chemicals are produced or imported daily. Many of these chemicals are used in massive quantities exceeding one million tons per year. 81 exposure limits have been set for some of these substances, but the vast majority are unregulated.“
- “Exposure to pesticides can be decreased by choosing, to the extent possible, food grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers.”
- “Exposure to antibiotics, growth hormones, and toxic run-off from livestock feed lots can be minimized by eating free-range meat raised without these medications.”
By federal law, products bearing the USDA organic label may not be grown and/or processed using toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In fact, organic food production and processing is the only system in place in the United States that uses certification and inspection to verify that these dangerous chemicals are not used. Food labels that make claims such as “all natural” don’t really mean anything and are not mandated. One must look for the “organic” label to insure that the food is indeed “natural.”
For further reading on the relationship between diet and cancer, please check out my recent blog Breast Cancer Risk Tied to Western Diet.
Resources:
“Protecting Children” by Jennifer Rose of the Organic Trade Association
Organic It’s Worth It.org
Image source:
Born Healthy Blog
Strawberries have always been at the top of my list of favorite fruits. Seriously, how can you not love ripe, in-season strawberries? A few years back, however, I learned some information that really stuck with me about these little ruby red, juicy gems. Strawberries are among the dirtiest conventional produce. And by that, unfortunately I don’t mean just “dirt” that you could wash away with a spritz of water. By “dirtiest,” I mean that conventionally farmed strawberries are loaded with agricultural chemicals.
The majority (as much as 90%) of strawberries in the United States are farmed in California and shipped from there. Growing conventional strawberries involves chemical use before the fruits are even planted. Methyl bromide, a toxic chemical that has led to harmful side-effects for strawberry farmers, is added to the soil as a pre-plant fumigant. Strawberries are generally delicate fruits that are scrumptious to insects as well as humans, so oftentimes pesticides are loaded on to strawberry fields. In 2008, over 50 pesticide residues were identified on conventional strawberries, according to the USDA Pesticide Data Program.
Ever since I learned this about strawberries, well, needless to say its been a lot more difficult to enjoy the conventional ones. The good news, however, is that lately I’ve been receiving batches of locally grown organic strawberries through my CSA membership. These are not only just as tasty as conventional strawberries, but even better.
In further good news about organic strawberries, a recent comparison in Science Daily found that organic strawberry farms produced better tasting and more nutritious berries while, and also left the soil in better shape. The berries and the soil were samples several times over a two-year period. It was found that the berries from the organic farms had a longer shelf life, higher antioxidant activity, and higher concentrations of vitamin C. Plus, in a blind taste test, tasters judged organic strawberries to be sweeter and to have better flavor than the conventional ones.
The soil on organic strawberry farms had more total carbon and nitrogen, more beneficial microbes, and higher concentrations of micronutrients. The tests were performed on a total of 13 organic farms and 13 conventional ones, and all of the farms were located in California.
Overall, I think that organic strawberries are the clear best choice here. Don’t you?
Image source: Edible Portland.com
When I was a child, one of my favorite summer evening activities was to catch lightning bugs (which some may call fireflies) in the backyard. I use the term “catch” loosely, because in the small backyard of my suburban Cleveland home, the bugs were so plentiful that you could just stand with your arms outstretched and wait for them to land on you. Everywhere you looked on a warm July evening, you could see hints of blinking yellow lights: throughout the limbs of our stout dogwood, within the branches of the surrounding overhanging mulberry trees, and even just hovering in the air over the grass and driveway. Those little cheery insects were everywhere.
It has been a good 24 years since I have seen lightning bugs in such large numbers. Nowadays, if I spot just one, I point and blurt out with surprise, “Look, a lightning bug!” At first, I thought it was because I moved to a different climate- from Ohio to the coast of North Carolina. But lightning bugs have a naturally diverse habitat, and live everywhere from Tennessee to the riverbanks of Southeast Asia. The ubiquitous symbol of my childhood seems to have been slowly and steadily declining over the years, and the decline is widespread across this vast, vast distance.
Why? Well, several factors could be to blame. It could be light pollution, which interrupts the lightning bugs’ blinking patterns that actually serve as a mating call. It could also be due to the destruction of their natural habitat with the rapid spread of urban developments. However, I have suspected for years now that the fireflies’ decline is due to the overuse and abuse of agricultural pesticides.
It is easy to think of chemical pesticides as powerful weapons against those bugs you wish to target. However, the unfortunate truth is that chemical pesticides are not so smart- they don’t really stay where you put them, and they don’t have the ability to zero in on the specific pest you want to eliminate. Instead, they are broadcast killers, meaning that they kill a lot of good along with the bad, like friendly little lightning bugs. Additionally, firefly larvae live in soil and may be harmed by chemical alterations therein. These larvae are actually beneficial garden insects, as they consume the larvae of garden pests such as slugs and snails.
It’s possible for chemical pesticides to affect populations of not just insects but amphibians and reptiles, too. When you think about it, it makes sense, since these species tend to have the same habitat as insects, and may also be vulnerable to agricultural chemicals that run off into streams and ponds. A recent study of reptiles and amphibians in the UK revealed that Britain’s most widespread snake, the adder, is in decline. Other species, such as common lizards, slow worms, common toads, common frogs, and the great crested newt are all in decline as well. The numbers of these species have continued to fall despite a 2007 law that was passed in England to protect them.
So it’s not just fireflies, but many other creatures, that are affected by our irresponsible use of agricultural chemicals, and our continued encroachment upon their habitats. To help protect these species and their homes, make sure to use safe, organic fungicides, pesticides and fertilizers in your garden. Turn off all unnecessary lighting in your yard at night so as not to disrupt the lightning bugs’ mating patterns. Do not use a bug zapper, which will kill them. Lightning bugs also prefer rich, loamy soil in which to lay their eggs. You can help attract them by conditioning your soil with plenty of compost, and leaving some “wild” areas around the perimeter of your yard, such as low-hanging tree branches.
Image source: NY Cupcake.com
These days, everyone is looking for ways to conserve energy and, in doing so, save money as well. Common solutions for making a home more energy efficient are adding thermal curtains, sealing exterior leaks and gaps, adding a storm door and weather stripping around doors, and upgrading attic insulation. But one thing that people frequently overlook when considering the energy efficiency of their homes is their roof. And the roof is a great place to go green.
The term “green roof” or LiveRoof® refers to the practice of planting low-growing plants on the roof of your home. Succulents such as sedums are one of the most popular choices for green roofs because they are both drought tolerant and can thrive in a soil-less growing medium. Roofs that are planted with succulents can slow down and filter rainwater runoff which therefore lessens the chances of overflow in municipal storm drain systems. They also naturally insulate the home, keeping it several degrees cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, thereby reducing home heating and cooling costs. A green roof can even last longer than a conventional one, absorb air pollution, and on top of all this- look really darn pretty.
The LiveRoof® system, which is patent-pending, is meant to be installed by a certified contractor. This installation process involves the placement of 40-pound trays of mature succulents, which have been planted in a special growing medium. The installation process of a green roof involves the following seven steps:
(1) Prepping the roof-
Before installing any plants, you should have a structural engineer check to insure that the weight of the growing medium and plants can be supported on your roof. The expected weight is 30 pounds per square foot, and many traditional roofs are built to only support 25 pounds per square foot. Your roof may need to be supported to withstand the weight. This may include adding more joists or bracing. Additionally, the roof will need to receive at least one layer of rubber waterproof membrane.
(2) Adding planted trays-
The trays of succulents are planted four months in advance at a nursery. This way, by the time they are delivered to you, the plants are mature and the trays will be 95% to 100% covered with vegetation. The trays of plants arrive stacked and wrapped to insure that the shipping process will not damage them. The trays are unloaded from the truck, and the plastic wrapping is removed. Before the trays are moved by forklift or crane to the roof, decorative aluminum edging is temporarily weighted down around the edge of the roof where it will cover the sides of the trays. Starting at one corner and working from right to left, the trays of succulents are planted in rows along the roof and inside the aluminum edging.
(3) Connecting the trays-
With a modular system such as the LiveRoof® system, any one single tray can be removed from the roof for maintenance without disturbing any of the others. In this system, plastic lips on the front and right sides overlap the left and the back sides of their neighboring trays. This creates stability, eliminates seams, and reduces temperature fluctuations. Feet built into the underside of the trays keep them slightly elevated above the roof’s surface, therefore allowing for water drainage into the gutters.
(4) Cutting the trays to fit-
Because the plant trays are filled with a growing medium that is made of tough aggregate, a gas-powered concrete saw fitted with a masonry blade must be used to cut the trays. Your installer will measure for each end piece and cut, then butt the cut end against the last full tray in the row.
(5) Removing soil elevators-
Each tray arrives with a 4-inch wide band of plastic, which is called a soil elevator, that allows the growing medium to stand one inch above the tray. This added height allows water and beneficial organisms to move laterally among the trays. This reduces the chance of the development of excessively wet or dry spots among the trays. After a few rows of trays have been placed, the contractor will remove the soil elevators, which reduces air space between the trays, therefore increasing the plants’ insulation capabilities.
(6) Fitting the last modules-
The trays of succulents can withstand light foot traffic. However, the best installation pattern is one in which the workers do not have to tread much on the plants. So, the contractors will work their way across the roof and onto a ladder, from which they will secure the edging to the sides of the trays with screws.
(7) Watering the plants-
Once the trays are fully installed, they are watered thoroughly in order to settle the growing medium. Normally, roofs such as these do not require watering other than this initial sprinkling after installation. The only condition under which a green roof needs to be watered is if there is a four-week dry spell with less than one inch of rain. These drought conditions would then leave the roof vulnerable to weeds. Otherwise, a yearly trim and soil test to determine whether a fertilizer dose is necessary is all that is needed to keep the green roof healthy.
Resource: This Old House magazine, April 2011
Image source: Nigel's Eco Blog
If there is one thing I have learned the hard way in life, it is that it is definitely worth it to invest the extra money in quality items, as well as the products to care for them properly. For example, when I was in college, I was pretty much flat broke (like the majority of college students are) and living off of frozen broccoli, white rice, and generic cereal with skim milk. Any time I needed a new item of clothing, I would shop at the cheapest stores available, such as Rainbow and Forever 21. I would then launder these clothes in a rough washing machine with the least expensive detergent available. The result? As I’m sure you can guess, all of my clothing became thread bare and fell apart after about 6 wears. Yet I made this same mistake several times before I realized that it would have been cheaper for me to just invest in one quality pair of pants and care for them properly than it was to buy 3 super cheapo pairs that had to be thrown away within only a few months.
This same lesson can be applied to many facets of life. And it most certainly can be applied to your garden tools. Whereas you can likely find some flimsy tools at your local dollar store, it is definitely worth your while to invest in a few quality, versatile pieces. And it is most certainly worth the time it takes to properly care for your tools. With the right care, your garden tools can last for many years. Here is an easy way to clean and maintain your garden tools in order to insure their longevity.
(1) Any time you wish to clean and spruce up your tools, gather them up and use a piece of dry steel wool to gently remove clumps of mud and dirt. If needed, you can also use a putty knife to remove large chunks of dirt and mud.
(2) Select an old pot or plastic bucket that is large enough to fit your hand tools, such as your gardening spades, trowels, and forks. Fill this bucket with dry sand.
(2) Next, mix lubricating oil such as WD-40 into the sand. If you do not have WD-40, vegetable or mineral oil will work as well. Mix this into the sand until it is thoroughly moist.
(3) Plunge your tools into the bucket of sand and oil mix, metal side down. Then, place the bucket in a cool, dry place.
(4) The next time you need to use your tools, remove them from the sand and wipe them down with a piece of course cloth or burlap to remove the oil traces.
(5) This same method can be employed to store your tools long-term for weeks or months, such as over the winter. If you are storing your tools for such a long period of time, make sure to also rub down the wooden handles with a bit of linseed oil on a clean cloth to help prevent them from drying and cracking.
(6) Do not dispose of the bucket of sand after you remove your tools from it. Keep it, because you can reuse it several times. Just store it in a cool, dry place, and reuse it any time you want to clean and maintain your tools.
Image source: Country Living
April is National Gardening month, so even if you have never tried planting something before, well this is a great time to try it. Since, in most areas, the threat of frost has passed, there are many different varieties of vegetables and flowers that can now be direct-sown in your garden. April is a good time to plant cool season crops that will thrive during the warm days and cool nights.
Flowers:
Zinnias- Zinnias are annuals, meaning that they are planted, flower, and go to seed in just one season. Zinnias are well known as being one of the easiest annuals to grow. They are also a great choice for your garden because they are available in a wide array of vibrant colors and are great for cutting.
Marigolds- Marigolds make an excellent border around your vegetable garden and companion plant to tomatoes because they help to keep away nematode insects. You can also find several varieties of marigolds, both tall and short ones.
Cosmos- Cosmos are one of my favorite types of flowers because they are so vibrant, and they seem to be constantly in bloom throughout the entire summer. Cosmos are technically annuals, but they re-seed themselves, so they often come back year after year.
Summer flowering bulbs- April is a good time to plant summer flowering bulbs, such as lilies, dahlias, and gladiolas.
Pansies- Pansies are versatile because they are rather short, and come in a variety of shapes and colors. Pansies look good in pots, as a border around a flower or vegetable bed, or in a cluster around a mailbox.
Vegetables:
Carrots- Carrots are a great vegetable to sow directly in your garden because they do not transplant well. For interest, try planting an unusual variety of carrot, such as Rainbow or Carnival Blend Carrots.
Potatoes- Potatoes are an interesting plant to grow yourself because you can purchase seed potatoes as your starts at a nursery. These are basically small chunks of potatoes that have sprouted and will then form new plants.
Onions- Onions grow slowly but are worth the wait. Onions can be grown from sets, transplants, or seeds. For the simplest method of growing onions at home, try growing green onions from sets.
Leafy greens- April is a great time to plant cool season leafy greens such as lettuces, spinach and kale. When you harvest the leaves from greens, cut them off about 2-3 inches from the base of the plant. This way, the plant will produce more leaves throughout the season that you can continue to harvest.
Peas- April is a good time to plant peas, when the temperatures are still mild. This is because in hot temperatures, pea pods tend to get dry and tough, and the plants won’t produce well.
Asparagus- Asparagus is very rewarding to grow at home because there is little cost involved, whereas this veggie is quite expensive in the grocery store. However, once you plant asparagus, it will be about three years before you can harvest it. The plants take this long to develop a strong root system.
The other day while I was perusing news on the internet, I came across a headline in the Huffington Post that seemed mighty strange. It read: “Worst Case Is Some Women May Have Little Beards?”
Naturally, I thought, “what in the world?” Low and behold the article was about one of my frequently researched topics- endocrine disruptors, which I actually just blogged about on Tuesday. In this case, the topic of the bizarre comment is the chemical BPA.
Bisphenol-A, otherwise known as BPA, is an industrial chemical that is used to make epoxy resins and plastics. It has been under scrutiny since the 1930s, and in recent years has gained more attention as a possible cause of many of the ailments from which our society currently suffers. This is why, if you look around at a store like Target, you’ll see that many plastic products such as water bottles now bear stickers that advertise “BPA free.” The problem is that BPA is a synthetic estrogen, and therefore has the ability to disrupt the endocrine system, and therefore practically every cell, organ, and function of the human body.
However, apparently Maine governor Paul LePage is not aware of these many dangers that are presented by the ingestion of BPA. In February, governor LePage commented that science has not found enough evidence about the dangers of BPA in order to ban it outright. LePage was quoted in the Bangor Daily News as saying that all he's heard is that "if you take a plastic bottle and put it in the microwave and you heat it up, it gives off a chemical similar to estrogen. So the worst case is some women may have little beards."
What the heck, Governor? For obvious reasons, LePage’s comment has angered some environmental health groups. Mike Belliveau of the Environmental Health Strategy Center said that the comment "displays shocking ignorance for the science and a callous disregard for children's health."
Personally, I am wondering where Gov. LePage has (or has not) looked for this scientific evidence lately. BPA has made the headlines in many cases, including a December 2010 report by Discovery Health which revealed that exposure to BPA early in life may disrupt a woman’s ability to conceive later during adulthood. According to this same article, “accumulating evidence suggests (contact with BPA) might lead to all sorts of negative health consequences, including some cancers, behavioral issues, and developmental problems.”
For this, Governor LePage, I believe that you receive a public speaking fail. One positive effect, however, is that the “little beard” comment does seem to have motivated many people to research BPA and its harmful effects themselves. Knowledge is power, peeps.
Image source: Greenzer.com