Every once in a while I have to pull out something that was posted a few years back on this list serve about organic. I think it fits. I even grow some certified organic apples, but this really sums it up.
"As currently defined, organic farming is a mystical mixture of 1930's technology and new age religion designed to quell the fears of the gullible wealthy in their fruitless search for a risk-free life." -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Shoemaker Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2010 3:09 PM To: Apple-Crop Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: RE:..and causes you to be fat too! I agree. I wasn't really arguing with Ken. I just wonder when we will get to live risk-free. Bill ---- Original message ---- >Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:49:50 -0700 >From: Robert kuljis <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: RE:..and causes you to be fat too! >To: "Apple-Crop" <[email protected]> > >I think that is a good point about the kaolin,,, I know the non ag >formulations for pottery have all kinds of warnings for cancer, >inhalation threat, etc.. A simple particle mask would probably take >care of most of it. Not that it is that much fun to wear a mask all >the time while working in the trees. Of course there are lots of >unknowns with chemicals as well. The problem we have is that the >chemicals are extremely lucrative for giant companies who control much >of the university funding, so much less research and development goes >into non chemical methods. These methods could be much much cheaper. >Considering that conventional ag is responsible for at least 40% of >greenhouse gas emissions, mostly due to petroleum based fertilizer, >conversion to an ecological organic ag system seems to be not only >healthier, but a prerequisite for survival at this stage.. > Some things that can help with the application of either organic or >chem materials would be monitoring, understanding the disease/pest life >cycle,, implementing and enhancing biological controls. These have come >a long way, but the scale of the efforts is much higher on the end of >the paradigm that wants growers to keep putting out chemicals whose >ultimate cost is much more then the $ amount paid. >Robert Kuljis >Thomas Paine Farms > >On Jul 24, 2010, at 5:48 AM, Bill Shoemaker wrote: > >> I recently heard life is terminal. I think someone should do >> something about that. Who's in charge here! >> >> Bill >> >> >> >> ---- Original message ---- >>> Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:31:11 -0400 >>> From: Ken Hall <[email protected]> >>> Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: RE:..and causes you to be fat too! >>> To: [email protected] >>> >>> Is anyone familiar with work on human exposure to >>> kaolin clay in an orchard setting? A pulmonary >>> disease referred to as "kaolinosis" has been >>> identified in people who had high exposure to clay >>> dust. What about lower levels of exposure, year >>> after year, to orchard workers or pick-your-own >>> apple customers? >>> Not sure we can even say that kaolin is beyond >>> suspicion. >>> Ken Hall >>> Edwards Apple Orchard, Inc. >>> 7061 Centerville Road >>> Poplar Grove, IL 61065 >>> Ph: 815-765-2234 >>> Fx: 815-765-1072 >>> Cl: 815-520-5764 >>> Email: [email protected] >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Fleming, William <[email protected]> >>> To: Apple-Crop <[email protected]> >>> Sent: Fri, Jul 23, 2010 4:31 pm >>> Subject: RE: Apple-Crop: RE:..and causes you to be >>> fat too! >>> >>> I wouldn't say organic pesticides more toxic to >>> the environment but the fact that most are so broad >>> spectrum that they kill beneficials as well as >>> pests. That makes them unecological. as compared to >>> many of the modern pesticides that are very specific >>> in their targets. Plus many times when you kill the >>> beneficials you cause a whole new set of problems >>> that have to be addressed. You end up having to >>> spray even more. >>> Just the fact that organic pesticides are short >>> lived also makes them unecological in increased fuel >>> usage when several sprays may be needed to take the >>> place of one conventional material. >>> >>> Bill Fleming >>> Montana State University >>> Western Ag Research Center >>> 580 Quast Ln >>> Corvallis, Montana >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> From: [email protected] >>> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of >>> Robert kuljis >>> Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 10:46 AM >>> To: Apple-Crop >>> Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: RE:...and causes you to be >>> fat too! >>> >>> I agree to buy local , but how can you say that >>> organic pesticides are more toxic to the >>> enviornment? Lets see, kaolin clay, entrust(soil >>> organism), pyrethreum(breaks down VERY fast, as >>> opposed to synthetic version which last longer). >>> How are these more toxic then man made chemicals >>> which do not break down? they break down into >>> compounds that still have no analog in nature.. >>> >>> On Jul 23, 2010, at 8:18 AM, <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> It is more important to know where your food is >>> grown! We have seen salmonella from melons and >>> scallions from Mexico and Asia. The USA has the Food >>> & Drug Administration that tightly regulates >>> pesticides and their application. Foreign foods do >>> not! Some pesticides are not applied to the food at >>> all but on small plastic tabs that are clipped on >>> branches to act as a deterrent to the bug. Organic >>> food growers use pesticides also, just more often >>> because the product does not last as long. Many >>> organic pesticides are more toxic to the environment >>> than the standard commercial grower uses. I know >>> because I am a commercial grower of apples. >>> Pesticides in the run off stream water from the home >>> gardener is one of the biggest offenders of >>> pollution. Consumers should use common sense and >>> wash everything raw before eating it. don't deprive >>> children of good nutrition because of a sensational >>> hit article that may be designed to garner >>> contributions to their non-profit cause. We grow >>> the safest food in the world. Support your local >>> farmer's market and buy American! >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> To: [email protected] >>> From: [email protected] >>> Subject: Apple-Crop: ...and causes you to be fat >>> too! >>> Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:47:28 -0400 >>> >>> the current lead story on Yahoo >>> - http://shine..yahoo.com/event/loveyourbody/why-you-cant-lose- >>> those-last-10-pounds-1964849/ >>> >>> "...See, an apple a day may have kept the doctor >>> away 250 years ago when Benjamin Franklin included >>> the phrase in his almanac. But if that apple comes >>> loaded with obesity-promoting chemicals - nine of >>> the ten most commonly used pesticides are obesogens, >>> and apples are one of the most pesticide-laden foods >>> out there - then Ben's advice is way out of >>> date...." >>> >>> I look forward to market saturday - >>> >>> David Doud - >>> >>> grower - indiana >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and >>> e-mail from your inbox. Get started. >>> >> William H Shoemaker, UI-Crop Sciences Sr Research Specialist, Food >> Crops St Charles Horticulture Research Center >> 535 Randall Road St Charles, IL 60174 630-584-7254; >> FAX-584-4610--------------------------------------------------------- >> - >> ---------------- >> The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard >> <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon >> Clements <[email protected]>. >> Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not >> represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no >> responsibility for the content. >> > > > > >----------------------------------------------------------------------- >--- > >The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard ><http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon >Clements <[email protected]>. > >Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent >"official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for >the content. > > > > > William H Shoemaker, UI-Crop Sciences Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops St Charles Horticulture Research Center 535 Randall Road St Charles, IL 60174 630-584-7254; FAX-584-4610 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3025 - Release Date: 07/24/10 01:36:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements <[email protected]>. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content.
