EEC Involvement

[Snadger]

EEC rulings seem to dictate our lives just now. I know the rulings are made to protect people and the environment, but..........

On another thread there is mention of not being able to use some of the organic ways of our Fathers and forefathers. Where will it all end?

Many of us could be falling foul of EEC rulings without even knowing it!

Anyone know of any odd ones that we should know about?

Is there a manual 'EEC for allotment holders'?

The only thing from Brussels that I am familiar with is Sprouts!

[dexterdoglancashire]

To be fair Snadger, I stick with the sprouts, and I dont even like them! dexterdog

[Snadger]

No one seems interested in this thread so I'll just have to rant on a bit myself!

Well, you can't use pesticides if they aren't certified for that purpose. So this means salt water(Sodium Chloride) is a no-no and also washing up liquid for killing geenfly or caterpillers?

How about manure? Is it EEC certified? Definately no rhubarb leaf insecticide and how about comfrey tea?

Jees the list just goes on and on! EEC will be dictating what species of potatoe we can and can't grow next, and any other vegetable for that matter!

They already have restriction on the amount of potatoes a farmer can grow and pay them set-a-side for areas left without crops.I wonder, if I leave part of my allotment wild, will I be able to get a set-a-side grant? No, I think I'd rather fill it with comfrey and rhubarb!

[martini]

Hi Snadger - you're quite right - I think we should just do our own thing! Too many rules! When I was in France on holiday this summer I saw loads of fields that had just been planted with blocks of sweetcorn and also lavender. When I started looking more closely at the sweetcorn it looked as if it was going rotten. I bet the farmers just plant anything so they get their subsidies. I did also notice that a lot of people grow stuff in their back gardens (same in Germany) and they can get things cheaper in the supermarkets - I picked up 2 cloches 29' x 4' complete with strong metal hoops for about £5.50 each.

[Snadger]

Hi Snadger - you're quite right - I think we should just do our own thing! Too many rules! When I was in France on holiday this summer I saw loads of fields that had just been planted with blocks of sweetcorn and also lavender. When I started looking more closely at the sweetcorn it looked as if it was going rotten. I bet the farmers just plant anything so they get their subsidies. I did also notice that a lot of people grow stuff in their back gardens (same in Germany) and they can get things cheaper in the supermarkets - I picked up 2 cloches 29' x 4' complete with strong metal hoops for about £5.50 each.

You've got me wondering now....How did you get the cloches in your suitcase?

[martini]

We've got a motorhome - very handy for all those cases of wine (and from now on gardening equipment) - might have to leave the kids at home next time

[Earthbabe]

I've noticed when on the continent that they seem to ignore what diktats they don't like and just get on with things. At the end of the day how are the suits going to know what you kill your aphids with?

They seem to be better at playing the game and making things work for them on the continent. I think the UK is probably the only place that follows the rulebook and look who comes out best.

[martini]

Dead right Earthbabe ! Us Brits are far too subservient.

[multiveg]

Are we ok if we say it is a foliar feed? Have "fertilisers" been designated? Can you imagine a time when it becomes illegal for the hobby gardener to "grow your own" food for eating or even for giving away in case it has nasties in (read somewhere that a number of food poisoning cases been traced back to melons!).

[OverWyreGrower]

Don't buy too much fertiliser... they'll have you for bomb making....

[multiveg]

That reminds me, need to lime some of the raised beds!

[yoanbob]

theres nothing to say you cant make comfrey tea, or grow rhubarb, you just cant use it for unlicenced reasons, if you are just watering your garden with recycled water that hapens to contain some old comfrey weeds from when you did your weeding, theres no law against that

[Earthbabe]

Nicely put yoanbob and echoing my thoughts. Spooky!!