Do you garden organically?

[CharlotteE]

Hi everyone

In light of the recent announcement by the Food Standards Agency that organic food offers consumers “no important differences in the nutrition content, or any additional health benefits”, we’d like to find out what your views are!

Please feel free to post your comments below, for example, what you think of the study and what your views are on organic gardening and organic produce.

Charlotte (Editorial Assistant)

[Incy]

I can't really vote on this as there is more than one reason why I grow organically. Answers 1, 3 and 5 carry equal weight in my opinion.

[smallblueplanet]

I would also have voted for 'Organic growing is better for the environment' as my health is also 'linked' to the health of the environment, looking at things in a holistic way.

[SarzWix]

There was quite a discussion about this in Chat the other day; http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...you_37187.html

[SarzWix]

1 & 5 for me, plus, it's cheaper to grow organic food than it is to buy organic food.
Although, I wouldn't like to make false claims - I'm not 100% organic as I still resort to slug pellets in certain places

[zazen999]

I'm organic, this year I have only sprayed my toms and potatoes with organic spray but they succumbed to blight this week; so next year it is back to the Dithane unfortunately so NEAR organic but not quite.

I think it is a bit of misinformation to talk about the better taste of organic food; as it is the proximity and freshness of food that makes it taste better, rather than the non-use of pesticides.

[scarey55]

I try to be organic as much as possible because, as others have said, it is better for the environment. Like Incy, I would have liked to have voted for 1,3 and 5 but in the end, I went for superior taste. To my mind, there's no better tasting tomato than one you have picked straight off the plant (that is, when you don't have blight )

[Hazel at the Hill]

..... so next year it is back to the Dithane unfortunately so NEAR organic but not quite.

Don't hold your breath on beating blight with that one.

[zazen999]

Don't hold your breath on beating blight with that one.

It's maddening isn't it????

[SlugLobber]

I voted yes and don't my slugs know it!! I haven't even put organic slug pellets down for a while, but might rectify that later...

[taff]

I'd rather not eat something I put loads of chemicals in.
The taste of shop-bought pasta sauces with tomatoes in for example, they taste disgusting to me. [Or anything with tomatoes in....]

[maytreefrannie]

I can't really vote on this as there is more than one reason why I grow organically. Answers 1, 3 and 5 carry equal weight in my opinion.

Am with you there, Incy - I chose the one about not wanting to use pesticides as I'd worry about the effect on my health - this is so true as I would probably worry in case I spilled some or made up a mixture a little too strongly etc.

Still I could have ticked a few more options if I was allowed.

Even so, I think the thread's a good one - it gets us thinking about priorities.

Perhaps we could have a thread on why we use non-chemical applications, or keep chemicals to a minimum?

[susieq100]

I would have liked to choose more than one option in your poll; and I occasionally resort to slug pellets and 'artificial fertiliser'.

[Rocketron]

Slug pellets and Bordeaux Mixture are the only two things that disqualify me from being "organic". I'm certainly not giving them up.

[gardencat]

Same here, at least where the slug pellets are concerned. I tried growing runner beans and peas without slug pellets and failed miserably.

Slug pellets and Bordeaux Mixture are the only two things that disqualify me from being "organic". I'm certainly not giving them up.