Organic or Not?

[northepaul]

I dont use pesticides or chemicals, and to be honest, I have not really found that I have lost out because of them
My tomatoes/strawberries/blueberries/courgettes etc etc taste better than shop bought ones.

[Tomatoking]

I would never classify myself as "organic" because I use slug pellets and Bordeaux Mixture.
I'm happy enough that my veg are "home-grown".

Found this while doing some reserch for my blog

Bordeaux mixture is a mixture of copper sulphate and hydrated lime used as a fungicide in vineyards. It is used mainly to control garden, vineyard, nursery and farm infestations of fungi, primarily downy mildew which can result from infections of Plasmopara viticola. It was invented in the Bordeaux region of France, where it is known locally as Bouillie Bordelaise. This fungicide has been used for over a century and is still used, although the copper can leach out and pollute streams.

Main uses
As well as its use to control fungal infection on grape vines the mixture is also widely used to control potato blight, peach leaf curl and apple scab. It is approved for organic use and so is often used by organic gardeners where non-organic gardeners would prefer other controls.

[womble]

I recently read that dithane 945 is considered by that author to be better for us and the garden, rather than Bordeaux mix.

Whether that be true or not, being taught that copper is poisonous when I was younger, I've never used Bordeaux spray and considered it was a left over from past gardening.

[Alison]

Found this while doing some reserch for my blog

Bordeaux mixture is a mixture of copper sulphate and hydrated lime used as a fungicide in vineyards. It is used mainly to control garden, vineyard, nursery and farm infestations of fungi, primarily downy mildew which can result from infections of Plasmopara viticola. It was invented in the Bordeaux region of France, where it is known locally as Bouillie Bordelaise. This fungicide has been used for over a century and is still used, although the copper can leach out and pollute streams.

Main uses
As well as its use to control fungal infection on grape vines the mixture is also widely used to control potato blight, peach leaf curl and apple scab. It is approved for organic use and so is often used by organic gardeners where non-organic gardeners would prefer other controls.

Some people including some organic organisations do claim that Bordeau Mix is acceptable however you'll fail to ever convince me that polluting the ground with copper is OK

[BUFFS]

i just grow my veg without chemicals cause i am the one who will be eating it,organic or not,i dont care,i do notice though that i get more of the good bugs and birds keeping the veg virtually clear of problems,my only problem is apple scab on leaves and fruit of two trees,and if that persists,i will dig them up and grow something else,we do need trace elements,but we dont need to be flooded with chemicals,i am old enough to remember DDT and its effect.this year we had 3 sparrow nests,1 wrens nest,2 robins and a blackbird nest and next year i am hoping for more,makes digging the patch quite an event,with some birds darting in to grab food,and others waiting for you to move away,thats reason enough not to pollute the ground with chemicals...it is whatever works for you though,so just enjoy it....

[King Carrot]

I recently read that dithane 945 is considered by that author to be better for us and the garden, rather than Bordeaux mix.

Whether that be true or not, being taught that copper is poisonous when I was younger, I've never used Bordeaux spray and considered it was a left over from past gardening.

I totally agree - bordeaux mixture is nasty stuff and I don't think it should be part of organic growing, I reluctantly use dithane 945 as the lesser evil.

[mark m]

I try not to use chemicals if I don't need to but sometimes the bugs get to much and its not worth losing a crop over.

As long as you've grown it youself from seed, and eaten it, it feels alot better then buying and eating the crap from the supermarkets!!