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Bees Alive! is migrating - this is the new page... Work with nature, not against it - build an organic garden or farm. Last year, I had a discussion with an 80-year-old farmer about the organic garden and farm I worked on in 2009. After letting me know what he thought about the organic movement, he pronounced that you couldn't grow apples without using pesticides. I was surprised. I had eaten organic apples right off the tree during my time on the farm - or at least I thought I had - perhaps, I had dreamed it.These days, the word 'organic' has a bad rap. It has become a political buzzword used to indicate green 'investment', a fashionable adjective to demonstrate environmental savvy, and a label exploited by businesspeople in order to make money. All of these insincere uses have stripped the term of meaning. Most people don't really know what it means anymore and only associate it with dishonesty and money-grabs. It still has meaning though - if you wade through the politics, trend-setting and commercialization, the original meaning of the word is still valid. Simply put, organic in its true meaning refers to agricultural and horticultural methods that exclude the use of synthetic products. No chemicals! Organic Agriculture An organic farms operates quite a bit differently than a chemical farm. There is a built-in respect for the environment that underlies all decision-making. The bottom line is impact on the environment, the ecosystem and human health in addition to yield and monetary gain. The aim is to work with nature rather than overcome or conquer it. And the results are better. Whereas agri-business seeks to produce as much yield at the lowest price with the least amount of effort, you can be sure that true organic farms will not sacrifice environmental and human health in order to make money. Organic produce does cost more in the short run, and this is likely why governments with organic standards still allow the use of some chemicals. What are you paying for? Your extra few cents go towards keeping the water system clean, preventing ecosystem imbalances through the killing off of beneficial insects, keeping poorly-researched toxic chemicals out of the soil, the water, the plants, the insects, and your bodies. In the long-run, you pay less. Beekeeping or bee farming is an interesting case. You can think about organics in two different ways. Go to my discussion of organic honey to find out more. Organic Gardening
I have a growing series of blog posts on gardens I run across in China, where I live. Some people do farm and garden organically, some don't. Many community gardens in China, especially rural areas, double as the community dump, unfortunately.
A Little about Organic Insecticides
Insecticidal Soap You can either purchase this pre-made or you can make it yourself. Home recipes generally advise a combination of an edible oil (a tsp or 2), non-detergent soap (a tsp or 2), and a gallon of water. Some people add garlic or cayenne pepper.
--- Return to Bees Alive! home from The Organic Garden or Farm Return to Pollination from The Organic Garden or Farm
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Recommended Products:
The Bee Garden
Plant Form: An Illustrated Guide to Flowering Plant Morphology
