Question from Blake:
That's great that you're not using pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizer. But I'm confused: typically that IS the definition of organic. What law says organic means you must use herbicides and pesticides? I want to read that!
Answer from Coastalfields:
Yes, it is often a confusing issue. Consumers have been led to think that "organic" means something that it doesn't. We have the following resources available for you:
You should read, in particular Sections 205.203 (b) and 205.206 (a) of the Final Rule of the Organic Act (pg. 372 and 376), which are reproduced on this webpage:
http://www.coastalfields.com/Organic_Required.htm. These two subsections can only be interpreted to mean a requirement of herbicide, pesticide and fertilizer: how else would a producer "prevent" crop pests, weeds and diseases? How else could the "application of plant and animal materials" for fertility be interpreted?
We sometimes hear the argument from producers (not from the government - the government knows the law; the producers try to twist the law to mean something else and confound the unsuspecting consumer) thatan organic farmer tries to limit their use of chemical pesticides andherbicides. This is not the same thing as not using them. Also, the ways they try to limit them end up requiring the use of more and more every year if they will ever see a harvest:for example, hand pulling weeds and squishing bugs...this is rarely (and likely never) enough to completely eliminate their use of chemicals, especially since by fertilizing and killing "weeds" and "pests" in the first place they further stimulate their need to use some stronger killing agent (chemicals). The fact is that they are required to use the pesticide, fertilizer and herbicide...and if they do not, they cannot be organic. We have been told we cannot be organic because we do not do these things.
2) Concerning the legal use of synthetic herbicide, pesticide and fertilizer...we have posted on our website the law, which specifies many of the synthetics available for use by producers.
If you want a (nearly) complete list of all the synthetic and nonsynthetic chemicals that are legal to use in "organic" agriculture, Mary hassummarized them in her book (available for free online download) here:
http://www.coastalfields.com/publications_organiclies.html.
You can also read them online by downloading the law and wading through it yourself.
But you need not limit your worries to the synthetics: all sorts of nasty nonsynthetic things can be used, including (but not limited to) human cancer genes, viruses (and other mutating microorganisms), highlytoxic "natural" compounds,and any number of animal products...not to mention all the nastiness that can be sold under the name of "inert ingredients." Chemicals are chemicals, and whether they come from bone meal or from mining, from a laboratory or through breeding, heribicide, pesticide and fertilizer are not only bad for the farmer (reducing profits by decreasing yields and increasing costs) but are bad for the consumer.
3) concerning why herbicide, pesticide and fertilizer are not good for the producer or consumer...we suggest that you
a) undertake trials and experiments in your backyard or nearby field. You are the best judge of truth and we can help you set up experiments and trials that will help you compare, side by side, the effects of herbicide, pesticide and fertilizer.
b) visit our farm to observe for yourself our trials that we conduct for this very purpose
Please let us know if this is helpful!