Organic Gardening Defined

Transcription

1 Organic Gardening Defined Weston Miller OSU Extension Service Community and Urban Horticulture Faculty 2009 Program, prepared by Weston Miller

2 Audience Question What does the term organic gardening mean to you?

3 Interest in Organic Gardening 5% of America s 90 million households garden using exclusively organic management An additional 31% are hybrid gardeners Trend expected to double in coming years National Gardening Association. (2005). Environmental Lawn and Garden Survey. South Burlington: National Gardening Association. Retrieved May 12, 2008 at

4 Organic Movement Response to increasing input of chemicals on farms, gardens, and landscapes Connected with environmental larger movement Trickle-down effect from agriculture to gardening Increased use of chemicals (Green Rev) Decrease use of chemicals (Modern Env)

5 Organic is Federally Defined USDA National Organic Standards Board 1995: Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.

6 Agricultural practices that: Mimic natural ecosystems Maintain/replenish soil fertility No use of synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers Use natural products: Derived from mineral, plant, animal resources

7 Organic Food Labeling Grown and handled according to standards Minimally processed to maintain the integrity of the food No artificial preservatives No irradiation No GMO

8 Based on Ecological Principles Ecology Study of the environment and the relations of organisms to each other and their surrounding Ecosystems Collection of interacting organisms and abiotic components in the physical environment

9 Primary Producers Biotic Community Consumers Ecosystem Scavengers Decomposers Physical Environment Energy Climate Nutrients

10 It s not Rocket Science

11 Landscape Ecology Land Soil Nematodes Components of Ecosystem Plant Diversity Micro/ Macro Invertebrates Pest Complex Management Nutrients Natural Enemies Abiotic Factors Microbial Flora Organic Matter Courtesy of Gail Langellotto Disease Complex Land Soil

12

13 Even though it s complicated People have been successfully growing plants without synthesized chemical fertilizers and pesticides for 1000s of years through Keen observation Local cycling of nutrients Major investment of time and energy

14 The farm/garden does not end at edge of the property

15 Regional Ecosystem Agroecosystem Organization Farm Ecosystem Field Community Crop Population Crop Plant

16 Principles of Ecological Gardening Manage Ecological Relationships Reestablish ecological relationships Manage pests, diseases, and weeds instead of controlling them. Enhance beneficial biota Minimize disturbance nutrient recyclers- compost, worms, fowl, goats, etc.

17 Organic Gardening Practices and Products: 1. Build Healthy Soil for Healthy Plants 2. Biorational Pest Management 3. Organic Products 1. Fertilizers/soil amendments 2. Weed control 3. Pest control 4. Disease control 5. Sterilization

18 Compost Cover crops Soil Building- Digging techniques Organic fertilizers

19 Biorational Pest Management- Prevention wise plant choice, hygiene, proper care Manage own expectations Attract beneficial organisms Understand life cycle of pests/disease Cultural/physical techniques for pest management Judicious use of Program least-toxic 2009 pesticides

20 Organic Products USDA National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)

21 Organic Fertilizers Material % N % P % K Cotton seed meal Blood meal Alfalfa Bat guano Fish meal Fish emulsion Bone meal Rock phosphate Greensand Kelp meal Sustainable Gardening, Pg 51

22 Organic Herbicides Acetic acid (vinegar-based) Clove/citric acid based Herbicidal Soap Contact Non-selective Do not translocate OK for annuals Perennials- hmmm Corn gluten Pre-emergent Not effective Good N fertilizer

23 Better: Other Weed Strategies A sharp hoe and lots o diligence Transplants get a head start Mulch! Cover crops Crop rotation Avoid bringing new weeds Stale seedbed

24 Organic Fungicides Horticultural oils Copper based Sulfur Serenade (Bacillus subtilus) Baking soda (K) This is a peach tree grafted with two curl resistant cultivars. Cultivar 'Q 1-8' on the left and the cultivar 'Mary Jane' (with lots of curl) on the right. Materials Allowed for Organic Disease Management- PNW Disease

25 Organic Pesticides Azadirachtin- Neem Bt- biological Beauveria- biological Horticultural oils Insecticidal soap Iron phosphate- slugs Kaolin clay Lime Sulfur Pyrethrins Rotenone Spinosad Sulfur 2008 PNW Insect page 389 red = Biological

26 Propagation Sterilization 10% Bleach solution Isopropyl or grain alcohol H2O2

27 Label is the law With All Products Identify plant and pest and confirm on label for allowed uses of products Read and follow the directions! Wear proper eye protection, mask, clothing, gloves, etc.

28 Audience Question What does the term organic gardening mean to you?