Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>]

Thank you. I don't pass judgment on other states' extension programs, not
knowing all the details. But in this state I'm not going to pay to be a
volunteer pesticide pusher. We have hundreds (thousands?) of unknown
poisons in our bodies already and babies are born with them through the
mother. In addition, I don't like the threatening tone of that MG
application. Nor am I passing judgment on every person in the program. But
really, they ought to have sense enough to realize that short course does
not make them experts or make them qualified to give anybody advice. Some
no doubt have good intentions. But as my grandpa used to say, the road to
Hell is paved with good intentions. Many of us on this list have studied
and experienced a hundred times as much as so-called Master Gardeners, and
we don't claim to be "Master" anythings. 

paul tradingpost@lobo.net

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 10/29/2006 at 10:39 AM yarrow@sfo.com wrote:

>In general, the MG programs sound good. But I have big problems with 
>some of the details:
>
>At 8:30 AM -0600 10/28/06, TradingPostPaul wrote:
>>   13. Given the proper training, could you comfortably recommend the use
>of
>>both natural and synthetic       fertilizers and pest control products to
>>the public?  If NO, please explain.  (According to NMSU           policy,
>>Master Gardener volunteers are required to advise on the use of all types
>>of pesticides and         fertilizers; at the same time, the Bernalillo
>>County Extension Horticulture Agent is strongly                  
>promoting
>>Integrated Pest Management, which emphasizes cultural controls,
>least-toxic
>>materials,         and highly-toxic materials only as a last resort.)
>
>I think it's irresponsible to *require* someone with 52 hours total 
>training to recommend pesticides and fertilizers. This antiecological 
>policy presumes that organic gardening doesn't really work or is too 
>much trouble for most people, and also assumes that using pesticides 
>has no downside.
>
>
>>  Trained individuals may
>>identify themselves as an Extension Master Gardener only when doing
unpaid
>>public service work in a New Mexico State University approved program.
>
>I see this policy violated all the time. Maybe it's not the policy in 
>every state, but I've seen people here with "Master Gardener" on biz 
>cards saying that it persuades people to hire them for paid 
>landscaping jobs. Also, many MGs identify themselves as "Master 
>Gardener Jane Doe" for every single outdoors-related thing they're 
>involved in, most of which are not official Extension business.
>
>  > Callers
>>requesting alternative information (i.e. organic methods) should be given
>>the type of information requested, with any appropriate caveats if this
>>information is not research based. Callers should be guided toward
>>understanding preventative measures, as well as treatment options.
>
>Organic methods are "alternative information"?!
>
>(On the other hand, I have heard that some MG programs are more open 
>to including the research on and promoting organic methods. Maybe 
>Oregon and Washington? I know King County has been trying to 
>discourage pesticide use for years.)
>_______________________________________________
>Livingontheland mailing list
>Livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
>http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/livingontheland