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Re: [Market-farming] Bio- Plastics vs. plastic mulch
- From: "Rob Wallbridge" <rob AT songberry.ca>
- To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Bio- Plastics vs. plastic mulch
- Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:14:44 -0400
I’d echo many of Rivka’s
comments and concerns. I’ve had really good experience with BioTelo on my
farm: it lays well with a mechanical layer (best on cool mornings on
properly-prepared soil, with NO tension on the rollers), works well with a
waterwheel transplanter, holds up fairly well, and is completely gone by the
next year. It is approved for certified organic use here in Rob Wallbridge Songberry Organic Farm 24 Sixth Line, facebook: "Songberry Organic
Farm" twitter: @songberryfarm From:
market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Road's End Farm On Mar 15, 2011, at 3:43 PM, Sue Wells wrote:
Does anyone else have comments
on Weed Guard Plus? Is this better than Bio tel? Sue My comments on all such materials: 1) Check that the specific material actually breaks down leaving no
harmful residues. There has at one time or another been a lot of stuff on the
market being sold as "biodegradable" that didn't actually meet such
standards. -- If it's acceptable for use by organic certifying agencies,
somebody outside the company selling it should have checked this. If it isn't,
there are multiple possible reasons, but I'd recommend doing your own checking.
And I wouldn't assume that because it's in a garden catalogue claiming it as
"organic" that it does in fact meet current standards; I still
sometimes see items so advertised that I know are not acceptable. When the USDA
limited the use of the word for food products, they declined to limit it for
companies selling garden and farm supplies. 2) Try the material out on a small scale in your own operation before
relying on it. Speed of breakdown can vary considerably depending on weather,
climate, soil type, and the microorganisms in the particular soil. I've had
edges buried in soil break down almost immediately after planting, with the
result that the wind picked the material up and flipped it over the top of
young transplants, doing damage. This was some years ago, and may not apply to
materials currently on the market; but you do need to check on your own place,
in case the particular material won't last as long as you need it to, in your
particular soil, for your particular uses. Also, some materials may be hard to
lay with some equipment, or may need different adjustment of the equipment than
you're used to, so that laying them properly may take practice. -- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 5 mostly Fresh-market organic produce, small scale |
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[Market-farming] Bio- Plasitcs vs. plastic mulch,
Joshua Bryceson, 03/15/2011
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Re: [Market-farming] Bio- Plastics vs. plastic mulch,
Joan Vibert, 03/15/2011
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Re: [Market-farming] Bio- Plastics vs. plastic mulch,
Sue Wells, 03/15/2011
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Re: [Market-farming] Bio- Plastics vs. plastic mulch,
Road's End Farm, 03/15/2011
- Re: [Market-farming] Bio- Plastics vs. plastic mulch, idyllwild farm, 03/15/2011
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Re: [Market-farming] Bio- Plastics vs. plastic mulch,
Rob Wallbridge, 03/15/2011
- Re: [Market-farming] Bio- Plastics vs. plastic mulch, Antoine Gendreau Turmel, 03/16/2011
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Re: [Market-farming] Bio- Plastics vs. plastic mulch,
Road's End Farm, 03/15/2011
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Re: [Market-farming] Bio- Plastics vs. plastic mulch,
Sue Wells, 03/15/2011
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Re: [Market-farming] Bio- Plastics vs. plastic mulch,
Joan Vibert, 03/15/2011
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