North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["loneroc" <loneroc@mwt.net>]

Hail to all newcomers to the list!

For those who aren't regulars to this list, there are probably 20-30 or so
long term residents and any number of itinerant guests.  Organic vs. non-O
is a perennial topic that new visitors raise and this is always good for a
flurry of posts dealing with poison, science, religion, capitalism, etc.
Sometimes visitors bring an inadvertently strident tone to discussions
without realizing that the tone of the list quite genteel--somewhat
surprising because the list is populated by fiercely independent and
intellectually coherent humans who are passionate about fruit-growing and
who clearly have very strong opinions about how life should be lived.  I
think that very few of us would be happy living the superficial lives we see
all around us.  Despite very strongly held points of view people do their
best to calmly provide information to all comers and though we generally
stick to the facts, waxing poetic is still desirable (cute post,
Mango)---this is not a scientific journal.

I recall that some of my first comments were, in hindsight, sharper than
need be and I've noticed that I'm not the only one who has followed the
pattern.  When one doesn't know the people on the other end of the line it
is easy to slip into a cable news style debate.  After several years of
participation I feel that I "personally" know many of you (although I
suspect that my mental pictures of your physical appearances have little
connection to reality;-) and while I am happy to get into a spirited debate
now and then I would never shout at my friends.  I don't feel the need to
trumpet my own positions like I did at first (and still continue to do in
most areas of my life).  I am generally content with a passing observation
(appreciation?) of the philosophical differences that NAFEXers demonstrate
without needing to put in my two cents on every controversy, though I can't
always resist tossing in a penny.

Fruit growing is the most difficult and complex area of horticulture, in
part because of the very long time commitment needed for even the most
rudimentary attempts, and there is nowhere better on the net (that I've
found) to tap into hundreds of years worth of fruit growing experience and
expertise.

Welcome,

Steve Herje, lone Rock, WI USDA zone 3.

PS:  It's OK to give Mr. Olenio a rough time now and then, though.  He seems
to be able to give and take with the best.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mangodance" <bmn@iglou.com>
To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 11:45 PM
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Organicism


> Alan Haigh wrote:
>
> > "Nah.  Many haven't been so quick to embrace modern chemistry in every
> > other aspect of our existence."
> >
> > Father, who are these many who don't embrace the gas combustion engine,
> > along with all the plastics used in the vehicles they power, strange
> > fluids to stop them from overheating, miracle drugs in times of
> > sickness, miracle fabrics to shield us from the cold, all the many
> > products of the industrial age.  Are these people not members of some
> > kind of cult.  Can I join them, these praticioners of Organicism, and
> > enjoy life of a simpler and kinder age when the only fear that consumed
> > me was where would come my next meal?
>
> And he said, "Rise up from the petrochemical ooze and be reborn.  These
> simple people are not luddites, but practical folks eager to help these
> pilgrims of the polarity find that there are many shades of grey, as
> well as colors, in an otherwise black-and-white world.  Complexity
> abounds.  Embrace it.  Seek these moderates and ye may find discussions
> of food which need not include engines, Enzite, nor even polyester.
> Find them and you may well find a simpler, kinder discussion replaces
> your fears.  You may even find no enemies exist.  You may find harmony."
>
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