North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Alan Haigh" <alandhaigh@gmail.com>]

"so far, in this one discussion, I've been in effect called a fool, a cultist, and a little crazy".

 

I think your skin may not be quite as thick as you think.  If you go back to my original post most would consider it a joke not a serious accusation.  It did contain a serious point and that was the absolutism of organic theory- not a single man made molecule in the field or you're out!

 

I don't consider the embrace of this theory any more ridiculous than any other leap of faith that all humans participate in from time to time.  This tendency may be what keeps us sane.

 

I  have, of course, read similar studies as those you mention but they are not at all holistic in the economic sense.  Land that is enriched with organic matter will of course become more fertile over time but this is an expensive and labor intensive process.  

 

The comparison to conventional agriculture is not entirely relevant to the discussion I'm trying to make here because I'm not an advocate of conventional agriculture either.  I'm looking for a rational middle ground that embraces  the use of some chemical technology that increases yields and reduces backbreaking labor but doesn't contaminate our environment or gradually deplete the soil. 

 

Organic has become a huge commercial brand world-wide and the public in general often believes that it is the only alternative to ruinous agricultural practices.  Unfortunately, as agri-business  embraces the profitability of this brand they are beginning to find ways to engage in similarly ruinous practices but still make profits on the brand-name.