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[Road's End Farm <organic87@frontiernet.net>]

On Feb 11, 2012, at 1:04 PM, Deb Schneider wrote:

> Also "organic" does NOT mean harmless to amphibians and other
> creatures.  Lots of organic sprays are deadly to beneficials.

Which is why, in proper organic practices, they're not supposed to be  
the first resort; but to be used only after trying other techniques,  
and only in such a way as to do the least possible damage to  
beneficials.

You're specifically not supposed to just substitute spray X, which is  
on the OMRI approved or restricted list, for spray Y, which is  
prohibited for organic use.

I actually took Steve to understand at least part of this, as he was  
concerned that a spray made from paw paw leaves might be toxic to fish  
and amphibians.


-- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 6A now I think
Fresh-market organic produce, small scale
> From cjoli@gmc.ulaval.ca  Sat Feb 11 13:56:41 2012
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Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:55:51 -0500
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From: Claude Jolicoeur <cjoli@gmc.ulaval.ca>
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Subject: Re: [nafex] Organic spraying of fruit trees?
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Le 10:56 12.02.11, vous avez =E9crit:
> Is there an organic (one that will not harm=20
> wildlife, such as amphibians) solution for=20
> spraying fruit-crop trees (apples/pears, stone-fruits, etc.)?
> Is paw-paw (Asimina) a legitimate solution?  I=20
> know that even this is toxic to fish (and I have no doubt toxic to=
amphibians).
> Anything I can do?  If I don't spray, will I be=20
> able to cut away damaged parts, and still eat=20
> the fruit.  No extra-protein jokes lol!

As others have mentioned, this is not so simple...
1- you need to identify the pest.
2- you need to read and understand the life cycle=20
of the pest - the better you know your ennemy,=20
the best are your chances to win the battle (old saying on wars).
3- you need to establish a strategy, in where an=20
eventual spray will only be an item. For example,=20
you would need to trap the insect to find out how=20
many they are and when they are in your orchard.=20
Then you migh have some repellent strategies=20
(like Surround), or use some sexual confusion=20
hormones, or use some predatory insects. All=20
these tools could be part of your strategy, and=20
it's only a global strategy that will give you chances to win the battle.

For my part, I didn't have the time and=20
involvment to get into all of this, so I made a=20
deal with the insects - I told them if they leave=20
me enough fruit to eat, I won't have to kill=20
them. Believe it or not, it works. And the fruit=20
that is damaged by the insects can still be used for cider.
Claude Jolicoeur=20