Organic Lettuce not really Organic??

[Vandy]

This week, I have noticed that when I rinse my lettuce, a soapy substance seems to be rinsing off of the lettuce. Do they spray organic lettuce (paradoxical in terms!)??? I know that there are many debates in regards to how organic is grown with different non-chemical agents, but I had no idea they were sprayed. Can anyone spill a little more about this or provide sources??

Thanks!

Kristina

[juliebove]

This week, I have noticed that when I rinse my lettuce, a soapy substance seems to be rinsing off of the lettuce. Do they spray organic lettuce (paradoxical in terms!)??? I know that there are many debates in regards to how organic is grown with different non-chemical agents, but I had no idea they were sprayed. Can anyone spill a little more about this or provide sources??

Thanks!

Kristina

Soap is sometimes used in organic gardening to get rid of bugs. Safer's insecticidal soap comes to mind. I remember hearing those ads on the radio some years ago. Some people make up their own mix. Organic does not mean nothing is used in the soil or on the plants. It simply means that chemicals are not used.

Here's a link to another organic insecticide called Kaolin. It's a clay:

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/organic_gardening/88055

From this same website, I see that milk is sometimes used as a fungicide. And I remember making my own fertilzer many years ago from egg shells, old tea bags, old coffee grounds, ash from the fireplace, and water. I'd let it ferment in a 5 gallon jar and oh did it stink! Didn't seem to work very well on my plants, but the gardener who told me about it swore by it for his and when people saw my jar they always wanted to try it themselves.

If you do a quick search for "organic pesticides" or "organic fertilizers" you will see the types of products being used. As you can see, there are quite a lot of options.

[Conscious Midwife]

check
www.attra.ncat.org

for pesticides that are allowed, as a last resort, on certifiable organic produce

if your grower anticipates selling less than $5000 in produce, then they may advertise "organic" without undergoing inspection


and remember folks soil inputs are not necessarily vegan :eek:



Peace and Chick Peas