Is organic gardening viable?

Ivan McDonagh · 2004-02-15T01:57:34+00:00

*** note the cross post ***Hi all :)I have just finished reading an online book "Chemicals, Humus, and TheSoil" written by Donald P. Hopkins. This book is available through theagriculture library at It seems to me that Mr Hopkins makes a very strong case in favour ofusing the fertilisers that are not permissible under the "rules" oforganic gardening. Although Mr Hopkins has discussed this matter in thecontext of commercial farming it seems to me that as home growers we arealso looking for best yield for least cost (direct and labour) and thatthe arguments he presents are mostly just as valid for home growers asfor commercial. Mr Hopkins emphasises to a very great extent the need for large amountsof organic matter in the soil but is also convincing in his argumentthat the amounts of humus that are required to provide sufficientnutrients for the high density planting that both home and commercialgrowers favour is difficult for the home grower and expensive to thepoint of impossibility in the case of the commercial grower to obtain. I wonder if anyone else has read this book and can comment on thevalidity of the arguments put forward by Mr Hopkins. Also, are there any peer-reviewed studies regarding the "taste" oforganic vs. non-organic produce (presumably these would be double blindtrials) and the bio-availability of nutrients in organic vs. non-organicproduce. Obviously, I would prefer at least abstracts to be available via the internet.Ivan.

Feb 15, 2004 60 Replies

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Janice 22 years ago

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Is organic gardening viable?

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