Organic foods

[RandyForRubio]

yeah, I also mentioned time. In my experience, it takes about 5 years to see the boost in yield that comes from good, biodynamic farming practices. (That's a super rough number, for the record. It's based on the two 5-year-plus experiences I have working the same bits of land.)

Sounds about right to me. Gonna be different on every piece of course. Only problem is that us farmers aren't patient. It's hard to invest our own money into something that might show benefits in 5+ years, Ya know? Especially when we have methods that work right now. That's the challenge to me at least. It's fun though, I enjoy this part of it. The thinking, the philosphy behind why we do what we do.

 

[NAOS]

Sounds about right to me. Gonna be different on every piece of course. Only problem is that us farmers aren't patient. It's hard to invest our own money into something that might show benefits in 5+ years, Ya know? Especially when we have methods that work right now. That's the challenge to me at least. It's fun though, I enjoy this part of it. The thinking, the philosphy behind why we do what we do.

Agreed. That's the bugger of the market, though, not the bugger of farming. I like what you said earlier about yield versus the-yield-you-can sell. The market can be a very poor measure of agricultural productivity.

where's the land you're working?

 

[RandyForRubio]

Agreed. That's the bugger of the market, though, not the bugger of farming. I like what you said earlier about yield versus the-yield-you-can sell. The market can be a very poor measure of agricultural productivity.

where's the land you're working?

In a way it's poor, in a way it's good. High yield with no quality is a crappy crop imo. I'll take a lower yield with high quality every day.

Our farm is in the southwestern part of montana. Silt-loam soil for the most part, tons of calcium which can kinda suck for fertilizers (binds Em up).

 

[NAOS]

In a way it's poor, in a way it's good. High yield with no quality is a crappy crop imo. I'll take a lower yield with high quality every day.

Our farm is in the southwestern part of montana. Silt-loam soil for the most part, tons of calcium which can kinda suck for fertilizers (binds Em up).

that's a beautiful area, man. You're lucky.

 

[Siro]

If you'd had any direct experience you certainly would have mentioned in the interaction you had with salt13. It seems a safe bet to count absence of evidence as evidence in this case; no way you can just carry on like you were if you'd tried your hand at it.

Look, we live in a world where we arm wave like that all the time. Sometimes, though, the arm waving doesn't work as well.

I'm not trying to be the last word, brough. lol at that.

I have about as much experience as the vast majority in this thread. Which is to say, I grow some vegs in my garden. Since that has little to do with the subject at hand, I was using indirect knowledge to argue my stance. You know, like how all of us do with practically every single opinion we have? None of us here are professional basketball players, nor are we owners of major league sports clubs. And yet, look at us! Talking from indirect experience! Incredible.

So it brings two questions to mind, one, why are you even bringing up that asinine argument? Second, why do you target me with your asinine argument? Curious.

P.S. I also talked about the health trade-off of organic food and pesticides. Without even being a doctor! The hubris!!

 

[NAOS]

I have about as much experience as the vast majority in this thread. Which is to say, I grow some vegs in my garden. Since that has little to do with the subject at hand, I was using indirect knowledge to argue my stance. You know, like how all of us do with practically every single opinion we have? None of us here are professional basketball players, nor are we owners of major league sports clubs. And yet, look at us! Talking from indirect experience! Incredible.

So it brings two questions to mind, one, why are you even bringing up that asinine argument? Second, why do you target me with your asinine argument? Curious.

P.S. I also talked about the health trade-off of organic food and pesticides. Without even being a doctor! The hubris!!

I "targeted" you because of the content of your posts in this thread. Nothing more.

Also, dude, I mentioned that arm waving is an integral part of everyday argumentation -- so I've already conceded that point. But I also said that arm waving works less well in some instances; and I think you've thought yourself into an unhelpful circle on these issues.

 

[Siro]

I "targeted" you because of the content of your posts in this thread. Nothing more.

Also, dude, I mentioned that arm waving is an integral part of everyday argumentation -- so I've already conceded that point. But I also said that arm waving works less well in some instances; and I think you've thought yourself into an unhelpful circle on these issues.

All right.

 

[Siro]

Speaking of farming experience, I do have a funny anecdote on the subject. Back when I lived in Virginia, I was unhappy with the quality of mint found in the market. So on a visit to the middle east, I brought some back, and planted it in a forested area near my apartment. I didn't expect it to take because of how wildly different Virginia was from the plant's native environment. But man was I wrong. Without having touched it after planting, it grow out of control. The whole area was covered in mint, and I started seeing it around lawns and in every spot with available soil in the neighborhood. The whole area smelled delicious in the summer!

I moved to Utah soon after that, and I don't know what happened since. But I do imagine it continued to spread. I'd like to think that my irresponsible (but unintentional, to be fair) behavior has contributed to the flora makeup of the North American continent.

 

[♪alt13]

you should look into different plant pairings. You can discourage a lot of bugs that way. Also, soil chemistry (and, thus, plant health) is a major factor in vulnerability to bugs.

I hear you, though. I live in a buggy area.... very hard to beat them. I think it several seasons to turn the ship in the right direction -- especially if the land hasn't been utilized for food production in its recent history.

Everything is part of my yard. It's not a dedicated garden plot. It's still a work in progress and everything is here or there. I put down used coffee grounds which seems to control the aphids. If the aphids get ooc I spray the non-edible plants(lilac,roses,etc) with water that has old cigarette butts soaked in it. I've only had to do this a couple times.

The strawberries seem to be every bugs favorite. The bug that seems unstoppable is the cricket. Admittedly I haven't tried very hard as I don't mind supporting some level of bugs in the city. The crickets improve the "atmosphere" at night. That being said I can't imagine being a farmer and trying to deal with crickets without some kind of pesticide.

 

[♪alt13]

Speaking of farming experience, I do have a funny anecdote on the subject. Back when I lived in Virginia, I was unhappy with the quality of mint found in the market. So on a visit to the middle east, I brought some back, and planted it in a forested area near my apartment. I didn't expect it to take because of how wildly different Virginia was from the plant's native environment. But man was I wrong. Without having touched it after planting, it grow out of control. The whole area was covered in mint, and I started seeing it around lawns and in every spot with available soil in the neighborhood. The whole area smelled delicious in the summer!

I moved to Utah soon after that, and I don't know what happened since. But I do imagine it continued to spread. I'd like to think that my irresponsible (but unintentional, to be fair) behavior has contributed to the flora makeup of the North American continent.

When I moved into my home there was quite a lot of mint. Really hard to get rid of. I still have to pull occasional shoots 5 years after ripping it out and tilling the soil. My mistake I should have covered the area and waited a season before planting what I wanted. Even then though I bet I would still be dealin with it.

 

[Stifle Tower]

The bug that seems unstoppable is the cricket. Admittedly I haven't tried very hard as I don't mind supporting some level of bugs in the city. The crickets improve the "atmosphere" at night. That being said I can't imagine being a farmer and trying to deal with crickets without some kind of pesticide.

Pray for seagulls.

 

[RandyForRubio]

Speaking of farming experience, I do have a funny anecdote on the subject. Back when I lived in Virginia, I was unhappy with the quality of mint found in the market. So on a visit to the middle east, I brought some back, and planted it in a forested area near my apartment. I didn't expect it to take because of how wildly different Virginia was from the plant's native environment. But man was I wrong. Without having touched it after planting, it grow out of control. The whole area was covered in mint, and I started seeing it around lawns and in every spot with available soil in the neighborhood. The whole area smelled delicious in the summer!

I moved to Utah soon after that, and I don't know what happened since. But I do imagine it continued to spread. I'd like to think that my irresponsible (but unintentional, to be fair) behavior has contributed to the flora makeup of the North American continent.

This is pretty terrible tbh.