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| Photo Credit: ©2007 Buglady Consulting |
| Try growing your vegetables organically this summer. |
Walk into any retail store today, and you’re bound to see something labeled “organic,” from clothing and food to potting soil – even insecticides. But what does that word really mean?
If a plant is labeled “organic” or “organically grown,” it may be useful to think about it in terms what it’s not: - Organic growing is not planting a seed and leaving it to grow all by itself.
- Organic plant material is not grown with synthetic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides or sewage sludge.
- Organic plant material will not use genetically engineered stock plants or radiation treatments.
For years, anyone could label their products – including plants – as being organic without having a set national standard. But in 1990, the federal government passed the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA), setting specific standards for organic growers and use of the “organic” term. Under this law, a grower must use growing practices and materials (called “inputs”) as defined by the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP). All inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, soils, etc.) used to help produce a plant must be specifically permitted under the NOP to be considered “organic.” This means that you can’t take household items like dish soap, rubbing alcohol or bleach and use them on your plants – they’re not permitted inputs. You can only use approved organic inputs if you want to stay organic.
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