How organic is "organic"

How organic is "Organic"

I was harvesting some potatoes at my allotment yesterday when I dug up the above article. The irony of the word Organic and the soil association symbol displayed on such a decidedly non biodegradable material was so mind boggling that I felt the need to share it with you guys.

If you look at the label you can clearly read "British bunched beetroot. "which suggests to me that it found its way into the allotment soil via my kitchen peelings bucket via the compost heap and finally was spread on the ground as mature compost.As I follow J Jenkins composting protocol the above item could have been composted for a max of two years or a minimum of one year, as I always allow a whole year maturation period after the last addition to my compost heaps. If we assume that that application of compost went down just before planting the potatoes that adds a further six months, which gives us a minimum of a year and a half of exposure to quite a rigorous environment of biological assault. On the other hand it could have been in the ground for much longer maybe four or five years. While the elastic rubber band is showing signs of biological digestion, the plastic tab being still quite readable is not.

Also readable is the name of the retailers. Tesco. It suggests fairly strongly that while Tesco is willing to sell "organic" its heart is not really in it. Is it not fair to say that the "Tesco's" choice of a plastic label suggests their interest in selling "Organic "is in the financial premium that organic commands?

Apart from anything else this purely financial interest in Organic does not bode well for the  Organic movement in as much as when companies who have no interest in the principals of organic growing, begin to take more of a financial interest in the movement, they will want to take a more active part in the decision making of the movement, which will inevitably lead to a dumbing down if those principals.(he who pays the piper calls the tune).

There are two outcomes I want to achieve with this article. I would like it if big distributors would show a real commitment to the principals and purpose of organic by 100% compostable wrapping and labelling. I can only see this happening by consumer pressure. That means you, getting informed about the planet destroying threat of plastic, and then writing letters and communicating with your retailers and each other.

I would also like it if you realise that big retailers can only be trusted so far, and start growing your own as far as possible then source locally.

SAVING SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE No 2

Saving Seeds for the Future

A Novel Use of a Trampoline.

Thanks Emma for filming this short clip. It starts off with me clipping the root ends of some ripe seed plants which have been previously pulled up and left to dry.Removing the root ends takes care  of the mud and dust which would otherwise take a lot of time to clean out of the seeds.

Towards the end of the video  ,all the seeds were accidentally spilled back on to the trampoline. which gave me an opportunity to demonstrate a "bounce "method of winnowing. (effective to a point).

Despite this accident I was able to save the seeds quite well. This year I was able to save good amounts of Swede, Brussel Sprout, Purple Sprouting Broccoli and Sorrel seeds. Plenty enough for next years planting, giving away to gardening friends,and for use in sprouting and growing micro greens.
Incidentally Elephant Garlic is fast becoming a firm favourite.Not only does it produce humongous garlic bulbs it also produces beautiful flower heads which are very attractive to bees and other pollinators,and work well in flower arranging,At the same time as this it produces small bulb-lets which can be used to grow next years new plants.

weeds?

WEEDS?

Please don't think we go out and buy a piece of heavy duty plastic sheet whenever we want to supress a few weeds. This piece obliged us by blowing into our garden during a gale. Ordinarily we use old carpet salvaged from skips, which serves the purpose very well.

PICKLED GARLIC

If you grew a lot of garlic last year, you may find, what with the warmer weather approaching, they are now beginning to sprout. This is the time to act quickly, if you don't want to end up loosing the last of your crop. The picture shows us with a well sprouted garlic, some garlic already in the jar and some homegrown kale seeds. Incidentally, the hand image of a bewildered giraffe,has no meaningful relevance to the text and is just for fun.

O.K. so peal your garlic and cut off the dried root end,(this cut will be sufficient to allow the vinegar to seep  in.)Pack them down into sterile jars,with mustard seed poppy seed pepper corn thyme leaf, kale seeds cumin or caraway or coriander, any one two or three of these will impart a nice flavour. Or none it will still taste great.be sure to leave a half inch at the top.

Make a mixture of 50/50 live cider vinegar, clean water, with one teaspoon of salt per pint, and pour that into the jars until full. It is important to keep the garlic submerged so a piece of apple or cabbage stem on top so that as the lid is screwed down the garlic is held under the surface of the liquid. Even a very clean stone will do.

As the garlic ferments it will produce bubbles of carbon di oxide, and can make quite a pressure inside the jar so that it is a good idea to release this from time to time. sometimes the garlic develops a slight blue sheen however this is nothing to worry about as it does not effect the eating quality of the end result.

I would think that they will be ready to eat in three weeks or so, and would last a year or even two, but as they are so delicious ,I have never been able to keep a jar for more than six months so cannot vouch for this personally.

Even if your garlic are a little sprouted (see picture) they will be fine However, if any clove is mouldy (blue or green mould)or if excessively soft or in any way translucent,into the compost bin with it.

Happy fermenting.