Another Reason to Grow Your Own

[boggybranch]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37396355/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/?gt1=43001

 

[wifezilla]

"Today's conventionally grown produce isn't as healthful as it was 30 years ago and it's only getting worse."
No surprise there. How sad.

 

[vfem]

*Shock and Awe*

 

[lesa]

I am convinced there is nothing human beings can't ruin... One of the most important reasons to grow your own!

 

[hoodat]

I take exception to the statement that organic gardeners and farmers stress their plants. I have some tomatos over 6 feet high and still growing with no sign of disease and loaded with maters. That doesn't sound like a stressed plant to me.

 

[curly_kate]

I agree, Hoodat! My tomatoes look tons healthier than those of my relatives who tend to load them up with pesticides and fertilizers.

 

[vfem]

I've had one or 2 give up and stress to the point of no saving... but the rest of mine look fantastic. With all types... not everything is going to do well everywhere in the country. I suppose those heirlooms were not for me, but some of them will be keepers for next year for sure.

 

[ducks4you]

ROCK ON!!! I LOVE to stress my plants!!

 

[journey11]

I take exception to the statement that organic gardeners and farmers stress their plants. I have some tomatos over 6 feet high and still growing with no sign of disease and loaded with maters. That doesn't sound like a stressed plant to me.

I thought that was an odd statement too.

"By avoiding synthetic fertilizers, organic farmers put more stress on plants, and when plants experience stress, they protect themselves by producing phytochemicals," explains Alyson Mitchell, PhD, a professor of nutrition science at the University of California, Davis.

Just because you don't use pelleted chemical fertilizers, doesn't mean your plants aren't getting what they need. And just because you do use them doesn't mean they are getting everything they need either. It's not like they supply tilth to the soil or trace minerals. What on earth do they think plants were grown on before you could buy fertilizer in a bag? If you want to "stress" them, just stop watering them for a bit! Really, that made no sense at all. I don't find that to be a reasonable explanation for it. However, the comment is coming from a dietitian, not a botanist.

 

[wifezilla]

Considering the knowledge level of your average dietician....

"Don't eat saturated fat even though we evolved over millions of years to thrive on it. Don't eat meat even though, without meat, we wouldn't have developed our big human brains. But be sure to eat lots and lots of newly developed grains that are basically just sugar. That will make you healthy!"