Gifford Garden Notes
Going Organic
by Brad Roeller, Manager of Display Gardens
Happy New Year to all! Now that we've had a few days to consider the ramifications of our well-intentioned resolutions, how about making one that can be both life changing and get the desired results. No, not dieting, exercising, or quitting smoking, rather this resolution involves rethinking how we manage our gardens and landscaped areas. Concisely put, consider "going organic" from now on. This catchall term involves a little education (the easy part) and, most importantly, a change in one's attitude.
As one who has undergone this transformation (yes, I was a chemical and fertilizer junkie-my gardening modus operandi was "if a little is good, more is better"), I realize that this may not be easy for you nurturing gardeners, but believe me, the benefits are real. In order to become an organic gardener, you must resolve to do several things. First and foremost is to change your standards on what is acceptable (to you, not your neighbors) in your garden and landscape. Is a weed-free, lush, green lawn a necessity in your life? Do your garden produce and ornamental plants have to be blemish-free, worthy of 1st place in the local garden show? I've been there myself: best lawn in the neighborhood, picture-perfect fruits and veggies, roses worthy of inclusion in a Jackson & Perkins catalog. But there are consequences: I was continuously exposing not only me, but also my family (pets included) to a host of carcinogenic pesticides (for an eye-opening read, check out "Ten Reasons Not to Use Pesticides" in the winter 2001 Journal of Pesticide Reform, which can be seen on the website: www.pesticide.org). Another unexpected consequence: I was turning my landscape plants (including my lawn) into chemical and fertilizer-dependent junkies! Without their weekly "dose" they simply wouldn't meet my exacting standards. Luckily, I had an epiphany: Pesticides don't solve problems, as they don't change the conditions that encourage pests.
One of my main objectives here at IES is to investigate and evaluate environmentally sensible ways and products for managing the garden and landscape. A visit to the Gifford Garden should demonstrate the results and worth of this continuing endeavor. I've had to somewhat lower my previous standards of what a public garden should look like (albeit not that much!), and realize that the Institute is not, and should not be, a Longwood or New York Botanical Garden. However, I'll match "my" garden against most, and am proud to say that we manage ours with minimal reliance on chemicals (we adhere to an IPM [Integrated Pest Management] philosophy for insect and disease problems), fertilization, and water. Perhaps in a generation or so, those venerable institutions, and their ilk, will likewise have a change of heart, brought on by increasing water restrictions or incidents of pesticide poisoning, or (hopefully!) a grass-roots (no pun intended!) movement to limit and largely reduce chemical usage in landscape management.
In a roundabout way I've already alluded to 3 other resolutions that I strongly feel should be connected with "going organic": less dependency on pesticides (organic or chemical), water, and fertilizer. I know several organic gardeners who, as a matter of course, rely on pesticides (organic), fertilizers (again, certified organic), and use copious amounts of water in their gardens. While settle for a single when you can hit a home run? Go all the way: Why not select plants (including turf) that are pest-resistant, drought-tolerant, and have minimal fertilization needs (there's a bunch of them out there!)? Growing up on Long Island, I've seen the problems connected with nitrates and phosphates in the ground water. I've seen picture-perfect, decades-old, lawns in old estates and golf courses that would succumb if a fungicide application were missed. I know gardeners who have been fined hundreds of dollars because they irrigated their lawns and gardens during times of water restrictions. I firmly believe that water, its abundance and quality, is going to be a major environmental issue in our area in the not too distant future. Years ago, I myself ran the Gifford House well dry to keep plants and turf pristine (that didn't go over too big!). I had a professor who ultimately died from long-term exposure to DDT. There is a better way to garden. Check out the information on the IES website (mouseover the "Learn More About" option) for lists of drought-tolerant plants, how to manage your landscape organically, and lots more.
Gifford Garden Archives, January 2003 - present
Gifford Garden Archives, July 2001 - January 2003