Organic Farming 

From: Samba (das) SDG (Mauritius) Samba.SDG@bbt.se 
Sent: 10 February 2000 14:11
Subject: Sustainable economy

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Many devotees have this question. Ecological Sciences of Exeter tell me that chemical residues are rendered ineffective through the composting process. They are all burnt up.

I guess I also should have included in the question; the case of antibiotic residues in animal dung. I would like to presume that antibiotics are also burnt up in the composting process. Is that a safe assumption? Is there any authority I can write to to confirm this?

As our land is already safe for full certification, it would be a real shame to set that status back by adding composts which would compromise the matter.

For us certification is not so much of an issue, but the Government here are keenly following all we do, so we should act as if we are in need of certification.

Also.

We have also heard on this conference: That because a seed was inorganic in the first instance, does it mean it is inorganic after it has been seeded and grown in organic land with no chemicals added, manured organically and grown into seed again. Surely now the new seed is considered organic.

Because we were born Mlleccas and Yavanas, does it mean we still are?

Of course in philosophical parlance, you are right. But just as sinful reactions can still be present in an aspiring devotee (the fan example), the poisons used in treating a seed may still be present in the newly organicaly grown plant. So the question really is how much mercy do the certifiers show to such poison contaminated seeds.

From the latest edition of 'Organic Farming' The Soil Associations magazine, in which was published an article I wrote on stable management, it is stated 'that the use of Manure from animals fed on GMO products are allowed to be used in organic composts under 'derogation' from the Soil Association as of Jan 2000.

What is the exact translation of GMO? I guess it means Genetically Modified, what does the 'O' stand for.

This will be in place for one year, as tests will be performed.

So after one year the verdict will be out on whether or not dung from GMO fed animals can be used on organic farms?

YS Samba das

From: Radha Krsna (das) ACBSP GB (Great Britain) Radha.Krsna.ACBSP.GB@bbt.se 
Sent: 13 February 2000 11:00
Subject: Sustainable economy

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I guess I also should have included in the question; the case of antibiotic residues in animal dung. I would like to presume that antibiotics are also burnt up in the composting process. Is that a safe assumption? Is there any authority I can write to to confirm this?

Ecological Sciences of Exeter have a full report on the results of composting human effluent that may contain residues of antibiotics consumed by those persons who produced it. The same would therefore apply to animal effluent........The full paper costs £50.00. I have a summary of that paper. .........

Of course in philosophical parlance, you are right. But just as sinful reactions can still be present in an aspiring devotee (the fan example), the poisons used in treating a seed may still be present in the newly organically grown plant. So the question really is how much mercy do the certifiers show to such poison contaminated seeds.

In organic farming here in the Europe it is permitted to use inorganic seed at the present time. This is under a gerogation until 2004.

It is the same with people. Either they have a gradually decreasing quality of food production over several generations (West Bengal, for instance) or they have a gradual increase in quality over several generations. Thus disease or health is reaped accordingly. One could see this as a reaction as to how we treat the land, which is the shadow of the Supreme Lord.

There are now children being born with tumors here in the west. And cancer and degenerative diseases are on the increase due to lack of proper nutrition.. In India, to propose to build a temple that will last a thousand years based on a western sewage system is not a good idea for many reasons. There are such voluminous amounts of organic fertilizer from both animal and man which are free and are currently being thrown away. Rather, they should go back to the land, replacing chemicals (including, illegal in the west - DDT) and start to reverse the trend of increasing infertility and its subsequent abhorrent results. The future hope of society rests on its agricultural practice.

What is the exact translation of GMO? I guess it means Genetically Modified, what does the 'O' stand for.

GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism, and they only need this as they have gotten so far away from 'organic farming'

So after one year the verdict will be out on whether or not dung from GMO fed animals can be used on organic farms?

presumably, that is why they will be testing.

From: Noelene Hawkins niscala99@hotmail.com 
Sent: 25 February 2000 01:08
Subject: Stand with Krsna

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Hare Krsna dasi wrote:

But there is one thing to mention, and that is that just because it is claimed that some product is worth $x per unit, does not mean that you will receive $x per unit for that product. That was one of the great lessons that I learned at Gita-nagari.

One year, there was a drought, and throughout Juniata county the squash crop was failing. Well, we had farmed organically, and our squash made it through the drought in great shape. We had 600 pounds of squash. Even at $.50 per pound that would have been $300 worth. However, I called all over the state to see what we could sell. Practically no one would buy it, either because we did not have 2000 pounds or we did not have liability insurance, etc. etc. We sold a little bit to some organic restaurants. And some of it we were able to use for ourselves.

Most of it simply rotted. $300 worth of squash does not necessarily mean you can actually get $300 for it.

I had the same experience with Jerusalem artichokes (sunflower roots). We had lots of beautiful Jerusalem artichokes. They were organic, big, and worm-free. I was told they were worth $1 per pound. Again, we called all over the state, and eventually found one organic restaurant that would buy 10 pounds. (Luckily the rest did not rot, because we simply left them in the ground to grow again next year.)

We had similar experiences with cauliflowers. It seems trying to compete with  the agribusiness industry is just not possible for small farmers what to  speak of organic ox-powered producers, unless you hock the prices right up-  but then you need the market for high-priced ethical produce. It can be a  formula for failure, as our experience shows (only externally, of course, as  Krsna appreciates our endeavor, still it can be discouraging...) 

Best thing is if devotees cut down the endeavor (save time for chanting  etc.) and grow their own needs, and as much as possible show how cow  protection is simple and stress-free life.

All that labor so we can get some cash to spend on the gas bill, when it doesn't need to exist- there is cow dung gas or just plain cow dung, both  free if you are prepared to collect it. Or to run a car, why do you need to run a car when you can grow everything  locally?

To be on this conference might be a bit tough though. I wonder if we can  design a bullock-powered internet computer? Or maybe ride a horse once a  week to the nearest one?

ys, niscala

From: (Bhakta) Daniel Griffin (Cape Town - ZA) Daniel.Griffin@pamho.net
Sent: 19 June 2000 20:10
Cc: Cow (Protection and related issues)
Subject: RE: links to organic growing govt departments.

Dear Samba Prabhu.

PAMHO
AGTSP!

Have you heard of the World organic comodity exchange?
They have a SGS production standard. It's like a booklet that you can read and if you follow their strict requiments , then you can become organically certified farmer - which means that you recieve advice from them and they will come by to check that you are using organic methods. eg. for instance they may do soil samples to check that your not using pestisides and artificial fertilisers.

Here is there adress in South Africa; World Oganic Commodity Exchange
Penny Royal
Suite 265
Private Bag x29
Somerset West
7129
South Africa
telephone:+27 21 8515124\5\6

The manager here in S.A is Greg MacNeillie.
I wrote to them and they where really helpfull, they sent me this booklet on the SGS standard requiments to become organically certified.

Hope that this Info can of some use to you.
your servant
Bh Daniel [ Cape Town - South Africa ]

From: Samba (das) SDG (Mauritius) Samba.SDG@pamho.net
Sent: 20 June 2000 10:53
Cc: Cow (Protection and related issues)
Subject: RE: links to organic growing govt departments.

> Here is there adress in South Africa; World Oganic Commodity Exchange
> Penny Royal
> Suite 265
> Private Bag x29
> Somerset West
> 7129
> South Africa

Wow! This is great thank you very much. I had heard that organic farming was going on in SA, and asked many friends who were going there to check out if there were sources for organic seeds, neem pest control, compost or other organic soil conditioners, so I guess these people will be able to help. Here in Mauritius it is almost impossible to get hold of organic materials, and even our compost has to be made from matter that has been contaminated with pesticides, etc. All the seeds are poison treated, its a real trip.

Thanks prabhu, this is just what we need.

Your servant
Samba das

From: (Rostov) Congregation Congregation@cis.bbt.se 
Sent: 27 November 1999 02:27

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