To address paulns original propostion, I don't think it's a question that has a definitive answer without clarification.....what is "old-time gardening"? How far back does one go? And there are MANY definitions of organic gardening depending on one's philosophy, so which one are we going to agree to use? A lot of the previous comments are valid in a generalized form. The use of manufactured synthetic or chemically derived fertilizers has a pretty recent history when compared to how long man has been farming or growing crops for food. They are really only a by-product of the Industrial Revolution and the "hundreds of years" can actually be reduced to about 200, with the predominance of these fertilizers being widely accepted and used immediately after WWII, when they became cheaply and widely available, as greenwood85 notes. Same with synthetic, manufacture pesticides. And their introduction to the farming or gardening scene was considered at that time to be an enormous boon - a fast-acting, lightweight, easy to apply and easily accessible material that improved and increased harvests. Naturally - without the greater understanding we have now of soil science and the health implications of chemical residues and these products effects on pollution and ecology - they were widely accepted and utilized. It would be pretty hard to go back 50 or 60 years and not find a gardener or farmer that didn't use some form of manufactured fertilizer or pesticide. But even given these considerations, a good many of those gardeners/farmers from previous generations still incorporated what might be best termed "natural gardening" practices - composting, using animal manures, companion plantings, rotational cropping, home remedies for insect and disease controls - along with the manufactured products that at the time seemed like such a great improvement on what they had been doing. And affluence and location played a role as well - poorer farmers in more remote locations tended to use more what they had on hand - the natural methods and products rather than the newer, costly and more difficult to obtain manufactured ones. So I believe it is difficult to make a direct correlation between "old time gardening" and the organic or natural way unless you are going back more than just a 100 years or so.

Seeds of Deception "You are what you eat" takes on a new meaning by Kim Matthews March 30, 2009 Food has lost its innocence. Works like Fast Food Nation have exposed the underbelly of consumption: the greed of the supplier and the naivete of the consumer. The new milieu proved that food isnÂt what we thought it was, thus spurring the organic and sustainable revolution. However, even eating organic isnÂt enough to keep yourself healthy and safe. Science has dramatically complicated the food system, genetically modifying the plants that grow our food and producing fruits and vegetables that our bodies arenÂt designed to digest. The internationally renowned author, Jeffrey M. Smith, "reveals how industry manipulation and political collusion  not sound science  allow dangerously genetically engineered food into your daily diet" in his bestselling book: Seeds of Deception. The publication reveals the health risks of eating genetically modified foods through the unfolding of evidence that includes internal memos by FDA scientists, warnings of toxins, studies on killing animals, revelation of new diseases and the blatant subversion of information by the powers that be. Smith estimates that 60Â70 percent of the American food supply has unregulated genetically modified ingredients. According to the Institute of Responsible Technology, the bulk of the current commercialized crops in the United States are grown from genetically modified seeds: Soy (89 percent) Cotton (83 percent) Canola (75 percent) Corn (61 percent) Other sources of GMOs include: Dairy products from cows injected with rbGH Food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet®) and rennet used to make hard cheeses Meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals that have eaten GM feed Honey and bee pollen that may have GM sources of pollen Contamination or pollination caused by GM seeds or pollen While this information proves that problems clearly exist in the American food industry, Smith also provides ideas for solutions. The Seeds of Deception website is packed with information on how to change your shopping and gardening habits to protect your family. His other books and resources are also available for order, and there is a link to the new documentary film, "The World According Monsanto," from French filmmaker Marie-Monique Robin. The film exposes the seed giantÂs participation in everything from Agent Orange to the new infiltration of genetically modified food. It's time to eat smarter! Found on internet. -B

Wow...I forgot I even started this thread back in 2008. Now that I have a few years of successful fig growing under my belt, I can honestly say that this Garden-Web "Fig Forum", and the "Figs4Fun" Forum have the most up-to-date information covering all aspects of fig growing. You just do a search for the specific subject, and you will be able to read many postings regarding the information that you seek. Both forums cover, culture, pruning, fertilizing, varietal information, sources, etc. Growing fig trees is not hard, and basic, good cultural practices will bring you to within 98% of your goal. Common sense, and a little research will take care of the other 2%. For those growers in cooler areas, I urge you to read and understand how to keep your fig trees alive from season to season. This is one specific area of fig culture that causes the most grief for many growers. The Fig Forums are the single best sources for all your fig growing information. They are living textbooks, and new chapters are written, amended, and corrected, everyday. Forget the books. My thoughts. Frank

A lot of people might use organic methods but live right on top of large farms that use lots of chemicals so these chemicals are within an 1/8 mile or less. I believe as this is just my opinion that this negates any claims that their stuff is chemical free. Runoff is water from rain and melted snow which is not absorbed and captured by the soil, but runs over the ground and in and out of loose soil. Farm runoff is water leaving farm fields because of rain - melted snow - or possibly irrigation methods. As runoff moves, it picks up and carries pollution, which it can deposit into rivers,small ponds, lakes, coastal waters, and underground sources of drinking water. Agricultural runoff include,s pollution from soil erosion, livestock feeding systems, grazing, plowing, animal waste, and herbicides-pesticides, irrigation water, and fertilizer. Pollutants from farming include soil particles, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, salts, and nutrients such as excessive nitrogen - phosphorus. Large levels of nitrates from fertilizers in the runoff can infiltrate drinking water I wonder if these so-called organic method gardeners that say they are chemical-free explain this to their customers. All certified organic growers are the proper distance away from farm fields that use lots of different chemicals to prevent cross contamination or at least they should be. When I choose to grow produce for sale I do not mention anything even close to the word organic because I am NOT certified and tested and inspected and licensed ORGANIC If people ask me what chemicals I use for my operation they get all of my information. If they don,t ask I do not say anything because the weed/bug sprays that I use are available over the counter and are legal to use without special fed, or county-govt. permits. Nick