Advantages of an organic world without the organic hype.

Let’s face it… sometimes a household consists of two different political perspectives, two opposites that can’t agree on politics, but can still sit down to a fine meal, take walks within the confines of one’s property or simply sit out and enjoy the earth. Living without chemicals –organically, if you will, doesn’t require a political stance. It requires common sense and a love of nature. You don’t have to belong to any group or be a fanatic to make the switch and enjoy the benefits of living WITH nature and not working against her. The alternative of ugly chemicals is not practical and it's expensive, not to mention deadly to the creatures that can help you out. Life is about balance. Getting that balance for your property may take time, but it's certainly worth it.


When my gourd and vegetable plants spring from the ground, it is tempting to bring in the heavy artillery (RoundUp) to take away the weeds that pop up with them – weeds that grow faster than my plants do, no matter how much I fertilize with compost or mulch them to protect the soil from drying out with the Texas heat. But with weeds come one truism that I’ve heard from the die hard organic culture: The weeds are a good diversion for the leafhoppers, grasshoppers, cutworms, and other little buggers that tend to ruin a perfectly good harvest.

Granted, I spray my vegetable plants with Bacillus thuringiensis, or BT. Green Light puts it out in what looks like white and green oil bottles (oh, the irony). BT is found at most big box stores or nurseries and isn’t anything that requires a degree to use. It isn’t a part of any ‘system’ calling itself organic. It is simply an off-the-shelf product that could save your tomatoes and eggplants from the little creatures that like green leafy things as much as you do. I let the weeds take the hit from the bugs in the garden, not my vegetables.

I’ve also discovered something amazing after nearly four years of keeping the harsh chemicals from the farm and garden – the good bugs are taking over. Those good bugs – ladybug larvae, ladybugs, army beetles, dung beetles, frogs, lizards, etc. have returned en masse – When I see a plant with aphids, there are at least three ladybugs on that plant eating them.

Sitting out and watching the birds or the goats is one of our favorite pastimes. Because our place doesn’t stink of chemicals or perhaps because the bugs are so prevalent, we’ve seen a three-fold increase in the number of birds around – from nighthawks, caracaras, owls and woodpeckers to blue jays, bluebirds, scissor tails, mockingbirds, cardinals, Bewick’s wrens, chickadees and tufted titmice. This kind of noise pollution I can handle.

Fire ants are, of course, problematic in Texas, but we've managed to keep them out of the garden by acquiring a backpack-style sprayer and using molasses and water. It doesn’t kill them, but does keep them from building temples on my property. A couple of tablespoons of molasses to three gallons of water covers my entire garden. I did one massive spraying in February and that's lasted even to now, mid-May. Molasses is also purported to enrich the soil, as well and I need all the help I can get.

Taking walks where you can stop and smell the roses (if we had any) without the attack of fire ants makes this extra effort worthwhile.

So whoever’s in office doesn’t matter when dinner’s on the table and the food tastes like food, or when we’re taking a walk and stumble upon a bird’s nest that’s well guarded by the squawking jay or cardinal. We can stand silently, listen to the birds frantically chirping for us to leave, and not feel the nasty sting of fire ants on our feet. At least... not near the garden. And life is good. Today.
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watching the clouded day
grace tormented ground
we hope
for the ever-elusive: hard rain.

the pulling wind sucks old air up toward
the menacing clouds
and rumbles walk behind the streaking glare
of lightning’s first approach

and as the isolated sprinkle
touches hats of straw
the wind twists and turns around
chasing our disparaging souls
inside.