I began searching the internet and soaking up as much info as I could on organic farming and agriculture. I started considering every detail you can imagine from soil to irrigation, seed sources, fertilizers, etc.Fast forward to today, I've met a local colleague in Michigan who also shares a similar interest in sustainable farming and agriculture. As of late we've been discussing some plans to document our research in this forum and extend our studies into other plants. One topic that came up was the dangers of toxins found in conventional gardening equipment. This may be more relevant to container growers but I believe there are some valuable guidelines to consider even if you plant 100% in ground. If what I consume matters to me from a health perspective, I want to take whatever steps I can to eliminate simple common mistakes that could increase my chances of diseases later in life.
Most hoses are made of PVC which can contain phthalates, lead, cadmium. This is extremely dangerous and not worth the risk in my opinion. Your hose sits outside baking in the sun for up to 6 months every year and potentially leaches those chemicals into the water that is left in your hose which ends up contaminating your soil, yard, and plants. Hoses that are not food grade or polyurethane and NFS and ANSI certified should not be used. Any companies claiming that the brass fittings or attachments on their hoses are 100% lead free are lying. There are some really good quality brass fittings but the best you can get with brass is 99.9% lead free (to me this is fine especially when a company is transparent about this). Stainless steel is a safer option.
Plastic containers with no numbers on them or made in China should not be used. It's not worth risking your health. Any containers with paint, glazes, or enamels on them probably contain lead and/or cadmium and should not be used.
| Plastic # | Abbreviation | Name | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | PET | Polyethylene terephthalate | Does not contain BPA but is associated with other known health risks |
| #2 | HDPE | High-density polyethylene | Safe |
| #3 | PVC | Polyvinyl chloride | Dangerous |
| #4 | LDPE | Low-density polyethylene | Safe |
| #5 | PP | Polypropylene | Safe |
| #6 | PS | Polystyrene | Dangerous |
| #7 | PC | Polycarbonate | Dangerous / contains BPA |
Stop using Roundup and glyphosate based herbicides. A 2019 study shows that ghlyphosate is linked to an increased risk of non-hodgkin's lymphoma. These two studies are worth reading:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5515989/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6706269/
Consider your seed and plant material sources and refuse to purchase seeds from any companies that source their seeds from Monsanto. There are plenty of companies that supply heirloom seeds at reasonable costs that are not sourced from Monsanto (now Bayer-Monsanto), DuPont, etc. Monsanto is a giant in the US seed industry and sued small farmers from replanting crops produced from patented seeds. Every time you see the word GMO, remember that the same companies producing herbicides are the same companies patenting GMO seeds. Genetically modifying a plant to exhibit properties (ie: resistance to toxic herbicides and insecticides) that would never be possible in nature or hybridization processes; you must ask, "At what point is a tomato no longer considered a tomato?" I believe that the consumption of GMOs crops pumped with herbicides comes with an associated risk. Some genetically engineered seeds even prevent the natural process of crop growth in the second generation, preventing production. Genetically modified seeds are not commonly available to the average consumer but many seeds in the US are sold by GMO / herbicide giants or by companies partially owned by them or source from them.
Not every patented seed or trademarked cultivar is genetically modified but my personal policy is to not accept any patented or trademarked plant material or seeds in my collection. Legally preventing the sale or clone of a plant that you purchased without paying royalties to the patent owner is ridiculous. There are way better heirlooms and thousands of developed hybrids to choose from that are far superior to trademarked cultivars. GMO patent holders in the US have caused most farmers to be totally reliant on GMOs. It's a vicious cycle.
Synthetic fertilizers work great but are unnecessary and may contain harmful chemicals or pesticides. I've used synthetics in the past as well as OMRI-certified fertilizers but am currently switching everything over to compost. Composting is a more natural approach that gives you full control of what elements you introduce into your soil amenities. Compost tea is an effortless way to send nutrients to your plants roots through irrigation.
These are just some thoughts to consider and is in no way intended to promote environmental politics. I view my life as a gift from God. Therefore, being a good steward of my health is a responsibility and an investment. I'll probably add more content to this post later but wanted to get some basic info out into the air.
