eChipmunks

how safe is insect killer ,to humans ,on garden vegetables?

i grow herbs and veg.in pots ,the stuff i got to control things from eating them kills a variety of pests .it says not to pick edible plants for 2 weeks after treatment. given that the remaining stuff is still in the ground ,wouldn't the plants absorb it? or does it leach away? active constituent:40g/Kg chlorpyrifos (an anticholinesterase compound) is there a natural way of keeping pests at bay?

Public Comments

1. Safe pesticides are based on the type of pest. There are many safe methods and chemicals to use on food crops that will not harm you or the environment. I grew most of my food without using harmful pesticides.
2. Insecticidal soap is supposed to be an 'organic' alternative. I would worry about most insecticides. Supposedly, the chemicals break down and are not harmful after a certain time period. But who knows. You can make your own insecticide with a little mild dish soap in water. It does help. Many insects, like Japanese beetles, are best controlled by picking them off.
3. Hey Roxy, I have been gardening organically for many years and except in extreme cases do not use any insect sprays etc. They are so dangerous and as a nurse have seen many people with permanent health issues related to incorrect use or exposure from not washing store produce properly. Many sprays even the toxic ones are supposed to not be detectable after two weeks but have never fully trusted chemicals sprayed on food we eat. Up to date research has shown that people in many of the modern world have high levels of toxins from the foods and animals we consume who have been sprayed, injected or fed many types of chemicals. Although my produce may not be perfectly nibble free (most of them have no sign of insects except the good ones) and the children go down to the garden, pick straight from the garden, wash and eat things like strawberrie, tomatoes etc. There are some great Australian Organic books that have some fantastic easy to prepare natural insect repellants like garlic. oils, and companion planting with other plants will deter the pests.
4. That type of pesticide does not discriminate between 'good' and 'bad' insects. It kills them all. Honeybees are in trouble now from Colony Collapse Disorder. Bees will abandon a hive within hours. The agricultural community is SERIOUSLY worried, because they have no answers why this is happening. If honeybee numbers drop significantly enough, feeding ourselves will become a real problem. Over 70% of farm crops are pollinated by honeybees. Beekeepers are not traveling with their bees anymore because they can't run the risk of losing their hives. The loss of revenue for the agricultural community runs in the billions. The thought is that pesticides lower the immune systems of bees that are not killed outright, leaving them open to fungal and viral infections. By not using pesticides in your garden, using compost and organic fertilizers, you will have a much healthier garden than if you use chemicals.
5. Yes. I don't remember the exact formula, but it's garlic, Cayenne pepper, onions, & ivory soap & water so it will stick to the leaves. This repels the bugs without poisoning the plants or soil. I need to make up a batch myself. I believe I first got it from Organic Gardening magazine.
6. My ancestors including my grandparents on both sides were market gardeners who used organic gardening methods. However their neighbours used pesticides and this stuff blows in the air. When I was a kid and used to help pick carrots, radishes, parsnips and beetroot and wash them it was such fun because the washing shed ( I called it the carrot shed) smelt like fresh, crunchy sweet yummy carrots. The garden and surrounding land and lake was sold when I was about twenty and my dad would buy carrots from a market gardeners stall just a few k's from our place. The carrots were slightly smaller (yet still bigger and more colourful than those sold in the supermarket chain stores) however my dad said that the funny smell I detected on them was Dildren, a pesticide. I have moved back to this area with the lake (with my family) as it is very pretty with it's surrounding natural bush. A church is now on my grandparents old house site. Now some of my contacts may remember that I have Multiple Sclerosis. Several of my cousins daughters (from my fathers side) have similar neurological disorders as well. My father had Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma which morphed into Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia. A cousin on my fathers side had Non Hodgkin's Leukemia in her teens and recovered; hopefully she wont have a relapse. I have hints that I may be getting Non Hodgkins Lymphoma as my blood cells and vessels are doing funny things. But I try to eat healthy fruits and vegetables ... yes well I try... that stuff stays in the soil for many years I am told. I have spoken to a medical researcher (who owns his own laboratory here in Murdoch, Western Australia) whose interests lie in the study of blood and bone cancers. He told me that such cancers are most prevalent in the country farming areas as well as market garden areas which tend to be in the outer suburbs of cities and towns. This is in keeping with the use of pesticides. He also said that Parkinson's Disease is a common illness among farmers as well as other neurological conditions. I have heard that Marigolds keep some bugs away from tomatoes. And garlic planted around roses and other plants keep aphids and other nasties away. It is called companion gardening. I think I'll go eat some Marigolds and Garlic.
7. Chemicals were a short cut to get rid of pests and a lot of money to be made.Not much money to make in natural insect killer. With perservatives in anything tributes to all soughts of health problems
8. How about some bug eating spider or something, or a frog or toad or something? Get ya some geckos or somthin' girl!!! I'll google it up for ya!!! I'll get on that...