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In my earlier experience, we used the acronym LISA, which stood for low
input sustainable agriculture. Our goal back then was to use as many local mate-
rials as possible, so that the first growth would lead only to soil improvement and
never depletion and erosion. In short, it would be sustainable rather than delib
erately organic.
There are some who would call this a slippery slope because
it avoids the absolute standards that “organic” claims. Th ey caution
that once there is input, then it’s fair game for all manner of dan
gerous nasties.
While this may be true for professional farmers, who, by pro
tecting their crops, are defending their very livelihood, it should
not be the case for home kitchen gardeners, whose customers are
their family, friends, neighbors, and loved ones.
And so it was that I chose the most natural routes possible to
be sustainable.
I knew I’d have to deal with two main enemies: pests and diseases.
For pests I could use chemicals that are called systemic. In other words, they are
absorbed into the plant through its leaves, stems, or roots and carried throughout
the plant by its sap. These chemicals come in different time-lapse formulations:■ Biodegradable: 1–2 weeks to 1 month
■ Relatively persistent: 1–2 years
■ Persistent: several years (mostly discontinued)
I’ve chosen to use only biodegradable products
and to give treated plants a 6-week breather before
harvest (a simple date written on a stake can en-
sure that this is done).
I then had to decide how to administer the
chemical. Once again, I had choices: dusts, sprays,
granules, and baits. I chose immiscible oil mixed300 • APPENDIX: DAMAGE CONTROL