Some of you mentioned Jerry Baker on another thread. What can you tell me about him, I've heard of him, but don't know any particulars. Does he garden strictly organically, non-organically, or both? Thanks

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), May 16, 2002

Answers

Cindy,

You can check him out at www.jerrybaker.com

Don't know if you would call him totally organic. He uses things like murphy's oil and ammonia. His books are packed with tonics for the yard.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 16, 2002.

I have his books too ( for all the good they do me). I received an offer in the mail a couple days ago for his NEW book. Have you seen it? He has a "health" type of book out. I guess it is probably on his web site - - haven't checked, but it sounded interesting and I think I will order it.

-- Granny Hen (cluckin along@cs.com), May 16, 2002.

Cindy - I see you are in Indiana. Are you in the areas deluged with water lately? Floods?

-- Granny Hen (cluckin along@cs.com), May 16, 2002.

Granny Hen,

By "new one", do you mean the backyard secrets? I just recieved my copy of it and found many tonics for use in my sod farm operation I'm working up on my parents land.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 16, 2002.

Jay - - No! The new book has nothing to do with plants or gardening. It is a health book. Natural remedies type of book. I received an offer in the mail. ( Offering to let me buy it) lol!

-- Granny Hen (cluckin along@cs.com), May 16, 2002.

He is often featured on PBS specials during pledge time. He talks kind of fast, so I recommend taping the specials so you can write the formulas down that he mentions. Many of them use commonly available supplies from the supermarket.

As to whether he is organic or not, it depends upon what you think of as organic. Ammonia is something that naturally occurs on this planet, I believe, so to me that would be organic. Plastic, on the other hand, is a man-made substance.

"Organic" is also different from "non-toxic", and even non-toxic is governed by the GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) rule. For example, salt is non-toxic, but use enough of it and you will kill every plant in sight. Poisonous mushrooms are organic, but certainly aren't non- toxic, etc. Hope this helps.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), May 17, 2002.

Granny Hen, water? you mean that stuff we've been getting inches at at a time all spring? The forecast this morning is for at least 4 days of no rain, I was so excited, maybe frost and only in the 50's, but no rain after today, all day. We're not bothered by flooding here but the rest of the county has been under many warnings. Wish we could have sent some of it to the drought areas.

I can't imagine anyone using Murphy's oil soap for anything, I am so allergic to that stuff.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), May 17, 2002.