Going organic/green vs. the parents

[cherishedtiger]

So here I am starting my own garden, growing my own veggies and herbs, starting to learn about medicinal uses for herbs. And the DH got me a composter! I am on my way! No more chemicals, just nature at its best. So I am on the phone with my father, who can grow anything, who suggests "throw some fertalizer in the composter, that will really get it cooking!" I bite my toung because trying to explain "Organic" to him is like pulling teeth... or worse.
If anyone else out there has these same issues... how do you go about it?

Thanks!!

[Russ]

You just keep doing what you are doing.

Tell him you see it as a challenge and you would prefer not to use the easy, expensive way of composting.

You can also tell him there is no hurry to "get it cooking".

[frugalwarrior2]

The pendulum swings. My grandma did everything "organic" although she would have laughed at that term. My dad was taught "better living thru chemistry" in the 50's (same reason mom never breast fed). Now "Green Living" is in. We are the product of our living times. Your dad does what he knows and what he knows is long ingrained.
My Grandma always said. You can't have a garden w/o a little POOP. Manure makes things cook. Dried or composted manure will make the neighbors happier. Cow is good. Dog is not. Cat is a huge NO NO . Chicken and Turkey must be diluted and composted because they are acid.
But you do need a catalyst.
Leaves are alkaline.
Pine needles acid.
Balance is everything.

Rotate your crops. Put the onions on the outside. They are too strong to be tolerated by other crops except tomatoes don't mind.

[Trentt]

It's just as frugalwarrior2 said, our mindsets develop according to the era we matured, and that's hard to shift. I'm the main caretaker of several gardens at my sister and brother-in-law's property so everything there is done the organic way. They are rather older than me and if they were in charge I'm sure there'd be fertilizer sprinkled on everything and they'd use Round-Up instead of pulling weeds or mulching. I couldn't talk them into composting (though they have to pay to have their trash picked up and they'd save money) because they said the dogs would get into it (I explained no meat goes into compost, to no avail), but thankfully I did talk them and their daughter/son-in-law (who live next door) out of poisoning their land with Round-Up to get rid of the dandelions.

[Contrary Housewife]

You can get organic fertilizers. Or manure. Your pile will eventually start by itself, but it will be a year before you can use it.

[KeithBC]

You are doing fine. Just bite your tongue, thank your father for his advice and then do things your own way.

It would be a different story if he came to visit and offered to help. Then you'd have to prevent him from adding chemicals to your compost or garden. But as long as it is just advice, feel free to ignore it.

Compost doesn't need fertilizer. Even in a cold prairie climate, things will compost without artificial aids in a year. In a warmer or wetter climate, it shouldn't take that long.

I know people who accelerate their compost by peeing on it. Different strokes for different folks, but I guess it would still be organic.

[Duckster]

Ayup, I do that, saving 4 litres of water per flush, and accelerating my compost. I can break down a 55 gallon drum, on its side, in 4 weeks with the right moisture/compost composition. And what's a little pee? In the morning I go in a bottle, take it outside when I let the dog out, and sprinkle it in the barrel. I also use diluted urine as a fertilizer. It's great for the tomatoes, they exploded all year. Dilute at about 10:1, water and urine.

There are farms all over the world that are using urine as a fertilizer. Just google urine and fertilizer, there is a wealth of info out there.

[leighcat]

You are doing fine. Just bite your tongue, thank your father for his advice and then do things your own way.

It would be a different story if he came to visit and offered to help. Then you'd have to prevent him from adding chemicals to your compost or garden. But as long as it is just advice, feel free to ignore it.

Yeah, that is what I was going to say. I guess I am lucky. My mom has always just figured I have my own way of doing things. She isn't much into gardening herself, so I guess that helps. In fact, when I lived up north I didn't eat peppers, but I grew some just for her. We had no problems growing stuff up there. Just threw them in the dirt, added some free cow manure from a friend up the street, a little water, and they grew. Once I get into my house I am going to start a compost. It is a much different endeavor trying to grow things here in FL. If the sun doesn't scorch it, the bugs or animals will eat it!