Around here, it's kimmsr. Just ask him.

The USDA and OMRI or Rodale definition of "organic" isn't pure enough for some gardeners, so they keep increasing their purity levels. Soon it will be unicorn poop and leprechaun tears.

Unless you are going for certification, I'd not worry about the details of what is and is not organic. I try to be a reasonable (to me) gardener, and call what I grow organic or naturally grown. Over the years there have been lots of changes to the norms for certification. In my opinion there are some extreme requirements for certification which do not lead to an improved food supply, but do increase cost and decrease yield. Why let these extremes unduly impact you? Some of these requirements also lead to the increased costs associated with organic produce. I've watched the organic certification processes go from relatively simple and (mostly common sense) in the 70's to legalistic nitpicking today. Unless you enjoy the legalism, or need certification, I'd not worry.

The USDA now has the National Organic Program that establishes what those seeking certification as organic growers must meet. The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) reviews materials and establishes them as acceptable or not, but they do set standards.

Neither Rodale nor I set the standards which were established by Sir Albert Howard many year ago. Organic growing is simple, you build the health of the soil by adding organic materials to the mineral portion (the sand, silt, and clay) so what you grow is strong and healthy and able to ward off attacks by insect pests and plant diseases so that the plants produce (a food) is nutritious for you to eat. Organic growers do use natural products, carefully and judiciously, when necessary to control some insect pests and plant diseases but also look at why the plants are being attacked and will make needed corrections to the soil to aid in preventing those problems.

Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) is a naturally occurring bacterium that is acceptable for use in an organic garden, but not all naturally occurring products are. Some of those (Rotenone and Sabidilla) have ben found to be so toxic that they are no longer acceptable to organic growers. None of the synthetic products, which some have stated here are acceptable, are anything a real organic grower would use.

There are no set standards for the organic grower that does not sell what his/her garden produces, but if someone comes here to this organic gardening forum and suggests that glyphosate products are acceptable for an organic grower I will tell them they are wrong and that bothers some people.

kimmq is kimmsr