Question from Barbara
After reading the blog entry about the toxicity of organic cotton I started wondering if it is beneficial for my garden to add back-to-nature, a soil improver made of cotton plants, or do I invite with it all the pesticides used in cotton farming plus the natural toxins cotton plants have?
Debra’s Answer
I’m assuming you are referring to Back to Nature Cotton Burr Compost.
Their website says an interesting thing: “The USDA and EPA now require that all chemicals used on cotton be biodegradable within a two week period.” So if that includes pesticides, the pesticides would have broken down by the time this compost reaches your garden.
They also say: “Lab tests show that the levels of all potentially harmful elements, chemicals, etc. in Back to Nature composts are well below the recommended EPA minimums and in some cases are less than amounts that occur in nature.”
This looks to be a conscientious company that is wanting to offer a safe and natural product instead of toxic substances.
Looks fine to me.
