On the other hand some of what they say does make scientific sense. Cutting will always stimulate growth and have other effects but it was stated it quite an anthropomophsizing way.

What really gets me is ‘organic’ foods DO allow a lot of chemicals. If you are using sulfur and zinc then how can you really claim to be much different? Many of the ‘chemicals’ used commercially are no more dangerous, or even much much less so. Most insecticides work in a very specific way that’s really not harmful to humans unless you take a walloping dose – in fact many people take special supplements for concentration which have the same exact mechanism. Herbicides of certain types are more worrying, though.

There’s a plethora of good natural methods for growing. For instance neem oil is antifungal and insecticidal and not only harmless but also very good for human consumption. The problem is they get into this ‘cycle of life’ mumbo jumbo and ignore science…or just common sense. That can make it a lot harder for things that are good practice to get accepted, and it obfuscates everything they say.

Italy’s not subject to the same devastating level of fungal diseases plus, in Italy, ripeness is all. Pretty much anyway. Those Italian reds sure help the Aryan folk get through the long, dark winter.