IN JUNE 2011, THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP (EWG) announced its latest Guide to the amount of pesticides found on conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. The Guide is a popular and helpful resource for consumers to use while shopping in the grocery store, but it also provides important information that can help backyard gardeners decide what they should grow for their table.
Part of what makes the Guide interesting is how EWG has packaged the results of their study. The fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides are grouped together in the EWG “Dirty Dozen,” which brings to mind the motley cast of characters in the old Ernest Borgnine movie. Maybe this is a little over dramatic, still, the EWG Dirty Dozen makes it easier to remember what to avoid when it comes to grocery-store-bought produce.
But what about the organization behind the Dirty Dozen? Is it credible? EWG describes itself as a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, DC that uses the power of information to protect human health and the environment. A Google search indicates that EWG seems to be a credible source of information, but I’m sure that many non-organic farmers and pesticide manufacturers disagree. There have been a number of attacks on the research firm’s logic, but few opponents have challenged EWG’s credibility.
Use the dirty dozen to decide what to grow
But how can this help Suburban Hobby Farmer readers decide what to grow? Well, if you cross the Dirty Dozen with my list of easy to grow foods, you come away with a good start on a list of items to consider if you are concerned with pesticides on store-bought produce. These are the foods that aren’t too difficult to grow and, at the same time, you wouldn’t want to buy in the grocery store due to the exceedingly high chance of significant pesticide exposure .
To give you a better idea of what I’m talking about, I’ve put together a table that ranks the Dozen based on what’s easy in my garden. I’ve ranked each of the crops based on my own experience. The result is a weighted list that gives me a new way to look at what I should grow. This type of list might just change the way you consider what to grow.
The most important factor
Of course, this doesn’t take into account the most important factor in deciding what to grow: what do you enjoy eating. You’ll have to add that factor to your chart … perhaps with a heavier weighting than the other factors.
It also doesn’t take into account what’s easy or hard to grow in your specific environment. For example, some people find it very easy to grow zucchini, but squash vine borer in my backyard makes it a real struggle. You also may want to take into account what’s available in organic produce, and at what cost, at your farm stand or store.
| Crop | EWG Ranking | Ease of Growing | Explanation | Weighted Score |
| Strawberries | 3 | 1 | Very easy to plant | 4 |
| Spinach | 5 | 4 | Easy to grow, especially in a cold frame | 9 |
| Apples | 1 | 8 | Not easy to grow, especially on East Coast | 9 |
| Blueberries | 10 | 2 | Just plant, prune, harvest | 12 |
| Celery | 2 | 10 | A heavy feeder, requires much compost | 12 |
| Grapes | 7 | 6 | Takes too much air space | 13 |
| Lettuce | 11 | 3 | Succession plant for success | 14 |
| Potatoes | 9 | 6 | Easy except for voles and cutworms | 15 |
| Peaches | 4 | 11 | Success is rare in colder climates | 15 |
| Kale Collard Greens | 12 | 5 | Prefers cool temps | 17 |
| Nectarines | 6 | 12 | Nearly impossible in cold areas | 18 |
It’s my hope that you will consider this table as a starting point and will substitute crops that make sense for you.
SHF readers would love to hear about what’s right for your backyard. Let us know by leaving a comment below.
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2. Getting Rid of Gnats on Seedlings
3. Mold on Strawberries