Howard Garrett, known as "the Dirt Doctor" (born in

Pittsburg, Texas Pittsburg is a city in, and the county seat of, Camp County, Texas, Camp County, Texas, United States. Best known as the former home of the giant poultry producer Pilgrim's Corp, Pilgrim's and of racing legend Carroll Shelby, as well as the popula ...

, 1947) is a

radio talk show Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. They may feature monologues, dialogues between the hosts, interviews wi ...

host and a leader of the

Organic movement The organic movement broadly refers to the organizations and individuals involved worldwide in the promotion of organic food and other organic products. It started during the first half of the 20th century, when modern large-scale agricultural p ...

. He is a health activist,

arborist An arborist, or (less commonly) arboriculturist, is a professional in the practice of arboriculture, which is the Plant cultivation, cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants in dend ...

, newspaper columnist and organic activist living in

Dallas, Texas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Park Administration and Landscape Architecture from

Texas Tech University Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public university, public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the flagship instit ...

in 1969. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Garrett worked at Club Corporation of America, where he was a laborer and assistant golf course superintendent. Garrett promotes natural organic programs and products. He opposes the use of synthetic fertilizers and toxic chemical pest control products, as well as criticizing some organic products that he believes do not work. He thinks that homeowners, nurseries and landscape companies underestimate the dangers of non-organic solutions, and consults with commercial properties wanting to convert to organic techniques. His philosophy is that the natural organic program works better - in every way. It, for example, save 40 -50% on irrigation. He has written about the plant-derived insecticide

Pyrethrum ''Pyrethrum'' was a genus of several Old World plants now classified in either '' Chrysanthemum'' or '' Tanacetum'' which are cultivated as ornamentals for their showy flower heads. Pyrethrum continues to be used as a common name for plants form ...

, which is made from the ''painted daisy'' (''

Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium ''Pyrethrum'' was a genus of several Old World plants now classified in either ''Chrysanthemum'' or ''Tanacetum'' which are cultivated as ornamentals for their showy Pseudanthium, flower heads. Pyrethrum continues to be used as a common name for ...

'' or ''Chrysanthemum coccineum'' that contain pyrethrin organic compounds which are potent natural insecticides.) One of the common extra ingredients is PBO, which is a synthetic synergist that gives the basic insecticide more killing power. Garrett agrees with the viewpoint of the'' Journal of Pesticide Reform'', which says that in laboratory tests, insecticides made from pyrethrum have: caused tumors in animals; increased the risk of leukemia; disrupted the normal function of

sex steroid Sex hormones, also known as sex steroids, gonadocorticoids and gonadal steroids, are steroid hormones that interact with vertebrate steroid hormone receptors. The sex hormones include the androgens, estrogens, and progestogens. Their effects a ...

s; and triggered

allergic reactions Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, are various conditions caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. These diseases include hay fever, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, alle ...

including heart attack and asthma. Garrett has been the topic in numerous magazines and articles. He is the author of 15 books that range from

organic gardening Organic horticulture is the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants by following the essential principles of organic agriculture in soil building and conservation, pest management, and heirloom variety pres ...

manuals and more technical guides for landscape professionals to texts about insect identification and selecting good quality trees and plants for specific regions in Texas. His design work appears around Texas and he has had a weekly radio show. Samples of his books can be found online in Google Scholar. Garrett runs a website giving information about his approach, and the Dirt Doctor sends out a weekly newsletter. Subscription is free.

Bio

Howard Garrett *Past member American Society of Landscape Architects – ASLA *Arborist -

International Society of Arboriculture The International Society of Arboriculture, commonly known as ISA, is an international non-profit organization headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The ISA serves the tree care industry as a paid membership association and a credent ...

– ISA. *Nationally syndicated radio talk show host — Salem Radio Network, *Columnist for the

Dallas Morning News ''The Dallas Morning News'' is a daily newspaper serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas, with an average print circulation in 2022 of 65,369. It was founded on October 1, 1885, by Alfred Horatio Belo as a satellite publication of the ' ...

- Organic Answers, *Author of 15 books *Chairman of Texas Organic Research Center (TORC) a 501(c)3 corporation, *Past member of the Organic Advisory Board Texas Department of Agriculture *Presenter of the Natural Organic Certification on-line TORC Course

Books by Howard Garrett

* ''Organic Manual'' (Multiple revisions 2002 - 2016) * ''Texas Gardening the Natural Way: The Complete Handbook'' (Revised February 2016) * ''Organic Lawn Care'' (June 2014) * ''Organic Management for the Professional'' (2012) * ''Plants for Houston and the Gulf Coast'' (March 2008) * ''Texas Tree Book'' October (2002) * ''Texas Herb Book'' (January 2001) * ''Texas Bug Book'' (March 1999) * ''Howard Garrett’s Texas Organic Gardening'' (June 1998) * ''Organic Vegetable & Edible Landscaping'' (October 1998) * ''The Dirt Doctor’s Guide to Organic Gardening'' (1995) * ''Texas Organic Gardening Book'' (1993) * ''J. Howard Garrett's Plants of Texas I.D. Swatcher'' (1990) * ''Landscape Design - Texas Style'' (October 1986) * ''Plants of the Metroplex''(Revised multiple times 1974 - 1998)

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Garrett, Howard Living people 1947 births Organic gardeners The Dallas Morning News people