Homestead mailing list

["Robert Walton" <waltonrp AT gmail.com>]

>  Phosphorous and potassium are obtained from mines in several states,
>  an energy-intensive extraction and delivery process. In The Bottom
>  Line, the author states his preference for organic fertilizers but
>  notes that he uses synthetic fertilizers "for certain applications
>  because they're cheap, readily available, and very effective."

This sounds like a good book. I've been of the same thought sometimes,
for instance bringing depleted land "up to speed" rapidly with
chemical fertilizers and then maintaining them organically.

It's like buying organic apples from Chile. By the time they are
shipped in, they may be better for me, but are they better for the
earth? I think that sometimes we organic farmers/gardeners feel proud
of the good we are doing when in fact organic fertilizers may have
been brought in at more cost to the environment.

I'm going to take a look at this book, it sounds interesting. Time
that the organic movement took a look at itself and grows.

Rob - Va