Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Marty Kraft <martyk@allspecies.org>]

Dieter

It took me several years to convince myself that not tilling was okay. As Ken said the problem was in my head. I felt so comfortable tilling and uncomfortable when I didn't. I guess it was more emotional that in my head.

Marty

On Dec 15, 2007, at 2:16 PM, Dieter Brand wrote:

Ken, you wrote:

 

>The major problem farmer's have switching to organic,

>no-till is in their heads; not in the field.

 

Aren't you judging a little too harshly? In a parallel dialogue

with Phil, we have noted that there are climatic conditions

under which no-till will either not perform very well (cold climate),

or where no-till may not even be possible (dry climate).

But even in a temperate climate where there may be proven

methods of no-till farming, farmers are often under economic

stress that preclude any experimenting with new methods.

 

It is clear that ploughing has been ingrained in farmers since

ancient times, and that it can take something like a mental

revolution to convert to no-till. But I wouldn't underestimate

the intelligence of farmers, they know their responsibility in

running their business. No-till doesn't just mean to stop

ploughing.

 

Dieter Brand

Portugal

Ken Hargesheimer <minifarms2@yahoo.com> wrote:

The major problem farmer's have switching to organic, no-till is in their heads; not in the field.  I have faced that challenge in the USA and 12 foreign countries many times.

 

Ken Hargesheimer

 

I believe nobody would contest that "organic no-till" is best, but it isn't always easy to implement.  I think farmers need to be given technical assistance to make the difficult switch to organic no-till.

 

Dieter Brand

Portugal

 

 

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