Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[pete <pete.rout@virgin.net>]

If you keep adding organic matter from many sources there will be very
little imbalance or missing substances.  A friend of mine high up in
organic growing only tests for carbon to make sure that it keeps
increasing.  I think the only people who benefit from a soil test
are the people doing the test.
Pete

> This thread reminds me of one of
> my pet peeves - that things MUST be one way or the other.  Mark is
> right that soil analysis can be a useful tool, especially as you begin
> improving your soil.  There is no reason whatsoever that having a
> soil analysis should diminish your efforts to increase organic matter in
> the soil.  Remind yourselves that no-till does not bring in any
> balance or missing substances.  If something is deficient, and you
> attempt to avoid importing, it will remain deficient, and you will never
> know what you might have accomplished.  In other words, use every
> tool available.
>
> E. E. "Mitch" Mitchamore
> www.hillcountrynatives.net