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livingontheland - Re: [Livingontheland] TWO AGRICULTURES, NOT ONE, By John Michael Greer

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Subject: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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  • From: "John D'hondt" <dhondt@eircom.net>
  • To: "Healthy soil and sustainable growing" <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] TWO AGRICULTURES, NOT ONE, By John Michael Greer
  • Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:05:03 +0100


This shows well that you farm under very favorable conditions. I have giant oak trees that must be 100 or 200 years old, where the soil has not been disturbed for centuries. Yet when one of these giants tumbles over and its roots rip open the earth, you won’t see more than a quarter inch of black soil and leaf mold on top of pure clay and rock. In this arid and hot region, the combination of zero rain during the main growing season in the summer and the high temperatures of around 40 C mean that humus is faster depleted than produced. Tests have shown that in a hot climate like in the South of Portugal humus is depleted 6 times faster than in the North of Europe.

Dieter Brand
Portugal

The reason I am living where I am is not in the first place soil related Dieter. I found out a good while ago that I have a Pita type (Ayurvedic typing) constitution. I am incapable of drinking anything hot and I went to a sauna once in my life and felt unwell for months afterwards. On the other hand I feel little discomfort camping out in temperatures way below zero. I could not do 40 C and it would seem your humus can't either. Bad news for us with a warming planet.
john





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