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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost AT gilanet.com>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Market-farming] Humus-rich soil/ was Hydroponic Greenhouses
  • Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 13:12:21 -0700


Really, there nothing new or mysterious about the benefits of increasing
humus levels or maintaining sufficient levels of decomposed organic matter.
That's what green manuring is all about, and it's advocated by many, many
extension offices, colleges, and other agencies. Sheet composting is an old
practice on many farms. And I don't know who would disagree that humus-rich
soil will produce more and hold soil moisture better and retard erosion. Or
disagree that healthier growth is less susceptible to disease and pests. And
if it can be managed without chemical inputs then fossil fuel use is also
reduced, isn't it.

I'm not going to argue that one method is right or cost effective for every
small farmer or market gardener. But it's undeniable that a lot of small
growers are going under using more or less conventional methods, and need
better production with less of the expensive fossil fuel inputs, including
fertilizer from natural gas and pesticides from oil. Water for growing
threatens to become more of a problem in some areas. None of this is getting
any cheaper.

paul, tradingpost AT riseup.net
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Soilmakers/
---------------
The outstanding scientific discovery of the twentieth century is not
television, or radio, but rather the complexity of the land organism. Only
those who know the most about it can appreciate how little we know about it.
- Aldo Leopold in Round River, 1933
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

On 12/13/2005 at 12:31 PM Tradingpost wrote:

>How could you not know of demonstrations repeated over decades, from Sir
>Albert Howard to Chadwick, Jeavons, Albrecht, and many of the working
>farms and gardens they've reported on? Surely you must know that was an
>understatement, if anything.
>
>paul, tradingpost AT riseup.net
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Soilmakers/
>---------------
>The outstanding scientific discovery of the twentieth century is not
>television, or radio, but rather the complexity of the land organism. Only
>those who know the most about it can appreciate how little we know about
>it.
> - Aldo Leopold in Round River, 1933
>*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
>
>On 12/13/2005 at 2:08 PM Allan Balliett wrote:
>
>>>Humus-intensive has long been demonstrated to be the way to grow the
>>>most and healthiest produce in the least space with the least water
>>>and least ongoing energy input.
>>
>>Hey, Paul, how about an example of a demonstration of what you are
>>talking about. Thanks -Allan
>
>






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