permaculture

[Heide Hermary <heidehermary@pacificcoast.net>]

I am wondering about the logic of this and would like to see some tissue test 
results
re: % of protein.  William Albrecht showed that alfalfa grown in  soils low 
in calcium
(i.e. acidic) had a significantly lower protein content than alfalfa grown in 
soils
with plenty of calcium.

So first off, the "nutrient" (protein) content of alfalfa and other 
leguminous plants
varies greatly, depending on the acidity of the soil.

Secondly then the claim that this clover is as nutritious as alfalfa becomes 
somewhat
meaningless.

I am not trying to say this plant has no value in agriculture, but if we want 
to
practice truly sustainable agriculture we need to make sure it sustains us as 
well.
Some soils do not have the (available) raw materials to make good food for 
us, or for
the animals we eat. So we either need to modify the soil, or farm elsewhere 
if we want
to be healthy. Otherwise farming is just an exercise in (environmental) 
horticulture.

Heide

Mark wrote:

>   More from my grazing list pals... very interesting web link bellow..
> Mark L
> >Date: Wed, 29 May 2002 06:39:14 -0700
> >From: Kostas Christie <chrisc@wvi.com>
> >Subject: [grazersedge] pasture and acid soils
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> >I just want to share my experience with pastures on acid soils.
> >
> >There are certain obstacles to all organic/natural/sustainable farming
> >that are imposed by soil limitations. Either the imperfect soils are too
> >wet or dry,  too acidic or alkali, too high in aluminum or sodium. That's
> >it, there is not too much more to know about problem soils except to
> >realize that we must work with nature by using plants that are  tolerant
> >to the limiting factors in the soil. This is far more economical than
> >trying to modify the soil to fit the crop and once established it is
> >permanent with less erosion and environmental impact.
> >
> >Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a clover similar to alfalfa that actually
> >likes to grow on poor acidic soils? A clover that is tolerant to poor
> >acidic soils has been known for years but the trouble was that the seed
> >was  either not available or too expensive.
> >
> >We have been growing and selectively improving this clover for 43 years
> >and have finally (we think) developed cultural and harvesting methods
> >allowing us to attempt to sell seed at a price more economical than using
> >chemicals to modify the soil, plus it is long lived and hardy in most
> >places. You will see this clover growing in fields long after the affect
> >of lime has disappeared.
> >
> >Using this clover will allow the grass land farmer to grow  hay or pasture
> >that is as nutritious as alfalfa and is non bloating !!
> >
> >If you're interested in learning more about this we'll send you a free
> >sample and instructions on how to use this sample to determine if your
> >soil is right for this wonderful clover,  For a  free sample contact me
> >for details. This is a good rule in all farming " always test first"
> >
> >I hope everyone has a great and SAFE  summer !
> >
> >C. Thomas Christie  PO 54,  Scio, Oregon 97374
> >  chrisc@wvi.com
> >www.bigtrefoil.com
> >
> >
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> >
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> Mark P. Ludwig
> Poultry Research Lab
> University of Wisconsin -Madison
> 608-262-1730 WK
> 608-846-7125 HM
>
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