Quote:
Originally Posted by Raven
========================================
Humus
without sufficient quantities of it (humus) in the soil
it cannot handle heavy rains
this is basically what comes out of the south end of an earthworm in the form of castings...and bacteria make it too... just slower
without the earthworm burrows
there there's no freakin drainage holes 
organic matter or humus holds
ten times its weight in water
a virtual sponge...
chemical farming not only depletes the existing organic matter
but creates havoc....|LATER|
especially after the soil gets " mined "of certain minerals that used to be there in abundance...
then weird diseases show up or bugs start finding the vegetation more appetizing due to these mineral deficiencies,,,
so the farmers have to spray even more insecticides or herbicides to get that big product that used to be easy to get originally.
a vicious circle 
now, ya take that same patch of ground and ya encourage worm growth and roto till in seaweed and compost and maple leaves real heavy along with grass clippings on top to keep it cool and weed free so that the worms thrive....and no chemical "run %$%$%$%$ fertilizer would even be required.
Run off would be drastically reduced and the soil wouldn't be laced with so many chemicals. Bugs hate seaweed spray and it gives the plants a special resistance to bug infestations. |
Well said!
I used to find it amusing when people would spend tons of money to get a "manicured lawn" that they NEVER set foot on, or play on. I guess the thought is that a "perfect" lawn is like a priceless picture: basically useless except to look at.
I can remember the tug-of-war I had with my parents when I started them on composting. Once it was set up, they couldn't believe how truly clean and simple it really was.
Collect organic kitchen waste: fruit cores and peels, coffee grounds, corn husks and cobs, moldy bread, egg shells (worms LOVE bread and egg shells) even old newspapers if you don't recycle.
I start off by digging a small pit and layering the materials in a brown/green/brown alternating fashion. after a couple of weeks, depending on how "inocculated" your soil is, the bateria and worms will be well on their way to creating some really great organic compost. Think of the best potting soil you can get for virtually nothing. All you need to do is turn the pile, which I do whenever I add new material, and sift whatever you plan on using (to remove large uncomposted pieces).
The only chemicals I use (on RARE occaisions) is to kill poison ivy.
I do make a mean bug spray from chewing tobacco and dish soap, but that's a different post entirely.