FAQ

2928
DR. EARTH® GARDENING GUIDE DR. EARTH® GARDENING GUIDE
Chemical fertilizers feed plants with
nutrients directly. This inhibits, and in
some cases, kills off microbes within
the soil. In addition to wiping out
organisms, nutrients added as soluble
fertilizers can be lost through leaching
away or conversion to an unusable
form such as nitrogen gas. Chemicals
washed away during rain or irrigation
can pollute ground water, streams, lakes
and oceans. In addition, commercially
synthesized chemical fertilizers do not
have the beneficial soil microbes that
feed the plants certain bio-chemicals
such as vitamins and antibiotics.
When soil becomes unbalanced
through chemical alteration, certain
micronutrients and heavy metals, such
as iron, magnesium and aluminum,
become more soluble in the soil and can
be toxic to plant tissues. Unbalanced
soils also reduce the productivity
of bacteria (nitrogen fixers) making
nutrients less available. Chemical
fertilizers also decrease a soil’s ability to
hold onto positively charged nutrients,
which allows water to more easily
wash away nutrients. An imbalance
of soils locks up other micronutrients
and makes them unavailable to plants
while concentrating harmful molecules
in the soil. All this can lead to further
deterioration of the soil by chemically
deteriorating humus and organic
matter reserves.
Adding petrochemical synthetic
fertilizers drives up the salt concentration
in the soil and changes the pH, which
can adversely affect plants. More
importantly, chemical fertilizers
only feed for a short time. Organic
fertilizers feed continuously, because
the microbes do not digest all of the
organic fertilizer immediately. Chemical
fertilizers reduce the soil aggregation
properties of microbes and sacrifice
good tilth. Conversely, organic fertilizers
support water retention, reduce runoff
and support long-term soil health.
Neglecting living organisms in the
soil by treating plants with chemically
synthesized fertilizers and pest sprays
may eventually lead to the extinction
of all living matter in commercial
soil. In the future, we may become
completely dependent on synthetics
to get any yield at all. Many gardeners
and consumers regard this cycle as
unsustainable over time. They have
devoted their lives, farming practices
and backyards to restoring and
preserving biological diversity in soil.
Feed the soil, not the plants! When we feed our plants
and not our soil, we lose all the benefits from microbes.
When we feed the soil, we actually feed the microbes in the
soil. Microbes make nutrients available for plants. You feed
microbes by adding organic material. If you give plants a
synthetic chemical fertilizer, you feed only the plant, not the
soil nor the microbes. Soil has supported plants and given
them nutrients since long before we invented other fertilizers,
so why not feed the soil and preserve the natural biological
interactions that support plant survival and growth?
Why are people generally indifferent to the tiny life all around
us? Perhaps we modern people ignore microorganisms,
because we have a strong bias against all microscopic life.
Now that we understand the germ theory of disease, and
appreciate the many health improvements that came from
it, we have become “biophobic.” Are we prejudiced against
anything alive but so small we cannot see it? Do we think
anything microscopic and alive must be bad for our health?
Do we take for granted what we cannot see? This is a
dangerous bit of blindness.
True, some bacteria and viruses threaten our health. But the
vast majority of tiny life is either neutral or helpful. Much of
it is even essential. Our lives would be impossible without
the essential bacteria and fungi in our guts and in our soil.
Without microorganisms we could not have penicillin or
yogurt (to name just two).
The large-scale, corporate food industry sees organic
gardening as a major enemy and touts the benefits of
genetically enhanced crops instead of first enhancing the
soil organically to make crops more healthy and nutritious.
If everyone grew their own food, and consequently enjoyed
good health, we would not need giant monoculture and
commercial farming. Pharmaceutical companies would
generate much less revenue. You would need a medical
doctor only if you had a broken bone. It all comes down to
corporate manipulation, control and money.
Buy heirloom seeds and transplants. Grow everything you
can. What you cannot grow, buy from someone you trust. If
you’re an attorney, CPA, architect, nurse or have a 9-to-5 job
in the middle of the city with no time or space to garden,
barter your services with an organic produce farmer, chicken
farmer, cattle rancher or neighbor who grows the healthiest
organic tomatoes. A few words from you could be worth a
fresh basket of healthy fruit or vegetables. Please consider
these ideas to ensure your health and the health of your
loved ones.
Problem: Chemical Fertilizers only feed the plant
The Answer: Feed the Soil Not the Plants
FERTILE
GROUND
Organic fertilizers ensure that your soil remains fertile for hundreds of years. Land
located at the site of ancient civilizations, such as India and China, are still fertile,
even though agriculture has been practiced there for thousands of years. The
fertility is maintained because organic fertilizers were always used in the past.
UNDERSTANDING
GARDEN
BIOLOGY
SCIENCE OF THE SOIL
HAPPY AND HEALTHY GARDENING