[Terrapreta] Pure Organics Vs. Biological Agriculture

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear Michael

Michael Bailes wrote:
...del...
> 
>>     Also FYI we never recommend or sell . . . any type of pesticide or
>>     herbicide.
>  
> What is wrong with judicious and carefully timed use of organic 
> pesticides like neem, Quassia, pyrethrum (natural) , Tobacco, 
> lime-sulphur etc

"The best way to solve a problem is to eliminate it in the first place." 
  Jon's approach is to grow plants that are healthy enough that they 
don't need pesticides or herbicides in the first place.
> 
>     I believe biochar or charcoal can play a role in the future as it
>     becomes more available.  In the meantime we have learned how to
>     increase humus in the soil without charcoal or biochar.  It involves
>     getting calcium levels high enough to support increased microbial
>     populations, increased fine root hairs, and increased exudates from 
>     healthier plants.  
> 
> It is a great pity you have this attitude/policy/idea.
> Charcoal is one of the best ways of increasing soil microbiological life 
> and plant growth

Jon's approach does not need charcoal, and it "...increases soil 
microbiological life..." Do you have any evidence or test results to 
show that charcoal is better than Jon's methods? Nothing in Jon's 
posting suggests that he is "against" charcoal, or that he would not 
support it, if it was more readily available, and if there was adequate 
fact to justify its use.

> But more importantly it sequesters carbon (CO2) and so helps the very 
> real problem of global warming.

There are two very separate issues here... 1: Growing. 2: 
Sequestering... Jon was only dealing with 1:

> i think wealthier nations need not only to reduce CO2 emissions to a 
> neautral point they need to do much more to counter the amount of CO2 
> being produced by thrird world countries like China and India.
>  China has just reached the same level of CO2 emissions of the USA.

You are dealing only with 2:
> 
> You could at least present the benefits of Char at your conferences and 
> let your electorate decide what to do themselves.

Jon's main thrust is supporting "...increased Brix..."..

Best wishes,

Kevin
> 
> Michael the Archangel
> 
> "You can fix all the world's problems in a garden. . . .
> Most people don't know that"
> FROM
> http://www.blog.thesietch.org/wp-content/permaculture.swf 
> <http://www.blog.thesietch.org/wp-content/permaculture.swf>
> 
> 
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