[Terrapreta] Pure Organics Vs. Biological Agriculture

[Jon C. Frank]

Hi Michael,

We work with several organic pesticides such as neem.  They are great to use
as the quality of the soil and plants are building.  They are useful tools
but the goal is always to grow crops with enough health that bugs are not
attracted to the plants in the first place.

It is always a joy to see crops in the picture of health and nearby weeds
riddled with bug damage.  This comes about when the soil is optimized for
growing crops and not weeds.

If you think it is a pity that we help farmers increase crop health, soil
humus, and microbial health without biochar than we are not even close to
being on the same page.  Your logic is strange.  A healthy soil that is
building humus IS sequestering carbon.  Are you saying that the only form of
carbon sequestration must involve biochar/carcoal?  You are welcome to your
own opinion of course.

Jon

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Michael Bailes [mailto:michaelangelica at gmail.com]
  Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 11:44 PM
  To: Jon C. Frank
  Cc: Terrapreta
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Pure Organics Vs. Biological Agriculture




    As far as recommending charcoal it cannot be done until there is a
supply for people to economically utilize it.  That infrastructure is far
from being in place.

  Depends on where you are on the planet but I agree.This is a sad chicken
and egg problem:
  Charcoal will not be made easily (& ecologically soundly by pyrolysis) and
cheaply until people demand it.
   It will not be used until is is available  easily and cheaply.
  This impasse has to be broken. That might mean pioneers of Tera preta
methods may have to pay a premium price for char until manufacturers catch
up with the demand .


    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



    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
  But more importantly it sequesters carbon (CO2) and so helps the very real
problem of global warming.
  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 could at least present the benefits of Char at your conferences and
let your electorate decide what to do themselves.

  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
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