[Terrapreta] Pure Organics Vs. Biological Agriculture

[Michael Bailes]

Kevin with respect YOU need to do some research on charcoal and soil.
This list has an excellent collection of research papers on the sunject. I
know because I put a lot of them there. The reseach is there; done,
finished, now people are just fiddling with more minor aspects and questions
about char and soil. There are at least two academic books on the subject.
There is a great deal of reaseach available on char. Especially in Japan
where it has been used for 100+ years. Please take time to read & study it
before you dismiss it.
You might also find some useful information on the Permaculture, Cornell
University  and Hypography web sites.
http://forums.hypography.com/terra-preta.html
(See also the Hypography thread on Organic Gardening-your imput here would
be welcomed)
Try a google academic seach or alert if still not convinced.

As for growing plants healthy enough not to need some pest control
intevention. I half-agree. But in my experience of building organic gardens
and nurseries to reach a level where you have that health plus a reasonably
stable local ecology takes three years. Judicious use of biological control
(Bt Thungeresis , predatory bugs etc ) and pesticides that have a very
limted life (-Quassia an anti-feedant breaks down within 24 hours- against
chlorinated hydrocarbons 10-18 year half life-)
Many people will despair in that  first three years without some crutches
and reluctantly return to chemical farming.

You can't just dismiss the farmer's role in global warming. Forty % of New
Zealand's carbon emissions are from burping cows (20-30% elsewhere.).
 The biggest Natural Gas field in the world (from WA), when Gas ii brought
to the surface, contains a mass of CO2. Natural gas is the major source of
many agricultural fertilisers and chemicals.
 Global warming is the biggest environmental challenge we have ever faced
and unless your system address that, calling your system 'natural' or
'organic' is fatuous. The most promising and cheapest, proven sequestration
system is Tera preta farming/gardening. Every person who owns a pot plant
can help. Terra preta is an empowering way for us all; Rather than the
defeatist attitude I see everywhere "Well, what can I do?"

Please take time to learn a little about Terra preta and pass it on in your
seminars. It works best with an organic or biodynamic approach as it works
in tandum with soil organic matter.


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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