[Terrapreta] Pure Organics Vs. Biological Agriculture

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear Michael

My apologies to you, and anyone else that I might have offended and/or 
misled, and/or under-appreciaterd, with my views. Certainly, there is a 
great deal of information available, but up to now, I personally haven't 
been able to find, or put together, a report or summary on Terra Preta 
and char that is at the "technical and economic recipe book" level. 
Perhaps I am simply a poor researcher, and have been missing much of the 
"good stuff."

I will take your suggestion to heart, and will look harder and do more 
research. However, if anyone comes across a "Terra Preta Recipe Book", I 
would very much appreciate the reference to it.

Best wishes,

Kevin



Michael Bailes wrote:
> 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