OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE ANCIENT

In recent years, large-scale industrial agriculture has reached new heights of technological advancement in the name of quick-fix progress.  We are genetically engineering our food crops, enabling us to apply more herbicides on our farm fields than ever before.  Evidence shows that weeds are naturally adapting to herbicide use, and that cross pollination of genetically engineered crops with weeds has pushed farmers to use even more toxic herbicide applications to gain to same level of weed suppression.  Other crops have been genetically engineered with the insecticidal bacteria, Bt, to help eliminate insecticide use.  However, a study conducted by the USDA in 2000 concluded that there is no overall reduction in pesticide use with genetically engineered crops.  Furthermore, scientists at Cornell University discovered that the pollen from crops engineered with Bt could be fatal to the Monarch butterfly and other beneficial insects.  According to a study by the Rural Advancement Foundation International, 97 percent of vegetable varieties that were available in 1900 are now extinct.  In the United States alone, we have lost three-quarters of all our agricultural biodiversity in the last 100 years.   In the past 50 years, nearly one-third of the world’s farmable land has been lost to soil erosion.  Ninety percent of U.S. cropland is losing soil 17 times faster than soil formation on average.  Pesticide use now has been estimated to kill 67 million birds each year in the U.S, and that number is still growing.  Bird populations also suffer, according to the American Bird Conservancy, because the use of inorganic fertilizers tend to reduce overall plant species diversity on farmlands, allowing farm edges to be dominated by fewer types of plants hospitable to birds.  Countless wild plants, amphibians, fish, beneficial insects and other animals have been lost over the past 75 years due to misuse of agricultural chemicals and loss of crop diversity.  It would seem as though we have a bottleneck in modern agriculture, which is to say that we have lost touch with nature, our ultimate teacher and superior farmer.  Much can be learned from the mishaps of modern agriculture and the successes of nature, which can translate into valuable lessons to promote safe and sustainable gardening techniques in our own yard and gardens.
               
In an effort revitalize our lawns, landscapes and vegetable gardens naturally, we can rely on nature for helpful tips and tricks that are as ancient as the earth itself.  Sir Albert Howard published An Agricultural Testament in 1940.  Howard thought we should farm like the forest.  He wrote: “Mother earth never attempts to farm without livestock; she always raises mixed crops; great pains are taken to preserve the soil and prevent soil erosion; the mixed vegetables and animal waste are converted into humus (compost); there is no waste; the processes of growth and the processes of decay balance one another; ample provision is made to maintain large reserves of fertility; the greatest care is taken to store the rainfall; both plants and animals are left to protect themselves against disease.”  Anyone can learn to mimic natures ancient art of sustainable gardening by using some of the following suggestions.

1. COMPOST: Nature recycles plant debris, rock minerals and decaying organisms into nutrient rich soil that we have come to know as compost.  We can replicate this natural process by collecting yard waste such as plant debris and non meat kitchen scraps to form our own homemade compost.  Compost piles are best positioned on bare soil, out of direct sunlight and wind, and should be sited where there is access to water, because moisture helps sustain the organisms that are breaking down the compost ingredients.  When creating your compost pile, it is always best to add some organic fertilizer, finished compost and/or high quality topsoil, because this microorganism rich mix is the catalyst for quick decomposition of new compost ingredients.  An old trick for easy composting is to layer compost ingredients. For example, add a layer of leaf debris mixed with topsoil or compost followed by a layer of grass clipping or green weed debris mixed with topsoil or compost, followed by a layer of woody materials mixed with topsoil or compost.  It is best to follow a layer of green matter like grass clippings with a layer of brown matter such as dried leaves or woody brush.  Once materials are broken down into a soil-like consistency, your compost is ready to be used to enrich your lawn and gardens for greater disease resistance, reduced soil erosion and drought stress, prolonged bloom season and more abundant crop harvests.

2. NATIVE PLANTS: Trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses that are considered native are those that were growing naturally in the area before humans introduced plants from distant places.  These easy-to-grow plants are adapted to our clay soils, tolerant to heat and drought, resistant to local pest insects and disease, and when established, require no irrigation or fertilization.  In general, native plants are low maintenance options for our landscapes.  Furthermore, native plants help to attract beneficial insects such as honeybees, butterflies and garden friendly insect predators that help reduce pest insects.  Also, native plants provide food and shelter for birds and other desirable wildlife. Many native plants help to enrich the soil. Their root systems help rainfall percolate into the soil, reducing erosion and runoff, ultimately improving water quality.  Native plants are diehard durable, and will last for decades when provided the proper site in our gardens.  For centuries, humans have simulated natures ancient art of companion planting which encourages combining as many plant species as possible to promote better soil health, pest control and overall species biodiversity.  By interweaving many native plant species in our gardens, we not only promote safe and simple pest control and improved soil fertility, but also enhance our gardens year-round interest.

3. FERTILIZATION:  In nature, soil fertility is sustained by the action of soil organisms such as earthworms.  The USDA decided to compare the benefits of chemical fertilizers versus earthworms over fifty years ago.  To accomplish this, they started with two containers of poor soil.  To one container they added dead worms, chemical fertilizer and grass seed.  To the other container they added live worms and grass seed, but no fertilizer. To their utter amazement, the grass seed in the container with the live worms grew four times faster and healthier than the grass seed in the container with dead worms and fertilizer. These results are due primarily to the high nutrient levels of earthworm castings (worm poop), which has no odor.  Castings have been found to be high in nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and trace minerals.  In addition, castings hold their nutrients in mucus membranes secreted by earthworms.  This allows nutrients to be slowly released so they are available to the plants over a period of time as needed.  Other natural organic fertilizers such as blood meal, sea kelp, fish solids, rock minerals and manure all work well to fertilize lawns, landscape and crops to promote safe and sustainable plant health.

4. WEED CONTROL:  Through careful observation, humans have observed natures innate ability to suppress competition. Numerous plants, algae, fungi and bacteria worldwide are known to exude substances known as allelochemicals, which are defense compounds used by one organism to protect itself against another revival organism.  Around 300 B.C., Theophrastus noticed the inhibitory effects of pigweed on alfalfa.  More recently, corn proteins, better known as corn gluten meal, have been found to suppress the germination of over 24 major lawn and garden weeds.  This preemergent herbicide is consider safe for organic gardening use, and can be applied in the early spring and early fall before weed seeds germinate.  Another benefit to corn gluten meal is that it contains 10 percent nitrogen by weight, making it an excellent organic fertilizer.  Another way in which weed rivalry is dealt with in nature is by smothering the competition.  As a tree, shrub, perennial or grass drops its foliage or stems in the fall and winter, it forms a mulch that helps to stifle weed competition below.  Mulching ones vegetable beds and landscape plants helps to reduce weed competition, reduce drought stress and soil erosion and add nutrients back to the soil.  We have learned to mimic natures ability to smother weeds with yet another technique called “sheet mulching”. At Marvin’s Organic Gardens we recently invented a paper weed control product that comes in 2 or 4 foot width rolls that are both 100 feet in length.  We roll this post consumer, biodegradable weed control material over garden beds, as close to existing plants as possible, and then follow up with an application of mulch.  New plantings can be installed by digging a hole through the Control Roll. Not only will this help to eliminate weeds for an entire season, but it will allow excellent permeability of nutrients and water, and also help to hold soil moisture to lessen irrigation needs. 

5. MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI:  Most plants have a ancient beneficial relationship with soil borne fungi known as Mycorrhizal Fungi.  These fungi attach themselves to the fibrous roots of plants, and then stretch outward into the soil in search of water and nutrients that are difficult for the plant to access by itself.  In return, these fungi feed on the sugar that is exuded as waste from the plant roots.  In addition to increased uptake of water and nutrients, plants benefit from this mycorrhizal relationship by increased drought tolerance, disease resistance, improved soil aeration, reduced soil erosion and compaction as well as increased root growth.  Almost all potting soils, residential and commercial soils lack healthy populations of these very beneficial fungi.  Incorporating a mycorrhizal product such as Marvin’s Organic Gardens CPR, around the root zone of turf, vegetables and landscape plants will greatly increase plant vigor, reducing the labor to upkeep inoculated plants.  Chemical fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and synthetic fertilizers may destroy these beneficial fungi, so it is best to maintain an organic regimen on lawn and garden once areas have been inoculated with mycorrhizae. 

Bring balance back to your lawn and gardens with some of the above techniques, or stop by Marvin’s Organic Gardens today to let us help you promote safe and simple organic gardening options for your family and friends.  There is never a need for dangerous conventional garden chemicals, because so many organic gardening products, practices and service are now ready to assist you with any lawn and garden challenge.  When you maintain your yard like the forest, it’s ‘out with the old, and in with ancient’ methods, which are time tested and proven affective.  Go Organic. It’s Only Natural!