Fertilizer and fertilizing...What difference does it make

[Chuck]

So what! What difference does it make now that 80 years ago chemical fertilizer played a major roll in the destruction of most of Americas arable topsoil. The difference it makes is that it is still doing it. Not much has changed at all. Chemical fertilizers are still depleting the soil.

Here is the big difference between organic and chemical fertilizers. Organic fertilizers feed the soil while chemical fertilizers feed the plant. Chemical fertilizers literally burn out all organic material in the soil over time and leave different mineral salts in its place. We already know that fertile soil is made up of organic matter, micro-nutrients and living micro-organisms. We also know that chemicals destroy these same organisms, nutrients and organic matter as proven in the 1930's. So why do home gardeners still use this stuff? One reason is availability. It is everywhere, in every single hardware store, in every single Big Box Store, all over radio and tv. Advertised as the best thing since sliced bread it is Big Money. It will get rid of weeds while at the same time feeding your grass. Make everything more colorful and greener than your neighbors. And in todays "instant gratification society" your garden will be an instant success. That is why people use chemicals. That and being completely uninformed. of what they are doing.

 

[headfullofbees]

There is a joy to growing organically.
It is extremely closely related to the joy of growing your own plants that makes us so enjoy our gardening in the first place.
It sounds pompous, but I swear that the further I get into organic gardening, and the further I leave behind petro-chemical gardening, the closer I feel to at-oneness with the planet.