Comments on: Dirt http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/08/26/dirt/ hopping along the corridors of power Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:51:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: michaela http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/08/26/dirt/#comment-54756 michaela Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:43:31 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/08/26/dirt/#comment-54756 Steffan Browning has been using his articles in "Organics" to advocate for using soil building as a major method of sequestering carbon dioxide. Importantly he makes the point that using wood waste as a biofuels source will deplete the soil by removing the very materials that build soil. Also, the Indian state of Kerala has an official state policy position on organic farming. I've lost my link but Google on to find the statement. Steffan Browning has been using his articles in “Organics” to advocate for using soil building as a major method of sequestering carbon dioxide. Importantly he makes the point that using wood waste as a biofuels source will deplete the soil by removing the very materials that build soil.

Also, the Indian state of Kerala has an official state policy position on organic farming. I’ve lost my link but Google on to find the statement.

]]> By: kiwinuke http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/08/26/dirt/#comment-54649 kiwinuke Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:41:03 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/08/26/dirt/#comment-54649 New Zealand organic and biodynamic farm adviser, Peter Proctor, has become well known of late for his pioneering work reversing soil degradation in India by introducing Indian farmers to biodynamic-organic farming methods over the past 15 years. He claims that although the agricultural "green" revolution in India in the 1960s was initially very successful in raising yields it has bequeathed a legacy of soil degradation, falling productivity, increased fertiliser, pesticide and fungicide requirements and loss of soil's water holding capacity (as soil humus levels have declined). This latter effect has, apparently, translated into the need for regular irrigation which (after 40 years of this approach) has contributed to serious water shortages, alarming drops in the level of ground water and a shortage in many areas of "sweet"water. Many farmers have, consequently, been irrigating with brackish (salty) water, further damaging soil productivity. For more background on Peter's work in India see the link below: http://prometheus.co.nz/news/environmental-news/composting-guru/ or order a copy of the award winning DVD of his work at www.howtosavetheworld.co.nz New Zealand organic and biodynamic farm adviser, Peter Proctor, has become well known of late for his pioneering work reversing soil degradation in India by introducing Indian farmers to biodynamic-organic farming methods over the past 15 years.

He claims that although the agricultural “green” revolution in India in the 1960s was initially very successful in raising yields it has bequeathed a legacy of soil degradation, falling productivity, increased fertiliser, pesticide and fungicide requirements and loss of soil’s water holding capacity (as soil humus levels have declined).

This latter effect has, apparently, translated into the need for regular irrigation which (after 40 years of this approach) has contributed to serious water shortages, alarming drops in the level of ground water and a shortage in many areas of “sweet”water. Many farmers have, consequently, been irrigating with brackish (salty) water, further damaging soil productivity.

For more background on Peter’s work in India see the link below:

http://prometheus.co.nz/news/environmental-news/composting-guru/

or order a copy of the award winning DVD of his work at http://www.howtosavetheworld.co.nz

]]> By: joy http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/08/26/dirt/#comment-54648 joy Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:38:26 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/08/26/dirt/#comment-54648 I have no doubt this need to value and to improve our soils is correct. From where else comes the huge range of human food, except from the ocean. And the timber for building purposes? This constantrain, day after day and frequently heavy, in our region, is exceptional. In 6 decades I can recall only 2 other winters that come close. Then the chance of another drought is high. The mud turns to concret and fragile seedlings die. To me, these extremes of weather indicate how fragile our ecosystem is, and how difficult it is to grow food, go fishing, plant and grow trees when the extreme elements are against us. I have no doubt this need to value and to improve our soils is correct. From where else comes the huge range of human food, except from the ocean. And the timber for building purposes?

This constantrain, day after day and frequently heavy, in our region, is exceptional. In 6 decades I can recall only 2 other winters that come close. Then the chance of another drought is high. The mud turns to concret and fragile seedlings die.

To me, these extremes of weather indicate how fragile our ecosystem is, and how difficult it is to grow food, go fishing, plant and grow trees when the extreme elements are against us.

]]> By: StephenR http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/08/26/dirt/#comment-54636 StephenR Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:27:39 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/08/26/dirt/#comment-54636 Science labs are always great places for terrible jokes... Science labs are always great places for terrible jokes…

]]> By: Mr Dennis http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/08/26/dirt/#comment-54625 Mr Dennis Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:37:51 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/08/26/dirt/#comment-54625 Posters from Lincoln University Soils labs: "Don't treat soil like dirt" "Some countries have oil, New Zealand has soil" Posters from Lincoln University Soils labs:
“Don’t treat soil like dirt”
“Some countries have oil, New Zealand has soil”

]]> By: tvhe http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/08/26/dirt/#comment-54621 tvhe Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:11:26 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/08/26/dirt/#comment-54621 Indeed - it was a very good article Indeed - it was a very good article

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