Re: [compost_tea] Re: non-native species of earthworms

From: Steve Bridges <kimas_at_texasgrown.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 22:13:06 -0500

Since apparently we've only identified 3% of the life in the soil, I would
think that we're flying blind right now. I have always thought that there
were two lines of reasoning here. One, you can boost the native microbes by
using soil stimulators such as Medina Soil Activator or molasses, seaweed,
humate, etc that feed the native microbes. Second, there are many
"bugs-in-a-bottle" that one could use to introduce whatever is in the bottle
(or in the tea).

I don't think that anyone has a really firm handle on what the consequences
are in introducing 'foreign" microbes to an area. There is though,
apparently, species of microbes that are inherent in all healthy soils
(Elaine?). But can anyone say for sure that they perform the same way, or
are truly the same species in all ecological zones (see 3% identified
above). Could it be that native species of soil life can out compete their
foreign-born competitors due to their established niche in their
environment? One would think so. With that thought in mind, then wouldn't it
be better to try to propagate the native species? One would think so. How do
we go about that? Inoculate compost used in the brewing process with locally
produced compost/forest duff/soil?

In your instance, if you were trying to restore a certain ecosystem, perhaps
you need to inoculate your compost used in tea brewing with soil from a
healthy ecosystem your trying to emulate? Boy howdy, that one's a long way
down the road on data.....

With the State of the World right now, with massive movement of people and
machines, perhaps there is no turning back on introducing non-native species
to foreign areas.

But you know, Nature has a way of always ending up on the winning end. And
change is inevitable. And for you baseball fans, you know who they say bats
last........
Steve Bridges
Kimas Tejas Nursery

----- Original Message -----
From: "Autumn Scott" <autumn_at_olympus.net>
To: <compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 2:30 PM
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Re: non-native species of earthworms


> Chris,
> Thank you for your interesting response to the brief article I posted. The
> article was several years old, but it's been in the back of my mind for
> awhile, as I also have a strong interest in environmental issues.
> Earthworms are great in gardens, but we need to be open to the possibility
> that in natural ecosystems, such as forests, they may be detrimental,
> rather than beneficial. I appreciate you passing on the study done in New
> York; I wonder if any studies have been done on the West Coast? I've been
> involved with native plant issues on the Olympic Peninsula for a long
time,
> and am well aware of the problems of invasive exotic plants in natural
> ecosystems. Prevention of problems is so much better than trying to deal
> with them later, which often is not even possible. Recently I've even
> wondered whether there might be any problem we're not considering when
> compost with microbes from, for example, Alaska, is shipped around the
> continent, or even to other continents. Maybe it's ok in gardens, but
> perhaps we shouldn't do restoration work with it? Just some thoughts I've
> had lately.
> Autumn
>
>
>
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>
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>
>
>



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Received on Fri Jun 20 2003 - 00:38:50 EDT

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