Very true Ted,
The real challenge is to grow high brix food!
Who cares how big or how heavy the cabbage or what ever is! What I want to =
know is will it supply me with the minerals I need. How much calcium etc do=
es it have.
Regards Mike Harvey B Hort Sci
New Life Soils.
Ph 08 98514393
fax 08 98514693
Mob 0427 514393
E-mail mharvey_at_westnet.com.au
www.composttea.com.au
"God is the basis of life, life is the basis of energy,
energy is the basis of matter." Carey Reams
----- Original Message -----
From: Ted Peterson
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 3:45 AM
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Re: Giant Cabbage Weigh Off??
Hi_Yield:
You are making the wrong challenge. There are all kinds of was to get la=
rge vegetables. It doesn't mean they are tasty or contain any of the vitam=
ins and nutrients we need. Big Veggies are not necessarily a sign of healt=
hy plants or healthy soil, just big plants. What you should challenge, if =
you are in a mind to do so, is a comparison of the soils where the plants a=
re grown then lab breakdowns of the soil microbiology and the resultant tra=
nsferance of the benefits of organic, compost tea methodology over the chem=
ical approach if indeed there is an advantage. Make the challenge a multi-=
year challenge to see what is needed by both approaches each year to keep t=
he crops at the same level and which crops show higher as far as available =
nutrients. (The stuff that makes them valuable as a food source to us.) =
Also, if you are willing to issue this type of challenge, try to find a s=
ource of funding. You are, in effect, asking someone to spend a lot of mon=
ey to satisfy your curiosity. If satisfying you would actually accomplish =
something like get a grant for further research or win a cash prize or prom=
ote the product when finished, the challenge might have some credibility. =
You seem to have the knowledge and background so why don't you start some t=
est plots with different management practices and see what the results are.=
I would be interested in seeing that.
You obviously have the ability to do it and you could post your results o=
n the group. That way, it wouldn't appear that you are "shooting from the =
hip" with many of your statements. I agree with a lot of what you imply bu=
t try to provide a way to resolve the problem. We can all sit around and s=
hoot criticism but if that criticism isn't backed up with something of subs=
tance, it has little weight. Soooooo. I challenge you to make a test of 4=
plots with the same veggies planted in the same way but managed differentl=
y. Outline your test and monitor your results then post the outcome.
We are in the process of studying erosion control and the use of compost =
tea, compost tea and sugar, and just sugar in revitalizing slopes (up to 40=
%) that have been burned or underwatered to the point that the bare earth s=
tarts sliding. We are assuming the sugars will feed the bacteria and soil =
fungi and make the ground more stable. All without starting a regrowth pro=
gram.
So, you should try an experiment.
Ted Peterson
Earth-Wise/Spirit of the Earth
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Received on Wed Mar 10 2004 - 00:10:15 EST