Soil
Long before man could make a plow or a test tube, nature was creating life, including man, and providing an environment in which all life could live. She used the resources of air, water, sunshine, and soil plant food minerals to make life. If she had created only life, these resources would soon have been tied up in all living things. So she created death. This way resources could be recycled and used again and again. There is a basic law which says, All life forms must return at death what they took from the resources of the earth during their lifetime.” - Eugene Poirot
I never really thought much about the soil and dirt in medical school. I grew up playing in the dirt and every agricultural influence in my life basically illustrated that the soil was inadequate for providing food without significant input. I remember my mom shaking MiracleGrow in every hole of every plant in the garden. I remember having a serious allergic reaction to my neighbors lawn treatment (ended up in the ER when I was about 7 years old) and living in a very agricultural area I thought that the application of fertilizer was basically all that separated humanity from the throngs of the Malthusian Trap.
The good Reverend Thomas Malthus, in 1798, classically illustrated the problem of population growth relative to food production. The basic underlying premise is that we needed modernization of our agricultural system to prevent population collapse to a more sustainable level based on current food production capabilities.
My soil agronomy journey:
Initial introduction- 7 years ago when I read Hands on Agronomy by Kinsey.
Denial of soil importance with my own person garden- 1 great year followed by 3 years of underperformance
Cover up that soil- Back to Eden and the Permaculture movement. I basically interpreted both of these movements as the soil has been destroyed by modern agriculture and human assault so we have to cover it up and start over. Wood chips, mulch, compost, newspapers, cardboard, etc
The Organic Market Gardening Movement- Organic No Till, Broadforking, soil structure, mycorrhizal fungi, organic matter, phospholipid testing (PLFA) for soil life.
Bringing it all together
I’ve found in medicine and life that the truth is rarely in the extremes. These movements are all a pendulum trying to get us back to a natural, well-balanced, healthy soil, that healthy humans with similar chemistry can eat and make them health-ier. So this year I’m approaching my soil more scientifically and yes the pandemic did give me time to finally send off these test.
Soil Testing:
Soil Savvy Soil Test-$30. I ordered this from KIS Organics which I had bookmarked years ago about doing custom soil test. They now offer this test which was disappointing. I mistakenly assumed that an organic soil amendment company would sell a test that gives organic recommendations. I would not order this test again but I also sent the same samples to Kinsey Ag.
2. Kinsey Ag- I haven’t received the results and will post an update. I decided to do more samples and also test my compost. The samples cost $55/bag and compost is $120. I’d call before sending your samples to make sure that you have everything filled out correctly
Fill out the worksheet for soil sample-
Separate worksheet for compost and put in the crop information section: Run as compost
Total up the number of samples/compost, add it together and include a check to Kinsey Ag.
Why test at all?
After 2 years of growing my observation was that compost, wood chips, tarping, and elbow grease were not going to be enough. I’ve applied about 3” of compost twice a year and realized I needed some data to guide my decisions going forward.