by Joshua Overton Young
hether you are a commercial grower, farmer, or just
a weekend gardener, you probably realize your soil quality is important
for optimal growing. For the most part, our soil has been depleted of its
natural nutrients over the past 50-plus years.
Chemical fertilizers have been used for a quick
fix. Actually, these chemicals kill the living organic matter in the soil.
The best way to turn this cycle around is by creating Sustainable soil.
A good definition of Sustainable Agriculture
is: The practice of applying and cultivating quality soil, building organic
materials and nurturing the natural flora, fauna and other natural life
forms of the soil, for which there are in excess of one million in a healthy
soil. Of course, you can always use:
Yield: 1 acre of 6" -deep healthy soil, able to sustain the production of thriving plants without the introduction of artificial chemicals.
Directions: In any sunny location, mix well:
Carefully blend in the Microfauna:
Don't worry if the above seems daunting. It
really isn't as complicated as it sounds.
The good news is that there are excellent organic
amendments available locally that will promote sustainability in your garden.
While organics are of the utmost importance, it is important to understand
that not all organic products contribute to the goal of sustainability.
Many organic products can actually impede plant growth and damage the soil.
Heavily used offenders include wood-based organic amendments, manures and
contaminated water.
Living so close to the ocean has other benefits
besides the surf and sand: the kelp that it produces is probably the best
organic material that you could ever use to amend your soil. It is a main
active ingredient the quality organic matter in the recipe above.
A San Diego based company, The American Kelp
Corporation, has combined science with good old mother nature to develop
an entire menu of organic growing products that will help lead to a sustainable
garden. It doesn't happen over night and it isn't a miracle in a box. But
with some work with the land and using organic materials from The American
Kelp, a sustainable garden is a very achievable goal.
American Kelp sells products that have been
developed with Kelp and Saponin as their main ingredients. As one of the
most nutritious vegetables in the world, ocean kelp is also one of the best
quality organic materials that you could ever add to your soil. Saponin
is an extract of the Yucca plant, which grows and thrives in the desert,
without much water and under the stress of extreme temperatures of both
hot and cold. Saponin has been proven to be a very potent bio-steroid, which
makes plants stronger and more resistant to pests and disease. It also aerates
and opens the soil to allow moisture to be used by the deepest roots.
Both Kelp and Saponin are processed by American
Kelp and made into amendments that can be used to totally re-work a growing
area into sustainability, or to retroactively work on an existing garden
or landscape. American Kelp also manufactures and sells liquid foliars,
which are extract concentrates of kelp and saponin. These foliars have been
used in many different growing applications with great success.
These products and others are now available
at American Kelp's Sustainable Garden Center located at 2118 Imperial Avenue,
just north of the Coronado bridge and across the street from the San Diego
Farmers Market.
One last tip: If you've been having any problems
with insects the past couple of years, you'll probably want to pick up a
bottle or two of the all-natural "Harry's Hot Stuff". This is
totally organic and won't kill the insects, but it does make them mad enough
to leave.
