As one year winds down, we begin to think about the year that lies ahead—and how we can make things better.
If you are like many people, your New Year’s resolutions may include a promise to start eating healthier. After all, it is one of the most popular resolutions year after year. For many, this means eating less sugar and starch, drinking more water, and adding plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to their daily diet.
But what if the soil could talk? Listen carefully, because chances are that it is saying “Feed me a healthy diet, too!”
Silly? Not at all! Healthy soil is filled with millions of living, breathing microorganisms that also need to eat. These hungry microorganisms compete with plants for essential nutrients and micro nutrients that are derived primarily from the organic matter that they feed upon.
Unfortunately, many soils are seriously depleted for a variety of reasons—ranging from natural conditions to over-farming and/or the application of synthetic fertilizers. The “quick-and-dirty” solution is to feed the plants, but not the soil. That’s what chemical fertilizers do. They deliver nutrients to plants directly but do not improve the overall health of the soil. In the long run, this leads to a breakdown of soil structure resulting in weaker plants, increased risk of disease and, ultimately, soil infertility. The consequences are dire—and unsustainable.
Fortunately, more and more people are awakening to the notion that healthy soil leads to healthy plants and, ultimately, a healthy planet. There are many organic soil amendments to choose from, and naturally we encourage you to read about the benefits of 100% natural Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster which mimics the Earth’s own process for producing healthy soil.
Happy (and healthy) gardening wishes for the New Year!
