Article

2008-01-11 Science & Technology

Forget Global Warming. Soil Erosion is a Bigger Threat!

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Posted by Bobby 2008-01-11 12:15|| || Front Page|| [11 views ] Top

#1 Actually soil erosion is a big concern in the geologic community. And all these wackjobs and their 'organic foods' make it far worse. Organic farming is about 3 times more damaging than normal. Don't EVER mention organic farming around my professors, unless you want a profanity laced lecture;)

Posted by Silentbrick">Silentbrick 2008-01-11 13:09|| 2008-01-11 13:09|| Front Page Top

#2 Why is organic farming more damaging, Silentbrick?

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2008-01-11 13:28|| 2008-01-11 13:28|| Front Page Top

#3 No pesticides mean that in order to get the same yield of traditional farming, you have to plant about 1/3 more crops. Since they don't use 'chemical fertilizers', they have to use manure. This increases the health risk to the public for E. Coli and other diseases and they also leave alot of salts in the soil which then have to be flushed with more water. And since organic pesticides and fungicides are less efficient, you have to use about 7 times as much and those also pose a health risk in and of themselves. And since you have to plant more acres with less hardy types of plants, you have to water more often as well. So they use more land, far more water and have increased risk of disease transfer to humans. Add to that, many of these farms are in water starved areas such as California, the relative amount of resources they are using far exceeds any supposed benefit.

And if you think you're sticking it to big business by buying organic foods, take a close look at who is producing it. It's another cash cow for the big corps, which you know, is just capitalism:)

So if all you are after is the taste difference, try to find the local farmers so you can skip out the long transit times from field to table. Or start your own garden for fresh veggies.

Posted by Silentbrick">Silentbrick 2008-01-11 13:59|| 2008-01-11 13:59|| Front Page Top

#4 Or start your own garden for fresh veggies.

Word!

Google square foot gardening.

Posted by twobyfour 2008-01-11 14:58|| 2008-01-11 14:58|| Front Page Top

#5 Start your own garden for fresh veggies.

What a radical concept man. So simple most people probably missed that one. When I was a kid my mother always had a small garden in the back yard of our suburban house. It made as much as we could consume, and I remember her canning various things besides.

Posted by Bill Phuns5250 2008-01-11 16:01|| 2008-01-11 16:01|| Front Page Top

#6 Victory. Garden.
Google dat.

Posted by eLarson 2008-01-11 16:45|| http://larsonian.blogspot.com]">[http://larsonian.blogspot.com] 2008-01-11 16:45|| Front Page Top

#7 If you're in my neighborhood, stop by for some lemons & satsumas (tangerines) - still a good number on the two trees, so take a sack. All natural, all organic (no fertilizer and no pesticide - don't seem to need it.)

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2008-01-11 17:21|| 2008-01-11 17:21|| Front Page Top

#8 So which is the bigger danger - an atmosphere composed completely of carbon dioxide or the entire planet eroding way? 'Cause I'd hate to waste my time worrying about the wrong thing.

Posted by SteveS 2008-01-11 17:59|| 2008-01-11 17:59|| Front Page Top

#9 Well, if we want to catch up with Volcano's, we'll need to start dumping lots more CO2 into the atmosphere.

Posted by Silentbrick">Silentbrick 2008-01-11 18:10|| 2008-01-11 18:10|| Front Page Top

#10 One of the fastest ways to improve arid, alkaline soil was discovered some years ago: Styrofoam peanuts. When plowed into desert soil, they act as catch basins for water, but don't inhibit drainage.

This allows decomposition fertilizers the moisture to do their job--which otherwise would either run off or drain away. Farmers can use much less water in the process. After a time, the microorganisms tend to acidify the soil.

The peanuts also tend to loosen the soil.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-01-11 18:24|| 2008-01-11 18:24|| Front Page Top

#11 Global warming loses its cachet, and the greenreds already have this one in the chamber.

Gotta admire their organizational skills.

Posted by no mo uro 2008-01-11 22:09|| 2008-01-11 22:09|| Front Page Top

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