It is safe to say that, once upon a time, your soil was clean, healthy, and full of beneficial microorganisms, which were doing their job of converting raw minerals to chelated minerals. Keep in mind that your plants, whatever they may be, can only utilize chelated minerals. (Chelated minerals are created by the microorganisms in your soil chemically converting raw minerals, such as rock, to a form that your plants can absorb through their roots.)

When the original planter put in his crop, be it blue grass, corn, tomatoes, wheat, or orchids, the crop grew perfectly. As time passed, the plants began to appear yellow, or maybe the yields dropped a little. This unknown problem was presented to the local University, Extension agent, or fertilizer salesman. Almost without exception, the "expert" suggested that you apply some form of commercial fertilizer. Following his advice, your plants greened up, or the yield actually increased. You felt that you had cured your problem. And the villagers rejoiced! !

When the next growing season arrived, you felt you were armed with the correct knowledge to prevent your plants from falling into that "less than perfect" condition. You were hooked on commercial fertilizer, because it cured your growing problems. So, either before or after planting, you applied the recommended amounts of N-P-K (being nitrogen, phosphorus, and ~- potash). And the villagers rejoiced!!

Everything progressed along perfectly, until you began to notice that you needed more and more N-P-K to do the same job as several years prior. Not wanting to allow your plants to slow down, you applied the additional required amounts. And the villagers rejoiced! !

After several increases of N-P-K, your plants appear healthy, yet you now begin to notice an invasion of insects. As your plants begin to be "eaten alive," you search for help from the same local University, Extension agent, or fertilizer salesman. Again, without exception, the "expert" suggests that you apply some form of commercial insecticide. Armed with sprayer, or spreader, you attack the invading insects with commercial insecticides, wiping out the invaders. And the villagers rejoiced! !

The next season arrives, and you are equipped to protect, and care for your plants, with various commercial fertilizers (in ever increasing amounts) and commercial insecticides. It appears that you are doing a fine job of caring for your plants, as you have done as the "experts" told you. And the villagers rejoiced!!

Over a period of several growing seasons, you begin to notice that your standard insecticide is not killing the invaders as well as it used to. Now, you think, the "experts" have been correct so far, so they MUST know what to do about the problem" They WILL, as they are being bombarded with the same problems from other growers, like yourself. They recommend a stronger insecticide, which you find works wonderfully. The "experts" saved you again. Boy, are they smart, or what? And the villagers rejoiced! !

What you have failed to realize is that, as the insects acquired immunity to your standard insecticide, you began to use more powerful "poisons" to stop them. These "poisons" progressively became so potent, that they began to kill the applicator. The "experts" decided to ignore this information, as they did not want to appear to be giving bad advice. Anyway, what's the loss of a few people, if that insecticide was successful in wiping out the insect problem? As long as no one knew that these chemicals would kill you, everyone was happy!

You can now see the beginning of the vicious cycle, that being that you needed to apply more and more commercial fertilizers to keep your plants growing at the same rate as previous seasons. With more and more commercial fertilizers, you acquired an ever-growing problem with insects. This resulted in the use of stronger and stronger insecticides. Insects and people died as a result of the stronger insecticides. As long as you didn't know the latter fact, everyone was happy!

Suddenly, you discover that you have a tremendous problem with weeds that appear to be harming your plants. Back to the "experts" for more "advice." The all-knowing and all-seeing "experts" tell you about something to help you eliminate, or at least control, those pesky weeds. It's call herbicides! Hence, the day of  "instant" weed control was born. "This herbicide will cure all your weed problems for the entire growing season.” claimed the "experts." So, off you go, herbicide in hand, to cure another problem. The "experts" were right again! Herbicide applied, the weeds magically vanished. The only problem you could see was that it now required a little more - N-P-K to get the same results as before. You think, "It's a small price to pay." So, you apply more N-P-K. And the villagers rejoiced!!

Everything goes perfectly for a while, and then you discover that your weeds start to reappear. Your favorite herbicide is not working as well as it should. Now, you think, the "experts" have been correct so far, so they MUST know what to do about the problem. They WILL, as they are being bombarded with the same problems from other growers, like yourself. They recommend a stronger herbicide, which you find works wonderfully. The "experts" saved you again. Boy, are they smart, or what? And the villagers rejoiced! !

As the use of ever increasing strengths of herbicides and insecticides seem to reduce your plant quality, you automatically apply more N-P-K. The additional N-P-K seems to cure the lack of plant quality and vigor. And the villagers rejoiced! !

This constant use of stronger chemicals and additional N-P-K do not appear to harm your soil. Everything looks good! As suddenly as your weed problem appeared, you start to have problems with fungi in your soil and on yow. plants. Plants seem to be extremely susceptible to the fungus damage, which appears to reduce your plants ability to grow properly. Habit dictates that you consult with the "experts." Relief fills your mind when you are informed of a great product - that can, and will, control you fungi problems. It is called "fungicides". So, off you go, fungicides in hand, to cure another problem. The "experts" were right again! Fungicides applied, the fungi magically vanished. The only problem you could see was that it now required a little more N-P-K to get the same results as before. You think, "It's a small price to pay." So, you apply more N-P- K. And the villagers rejoiced! !

As with the use of the other products, your success with these fungicides seems to fade with time. Soon, your are forced to change to another brand or type of fungicide, to maintain proper control of the fungi. The same way your insects developed immunity to your original insecticide, and your weeds developed immunity to your herbicides, your fungi will also develop a resistance to your fungicide. You are forced to use ever-increasing amounts of stronger chemicals to defeat your problems.

Do you see the vicious cycle you have unknowingly fallen into? One chemical causes a reduction in effectiveness in another, and that chemical causes a reduction in another. So it goes, throughout the cycle. The question that none of the "experts" will ever answer (at least in a truthful manner) is why this progression of diminished effectiveness happens. "They" explain that the problem, whatever it happens to be, has developed a resistance to the chemical. This explanation is partially correct! The other part of the answer is what you really need to know!

To this point, we have only discussed the effects of the various chemicals on your plants. Nothing has been stated about the effects of the chemicals on your soil, which affects your plants more than you will ever know!

We need to start back at the point-in-time when your soil was clean (chemical-free) and healthy. Nature has created a complete recycling program for the soil, being that nothing is ever destroyed, it is only changed in a manner that makes the soil better or healthier. At the very least, nature has established that program to maintain soil health and vigor, never to allow it to become run-down or depleted.

The most important element in healthy soil is the microorganism. Microorganisms have a variety of functions that are so important, that the soil, and subsequently, your plants, cannot survive without. The most important is the microorganism that is in charge of converting raw minerals (rock) into chelated minerals. This job is vital, because your plants cannot make use of raw minerals! Microorganisms are both good and bad, depending on how we view them. Our. Perspective of them can be somewhat confusing. A microorganism that causes organic matter in the soil to decompose is viewed as good, but when that same microorganism causes our food to spoil, we look for ways to kill it, as it is now bad.

Wait a minute! Isn't that same microorganism doing the job it was intended to do, irregardless of the location? Sure it is! But we don't like it if it causes us any inconvenience. Some might say that microorganisms should only be where we want them! Do you have any idea of the results of killing off the necessary microorganisms in the soil? Probably not, because if you did, you would have to completely rearrange your way of thinking. The "experts" would not like that!

 Let's go back to the first paragraph, when we mentioned that we started out with clean, healthy soil, before we ever fertilized it. At that stage, our soil was alive with what is known as aerobic action. That is a state of condition where the soil is perfectly balanced. Plants grow; produce fruit, flowers, whatever, and die, to go back to the soil, replacing minerals that the plant originally used to grow itself in the first place. The decomposing plant helps hold moisture next to, or in, the soil. Microorganisms decompose the dead plants, allowing elements of that plant to go back to the soil, as food for the next generation. Earthworms eat the dead plant, grinding it into the finest material, adding to it minerals that come from the sand that it uses to grind that plant up with. Hence, the earthworm performs an invaluable service, that being the creation of some of the finest, mineral rich black soil available. How do we repay the earthworm? We apply huge amounts of insecticides, attempting to protect out plants from the insects above, which eventually finds its way to the soil and kills it. Some thanks, isn't it?

We treat our necessary microorganisms even worse than that. Remember the first time we fertilized our plants and we were rewarded with record growth and/or yield? In most, if not all N- P-K formulas, N (nitrogen) is derived from what is called "sodium-nitrate." On its face, this  sounds harmless enough, but what is it? "Sodium-nitrate" contains "salt”! Look at its name! Is there anyone who does not understand the term "sodium?" What happens to your body if you consume too much salt'? High blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks'? Sure! Couple those medical problems with various other problems, less severe in themselves, but deadly in combination, such as colds, flu, etc., etc. Now, imagine, if you can, how your plants are doing in soil that eventually becomes saturated with sodium? Would it be safe to say that your plants might become. Stressed do to poor soil conditions'? OK! I'll say it! "You plants will become stressed because of poor soils conditions, as a result of repeated use of "sodium-nitrate" based commercial fluidizers!" If you think I make this statement based on the excess sodium content alone, you are wrong! Other, more serious consequences are as-of-yet unexplained!

You need to be made aware of the effects of " sodium-nitrate " on our necessary micro- organisms. The "experts" would have you believe that "sodium-nitrate" does not affect the overall condition of your soil, but this is not true. Remember when we spoke of our "perspective" of the micro-organisms, being both good and bad, depending totally on their location'? To explain this, in a manner where you can grasp the significant impact, is somewhat challenging, so please bare with me.

The same, or similar, microorganism that decomposes matter back into the soil, causes our meats to spoil. Spoilage is nothing more than Nature trying to put back to the soil what was removed. One of the most common ingredients used (and over-used) to prevent spoilage in our pre-processed meats (to name only one item) is "sodium-nitrite." Check any label on a package of pre-processed meat or on a ham. "Sodium-nitrite" will be listed as; I) a "preservative", and 2) as a "flavor enhancer." I do not know if it "enhances" the flavor, but I do know it prevents spoilage, which can be attested to by the fact that most lunch-meats will still not spoil long after the "sell by" date has expired. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that "sodium-nitrite" is doing a great job here.

I wanted to know what the difference was between "sodium-nitrite" and "sodium-nitrite" was, as one was touted to be a perfect sterilizer and the other was supposed to be good for your plants. As luck would have it, I happened across a science book from the college across the street. With assistance from an astute college student, we arrived at the fact there was only one molecule difference between the two, and that was an "oxygen" molecule. My first question was: "If one is a sterilizer of micro-organisms and there is only an "oxygen" molecule difference between them, wouldn't it make the other a sterilizer also?" My quest for an answer to that question, as posed to the "experts" has resulted in absolutely no response. Either they (the "experts") do not know how to answer the question, or they do not want me to know the answer, so I can pass it along to you.

Either way, I would be safe in saying that both "sodium-nitrite" and "sodium-nitrate" are effective killers of all microorganisms that they may come in contact with. (Side Note: As our system relies on "flora" or microorganisms to process our food through the stomach and - intestines, would "sodium-nitrite" cause adverse effects of the microorganism population within our bodies? Just some food for thought.)

If you need to further confirm this theory, check out different places in your soil, to see if you have any sort of life, like earthworms, etc. If you find none, your soil is probably sterilized. How can you tell if your soil is void of microorganisms? If it is hard, doesn't allow water to soak into it very well, has a white powdery tint to it, or if last years plants fail to decompose in the soil. If you raise plants indoors, and the soil turns into a rock, after you have fertilized for a period of time, it is safe to say that your potting soil has become so bound up with salt, that the soil cannot soak up any water. It is obvious that your plant is soon destined for that great greenhouse in the sky. These are only a few of the indicators of sterilized soil. We will examine a more thorough means of sterilization of you soil shortly.

Getting back to that clean soil, remember, when it was fertilized for the first time? Would we be safe in saying that we have effectively reduced our microorganism population? I think it is safe to say! Just for working numbers, let us say that we terminated 25% of our good micro- organisms, those responsible for converting raw mineral to chelated mineral. We're not in bad -- shape right now, as we still have 75% doing their job, and the plants seem to love the nitrates. Plant growth is wonderful. Those nitrates must be ok! The plants don't seem to be showing signs of stress. No insects visible! No excess, or unusual number of weeds. Everything is fine!

Year 2: Another healthy shot of fertilizer is applied. Again, for working numbers, let us say that we have now eliminated 50% of our good microorganisms, those responsible for converting raw mineral to chelated mineral. We're not in bad shape right now, as we still have 50% doing their job, and the plants seem to love the nitrates. Plant growth is wonderful. Those nitrates must be ok! The plants don't seem to be showing signs of stress. No insects visible! No excess, or unusual number of weeds. Everything is fine, or at least it appears fine!

Year 3: Another healthy shot of fertilizer is applied. Again, for working numbers, let us say that we have now eliminated 75% of our good microorganisms, those responsible for converting raw mineral to chelated mineral. The plants seem to be doing good, but not as well as last year. Could it be that the plants have used up the majority of the available chelated minerals, and are now having to depend more on the N-P-K that we are giving them? With the population of the good microorganisms down to 25%, less of its normal food is made available to the plant. It seems that the plants are beginning to be eaten by insects.

Year 4: Because of last years results, we apply more N-P-K than we did last year. Now the plants seem better. With the application of additional N-P-K, we have increased the amount of "sodium-nitrate" which will further decimate our good microorganisms, maybe now having eliminated them completely. Unbeknownst to us, our plants are now entirely dependent on the N- P-K that we have been giving them. Sodium builds up around the root zone, and coupled with the elimination of chelated minerals to aid the plant in healthy growth, the plants start to show signs of stress. Insects seem to have invaded our plants. The recommended control is an insecticide. Once applied, the insects are dead. What is to become of the residue of the insecticide? It will wash to the soil! Oh well! It will disappear into the soil. What we fail to consider is that as that insecticide washes to the soil, we are making the soil toxic. We have 4 years of sodium and nitrates accumulated, now we add insecticides. Does that equal "poison soil'?"

Year 5: Because of last years results, we again apply more N-P-K than we did last year. Now the plants seem better. With the application of additional N-P-K, we have increased the amount of "~odium-nitrate" which will completely decimate our good microorganisms. Our plants are now entirely dependent on the N-P-K that we have been giving them. Sodium continues to. Build up around the root zone, and ~coupled with the elimination of chelated minerals to aid the plant ill healthy growth, the plants continue to show signs of severe stress. Insects have really invaded our plants. The recommended control was an insecticide. This year the insects do not all die from the insecticide. We will need a stronger insecticide to kill all the insects, or at least more applications of the same stuff. What is to become of the residue of the additional insecticide? It will also wash to the soil! Oh well! It will disappear into the soil. What we fail to consider is that as that additional insecticide washes to the soil, we are making the soil more toxic. We have 5 years of - sodium and nitrates accumulated, now we add additional insecticides. Does that equal "poison soil?" Probably, but we are not done yet!

Year 6: Now we need more N-P-K than ever before. Insects are immune to insecticide, so we use another chemical with more knockdown power. It's ten times stronger than last years stuff. Works great! Plants protected and fed. Have discovered an ever-increasing problem with noxious weeds. A good herbicide will take care of that problem. Would you care to guess where all these chemicals are going to end up? In the soil, Right? We are placing ever-increasing amounts of chemicals, that kill, into the soil. Is it any wonder that the soil is becoming more toxic each year? If a chemical is strong enough to kill above ground, wouldn't it be strong enough to kill below ground? We're not done yet!

Year 7: To get plants to grow, we continue our escalating amounts of N-P- K, insecticides, and herbicides. As if out of nowhere, we develop a problem with fungi. It seems to grow in the soil and then spreads to our plants. Even air-borne fungi attack our plants. Never fear, for there are numerous fungicides to save the day. Apply them fast, and often, and your problems are cured! Maybe not! Where do these fungi come from? Most are air-borne, looking for a place to land and grow. Fungi usually need some soil of matter to live in, such as last years plants that have failed to ~~ decompose. What caused last years plants to fail to decompose'? Maybe it was the lack of any microorganisms that would normally do the job. This must mean that we have successfully killed off all, or at least the majority, of those very necessary microorganisms! These are the same microorganisms that are responsible for cleaning up the toxic compounds that you put on your soil in the first place. If they are not there to do that job, is there any wonder that your soil will continue. to build up toxic levels, until it will not grow anything of value.

Welcome to today! Your fields, your yards, your gardens, have all reached a point where they are capable of poisoning you with their toxins. There is nothing to clean them up! We have eliminated the microorganisms that are our saving grace. It is never too late. Your soil, and your plants, can be brought back to perfect health, but you must make a concerted effort to achieve the balance that your soil once maintained by itself. Clean soil will reward you with plant growth that is declared "amazing" or a "miracle."

What are the benefits of clean soil? Let's look at plants grown in clean soil in relation to insects. Plants grown in clean soil are less subject to invasion by insects. The reason is not what you think. Insects were created to do a job. Not unlike the animal kingdom, where only the strongest survive to carry on the species, insects were instructed to go forth and eliminate any of the weakest species of plants, so as to avoid the species from being degraded by weak and unhealthy plants. The operative words here are " weak and unhealthy plants! "These less than- healthy plants send out a signal, like a wounded rabbit, that they are sick. Insects pickup on that signal, and have been known to travel for miles to seek out a particular plant, or field of plants. Their goal is to destroy the weak, or sick, plants. WE, in our infinite wisdom, use additional chemicals to attempt to kill these invading insects. Their response it to simply, through rapid generational changes, become immune to the chemical, allowing them to do their intended job. Hence, the vicious cycle continues, and we are the only losers! If we were to make all soil perfectly healthy again, insects would die by the billions, leaving only a few to guard the surface of the earth against plants with truly bad genes, that cannot be allowed to continue, only to threaten the best and strongest. Let's look at it this way: As long as there are millions and millions of acres of toxic soil growing stressed and sick plants, we will continue to be plagued with the "destructive insect" which is only doing its job.

Let's look at the "noxious weed" growth in relation to healthy soil. Picking out token weeds for this examination, every city dweller has declared the dandelion to be the worst weed in. the world, while the farmer will name, amongst several, the red-stemmed pigweed. We all know that these weeds run amuck if not controlled by anyone of several methods. There is the misguided conception that dandelions grow wherever they like. This is not true, and I can prove it. Take a drive out into the countryside, and examine a pasture or any grassland. If it has never been fertilized or sprayed with any herbicide (poisoned in other words), you will not find a single yellow flower of the dandelion present. Why? Because, the dandelion can only make its home - where the soil is properly toxic to allow growth. Think about it for a minute! Allowing for the wind carrying chemicals to every lawn in a town, the dandelion can make itself at home anywhere there has been chemicals sprayed. Yet, that pasture or valley that has never been chemicalized has not a single dandelion, except for right along the roadway, where the government employees might have sprayed, or where oil might have accumulated in the soil. As for the red-stemmed pigweed, check out those same pastures and valleys. If the premise that they can live anywhere was true, wouldn't those pastures and valleys be overgrown with the red-stemmed pigweed? Sure they would, but they're NOT! WHY? The red-stemmed pigweed, like the dandelion, seeks out contaminated soil. Maybe it is a case of Nature establishing guidelines for certain weeds to grow in specific places, to do a job that was intended. Then, might we assume that theses "noxious weeds" are, like the insects, trying to do a job, that we are only making worse, by continuing to apply more toxic chemicals, in a futile attempt to defeat them?

You, and only you, can clean up your soil. Mineralization is the key to regaining you soil's health. It is easier than you think. If interested, contact me for more information on how to acquire a clean and safe soil for yourself and your plants, whatever they are!

© Copyright Ed Pickens 2006. All rights reserved.