Soil is the basis not only for all gardening, but
for all terrestrial life. No aspect of agriculture is
more fundamental and important, yet we have been losing
vast quantities of our finite soil resources to erosion,
pollution, and development. Now back in print, this
eminently sensible and wonderfully well-focused book
provides essential information about one of the most
significant challenges for those attempting to grow
delicious organic vegetables: the creation and
maintenance of healthy soil. Chapter 2, "Understanding
the Soil System," is alone worth the price of admission.
Gershuny and Smillie give lay readers and experts a
clear explanation of subjects--soil life and nutrient
cycles--that have confounded most authors. Nowhere will
the reader find simpler and more coherent descriptions
of key concepts including cation exchange capacity and
chelation. There are other books about soil available,
including Grace Gershuny's comprehensive Start with the
Soil, and there are books that feature chapters on soil
building. What distinguishes The Soil of Soilis the
authors' concise presentation; they give readers
important information, including technical essentials,
without getting bogged down in scientific or
quasiscientific mumbo-jumbo. In addition, useful tables
list specific compost materials, green manures, and
other resources that allow growers to translate into
action the more general information provided by the
book. The soil-building techniques featured include:
Organic matter management Building and maintaining humus
On-site composting Green manures and rotations
Cultivation and weed control Nutrient balances and soil
testing Using mineral fertilizers Planning for organic
certification Updates to the 1999 edition include
analysis of Proposed Rules for the National Organic
Standards, and expanded recommendations for private
testing services and soil-testing equipment for home
gardeners and organic farmers. All of us involved in the
cultivation of plants--from the backyard gardener to the
largest farmer--need to help regenerate a "living soil,"
for only in the diversity of the soil and its creatures
can we ensure the long-term health of ourselves and our
environment. The Soul of Soil offers everyone a basic
understanding of what soil is and what we can do to
improve our own patch of it. Seen in this light, this
practical handbook will be an inspiration as well.
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