Organic Solutions offer a Bright Future
Over the course of the last century, the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers has increased crop yields, greened our grass and boosted the size of our blossoms significantly. Along the way the environment has paid a heavy price, and, in addition, residues from these harmful chemicals have also had many detrimental effects on the health of consumers.

Since 1962, when Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring" first exposed the hazards of DDT, science has uncovered startling information on the dangers chemical/synthetic fertilizers and pesticides pose to humans, animals and the environment.

Decades of excessive use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers have taken their toll. Following are some facts on the state of the Earth's soil:

• Only 16% of the Earth's farmland is free of fertility problems, or "constraints", such as chemical contamination, acidity, salinity or poor drainage.
• In parts of Asia, as little as 6% of farmland is free of such problems. North America has the largest share of the best land at 29%.
• The agricultural industry has been relatively successful at feeding the world. It has been somewhat less successful in nurturing the natural resources that underpin its production capacity.
• On 17% of the farmland worldwide, aluminium contamination is high enough to be considered toxic to plants.
• Salt deposits are a significant problem on irrigated land. Nearly 4 million acres of farmland is lost to excessive salt every year, roughly 1% of irrigated areas worldwide.
• There has been a substantial decline in both Rhizobia bacteria, which live in nodules on the roots of legumes and fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, and the Mycorrhizae, small fungi which penetrate plant roots and allow nutrients to be transferred directly from the soil into the plant's root system.
• Depletion of organic matter in soil is also widespread, reducing fertility and moisture retention while increasing emissions of carbon dioxide into the air - a suspected contributor to global warming.
• Chemical fertilizers are not effective unless sufficient organic matter remains in the ground.

Organic Solutions
The horticultural market in Canada is huge, and at present, large companies whose focus is not on organic products currently control this market. Ultimately, though, it's up to gardeners to reduce the usage of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides by buying less, encouraging the horticulture industry to find better methods, pressing governments to legislate change and by supporting organic food production.

The benefits of organic choices are many. Here are a few:

• Safe for you and your family:
  The use of organic material can be much safer for you and your family, giving you peace of mind as your pets and children enjoy the nature in your backyard without being exposed to potentially harmful chemicals.
• Increasing organic matter in the soil:
  By using organic fertilizers you are working with the ancient process of decomposing all living material to be used by future generations. Building this organic matter in the soil of your garden is building valuable topsoil which can lead to reduced erosion and better water retention during periods of drought. This rich layer of soil is what feeds nearly all plants on this planet.
• Keeping ground water clean:
  The use of organic fertilizers in your garden can also keep your local streams and storm drains healthy. Not only is organic material naturally occurring and biodegradable but it generally tends to "stick" in your soil ensuring that it is there for your plants and not starting algae blooms in your creek like runoff from synthetic fertilizer use.
• Your plants can pick and choose:
  Because the natural compounds within organic fertilizers nutrients are suspended in the soil while microorganisms break them down. After the organic material is broken down plant roots will draw in what they need unlike synthetics which generally come in forms that must be converted by the plant and can overwhelm your garden creating a toxic salt build up and run off into the local storm drains causing problems in local waterways.
• Increasing flora and fauna in your garden:
  As organic material is broken down it feeds the soil and then the plant. During this process you are encouraging billions of beneficial microbes into your garden to help your soil and your plants become as healthy as possible. By increasing the amount and type of microorganisms you encourage other large species, from worms to birds. More fauna in your garden increases the variety and quantity of by-products and with it the quality of your soil. Remember if you want to have robins you must have worms!
• Healthier plants:
  Studies in Europe, Canada and the U.S. now show that plants grown in an organic garden are and can be more resistant to pests and disease than those grown in soil burned by chemicals and kept alive with various poisonous sprays. Organic produce studies are now also showing more diverse nutrient levels, increased vitamins and other compounds and potentially longer shelf life.
• Naturalized gardens help the planet:
  Healthier soils will retain more water and release it more slowly to ensure that major run off and erosion is avoided. Also healthier plantings can take in more carbon dioxide than other gardens reducing the level of greenhouse gases on a micro- environmental level helping in our worldwide issue.

If you have any questions, please email Simon Hart, Senior Technical Adviser at Greenstar Plant Product.