FLORIDA’S ALGAl BLOOMS
This problem is the direct result of a failed Agricultural system supporting the use of chemical fertilizers instead of organic fertilizers. After World War ll the Agricultural Department, our Agricultural Universities and a powerful very rich chemical industry sold our country on the merits of using cheap chemical fertilizers. This was one of the worst things that we ever allowed. Not only did we ruin our whole food chain through the use of chemical fertilizers but we reduced the nutrient value of our crops and created an unhealthy situation causing the rise of damaging illnesses and the pollution of our waterways and air. In Florida, soluble chemical fertilizers used by the sugar cane industry have leached into their waterways causing eutrophication. Harmful algae plumes occur when colonies of algae grow out of control. This situation is fueled by nutrient pollution.
Because of soluble phosphate in chemical fertilizers run off pollutes our ponds, lakes and rivers and because of soluble nitrogen nitrates leach into our waterways. . Chemical fertilizers are the fertilizers of choice in most farming communities and for residential lawn application. This has led to ugly algal plumes floating on the water of nearby water sites. Crystal clear water results from Mother Nature filtering the water and tying up the phosphate in the soil and releasing it to the roots of the plant only when the plant needs phosphates. This is Mother Nature’s Way of preserving our environment. Organic fertilizers are the solution to the phosphate and nitrate problem. Organic phosphates get tied up in the soil and released to the plant through a symbiotic relationship with microbes in the soil. Allowing ourselves to follow chemical programs for growing plants is a crime. If we had followed an organic natural approach, we would not continuously face all of these problems.
Most of us do not understand the problems associated with the use of chemical fertilizers. The high salt content in chemical fertilizers kills microbes in the soil. Microbes work for us day and night and are an organic gardener’s best friend. Following a chemical program is the exact opposite to following an organic program. Organic gardening is working with nature and chemical gardening is fighting against it. What happens in a chemical garden is that accelerated growth can take place by responding to the individual needs of differing crops or plants through quick soluble intake of plant nutrients. It’s like feeding drugs to the plants. We have a whole industry of NPK formulas developed for every different plant. N stands for Nitrogen. P stands for phosphorus and K for potassium.
These chemical formulas add accelerated growth to the plant but reduce a plants resistance to insect and disease invasion. Sick plants require synthetic pesticides to be applied to cure the problem. The organic approach is to build up the resistance of the plant by supplying it with the nutrients that it needs. A soil food web develops and sets up a self sustaining system. If we feed the soil the soil, the soil will feed the plant. This is done by the microbes breaking down the organic matter in the soil and releasing it directly through a symbiotic relationship between the microbes in the soil and the roots of the plant. What took place in Florida is that the sugar industry followed the advice of the Agricultural Universities’ recommendations to apply large amounts of chemical fertilizers.
These recommendations are the result of the influence the rich chemical companies have over Agriculture in the United States and in the Universities that teach Agriculture. This is a dangerous path that we as a country are following. Following a chemical program is contributing to global warming. When you garden organically you think of your plants as part of a whole system that starts in the soil and becomes part of your eco system. Organic gardeners relate to the inter relationship between different plants, beneficial insects, earth worms and microbes in the soil, water, soil structure topography and air. Organic gardeners look to nature for answers and learn ways to enhance our soils. The roots of a plant are the strength of a plant.
Some organic gardeners carry this even further. In the 1920s Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian philosopher and author founded the biodynamic method of farming. Biodynamic farmers embraced the holistic view of the farm as a living system. They avoid using synthetic fertilizers and toxic pesticides and herbicides and work to produce strong healthy plants that resist insect and disease invasion. They believe in composting to accelerate nutrients and add compost to the soil. They believe in raised beds, crop rotation and companion planting. They develop special preparations and place importance on timing farming practices to coincide with phases of the moon.
Algae plumes are a common problem outcropping in residential neighborhoods throughout our country where chemical lawn applications are prevalent and in Agriculture communities where chemical applications of fertilizer are recommended. When we kill all the microbes in the soil, we suffer from another problem, dead soil. This is soil that is no longer alive with living organisms and is unable to support plant growth.
Global warming is real. We can all do something about it. It is important to follow an organic approach in your garden. Work with nature not against her. Enhance and support natural principles. We will continue to face problems because we veered away from Nature’s way. I am sure many communities face this same Algae plume problem in their local ponds and lakes. There is no need for this to keep happening. We need to get people to switch to organic fertilizers. We need to create a movement to educate the public about these problems. The fix is an easy one and in my book’ 12 Steps To Natural Gardening’ I address this problem. We create a problem through the use of chemicals and then we try to cure the problem through the use of more chemicals. This is a win win situation for the chemical companies and a losing battle for us in the organic movement.
