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The average farmer and even large scale gardener in the US spends a great deal on fertilizers and fertility aids to gain a good yield on their efforts.  Due to modern chemistry mankind was gifted or cursed depending on how you look at it, by learning two things…

1.  Plants can grow and be productive with only three primary nutrients (NPK)
2.  We can make NPK cheaply from industrial processes

This is what led to the “green revolution” credited today with feeding the planet with almost 8 billion people on it.  I want to point out before turning the corner that this isn’t all wrong.  In fact it is how we fed people with enough consistency to grow global population from about 2.5 Billion in 1950 to 7.7 billion today.

There are four primary problems that have come from this though…

1.  Chemical fertilizer was the first step in the “biocide cocktails” we have today
2.  The use of NPK as primary fertility has lead to biologically dead soils
3.  The cost of NPK continues to increase and drive up production costs of food
4.  The use of excessive amounts of NPK (necessary to gain yields) creates massive toxic run off

In short the entire thing is an ecological disaster and a human health disaster at the same time.  Our food supply is threatened with collapse, our nutrient density in our food (including organic) is crap compared to a century ago and we are destroying the productive capacity of our most arable lands.

If you are going to grow your own food or have a market garden or small farm this is not the model you want to follow.  It is unsustainable, expensive and produces a second rate quality product.  The good news is you likely have all the fertility you need already and you need living soils far more so than you need NPK.  Today we talk about harvesting waste streams and function stacking on the homestead in a way that will make your land more fertile every year and allow you to rely less and less on expensive outside inputs over time.

Join Me Today to Discuss…

• Fertility is far more about life in the soil vs. raw NPK and other nutrient amounts
• If a key nutrient is totally lacking though it still will require amending
• Remember one of my earliest permaculture principles “the forest floor is a lake”
• We need to remember we can literally grow fertility
  • Cover crops
  • Azolla and other aquatic plants
• Composting methods with a bit of commentary on each
  • Remember, “perfect is the enemy of the done”
  • Large pile and frequent turning (Berkley Method 18-21 days)
  • Johnson-Su and other no turn methods
  • Forced air zero turn methods
  • Black solider fly composting
  • Vermicompost
• Sources or waste
  • Bedding (coop, barn, caged animals, etc.)
  • Kitchen scraps
  • Prunings, weeds, etc (greens)
  • Wood chips, straw, etc. (browns)
  • Human urine (one person equals 300sf of Nitrogen per year)
• Keys to growing soil life long term
  • Build, hold and increase (the base formula for all soil management)
  • Compost teas
  • High fungal compost
  • IMO (it can be really simple some times)
  • No to minimal tilling
  • Constantly increase carbon content of soils
  • Keep soil covered (dark, cool/warm, moist)
• Key amendments that really get you started right
  • Inoculated biochar
  • Mycorrhizal fungi – Brand I am Using Now
  • A good organic fertilizer like Dr. Earth or similar – Dr. Earth 4-4-4 (MSB gets 10% off direct purchases at Dr. Earth’s Website)
  • A good beneficial bacterial/fungal amendment – (Happy Frog Cavern Culture is outstanding)
  • Kelp meal and/or liquid kelp (GS Plant Foods Liquid – Kelp Meal)
  • Green sand, rock minerals, etc.
  • Specific nutrient if deficiency is evident, most common are
    • Cal-Mag
    • Zinc-Iron
• Final Thoughts – what ever you do personally create an integrated approach (self automation)

Resources for today’s show

• Follow Life With Jack on Instagram
• Join the Members Brigade
• Join Our Forum
• Walking To Freedom
• TspAz.com
• TSPC on Discord
• TSPC Group on Telegram (group chat)
• TSPC Telegram Channel (just messages from me)
• Jack on MeWe
• Join Me on Odysee
• All My Bitcoin Tools in One Place
• How to Self Custody Your Bitcoin

Sponsor of the Day…

• JM Bullion – Stack Silver with Free Shipping
• Bulk Ammo – Get Your Ammo in Bulk, Fast.
• The Self Reliance Festival in Camden TN
• Paul Wheaton’s Newest Super Awesome KickStarter
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• Redneck Hippy Duck Farmer T-Shirts at TspSwag.com
• The Urban Worm Bag Composting Bin – Item of the Day
• Flat Bottom Reusable Grocery Bags – Item of the Day

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