I'm really interested in your feedback on this one. This weekend I will present to the nursery and landscape industry at a conference in Texas. My topic is on sustainability, specifically “Is Sustainability Really a Consumer Trend?”
So, without any pretty picture to set the stage, I’m interested in hearing what you have to say on this subject. The big box stores and other retailers have recognized this trend and have positioned their product lines and marketing messages to incorporate sustainability. But what does it really mean? Most importantly, as gardeners and people who care about the environment, what does sustainability mean to you? How do you do your part and what would you like to see retailers, specifically the nursery and landscape industry do to help? I look forward to hearing what you have to say and passing on some of your points during my presentation. Thanks.
JL
About Joe Lamp'l
Joe Lamp'l is the Host and Executive Producer of the award winning PBS television series Growing A Greener World. Off camera, Joe dedicates his time to promoting sustainability through his popular books, blog, podcast series, and nationally syndicated newspaper columns. Follow Joe on Twitter
This is sustainable gardening.
General Theory of Phylogenic Transfiguration
The General Theory of Phylogenic Transfiguration is a fundamental description of how the multiple species of plants, animals, microbes, viruses and yet to be named life forms interact as a unified, data driven, interactable biosystem. A simple example of how “let your food be your medicine” can work from the perspective of Phylogenics.
The use of urine in growing bioactive food
Urine has been used for thousands of years to naturally fertilize gardens growing the entire spectrum of vegetables, greens and herbs. The value of urine as a totally organic source of nitrogen, potassium and phosphate has been known and documented by scientist and farmers alike the world over.
The use of urine as territorial markers by animals great and small is common knowledge and has been documented to contain much more information than just, “hey I was here or this is my spot”. Information about an animal’s health, state of fertility, potential genetic interest and other information necessary for survival.
Urine has been used for medical purposes for thousands of years and is still considered effective.
What has not been known and understood is the role one’s urine could play in the growth and cultivation of food and herbs with unique bioactive properties and nutrients, designed specifically for an individual person, based in part on biological, metabolic and systemic information, contained in the individual’s urine and absorbed, processed and used by the plants to produce food tailored for one person. This food would contain all of the normal nutrients, in just the right proportions in addition to special biologics customized to counteract imbalances detected in the urine key. Urine contains all of the data, in just the right format, to trigger the whole ecosystem to produce the appropriate resources to grow, restore and change. In plain words everyone must grow their own food to have the access to the primordial fountain of youth.
This concept implies the existence of a systemic, biological feed back system that is the basis of healing, growing and a bold step beyond evolution itself. Mankind is part of a larger, interlinked world that includes diverse forms of life acting in concert, according to information and directions formulated by our thought and transmitted by our way of life. Self-healing thru the death rebirth cycle of creation; initiated and maintained by conscious thought is a paradigm shift with more real, potential life enhancing power than all of the accumulated achievements of science and industry combined even if multiplied by the collective promises of all the visionaries, mystics, dreamers, poets, prophets here to for, all of that falls short of the reality of life, eternal health … all part of the plan …
There ain’t nothing like the real thing …..
Hi Steven and thanks for your comments. IPM is a term that I used to have to explain to most people. Now thanks to many people like you that are practicing this method of stewardship in in your gardens, the term has become much more familiar to many people, and a concept that is not only easy to understand, but simple to adopt. I think once a gardener truely practices IPM, the need to use pesticides and synthetic fertilizers pretty much goes away.
Rainwater harvesting is another practice you are employing that is catching on rapidly and I’m thankful for that.
Keep up the good work!
JL
Sustainability… for my wife and I we like to use the concepts of (1)Integrated Pest Management in our home garden and yard.
See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVHybK8LmDw
Along with the use of (2)compost that we make on site, the construction and use of (3)rain barrels for watering our vegetable / flower gardens, and (4) working our way to fulfill the requirements for the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program, a University of Florida Extension program,to make our yard Florida Friendly.