The next principle we want to cover is to avoid applying synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, and other chemicals. These include a wide range of products, but all are inputs aimed at ‘fixing’ problems that result from unhealthy soils and the methods that contribute to these. Getting back to our wild area, how do the plants there get the nutrients they need, how do they fight off pests, how do they guard themselves against diseases? And what makes them resilient to periods of drought or flooding?
As we’ve covered in module 3, giving plants ‘fast food’ in the form of synthetic fertilisers discourages plants from nurturing their underground social network. This leads to depletion of soil microorganisms in the root zones of the plants. It isolates plants, making them dependent on human intervention to keep them alive.
If we instead avoid using synthetic fertilisers, we can support plants’ relationships with soil microorganisms. Through excess photosynthesis, and supplying microorganisms with sugars, the plants can in return get the nutrients, water and protection they need, while building top soil through carbon sequestration.
The same goes for pesticides and other chemicals. When we apply these, we also isolate plants by killing off their social network in the soil, and in doing this we are weakening plants and making them more vulnerable to pests and diseases.
So if we can avoid these, we can yet again encourage soil health with all the benefits that come with this. In the process, we can avoid chemical exposure to ourselves and the myriad of creatures big and small that we exist together with. We can also avoid contributing to pollution of waterways as well as the carbon emissions associated with synthetic fertilisers.