Comments on: Some interesting reading for your weekend http://fabiusmaximus.wordpress.com/2008/05/04/weekend-6/ A discussion of geopolitics, broadly defined, from an American's perspective. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:52:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: judasnoose http://fabiusmaximus.wordpress.com/2008/05/04/weekend-6/#comment-2398 judasnoose Sun, 04 May 2008 01:01:25 +0000 http://fabiusmaximus.wordpress.com/?p=272#comment-2398 NYT:"Now those gains are threatened in many countries by spot shortages and soaring prices for fertilizer, the most essential ingredient of modern agriculture." My opinion based on my very slight knowledge of permaculture is that the NYT has issued a false statement. Any farmer who has a year to spare can make compost with Stone Age technology. Any farmer who has modern technology can make compost in a matter of days. Chemical fertilizer is far from necessary -- it is pernicious. . . <em>Fabius Maximus replies: I believe you are mis-interpreting the statement in its context. By fertilizer they mean <strong>modern </strong>fertilizer, as used in <strong>modern </strong>agricture. Just as when they speak of an energy shortage, they do mean a lack of mules. . Note this quote from the article: "Ms. Nha’s husband, Le Van Son, remembers villagers’ amazement in the 1990s when they learned that a pound of chemical fertilizer contained more of the major nutrients than 100 pounds of manure." Esp nitrogen.</em> NYT:”Now those gains are threatened in many countries by spot shortages and soaring prices for fertilizer, the most essential ingredient of modern agriculture.”

My opinion based on my very slight knowledge of permaculture is that the NYT has issued a false statement. Any farmer who has a year to spare can make compost with Stone Age technology. Any farmer who has modern technology can make compost in a matter of days. Chemical fertilizer is far from necessary — it is pernicious.
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Fabius Maximus replies: I believe you are mis-interpreting the statement in its context. By fertilizer they mean modern fertilizer, as used in modern agricture. Just as when they speak of an energy shortage, they do mean a lack of mules.
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Note this quote from the article: “Ms. Nha’s husband, Le Van Son, remembers villagers’ amazement in the 1990s when they learned that a pound of chemical fertilizer contained more of the major nutrients than 100 pounds of manure.” Esp nitrogen.

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