RE: Organic Fertilizers

**"* B* <j*@starband.net>**

I agree with Fran, this discussion should stay on list for the most
part.  Doreen, you raise a sensitive issue for some of us.  Having been
a Rodale groupie for many years, it took awhile for me to get to my
current stand on organic fertilizers.  I think truly 100% organic
fertilizers are important only for vegetable gardens.  On flower
gardens, trees, shrubs, and lawns I use what are called "bridge"
fertilizers.  These are mostly organic but have bit of quick acting
nitrogen to get the system going.  On lawns we use a regional fertilizer
sold by a friend.  It is called Turf Nurture and I think is unique in
the country in terms of its contents and value to a lawn.  It is about
80% slow release organic granules with 20% urea for a quick green up.
The slow release materials last for 12 to 14 weeks.  What is special
about this stuff is that there are two additional features - a seaweed
package and a microbial package.  The seaweed powder gives off all the
values of seaweed in terms of humic acids and all those wonderful
vitamins.  The soil microbe package includes beneficial soil bacteria
and fungi, which do wonderful things in terms on long term improvement
of the soil, similar to bioactivated compost tea in function.  Nancy and
I use Turf Nurture for everything but vegetables, and if push comes to
shove I'd have to confess I've slipped a bit into my vegetable garden in
the spring.  I know that some folks are absolute purists and will
tolerate nothing but organics in their fertilizers and that is fine.
For most people who care about the environment and their impact on the
environment, I think the bridge products are reasonable choices if not
over used.  
I await the slings and arrows.

Jeff Ball

-----Original Message-----
From: gardenwriters-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[g*@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Doreen
Howard
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 8:27 PM
To: gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org; gardenwriters-on-gardening
Subject: [GWL] Organic Fertilizers

Do any of you use organic fertilizers exclusively to grow crops?  If so,
I'd 
like to hear about your experiences, learn which commercial fertilizers
you 
favor and what works best for you.  This is for an article I'm writing
on 
the best way to feed your garden.  Please contact me offlist to keep the

chatter down.
Doreen Howard
gardendiva@charter.net

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