by Gordon Petschow, Midwest Environmental Consultants
In today’s modern world, the philosophy of lawn care and gardening is quick results at the least possible costs for the greatest yields. These expectations are not un-realistic, but perhaps if we can make an effort to understand that soils and nature’s disciplines are forgiving but firm and unchangeable in its established procedures. To be successful, it is advisable to stay within the inherent boundaries of nature’s principles. Nature’s workings are complex and interactive, but it becomes clearly focused when we garden, practice lawn care, or grow crops. It’s at this point we understand its workings, procedures, and limitations. To be more specific, we must discuss in an itemized fashion these procedures.
1. Land ethics: By definition, land ethics is being willing to respect, accept, understand, and appreciate the land and soil we work; regardless of our desires or our vote to change the landscape and land use. To monocrop, erode, toxify, or demineralize the land with chemicals and incomplete fertilizers is classified as surface, short-term use of the land or mining the soil. Yes, it is easier to spray weeds with chemicals than to cultivate, but we transfer our savings on labor and materials costs to medical or environmental costs at some future date. When we realize that our living environment has degraded to a point we can no longer ignore the reality, we then take action at higher dramatic costs. To use the land and change the landscape, it’s advisable to know nature, its procedures, and the soil that is going to be altered before we start. Yes, income can be made in short order temporarily, but the soil base and ecological base becomes degraded to where the results may last a lifetime trying to recover to a natural productive state of well being.
2. The natural world we work with is dependent on the nonliving or abiotic part of nature. Water, ice, broken rock, and minerals make up a large portion of the abiotic composition that assists in forming the mineralized portion of soil and lays the groundwork for the biotic communities to live and function.
3. All living organisms are derived from a single cell. The cells in time build tissues, and organs that in turn become a total living being. It survives on minerals and nutrients derived from the abiotic world. Its life span is terminal and its remains create topsoil – the jewel of gardens, lawns, and agricultural crops. Together, living organisms have inherent physical characteristics but are dependent and interacting with other species and their living and abiotic environment. This is understanding the root of successful land management, and cell promotion and living organism health.
Working with nature’s principles brings success, whether medical and health, financial, or environmental. This is the vital key. Short unplanned surface management gains, and elimination of the basic necessities of life (air, water, minerals), and chemical applications to life systems is the beginning of mutations and eventual demise of the living organism. For prosperity and preservation of the bases for living now and for the future, pursue the root of living.
For a customized lawn care or landscaping project that is cost-effective, call us at Midwest Environmental Consultants, LLC at 715-586-1302. Working with Nature – Working with You.
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