Talent landscapediva

Running on Empty

By landscapediva | 2003

Running on Empty

Charlie Scroggs knows that healthy plants come from healthy soil...

We are living in obscure times; the fast-moving world of technology has taken society on a journey into the unknown. In spite of this-or maybe because of this- we yearn for the more natural things, which seem to bring balance and order to our lives. In the produce department at any supermarket we now have the option of purchasing organic or inorganic products. One costs more and sometimes doesn’t look as pretty, but more and more of us are making the conscious choice to buy organic. Is it just because we are nostalgic for what we see as a “healthier” era, or is something else going on?

According to Charlie Scroggs, owner of Four Crazy Bats, an agricultural consultancy that works with local organic growers, this tendency is something we share with all plants and animals. Within the balance or nature, every living thing, from the smallest microbe to a giant elephant, has the innate ability to sort out the environment in which it lives. The survival of any species depends upon this instinctual ability to recognize what it needs to survive.

The ability to distinguish between mate and non-mate, or between food and non-food, comes naturally. Can you imagine a gold fish mistaking a bear for its mate, or a cow mistaking another cow for dinner? This last example is at the root of the worldwide emergence of mad cow disease, which was detected just last month in Washington State- farmers are feeding animal offal derived from cattle or sheep to their livestock, instinctive vegetarians. Whenever the natural order of life is disrupted like this, it has a rippling effect, like a pebble thrown into a still pond, endlessly moving outward, touching everything in its path.

What most people don’t understand is that the smaller the organism, the greater the impact it has on the food chain, and the environment as a whole. Suppose we wiped out the elephant population. Obviously, this would have an effect, but basically the world would go on much as it is. But if you destroy something smaller, the effect is much more far-reaching. As in the case of splitting an atom, it has profound consequences.

Yet that is exactly what has been happening within conventional agriculture over the last 50 years; through the use of harsh chemical fertilizers and pesticides, we have burned up the humus (organic material) and destroyed the natural balance of the microorganisms (microbes) in the soil.

In California alone we are averaging about one percent of organic material, whereas a healthy productive soil has anywhere from five to 20 percent organic material. Most soils are down to about one million microbes per gram. While this sounds like a lot, as Charlie Scroggs states, “It’s like looking at your gas gauge, reading empty and you are still 100 miles from the next gas station.” A healthy soil typically will have over a billion microbes per teaspoon.

A youthful man of 70, Charlie’s demeanor is refreshing because it is evident that he understands the dynamics of working with nature instead of against it. From his early years as a child growing up on an organic farm in the Imperial Valley, he has dedicated his life to sustainable agricultural practices. He speaks from years of hands-on application, and not just “theory.” He has definitely been around the farm more than once in his lifetime.

Discussing life underground with Charlie is like talking to Jacques Cousteau about life underwater; they both take you on an exploration of realms unknown to the layperson- which at first might seem like another planet- but then you come full circle and realize how everything is interconnected and has its purpose within the ecosystem at hand.

So what about these little things that we can’t see? Are they really that important in the great scheme of things? These microbes range from microscopic, single-celled bacteria, algae and protozoa to multi-celled organisms like fungi, nematodes and micro-arthropods. Along with the not-so-microscopic earthworms and insects, they perform together like the London Philharmonic Orchestra on opening night.

Soil microorganisms (known in the organic trade as biologicals) are primary decomposers of organic material; they work as a team, creating a chain of interdependent relationships. The by-products from one type of microbe serve as a nutrient source for other types of microorganisms, thus making nutrients available for healthy plant growth.

Some of these microscopic workers, known as mycorrhizal fungi, act as an extension of the plant root system and provide minerals and water which otherwise would have not been available to the plant. Various other soil microorganisms are important in protecting plants against disease. This protection is often provided by the simplest of means, such as competition between pathogens and beneficial microbes of nutrients and growing space. Other varied microbes can actually be predators of plant pathogens, or they may produce antibiotics, enzymes and other elements that inhibit growth of the disease. As Charlie simply puts it, “the two major functions they serve are to feed and protect.”

The mindset for years in the agriculture business has been that the purpose of soil is to anchor the plant and deliver the “big three” nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (these are considered “complete fertilizers” with minute micro-nutrients involved in conventional chemical manufacturing), commonly referred to as N-P-K, but no chemical fertilizers manufactured today have the capacity to supply plants with the variety of micronutrients that organic fertilizers commonly supply. Organic fertilizers promote the growth of symbiotic bacteria and fungi in the soil, allowing it to more effectively supply plants with the essential minerals needed to function properly.

Now, if you ask Charlie about N-P-K, he will sum it up in two words: “absolutely nothing! …It’s a known fact that our humus is down in California and the biological system is in the low millions. For example, if you only had one million biologicals per gram you would need to put 10 tons of compost on per acre and it would take approximately three years for the microbes to break it down into humus.” Chemical fertilizers do nothing to enhance the microbe populations, yet microbial products are complements to fertilizers and allow better use of such nutrients.

So how does Charlie work with the farmers? By implementing a biological and enzyme program that manages the soil and nutrient exchange more efficiently. This assists the growers by reducing overall cost of production and typically they have a higher quality harvest. Many of the organic products (which have benefits both below and on top of the soil) are from Gorton Industries, where they have been scientifically formulated and tested for efficacy.

Two top products Charlie uses, Total Ag (organic root stimulator and organic fertilizer) and Total Protect (non-plant food ingredient), have been extremely effective. Total Protect is a custom blend of natural occurring beneficial microorganisms that enhances the biodiversity of the soil ecosystem. To date, it clears up eight different pathogens, one being phytophthora, which can be a serious problem for our local avocado and strawberry growers. It also does an excellent job on mildew.

Another product that is currently being tested is Fen-X, a blend of enzymes that acts as a pest deterrent. It has been successful with aphids and leafhoppers, but the most exciting trial is for the glassy winged sharp shooter that is wreaking havoc upon coastal California grape crops.

What are Charlie’s final words of wisdom? “I have one great champion in my corner; Mother Nature. Since the beginning of time, Survival of the fittest has always applied and if something isn’t fit Mother Nature comes calling. And in the case of farming, she sends her exterminators to put nature back into order.”