Mamavism Monday: Fertilizer
Every Monday I will have information to share about events coming up, groups and non-profits you might be interested in, green ideas to implement, people that are amazing me in their efforts; basically any actions I think will show off the true range and magnificence of MAMAVISM! It is so important for us to remember small changes make a big difference when done collectively. Our wallets, our choices, companies we support, ways we reduce at home, all make an impact in the future world our children will inherit from us.
So giddy up! Let’s take mamavism on the road!
MAMAVISM MONDAY: FERTILIZER
I am taking you on the same journey I am going on this morning. A couple weeks ago we talked about sewage sludge and industrial waste being used in fertilizer and wondered what has happened since the days of Fateful Harvest and the Seattle Times series on such. You can read that post here. But today I am surfing the web and sharing with you the findings…
First stop: here to read a lovely EPA 1997 Environemental Fact Sheet that includes:
“EPA’s longstanding policy encourages the beneficial reuse and recycling of
industrial wastes, including hazardous wastes, when such wastes can be used
as safe and effective substitutes for virgin raw materials. Although EPA is
examining whether some fertilizers or soil conditioners may contain potentially
harmful levels of contaminants, the Agency believes that some wastes can be
used beneficially in fertilizers when properly manufactured and applied.”
Delicious! Here you can read a 2000 report from King 5 out of Seattle.
“But even “very high quality” biosolids contain heavy metals and millions of pathogens, like human viruses, bacteria and parasites.”
Some of the dates on these seemed a little far away, not always, but sometimes some huge thing has happened to change a practice within the years. Then I found this article from the Washington Post dated December, 2009. Read it here, of course a sneak peek:
“With wastes piling up around the coal-fired plants that produce half the nation’s power, the EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture began promoting what they call the wastes’ “beneficial uses” during the Bush administration.
Part of that push is to expand the use of synthetic gypsum — a whitish, calcium-rich material known as flue gas desulfurization gypsum, or FGD gypsum. The Obama administration has continued promoting FGD gypsum’s use in farming.”
Of course I find all of this completely offensive. I am grossed out by the thought of the quality of food that go into the mouths of my children. I am not surprised by the incidences of cancer in people that eat and lead a healthful lifestyle. Evidently even when you try to eat a healthy way, with lots of fruits and vegetables, you can still be eating nastiness.
A professor in one of my classes in college, I think an Environmental History class, once called all of this-the chemicals in the air, water, food supply, clothes, toys, etc-the great human experiment. We have no idea what it is doing to us, our health, the genetics of humans, it will be years before we do.
Anyone else with him?
I know I am. I am watching the great human experiment and adjusting my lifestyle accordingly as I learn to adapt. My garden will only be bigger next year, I promise and my grocery bill will continue to be high due to my organics and all natural obsession!
Spill it: Do you deem it worth it to spend the money on organic food? Why or why not? Are you surprised by the above articles or not at all? Are you slightly grossed out or happy with the level of protection the government offers?
August 23rd, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I’ll be honest…I’ve never considered it worth the expense till you started writing about it. I’ve been thoroughly grossed out, and thus spending more on some of our fruits and veggies since.