The Convenient Truth About Gardening, Global Warmimg, and Al Gore

Al Gore has got us all thinking about global warming. At the most recent Academy Awards everyone in Hollywood got behind Al only to find that his 10,000 square foot home uses excessive energy and he may not be as "green" as we thought he was. With spring right around the corner and the gardening season upon us maybe we can help do what Al preaches, but does not practice himself.

To understand global warming you need to understand the definition of the word carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas created by combustion, the so-called greenhouse effect, emitted primarily from human activity such as burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity and vehicles. Scientists believe these greenhouse gases are causing the earth's climate to change.

This is true in gardening as well. You may not even be aware of the harmful effects of gardening on our environment. Compacting and cultivating the soil destroys good fungi. Every time you till the soil carbon dioxide is released into the environment. Fertilizers with nitrogen can pollute the water. Water that we use to drink and cook with. This is not only harmful to the environment it is harmful to us personally.

The increase of the temperature of the world is due in part to the carbon dioxide the soil puts out when it is cultivated. By using sheet compost or mulching we can actually help decrease carbon dioxide and help the environment at the same time. Plants no longer can absorb all of the carbon dioxide like they used to it is up to us to help out whenever we can.

Many of us waste nitrogen and manure when we fertilize. We should observe farmers. Farmers do not. Farmers only need a quarter to a third of nitrogen to mix with an inch of compost, horse, or cow manure. Gardeners apply larger amounts of compost and manure than farmers do. We end up wasting money and fertilizer by not applying the right amounts in the first place.

In untilled soil there is beneficial fungi known as the vesicular-arbuscular-mycorrhizae or VAM for short. Plants provide carbohydrates for the fungi in return. It is possible to grow a garden without tilling the soil at all by mulching heavily until the soil is soft

What you can do this spring to help global warming is to use moderation. Use moderation in tilling the soil. Practice less is better when you add fertilizers or manure. Know that you are doing your part to help in the fight against global warming.