Kind of a long commute from California, but I would love to see this exhibit at the Smithsonian
. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080717/ap_on_sc/sci_dig_it...7rlzy9oFcZk79Ois0NUE

The article talks about how soil and sustainable agriculture will be our next big issue, along with air and water. Of course, I know I'm preaching to the choir... There are some good links in the story too.

We've just got to figure out a way to blame someone. Who perhaps ......?

Dirt

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The article talks about how soil and sustainable agriculture will be our next big issue, along with air and water. Of course, I know I'm preaching to the choir...

Don't be too sure about that. There are some in our choir singing the praises of "method" hucksters who propose that soil should be avoided at all cost and (after buying their books) you buy or accumulate all the materials required to create a soil-less potting mix to grow your crops. They assume that the world's inhabitants have the financial resources to buy expensive, imported materials to create (gag) "Mel's mix" or that there is somehow enough organic matter on the planet that we can feed the world's population if we only pile enough waste material on top of our soil that we can plant in it. (These people should spend a year in the Sudan and then come back and tout their Yuppie methods. If they survive the "growing season," such as it is, I'd bet they be writing a different book.

Maybe I'm just a tad opinionated but that's why I insist that, every time these methods are suggested to new gardeners, their most important asset is their garden's soil and it is their duty to build it up, not waste it.

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We've just got to figure out a way to blame someone. Who perhaps ......?

Not to worry, Dirt, the irresponsibility of American Agriculture long precedes the current Administration's policies.

Wayne