Gardening with Grains. Brie Arthur

is no simple solution. Consumers have a serious deficit of practical knowledge on the subjects of food science, genetic modifications, soil health and chemistry. And global biotech companies have lost our trust due to their lack of transparency. Farmers are challenged to grow food in the most efficient way possible to feed the world, and consumers demand low prices. There is a lot about our current agricultural model that could be reevaluated. Health starts with consumption, and most of us have at least some control over what we eat.

      As a person who has struggled for two decades with food intolerances, I am genuinely concerned that our reliance on synthetically derived compounds may be impacting our body’s ability to digest. It seems logical to assert that if synthetic chemistries destroy soil health, they may also have the same effect on our gut health. Not being a nutritionist, I will equate this to a subject I am better educated in: soil science.

      Growing my own grains has increased my appreciation for farmers around the world.

      FERTILIZER AND SOIL HEALTH: One of the main differences between organic and conventional growing is conventional growing’s use of synthetic, often sodium-based fertilizers. As they penetrate the earth, the microbial activity is disturbed, influencing the natural cycles of ammonification and nitrification of bacteria, which would naturally feed the plant roots. In contrast, with organic growing methods, which are easily adopted by home gardeners, you can focus on soil health – so put the blue stuff down! There is a mountain of research available to show the benefits of focusing your gardening efforts first and foremost on soil health, to increase fertility the natural way.