Text

Summer 2011

research study

Overview of compost bins, rainwater catchment systems, and use of plants as a natural pesticide

(Joseph) After the rise of the industrial revolution and the mechanization of processes inherent to life, such as the many ways we acquire basic commodities needed for day to day subsistence, quantity became the goal for production. Look around at America's food production. Vast fields as far as the eye can see of monocultures, the growing of only one species of plant. This is a relatively new practice in human history. Due to the wealth and abundance of cheap fossil fuel energy, these systems can thrive and function without many flaws. Similar notions can be said of animal husbandry. Factory farming has given Americans and many in the first world access to an almost endless supply of animal protein. However, inherent problems in these systems of food production rest in their inability to self-sustain and even regenerate the resources necessary for their function. For example, in natural organic systems, soil typically isn't bare such as (when we till the ground). This then requires we use take special care to keep pests away from the plants we desire and use petroleum based pesticides. Pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides destroy the microbial life in the soil which typically builds resilient and strong plants. Now since the life is gone, the burden of the intervener is placed on us, so now we must maintain soil fertility with petroleum (oil/fossil fuel) based fertilizers. Now the plants become dependent on us for fertility, pest control, and a slew of other conditions necessary for growth. We've even come so far as to modify these organisms at a molecular level to deal with problems we ourselves have created. Irrationality ensues. These methods and approaches to food production have taken a serious toll on the quality of our food, especially in terms of nutrition. Serious consideration into how to make ourselves less dependent on these polluting and destructive methods for food production have always been around but really picked up cultural speed with the revolutionary ideas of the 1960's and 1970's. From those times looking to nature and natural systems for answers to our problems has been widely adopted. Thus the organic movement was born.

(Paul) One way to reduce the chemical content of your food from pesticides and herbicides is to have a backyard organic garden. In order to reduce the cost of these many times expensive projects, systems can be put in place. For example, a rainwater catchment system with compost bins. Soil and fertilizers can many times be the most expensive part of the system so having a compost bin can reduce this cost significantly. Composting will also reduce the size and weight of garbage picked up by the township. This will reduce the household’s ecological footprint and help the overall environment. The rainwater catchment system will reduce the cost of water used for gardening as well as have a large impact on the environment by using water that would otherwise add to runoff and need to be treated at the waste-water treatment plant. The crops that are grown during the summer can help reduce how much produce needs to be bought from the store and also allow the consumer to know exactly what is in their food. This project does have some precautions that must be taken into account. Only plants that are local to the area should be grown, otherwise an invasive species can be introduced and cause harm to the local environment. Overall backyard organic gardening can be a very rewarding and environmentally friendly activity for home owners.

http://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.1/rucore00000002167.Manuscript.000066208

doi:10.7282/T30G3J0P

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