Carle eloquently argues for the preservation of California's quality farmland. In this chapter he reveals the politics, history, and science of soil. As urban encroachment continues to claim the ground that produces our food, the author's passionate defense of open land draws from his deep understanding of soil.
In the picture: strawberry mounds at the Driscoll's Berries research plot in Watsonville, CA. Driscoll's is slowly phasing out the use of Methyl Bromide, a fumigant common used in strawberry row soil.
--Brent W.
"In the long run, this mean becoming citizens of the world, dependent on others for our food commodities while we produce the marvels and know how for the future"(Blank). I find the realities facing California agriculture depressing. It's seems that everywhere you turn there is some pressing long-term negative impact on the environment and society. I agree with Carle in that we cannot eat our computers. And who is to say that technological dominance will put our country in a position with enough leverage to control food.
ReplyDelete"Neither the United States government nor the state government of California has a policy for designating valuable farmland as too precious for onversion to other uses. The most fertile soils, those of the great Central Valley, could theoretically be declared an essential public treasureand farmland there given permanent protetion from urbanization pressures. Instead, 60 percent of the development in the San Joaquin Valley between 1990 and 2004 took place on the highest-quality farmland." (David Carle, Introduction to Earth, Soil, and Land in California, pg. 116(168))
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows how the farmland in California is getting hurt because it is being sold to developers who aren't using the land for agriculture benefits. These developers are destroying these lands that have the best soil and taking away from the agriculture "industry". Agriculture is very important in California and if these lands keep getting sold for purposes other than growing crops or other agriculture purposes than that industry is going to slowly become even smaller until it is almost nothing.
-Kelsey
“Farmers face an inherent challenge with regard to maintaining organic matter in soil, because they harvest and remove their crop products, leaving only residues of stems and stubble, seeds and pods, to work back into the ground” (Carle 158)
ReplyDeleteCarle narrates the impact that California’s agriculture has on the rest of the United States. This quote is important because not only embodies a main aspect of the reading, but it also describes how the soil is affected, and is being depleted by its constant use. It is interesting to see how Carle compares the natural life cycle the soil goes though with the artificial one which completely changes the soil’s characteristics.
Claudia H.
"Soil managed without any tillage relies on organisms such as undisturbed earthworm populations, to incorporate plant residue into the soil" (pg158)
ReplyDeleteIn this article Carle explains the benefits of not tilling the soil. Earthworms provide many organic nutrients and when left alone they can do their job.
The article also brought up the point of tractors compact the ground as they till. This is damaging to the soil so if left alone it can evenly distribute the minerals needed.
Carle brought up the good points of more organic care to farming and I feel that is really important when it comes to producing quality crops.
Molly O.