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For years scientists and engineers have been studying "natures materials" and trying to replicate them. An example of this is the silk web created by a spider. When comparing gram to gram, a spiders web is 5 times stronger than steel! Can you imagine a building made up from a spider web? Other than you sticking to the floor and waiting a LONG time for the elevator, that would be amazing. The only problem so far with replicating natures building tools is that scientists haven't found a way to do it.

Soil aggregates are groups of soil particles that are bound to each other more strongly than to adjacent particles. Organic matter “glues” produced when soil biota break down dead roots and litter hold the particles together. Threadlike strands of fungi also bind particles into aggregates. Microscopic aggregates are the building blocks of larger aggregates. The larger aggregates and the arrangement of them, along with chemical attraction between particles, determine soil structure. The structure of the surface layer commonly is granular or blocky, but a degraded surface layer can be crusted, platy, or structureless. Pores important for the movement of air, water, and plant nutrients occur within and between aggregates. Pores also provide thoroughfares for soil organisms.

Aggregate stability refers to the ability of aggregates to resist degradation. Additions of organic matter to the soil enhance the stability of aggregates. Raindrops, flowing water, and windblown sand grains can break apart soil aggregates, exposing organic matter to decomposition and loss. Physical disturbances, such as vehicle traffic and trampling, can break down soil structure. Soils can resist degradation differently when wet or dry. For example, dense, cloddy soils can be very stable when dry but unstable when wet.

Listen to this short video that explains soil aggregates.


Soil & Compost:
What are soil 'aggregates'?

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Organic Gardening Soil

All gardeners want to have the most perfect, most beautiful flowers and vegetables. If your aim is to win the best flower or the best tasting veggies at the show or just to savor a garden loaded with beautiful flowers, using organic gardening soil is the initial step you can take to be sure your garden soil is the best it can be.

Organic gardening is the activity of growing vegetables, plants, trees, flowers, vines, fruits, bushes, shrubs and everything else you are able to consider in an entirely natural way. Put differently that would mean no toxic substances, pesticides or chemicals are used in the whole gardening operation. Organic gardening is mostly practiced for fruit, vegetable and herb gardening. Folks do not wish to have chemicals and pesticides on the foods they consume. This gardening method begins with the preparing of your soil. Because you will not be applying chemical fertilizers in an organic garden, you will want to be sure your soil is as good as possible, so that it can supply all the nutrition your plants will need as they mature. Getting an organic garden soil requires a little time and exertion, but it is truly worth it after it is accomplished.

You can make organic soil by blending in healthy fertile compost material. Many organic gardeners like to make their own compost using specialized bins or vessels. In many regions though, you will be able to purchase compost matter from recycling centers or garden centers. It's reasonably easy to get a jump on making compost though, even in absence of a composting bin. What you want to do is add a few items to your garden soil, and allow those additives to sit for some weeks prior to planting. Anything you put into the garden soil had better be natural though, since the nutrients are made as the organic items break down.

Number one, you want to loosen the soil in your garden bed. Second add some organic matter to the bed like used coffee or tea grounds, sawdust, ripped up newspaper, ashes from the fireplace or fruit and vegetable things from your kitchen. Try adding one or more of these items at once, however you do not have to add all at once or if you don't have them available. If you make the material smaller prior to adding it to the garden bed the quicker it will become compost for you. Therefore if you are using kitchen scraps for example, try cutting or grating them into tinier bits before pitching them into the garden bed. After supplying the organic material to your garden bed, work the soil some more so those additional items are integrated in the soil and covered properly. Next, about two to three times each week, water the bed, then move it about a little again. In approximately three to four weeks, your soil should be ready to begin placing plants and/or seeds in. If you ready your organic garden area in the Fall, ahead of the first hard frost or freeze hits, the soil will be much more fertile and more prepared for planting when Spring arrives.

The organic gardening method is rather easy to understand, every ingredient of nature like plants, animals, insects and soil have to work together to produce a natural sequence in the garden and function together. Jim's articles are from extensive research on each of his topics and life-long experience. You can learn more of compost, soil and organic fertilizers by visiting: compost.

Jim Ellison

Excessive application of chemicals by farmers or spills and leaks of petroleum products and toxic substances by other users kill soil organisms. Soil is a complex living food web, where a variety of organisms interact to process organic matter, recycle nutrients, and nurture plants. Please use organic fertilizers and organic methods for pest management.

According to soil scientist Elaine Ingham at Oregon State University, just one gram of healthy agricultural soil contains around 100 yards of threadlike fungal material, 100 million bacteria, tens of thousands of one-celled organisms called protozoa, and up to 2000 tiny worms called nematodes. Growth of plants depends upon the presence of these microorganisms, which interact to retain nutrients and make nitrogen available. Higher up the food chain are the springtails and mites that prey on fungi. Larger still are the earthworms, ants, termites, millipedes, and beetles that fragment the organic debris, aerate the soil, and form channels for infiltration of water.

If you want healthier plants then support your soil food web by putting organic matter, which increases the population of beneficial soil organisms, in your soil medium. Please support the fight against soil quality and erosion by visiting http://www.basic-info-4-organic-fertilizers.com/soilorganisms.html where you can find lots of detail information about the kinds of beneficial soil organisms.

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Although using vegetable oil as an alternative fuel source is becoming more popular it still has many draw backs and things to improve upon. In the article, "Can I really burn used vegetable oil in my car?", by Ed Grabianowski, answers the question "Is Vegetable Oil Worth the Cost"? The general consensus at this point is no, it is not cost effective. Not only is the oil itself expensive but it is also costly to convert a regular car engine.
The hope is that with more consumers looking for alternative fuel the cost will become more acceptable and cost effective. There are no perfect answers but with education and hard work bio fuels can become a household word.

To read more about cost effectiveness go to this How Stuff Works article.

Many companies are not being held responsible for what they sell and are free to claim that they are environmental friendly, organic or going green. Since companies are not being held accountable of how environmentally safe they are, more and more businesses are joining in and depicting that they are also “going green” but are actually “greenwashing” to make a benefit themselves.
These companies that sell to consumers are so into making a profit that they have left out what is actually eco-friendly or organic that they are selling. Many manufacturers that make anywhere from sunscreen, toothpaste and facial products, try to convey these philosophies through either environment-friendly packaging or organic certifications on product labels as noted on brandweek.com, and not what kind of ingredients are in the product itself, that are being sold. Consumers tend to buy into this statement without thinking to look up the information.
There are many websites that are available to check to see if the product the consumer is purchasing is actually eco-friendly and safe for the skin. Cosmetic database at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com, gives information on how hazardous a product can be and also shows which products are actually eco-friendly.
It is important for consumers to take the time and do some research on which company is really meeting the criteria of what is environmental friendly.

C.R.

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The topic of "greenwashing" is an interesting one, especially in this day and age when so many companies and organizations claim to be eco-friendly - or "green" - but never really seem to explain what they mean by that... In other words, you have to wonder if they're really doing anything, or if they're simply throwing the word "green" around just to look good. It always amuses me when car companies brag about how fuel-efficient or "green" their latest models are in various commercials. Or how gas and oil companies - of all things - like to make similar claims as well. No matter what, cars that need oil and fuel will still produce carbon monoxide and other harmful emissions, so they don't really help the environment in any way. I especially like it when car and gas commercials use images of automobiles driving by lush, open fields - sometimes with wind turbines in the background - evoking images of alternative sources of energy and overall "green"-ness. It all seems to be an oxymoron to me.

- Cassie H.

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Curious about a corporate take on ecology & economy? Here's an article from Sun Systems and PG&E about a collaborative effort towards ecological and economical solutions in California. This not only benefits corporations, but trickles down to the consumer as well:

Most of us realize how businesses and corporations are wasting precious resources. I recently came across an excellent document produced by the UNEP Working Group for Cleaner Production that details different ways businesses can save money while reducing waste. Imagine that! These are win-win solutions that are so easy it makes one wonder why these practices are not required. While this particular article is directed at food service industries, some of these tips can be utilized by virtually any business and/or home. At the end of the document there are case studies of different business that outline their eco-friendly practices including an estimate of the money saved in a one year period. After the testimonials there is a list of "usefull resources and contacts." Check it out!! http://www.p2pays.org/ref/40/39472.pdf

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