Eat healthy and save the environment
By Nighta J. Davis

Truman Barrett shows a tomato produced from the tiny plants given to him during United Community Bank Customer Appreciation Day this past Spring.

Truman Barrett's interest in organic gardening began as a child as he helped his mother in her garden by carting manure to fertilize her garden. He has a deep concern for the environment and feels that by recycling millions of tons of natural waste that is generated annually in the U.S. we can maintain a cleaner environment and a healthier body. The E.P.A. estimates that a high percentage of this waste is disposed of improperly continuously polluting our environment. Barrett has spent 14 years perfecting his combination of natural fertilizer materials and process. He has worked with the University of Georgia agricultural Dept. in developmental testing to prove that his natural fertilizer is comparable to commercial fertilizer.According to UGA results Barrett's fertilizer proves to be not only comparable, but extra environmentally friendly and more cost effective. One of the ingredients of the compost is natural wood waste from developers throughout North Georgia which negates the need to burn and pollute the air.

This is a test e x p e r i m e n t using Barrett's organic fertilizer in comparison to commercial fertilizer. The collard plants were planted on the same day. The row using the organic fertilizer is much larger than the other rows.

You would think, wouldn't you, that a tomato is a tomato, that one tomato is as good as another? But it isn't; one tomato may look and taste like another and yet be lacking in the particular mineral element which your system requires and which tomatoes are supposed to contain. By making organic foods the mainstay of your diet, you are choosing to promote health in your life by building immunity, increase strength and promote recovery from chronic conditions. The lack of essential nutrients prevents a plant from completing its life cycle and insufficient nutrients limit plant size and vigor. Regular use of appropriate mineral rich fertilizers helps to ensure a balanced human diet directly via healthy vegetable crops and indirectly via animal products. Before the use of fertilizers became customary, deficiency diseases in farm animals and humans were widespread. Poor plant nutrition induced vitamin deficiencies, bone weaknesses and other diseases. A balanced use of mineral balanced fertilizers has shown to be an effective means of improved crop production and has contributed to a substantial improvement in human and animal health. A healthy diet is based on the correct balance of essential food elements contained in a well nourished crop. The considerable increase in human life expectancy is related to a greater access to quality vitamin and mineral rich foods. In this way quality fertilizers contribute to an improved state of health. Amino acids also play a part in maintaining healthy plants. They are the basic building blocks of protein found in all living things, the chelation of minerals with amino acids provides a tremendous advantage in the efficiency of absorption and transfer of minerals within plants.

Leaching is where the chemical nutrients that are not absorbed by the plant for one reason or another tend to leach out of the soil into surrounding soil and ground water - which eventually makes it way to creeks, streams, and water tables. The soil is left unenriched and sometimes toxic from some of the remaining residual chemicals. In general commercial fertilizers tend to leach out in one season and require you to replenish the next growing season. Commercial fertilizers also tend to burn the soil and make it more acid which will retard the growth of your plants.

Bottom line, the difference has to do with how the fertilizer interacts with your plants and the soil the slow release of its nutrients and the long-term effectiveness of it, upon both plant and soil. Organic is a gentler, safer, more natural, and contains longer-acting nutrients for plants of all kinds and it allows for improved distribution of nutrients by the plant. When a farmer or gardener buys a 50 pound bag of our organic fertilizer, he or she will receive fifty pounds of plant and soil nutrients, essential minerals, and other elements which enhance soil productivity and nourish soil microorganisms. When that same farmer or gardener purchases a 50 pound bag of triple 13, he or she receives 19.5 pounds of nutrients, and 30.5 pounds of inert material. Next week: "DON'T DIG YOUR GRAVE WITH A KNIFE AND FORK"