The Soil and Health: A Study of Organic Agriculture

By Albert Howard

The Soil and Health is a seminal work on organic farming that was first published in 1947. The book is based on Howard's 20 years of research on soil fertility and the role of organic matter in maintaining soil health. Howard argued that the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides was destroying the soil and leading to a decline in crop yields. He advocated for the use of natural methods of farming, such as composting, cover cropping, and mulching, to build soil health and improve crop yields.

The Soil and Health has been translated into more than 30 languages and is considered one of the most important books on organic farming ever written. Howard's work has had a major influence on the development of organic farming practices around the world. The book is still an important resource for farmers, gardeners, and anyone interested in sustainable agriculture.

Here are some of the key points that Howard makes in The Soil and Health:

• The soil is a living organism that is essential for plant growth.
• The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is destroying the soil and leading to a decline in crop yields.
• Natural methods of farming, such as composting, cover cropping, and mulching, can build soil health and improve crop yields.
• Organic farming is a sustainable way to produce food that is good for people and the environment.

The Soil and Health is a must-read for anyone interested in organic farming or sustainable agriculture. Howard's work is still relevant today, and his insights can help us to create a more sustainable food system.

With a New Introduction by Wendell Berry The Soil and Health was published in 1945, just before agricultural corporations surged to global proportions. Sir Albert Howard's work is a major inspiration to the growing organic and sustainable farming movement and a thought-provoking reminder of a road not taken in developing mainstream agriculture during the past half-century. The central tenet of Howard's philosophy is that healthy soil, vegetation, animals, and humans are connected and that undernourishment of soil is the source of modern agricultural and health problems. In Howard's estimation, heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers will ultimately lead to widespread disease and destruction of vibrant communities. As the environmental and social consequences of industrial farming are being hotly debated, The Soil and Health remains vital to understanding what is at stake in the battle between chemical and organic farming. Sir Albert Howard (1873-1947), founder of the organic farming movement, is the author of several books, including An Agricultural Testament.

Author: Howard, Albert
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky
Illustration: N
Language: ENG
Title: The Soil and Health: A Study of Organic Agriculture
Pages: 00352 (Encrypted EPUB)
On Sale: 2011-01-23
SKU-13/ISBN: 9780813191713
Category: Technology & Engineering : Agriculture - Organic
Category: Technology & Engineering : Agriculture - Sustainable Agricul
Category: Gardening : Organic