05/23/2024
A while back I came across an article that talked about how to fumigate your garden soil. I was shaking my head and rolling my eyes while I was reading... and in the end, I was left a bit nauseous, and with a renewed motivation to educate other gardeners about the dangers of chemical food production and the benefits of natural growing.
Here are some of the highlights of the article and my commentary on them…
Article: Soil fumigants use toxic chemicals designed to kill diseased organisms, w**d seeds, underground plant parts and nematodes in garden areas where crops or flowers are to be planted.
My Commentary: (Why I even kept reading after “toxic chemicals” must have just been sheer curiosity.) IT's difficult to understand how people can bring themselves to pour toxic chemicals into the soil where their food is going to grow.
Article: Step 1: Till the garden bed with a tiller to a depth of 6 to 8 inches seven to 10 days before fumigation.
My Commentary: I will be writing more about no-till gardening in the future, but long story short, tilling the soil brings carbon up from the root zone of the soil where it is held in store for plants to use to the surface where it is lost in the form of carbon dioxide. Step 1 of the toxification of your soil is to eliminate plant nutrient stores from the soil.
Article: Step 2: Remove any organic debris, rocks and soil clods from the garden bed with a rake or shovel.
My Commentary: In other words, remove any natural matter that will benefit the soil.
Article: Step 3: Till the garden bed soil with a garden tiller to a depth of 6 to 8 inches directly before fumigating. Clean out any leftover organic debris, rocks and soil clods from the garden bed with a rake or shovel.
My Commentary: Till the soil AGAIN!?... destroying carbon stores in the soil.
Article: Step 5: Read the fumigant manufacturer's label for precise application and warnings before attempting to use the fumigant.
My Commentary: You will certainly find warnings about the product's toxicity and the possibility of poisoning yourself while killing your soil.
Here is just one of the warning sections for the commercial version of Metham (one of two products available for home garden use.
SAFETY DIRECTIONS Harmful if inhaled or swallowed. Poisonous if inhaled. Will damage the eyes, nose and throat and skin. Repeated exposure may cause allergic disorders. Interacts with alcohol - avoid alcohol on day(s) of use. Do not inhale vapour or spray mist. The fumes first cause smarting, then watering of eyes. This should be taken as a warning sign. The liquid can cause burns. Use and store in well ventilated areas. When opening the container and preparing product for use, wear chemical resistant clothing buttoned to the neck and wrist, a washable hat, elbow-length chemical resistant gloves, chemical resistant footwear, a full face-piece respirator with organic v***r/gas cartridge or canister [or goggles and a half face-piece respirator with organic v***r cartridge or canister]. When using the prepared (spray) (foam) wear cotton overalls buttoned to the neck and wrist, a washable hat, elbow-length chemical resistant gloves, chemical resistant footwear, a full face-piece respirator with organic v***r/gas cartridge or canister [or goggles and a half face-piece respirator with organic v***r cartridge or canister]. If clothing becomes contaminated with product or wet with spray, remove clothing immediately. If product or v***r on skin, immediately wash area with soap and water. If product or v***r in eyes, wash it out immediately with water. After use and before eating, drinking or smoking, wash hands, arms and face thoroughly with soap and water. After each day’s use, wash gloves, goggles, respirator and if rubber wash with detergent and warm water and contaminated clothing. Do not re-use footwear until thoroughly aired.
You can count me out of that one...
Article: Step 7: Pour the Metham into a garden sprayer and spray the entire garden bed area.
My Commentary: 😬(Just don't do it!)
Article: Step 8: Cover the garden with plastic sheeting. Apply soil to the edges of the sheeting to seal the fumigant gasses into the garden bed. Liquid Metham application is most effective when plastic sheeting is used to trap the fumigant gasses in the soil.
My Commentary: I don’t remember the last time nature spent an entire Saturday dumping chemicals on itself and covering itself with plastic to make itself grow better. I’m fairly certain it has never happened. Sounds like a lot of work to me.
Article: Step 9: Remove the plastic sheeting seven days after fumigation
Article: Step 10: Plant the garden 10 to 20 days after treatment.
My Commentary: By that time (hopefully) most of the toxic chemical has ev***rated into the atmosphere or leached into the water supply.
Am I the only one who thinks this is complete insanity?
I mean even if it worked for what it is designed for, was it really worth the hassle, and most importantly, the risk to our health and that of our neighbors?
This is NOT an effective process. It kills beneficial bacteria right along with pathogens, and then it's a race between the two to see which can rebound faster.
The much better option is to SUPPORT living soil. To BUILD beneficial microbial communities, which will combat pathogens far more effectively, rather than DESTROY all microbial communities. Use natural plant matter and organic debris that will break down and add nutrients to the soil. Add natural soil amendments that will promote healthy microbe growth.
Terra Fresh Home and Garden will help you do just that. You will get all of the “benefits” fumigation claims to provide (elimination of pathogens) with the added benefit of not slowly poisoning yourself and your neighbors and the environment! Win-Win-Win. Oh and Terra Fresh is much more cost effective. Win-Win-Win-Win!
Grab some here: see the 🔗 in the 💬.
