A new investigative report has been released on glyphosate by investigative reporter Carey Gillam in the publication the New Lede. If you remember, Carey is the author of the excellent book exposing the dangers of glyphosate and the corruption in our government. 

“WHITE WASH – The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science”, by Carey Gillam, Island Press, 2017, ISBN-13: 978-1610918329 

Another example of this corruption is below, and shows how our government is run by large companies for their benefit. 

The country of Mexico has passed legislation to eliminate the use of glyphosate herbicides like Round Up and prohibit planting genetically engineered corn (GMO) to protect the native sources of corn and its people. 

As a result, our current government is protesting Mexico’s right to protect its citizens through our various governmental agencies. “Similar to what happened in Thailand in 2019 which saw its efforts to ban glyphosate thwarted by a USA trade threats that internal e-mails showed were largly scripted for US officials by Monsanto which is owned by Bayer. “ 

As gardeners we all know how critical good organic matter is for soil and plant health. Organic matter is composed of molecules built out with long chains of carbon atoms. 

“The majority (about 80%) of the carbon in the soil has come from the remains of soil microbes, compounds produced by soil microbes, or living soil microbes themselves. 

Of all the carbon in the soil, roughly five times as much comes from soil microbes fed sugars or other substances provided to them by living plant roots (exudates) compared to the carbon from decomposition of above-ground plant residues 

To build our soil organic matter we need to do four things: disturb the soil less, growing a diversity of plants, maintain living roots in the soil as much of the time as possible, and keeping the soil covered at all times. “ AGDAILY April 2023. 

The above quote from a traditional toxic rescue agricultural publication indicates how important the modern biological methods are in gardening and farming. 

The following book is Highly Recommended for all gardeners, landscapers or anyone taking care of a lawn or garden or anyone whom makes compost for use in a landscaping project. It is all about how the microbes and plants work together to build soil and reduce insect and disease problems. 

Teaming with Microbes, A Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web, 2nd Edition, by Jeff Lowenfels & Wayne Lewis, Timber Press, 2006, ISBN-13:978-0-88192-777-1 

Most gardeners know that pollinators like bees and butterflies are in decline worldwide. A study by the University of Sussex found that moths are more efficient pollinators than the day time insects. The moths made fewer visits but were able to pollinate the flowers quicker with a higher success rate. 

However, in Europe as well as the USA, moths are also in serious decline from lack of good pollen for food to light pollution from flood lamps, street lights, garage lights, etc. PLOS ONE (2023) 

The lack of good quality pollen for food is often from hybrid flowers where plants have been bred for color, size, and a long blooming season. As a result, the nutrient density of the pollen and nectar has declined. This is another good reason for gardeners to plant more natives and heirloom species of plants. 

A study on panthers (pumas) has found that they are gardeners and garden to attract their food source which is composed mainly of grazing animals like deer and elk. 

Pumas only eat about 30% of the meat from their kill. These decomposing carcasses deposit elevated levels of nitrogen, carbon, and other elements into the soil which then grows nitrogen and nutrient dense foliage. Grazing animals like deer are attracted to this foliage which makes hunting by the pumas easier. Landscape Ecology (2023). 

Another study last year found that, “pumas maintain a relationship with 485 living species and play a critical role in holding ecosystems together. They also found that pumas serve as ecosystem engineers and provide habitat and food for 215 species of beetles.” Panthera and Defenders of Wildlife (2022) 

God’s creation is amazing!