Ok, so there are quite a few different definitions of "organic" going on here, and a few people who are interested hearing some recommendations.
So I'll begin with Seamaiden, who is pursuing what is commonly called "holistic" growing/farming. (It's just a name to put on a category, so please don't take offense). Using your sources, let's see what proportions of these things are (a) adequate, and (b) approach performance limits.
- You are using human urine for a nitrogen source - and yes it contains other nutrients. For purposes of calculation, I could assume you have something like a pescatarian diet, or a McDonald's diet, perhaps something in between, or maybe you've done some analysis yourself?
- What is your main source of potassium -- no amounts needed, just what do you use or prefer?
- And your phosphorus source?
- And how about source(s) of minors and micros?
- If you are putting any of these things in the soil for long term release instead of on a feeding schedule then be sure to mention it. I'm just interested in sources, not delivery method.
Uh oh... does that mean I'm going to have to use math? I'm only half-kidding about that, I'm terrible with numbers (but great with money/finances).
My diet is mostly vegetarian, but since locating a local source of organically grown, grass-fed beef, we're eating a lot more than we have in the past year or two. I've had some digestion issues of late and I find that eating mostly veggie is the best way to control it. I eat mostly beans and rice, greens (veg) with beef and chicken, occasional fish (due to overfishing/aquaculture issues and my own aquatic background). No Rx meds, no hormones (HRT), but I do smoke it to my head. So we can assume that my urine has high levels of cannabinoids. I rarely, very rarely, eat fast food. I LOVE my nuts, grains and cereals, am a huge fan of organ meats but don't eat nearly as much as I would like because I'm sure my arteries would clog right up, and then what good would I be to anyone?
Back to the soil! Low fertility, low calcium Sierra Nevada foothills red, rocky clay. Amending the soil begins with compost, and I can't find the brochure that gives me all the information about it, but it's a certified (CCOF, IIRC) organic compost. With that is incorporated gypsum, in the hopes that it will someday help to break up the clay because it's so easy for it to become hardpan. Wait, maybe this would read more easily as a list...
Gypsum
Oyster shell flour
Glacial rock dust (ruh roh!)
Greensand
Soft rock phosphate
Azomite (very small quantities)
Alfalfa in several forms (pellets, A&M mix, and straight up old hay)
Compost
High N bat guano (moving away from that, there are other sources of N, etc)
Amounts are not so easily quantified, I did it exactly like how I cook--by feel. I know that this area is woefully low in Ca, perhaps Mg, even though both can be found in our well water in high, high amounts in carbonate forms (CaCO3 & MgCO3, respectively). I figure since the clay is so red there must be a good amount of iron present. All of this is as a pre-planting amendment system, I'm trying to not have to go back and add and add and add throughout the season. I'm also going to begin using green manures/living mulches, already have lots of purple vetch occurring naturally (maybe it's time to harness that, but damn it takes everything over) and am planning on growing more plants that pull atmospheric N, such as mimosa tree, already growing lots of beans (I love beans and rice) and plan to rotate those crops.
I also have kelp meal, neem seed meal, some other meals that I now can't remember... but the point was that I use those much more judiciously because, frankly, it can get expensive when you're doing this by the square yard and not by the pot. So those things are added to the planting holes.
Oh yeah! A big one, especially in the planters that sit on top of the sand filter (part of our septic system, the thing is easily as big as a swimming pool) for me is stopping blossom end rot on the squashes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. This year I seriously amended with prilled dolomite lime, but as they're setting fruit I'm
still finding it. I've run out of prilled lime and decided to use oyster shell flour... just because it seems to feel right. I have no idea how well it will work in the long or short term, though. But those particular planters always have this same problem.
I'm trying to marry the practices and concepts of permaculture with a market garden for income. I'm also trying to close our loop inasmuch as I can control it, i.e. septic waste. We're on a well and engineered septic system, so we live with our own shit so to speak. The less I tax that system the better. That leaves more water in the well for us and the plants if/when needed, and less effluent going down the hill into the leach field.
You see, I have a few goals in taking more total responsibility for my actions. I want to be able to feed my family, maybe even my neighborhood. I want to reduce my total impact on the natural environment (yeah, right, I know, I'm already here). I want to enjoy the natural environs around me. I want to save money so I can spend it on things I enjoy. The list can go on and on and on, but that's pretty much it in a nutshell.
So, local purchases, in order to reduce petroleum inputs. Non-processed ferts and amendments, again to reduce petroleum and total non-renewable energy inputs. Whatever I put in to the earth, the growing, hopefully will mostly remain there and add to total fertility. And, a desire to get back to basics, to be able to be more (completely?) self-reliant.
This actually has quite a lot to do with my politics, so I think it's probably best to leave it at that.
