The Nature of Phenology 6/8/19: Nutrient Cycling

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn
Host: Hazel Stark

Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

At one point in time the matter that makes up the coffee you are drinking right now was probably a blade of grass, or a cow, or even a dinosaur. This process is intimately familiar to the organic farmer who spends their time worrying about composting food as much as they do about growing it. I find this nutrient cycling to be profoundly comforting because it is so tangible. I can sink my hands into a pile of well-rotted compost, feel the warmth, and apply it to a bed of carrots and know that this year’s carrots will grow from last year’s scraps.