Through the years, farmers have relied on government officials and agriculture to sustain their crops with chemicals, freeing them from loss of crops through devouring insects and disease and reap the benefits by the basketful. But, has our government really benefitted any of us?

The subject is 'What's In The Poo?' Gardening is like 'The House That Jack Built'. God gives us the land and the soil. Farmers sow the fields of straw while the government provides the 'necessary' chemicals and herbicides to increase yield. The farmers reap the chemical-laden crops and sell to the public. Meanwhile, the animals eat what's left in the tainted soil and produce the dung that manufacturers use to make the chemically contaminated compost that we as innocent gardeners buy to nourish our gardens which in turn, produce the food that we feed to our families. What's in the Poo? Chemicals, herbicides, pesticides. And we wonder why our generation has become a land of giants who become bald at an early age, plagued with cancerous diseases which our systems cannot fight and our children riddled with Attention Deficit Disorders and other health issues; supplementing this, our own chemically-laced waste is ever-more added to the land!

Is there no end?

Beware! Just when we think we will provide fresh food for our families from our own gardens we are actually poisoning ourselves; danged if you do and danged if you don't. Unknowingly, our gardens are suffering from toxic levels of a potent herbicide found in straw, manure and compost--so choose most carefully!

In 2005, an herbicide called Aminopyralid was released by the Dow/Agroscience to horse and cattle owners to control perrennial weeds. Since then, it's been linked to the loss of thousands of home gardens in Great Britain. It can happen here just as well because even the most well-rotted manure can hold enough enduring plant killer to destroy sensitive crops such as beans, lettuce and tomatoes--and what garden is without that?

Many herbicides that are supposed to dissipate within days after application have been found to last for years. (Wow, that's a no-brainer)! Yet, the 2001 product clopyralid (also from Dow) is still being sold as Confront even though it was found to be the contaminant in compost that was the demise of home garden and nursery plants in Washington, Pennsylvania and New Zealand.

It seems that the EPA, (Environmental Protection Agency) is turning a blind eye as Dow continues to sell this product and develop other new products like it which pose the same and/or greater risks.

Although Dow's own data showed a half-life of 533 days, according to the EPA, the half-life of this product was never determined, yet the EPA permitted the label of safe consumption and environmental safety of a product even though it gleaned with uncertainty. Even further, there were only two studies done to examine its longevity within the soil. And even though clopyralid was known to be retained in compost, no inquiries were made regarding what would befall newer herbicides in manure. To top off this nightmare, in response to Dow's registration application in 2004, three EPA scientists stated that both of Dow's soil dissipation studies were of "questionable validity."  Don't they even understand their own findings?

Approved through the Reduced Risk Pesticide Initiative, Milestone and Forefront were readily accepted by the EPA when they introduced Aminopyralid, which belongs to the same class of chemicals as clopyralid, and an active ingredient found in common herbicides. The Initiative states that if new pesticides are clearly less toxic to humans and animals when compared to the pre-existing pesticides, then less scientific data need be produced to meet EPA approval.  (Personally, i find this a crock...). When do we the people get a say in all of this? Since when has OUR land become solely THEIR land?  We all work too hard in our gardens to have it succumb to death by provication. All i can say is "STAY OFF MY LAND!"  It further astounds me to think that they don't realize that they eat the same foods as we do.  You'd think that they'd say, "Hey, wait a minute, now...!"  So much for intelligence.

Thousands of acres of pasture land across North America has been contaminated with Aminopyralid so it is most important to find out where the straw, the manure, and the compost have come from as springtime rolls around and you are ready to plant. Word of mouth is the most powerful voice, so spread the word. Protect your land, protect your animals, protect your garden and protect yourselves from further contamination of chemicals. Alert family, friends and neighbors using herbicide control, as well as facilities that sell compost and gardening supplies. We voice our opinions regarding manufacturing 'no-no's' and product tastes--but we fail to remember that what goes into our ground goes into our mouths!  We must protect our waters and our soil at any cost; contacting government officials and the EPA is a good start toward correcting these atrocities to our land and soil. I'm sure that you want to leave a legacy of health to our children as well as I do.

If you are lucky enough to have nearby pastures which aren't tainted by herbicides, ask the owners if they will allow you to haul away their cattle dung & horse manure; most farmers are extremely friendly and will most likely welcome your request.  Everything in this world requires work, but in this situation, the benefits are many and the price is free!  Your healthy garden will be the envy of every neighbor (as well as your local supermarket)!

The next time someone asks you, "How well is your garden?" you can answer, "Wholesome!"