Page 72 - Summer2015

All Thumbs Book Reviews

The Intelligent Gardener: compost, Solomon says, “Just a little dab will
Growing Nutrient-Dense Food do ya.” He claims that many organic gardeners,
Steve Solomon with E. Reinheimer organic gardening writers, and others have the
New Society Publishers misconception that compost is the end-all solu-
tion to a healthy soil. For these gardeners the
On my shelf with many other gardening solution to every problem is to add more compost.
books The Intelligent Gardener stands tall, While containing some minerals, compost made
providing studied and specific information on from plants grown on poor, depleted soils simply
soil remineralization with the purpose of grow- can’t bring soil minerals to the ideal levels and
ing nutrient-dense produce. This book is for all ratios, Solomon explains. In fact, adding exces-
gardeners, and especially to be read by those sive amounts of poor quality compost can make
who grow vegetables in an “organic” fashion. the soil nutrition problem worse.
Also appropriate for educators in the agricultural Chapter 5 deals with remineralizing the
and health sciences, we can hope this book might soil, and is the main thrust of the book. It lays
even get into the hands of politicians. Solomon out the need for a specific soil test (Mehlich 3,
champions the imperative message that human Logan Labs recommended), and then leads the
health is tied to the health of the soil. reader through the procedures for calculating
Solomon begins with the undeniable ratio- the amount of each mineral to add. While this is
nale that we need nutrient-dense food to insure not difficult, it becomes a bit complicated when
optimal human health. He summarizes the work deciding which specific fertilizers to use. Math
of many corroborating early scientists like Drs. calculations are required at this stage, which
Weston A. Price and William Albrecht, as well might put off some gardeners.
as current researchers and practitioners. There Again, the keep-it-simple theme of the book
is a glossary, a bibliography, a section explain- comes to the rescue. The authors offer an alterna-
ing major/minor nutrients, plus a section on the tive for those wanting to avoid the math. Alice
complete organic fertilizer for those who don’t and Erica Reinheimer have developed an app
want to follow the soil testing route. (GrowAbundant.com) that uses the same target
The book has wide application and is orga- levels as recommended in the book. When one
nized and written to be understood by backyard punches in appropriate numbers from the Logan
gardeners. Solomon says you need very little Lab report, soil fertilizer prescriptions pop up.
background in chemistry or math to use this The app is a real time saver and is easy to use.
book, and I agree. The book contains techni- For gardeners wanting a book with useful in-
cal information, explained in layman’s terms, formation for growing nutrient-dense vegetables,
and is at the same time very complete. Careful this book is number one on my list. It reflects
When the attention to his precepts will be rewarded with the authors' great knowledge and many years of
accurate guidance for what is appropriate and
minerals in the useful for each grower’s specific needs, such as experience. Should new insights on remineraliza-
tion be revealed, Solomon promises to revise the
soil reach the high soil pH or mineral excesses, for example. calculation sheets. Even if a reader does not use

proper levels Solomon weaves in personal stories with humor the Logan Lab soil tests and/or the Reinheimer
and candor to illustrate his points and underscore
and ratios the the efficacy of his methodology. app, the book is loaded with good information
and is well worth reading. Thumbs UP.
soil will grow Solomon’s unifying theme among all the Review by Calvin F. Bey, PhD
its own organic topics of his book is to get the minerals in the soil
to the proper levels and ratios, and then the soil
matter. will grow its own organic matter. As for adding
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