Humates, as explained by Mark Turner of Catalyst Product Group

In response to my inquiry as to the product Activate 80 Micronized Humate produced by Catalyst Product Group and its affect on fungal populations, Mark replied with the following (extraordinary and marvelous):

Lesson #1: Humates (lignites or leonardite, or leaonardite shale) are what humic, fulvic and ulmic acids come from. Naturally occurring humates that are mined are found all over the US and world. These products are often found around Coal mines. This black to dark brown shale which should have no BTU (can't burn) is where humates come from. Read my letter to the industry about these products on my web page. The pH of these products are usually around 3.5 to 6.5.

Lesson #2: Humic acids (liquid) are "ONLY" soluble at alkaline pH's, above 9. So you use something like potassium hydroxide to extract, much like gold is extracted. Phosphate can not be used to extract humic acid.

Lesson #3: Fulvic acid (liquid) is soluble at any pH with solubility going up as pH drops. This is where most people use Phosphoric acid to extract. WE DO NOT, we ferment our extraction process to preserve the carbon molecules that chelate.

Lesson #4: Fungi are interesting creatures (not animals), they like high organic soils that are not disturbed. Every time you disrupt the soil you will kill many forms of fungi. This is why most agricultural soils are bacterial dominant. Yes, any of the above 3 products will stimulate fungi in a compost tea, but the fungi and bacteria will only live as long as the food source(s) in your tea are available and the soil is not disturbed. Yes, some fungi will live, but most of what is in your teas will not colonize in the soil.

Lesson #5: What to do. Use good compost and good fertility programs to promote the health of the soil (add humates, humic and fulvic acids). Feed the naturally occurring soil micro-organisms that are already in the soil. You will get more fungi out of compost than compost tea. Activate 80 micronized can be put in tea's and is all over the place. It is not soluble and needs good agitation to stir it up. Activate 80 is a naturally occurring humate, not fortified with anything. Call Peaceful Valley Farm Supply in Grass Valley Ca to order the product.

Children and nature.

We learn so much from them, when we simply observe and listen. The patterns of Nature as imaged by my youngest son, age six.

Deluge of water? Not a problem, when Permaculture methods are deployed.

Permaculture is a design science that renews natural resources and enriches local ecosystems. Through our work at Ethos, we seek to implement landscape solutions under the practice of Permaculture.

The Ethos crew completed installation of a French drain on a property; our intent was to relocate the water and yet keep it on the property. This practice not only ensures the health of the ecosystem of the site, it prevents additional flow into the storm drains, thereby retaining nutrients on the land.

Water would previously collect at this site in the front yard, creating a pond for many months of the year. I designed the drain to move this source back along the fenceline, then into a percolating drain where it now waters a hillside with mighty redwoods towering above.

The drain runs parallel to the left of the waddle shown below (I installed the waddle as a precaution before the storm).

NB this image is "before"

We experienced a huge storm over the past two days - 4.7" with a high rain rate of 2.4"/hour. Suffice it write - tons of water in a short time. I am pleased to report the drain not only moved the water as we intended, the percolating area remained intact with no land loss and the front yard - previously a pond in this situation - was solid and as I walked over it, next to the drain, my boot sank only about 1/4". Very exciting, to a soil geek such as me.

Now, onto the design for this marvelous space.

Update Oct-10: we have completed the site. Quite a transformation. The image to the right is taken from the same vantage point at the "before" above.

Healing and laughter,

Jae