My point... conventional gardening, and conventional farming for that matter, is based on known systems that are failing the consumer and even the producers. Why are those failing systems continued to be used? Why is the nation worried about climate change and not willing to change old habits of food production for a sustainable system?
Our ignorance about life is at present profound.
Source: author Eve Balfour 1953 article "9600 miles across the USA in a station wagon."
It is my understanding that there have been studies proving nutrient depletion in the soil of conventional farming. These studies (Haughley Farms in the mid to late 1930's) at which time states more people should be made aware of the facts that organic farming methods are far more sustainable than conventional. Such as in the area of chemical fertilizer and the nutrient lose over a 10 year period as well as microbial soil depletion which basically means lifeless soil. This is then a comparative of conventional versus organic. We move onto a system of growing food by Mollison the Father of permaculture. Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier have a wonderful in-depth set of books "Edible Forest Garden". I applaud these men and women for their contribution towards the education of our ignorance. But it is a daunting task to maneuver conventional farming to organic let alone into the permaculture system. Yet this move is highly needed and seems somewhat sequestered from public use with exception to a few community groups and a farm here and there in the tropics. The main thought of many people is that I don't need to worry about food when I can buy it at the grocery store. Currently I grow food without any chemicals and have been doing so for over 10 years. I have been adding more perennial plants as funds allow and always looking for free mulch. Plus other ideas. I understand that new world opportunities are often only traveled by those most adventurous and willing to take risk. But if some of these reports have been around 50 60 and 70 years what are we waiting for?