Earthworms and Herbicides -

Using Roundup kills beneficial microbes and soil animals needed for fertile soil:

A new study publish this week in "Water, Air and Soil Pollution" asserts that pesticides sublethal effects are not regularly taken into account when assessing agro-chemical's toxicity. With the objective of detecting chronic, sublethal effects of the widely used herbicide glyphosate (Roundup weed killer), an experiment was performed using the earthworm Eisenia fetida as the model organism.

Earthworm adults were randomly assigned to three glyphosate treatments: control (no glyphosate), regular dose for perennial weeds and double dose. The matrix population model built showed that while the control population had a positive growth rate, both glyphosate treatments showed negative growth rates.

The results suggest that under these sublethal effects, non-target populations are at risk of local extinction, underscoring the importance of this type of study in agrochemical environmental risk assessment. To make this study easier to understand it should be said that whenever you apply a glyphosate herbicide like Roundup you are likely going to be killing off the beneficial microbes and soil animals that make your soil fertile. This in spite of the manufacturer's statement that the product becomes inert when it reaches the soil.

Simple Eco-Recipe to Clean Your Fruits and Veggies

Washing your produce helps remove pesticides from your fruits and veggies. Even if you buy organic, a produce wash can help remove dirt or insects.

All Natural Fruit and Veggie Tonic:

3 cups filtered water
3 Tbs white or apple vinegar
2 tbs baking soda

Mix and place in spray bottle or bowl. either spray veggies and then scrub and rinse. Or drop veggies into bowl of solution and then rinse in water.