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Don’t Fertilize Your Lawn This Summer Until You Read This First

By on August 9, 2014
Vegan Fertilizer

Being a responsible vegan means being diligent about how we interact with and impact the environment in which we live. Understanding and paying attention to decisions like whether or not to fertilize a lawn should always be an informed decision.

Don’t fertilize your lawn this summer until you read this
There are an incredible amount of negative effects that chemical fertilizers can have on our yards and our lives. Often, people are under the assumption that it is beneficial to use fertilizer on a yard. People believe that fertilized lawns are healthier, and can stand up better to conditions like weather, foot traffic and mowing. While the summer time months in particular are hard on a lawn, chemical fertilizers can result in:

Soil damage
Bodily harm
Food contamination
Dangerous for your pets

Soil quickly becomes damaged when chemical fertilizers are applied because they are absent crucial trace minerals and micro nutrients otherwise found in organic fertilizers. Unfortunately, organic fish fertilizers are non-vegan friendly as well. When a lawn is fertilized with chemical products, micro organisms are killed off making the soil barren and unable to produce or grow anything at all. Moreover, long-term effects of using chemically based lawn fertilizers results in harm to plants, soil and the environment.

Why organic fish fertilizers are non-vegan
Even organic fish based fertilizers can contain excessive antibiotics that are harmful to health. Historically used prior to chemical fertilizers, fish fertilizer has been popular for organic gardening because of its high nitrogen and trace mineral content, lacking from that of chemical versions. It has gained attention and been of more recent concern however, because of the amount of antibiotics being used in salmon or other types of fish farms. Such antibiotics can be harmful since they remain present as bone and blood meal is processed into fertilizer. In addition to arguable farming antics, vegans live by strict principles that preclude consuming fish in any way, shape or form for both environmental and ethical reasons.

Benefits comparison
The advantages of chemical fertilizers are that they are produced from synthetics that effectively stimulate plant growth. They are both reliable and predictable. Users can identify exactly which nutrients they are using on their plants.

Organic fertilizers on the other hand are composed of natural substances like manure and fish. While they are offensive to smell, these fertilizers substantially improve soil quality and texture and increase its ability to hold water.

Aside from the obvious problems with chemical, commercial fertilizers like long-term soil pH imbalances, toxins and respiratory damage, both chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers can be used incorrectly and contribute to groundwater contamination.

Vegan friendly alternatives
Fortunately, there are several vegan friendly alternatives to instances where consumers would otherwise require fertilizers. Growing food for example, healthfully and naturally can be accomplished by incorporating vegan-friendly mix products. Taking care of a lawn without using furniture is also doable while practicing veganism.

Vegan-organic lawn care
Caring for a lawn without using fertilizer can be tackled hydroponic-style by using compost tea blended from plant materials, rock powders and seaweed. Compost tea never contains animal derived ingredients and is effective for promoting carbon to help with growth. Vegan-green lawn care and gardening can be as rewarding as it is good for everyone. Tricks like incorporating raised flower or gardening beds, a little creativity and tending to the area often will ensure soil, seeds and plants survive successfully. In addition to tender love and care, protecting the area from harsh weather throughout each season is also required.

Don’t fertilize your lawn this summer until you read this first

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