Soil Fertility, Trace Elements Focus of Arboretum Talk

ESPERANCE, NY (04/23/2008)(readMedia)-- Homeowners, gardeners – anyone, in fact, who wants to learn more about getting the most from soil and from life – are invited to attend a Tuesday, April 29 session on “Soil Fertility and Trace Elements” at the Landis Arboretum with instructor David Yarrow between 6 – 8 PM. To register, call the Landis Arboretum (875-6935). $35 members, $45 non-members.

Mr. Yarrow is Executive Director of Turtle EyeLand Sanctuary in East Greenbush, NY, and a well-know writer, teacher, naturalist, healer, dowser, and taoser.

According to Mr. Yarrow, “we pay attention to major and organic minerals -- but we still are learning about the key roles of trace elements and micro-organisms to create enzymes, hormones, DNA, and bio-regulator molecules. Evidence is emerging that plants and animals need – not 32 – but all 90 elements, many at parts per trillion.”

At the April 29 meeting, Mr. Yarrow will explain the role of minerals, trace elements and microbes in soil, and explore options for getting the most from the least from soil, plants—and health. He emphasizes natural materials and methods that reduce our use of fossil fuels and minimize carbon emission and other pollution.

In 1983, Mr. Yarrow organized the founding meeting of the Northeast Organic Farming Assoc. of NY (NOFA-NY). In 1985, he started NOFA-NY’s organic certification service, and in 1986, started Finger Lakes Organic Growers Coop. Mr. Yarrow continues to teach popular workshops on soil fertility at organic farming conferences.

“Most diseases and pests in agriculture and human health are nutritional disorders,” said Mr. Yarrow. “In nutrition, minerals are the fundamental nutrients. Among minerals, trace elements – the least of all minerals – provide the keys to genetics, immunity, membranes, hormones, and neurological function. Healing the land and healing ourselves both require renewing these least of all elements to soils and foods.”

Mr. Yarrow has a special personal intimacy with his subject. In 1992, he was electrocuted by 6000 volts while in Wisconsin to interview an electrical engineer on hazards of electric power grids. The next four years were a fierce fight for life and healing. In and out of hospitals and nursing homes in several states, he credits his recovery to “angels” and also Trace-lyte™, a unique trace mineral electrolyte. Two years later, he began to walk again, and moved to a 190-year-old historic farmhouse in East Greenbush, NY.

He continues his recovery, and is creating Turtle EyeLand Sanctuary as a nature education center and headquarters for the New York Champion Tree Project. Mr. Yarrow currently teaches a workshop on carbon-negative strategy to produce food, fertility and biofuels from organic wastes, and supports a Northeast “beyond organix” initiative to produce and market “nutrient dense” foods, grown in fully fertile soil that have superior nutritional quality.

David Yarrow's articles, insights and written ruminations are on the World Wide Web at his website: www.championtrees.org

David Yarrow, 518-881-6632, dyarrow@nycap.rr.com

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