The secrets of fertile soils

If we want to get to know the miracle of creation and the laws of healthy life better, it is necessary to learn more about the life proces-ses in the top layer of the soil to which we gave the honourable name Mother Earth. Our language itself shows how our earth and its order are reliant on one another and how, if we do not want to risk the security of our own existence, we cannot afford to ignore the laws of creation and; destruction. We are talking about a cycle of health that begins in the earth, and includes plants, animals and human beings and ends up in the earth again. Keeping this cycle uncontaminated is the main concern we should have when caring for our livelihood. It is, therefore, a good idea to observe the work of Erhard Hennig, who has devoted his whole life to dealing with this issue. Hennig profits from the knowledge of Albrecht Thaer, who was the father of agricultural science. He and his contemporaries Dr. Rudolf Steiner, Dr. Hans Müller and Dr. Hans Peter Rusch discovered that good quality humus is the only foundation for healthy growth. They developed the Professional requirements for a widespread Imove to ecological farming. Raou lH. France and his dauntless partner AnniFrance-Harrar with their holistic vision are mentioned, as is Sir Albert Howard, who recorded his life experience in the book 'My Agricultural Testament'. We will also find Professor August Bier who was a medicinal doctor and forester, and who managed to build up a deciduous wood on a poor quality sandy soil in Sauen near Berlin. Erhard Hennig spent more than 50 years as an research assistant with Dr. Gustav Rhode in Berlin. Later Hennig investigated in the West, wrote books and gave lectures all over the German-speaking countries about the life concealed in the soil, and humus develop ment. In this way he imparted his knowledge to the agricultural society and managed to build up a profitable business in the face of a powererful scientific Community which was determined not to understand or accept him. Together with Wolfgang von Haller – he founded e Society for Soil and Health in Langenburg in Württemberg/Germany. This was the first Institution to spread the seeds of ecological thought for wide political use. Hennig was also one of the founders of the association 'For the Use of Urban Waste', which brought the disturbed ecological cycle of the consumer society to the attention of the public. The healthy future of our country and planet depends on just a few people who are able to think beforehand and who do not take their personal well-being and career into consideration. Even if the term 'ecology' has been used (and abused) in the last few years by every politician who wanted to be taken seriously, the big ecological crisis will be still a great challenge to cope with. It will be heralded by a decline in the fertility of our soil and in a decrease in water quality. May this book help to awaken the spirit of resistance in thought-ful people and also to enable them to draw conclusions which will affect their personal lives. by Dr. Erich Siefert