Copper tools and Viktor Schauberger

[castanea]

For those who may never have heard of him, Viktor Schauberger was an amazing man. He was always trying to understand how nature worked and was unexcelled at understanding water. He was never an academician which was one of his strengths.

In his own words:

"Even in earliest youth my fondest desire was to understand Nature and through such understanding to come closer to truth; a truth I was unable to discover either at school or in church. "

From his daughter in law:

"Viktor came from intuition. His three older brothers all had an academic education, and were distinguished men. But Viktor did not trust the thinking of people who had studied academically. Viktor believed that a person’s thinking is spoilt by academic training. Academic training prevents people from appreciating the ways of Nature."

Among many things he observed was the value of using copper tools for gardening.

"...Viktor started to experiment with copper, initially making use of a standard steel ploughshare overlaid with a sheet of thick copper as shown in figs.19.1 & 19.2 for which patents were later applied and which came to be known as the 'Golden Plough' because of the remarkable results it achieved. The use of copper replaced the destructive ferro-electromagnetic effects with beneficial bio-lectromagnetic ones which through processes of bio-electromagnetic ionisation enhanced growth and soil fertility.

This boost to soil fertility was decisively confirmed in field trials carried out in the vicinity of Salzburg in 1948 and 1949. Here fields were ploughed in strips, using steel and copper-plated ploughs alternately. The difference between the two types of plough and their effect became quite apparent. Where the copper-plated plough had been used, i.e. where there were no rust residues and where the water content and other energies of the soil had been increased, the corn stood about 6-8 inches higher with a much fuller head."

wimvos.co.uk/content/view/5/35/

This may be the best introductory book about him:

Hidden Nature: The Startling Insights of Viktor Schauberger

www.amazon.com/Hidden-Nature-Startling-Insights-Schauberger/dp/1931882487/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268629545&sr=8-1

[castanea]

A good website about him:

www.schauberger.co.uk/home.html

"Viktor Schauberger (1885 - 1958) was a natural scientist whose ideas were way ahead of the time. As a young man he worked as a 'forest-master' in the Austrian Alps when they were still a true wilderness. His remarkable observations of Nature-in-the-raw were to influence his entire life's work.

Schauberger's insights into Nature's ways pivoted around the essential characteristics of water as a living substance that energises all life, both organic and inorganic. He frequently asserted "water is a living organism" - an idea to which poets and philosophers have subscribed, but which has escaped conventional science.

He was passionate about trees, and natural forests as the cradle of water. He warned how deforestation would deplete the world of water and destroy fertility, causing deserts and climatic chaos. He argued that when the natural eco-systems are in balance and diversity rules, there is great creativity and the evolution of higher and more complex life forms, but there is also order and stability.

When humanity walked lightly on the Earth, we cooperated with Nature. Although we are still part of Nature, we behave as though we are not, but above it, dominating and exploiting it. Viktor warned that the more we continued to go against Nature, the whole eco-system would become sick, the climate destructive, and human society would break down, with extreme violence, greed and pandemic illnesses.

"How else should it be done", he was asked. His answer was straightforward and uncompromising -- "Exactly in the opposite way that it is done today!"

Viktor Schauberger's discovery of the enormous energy potential contained in living water led him to develop the technology of implosion (the opposite to explosion) with radical new forms of propulsion and an appliance that converted lifeless water into healing water with the vitality of a mountain spring. His insights about vortex energy and implosion have made possible the development of a new range of products that give us sustainable and healing energy, and show the way to healing our environment."

[castanea]

A nice summary of the use of copper tools from a site that sells them:

"Austrian naturalist Viktor Schauberger first observed the detrimental effects of iron tools on soil health during the 1930’s. Iron particles rust in the soil breeding pathogenic bacteria and inhibiting the soils ability to retain moisture. By the 1950’s experimental work had proven that the use of copper implements in agriculture resulted in a distinct improvement in both quality and yield of field crops. Copper benefits soil by feeding beneficial microscopic life and adding conductivity to the soils own life building energies! It was for this reason that PKS began hand-crafting garden tools built of copper, free of lead and iron. Highly developed past civilizations, such as Imperial China were know for their use of copper implements and consistently renounced the use of iron when working with soil. "

[kathm]

Odd that. When geologists look for copper ore they can often find it by the fact that a concentration of copper kills plants in the area. 'Copper clearings' indicate an area high in copper.

[bunkie]

interesting castanea. i was just reading on some blog about using copper pennies taped together to irradicate fungus and bad molds from areas. they're supposed to enhance the microbacteria, improve the soil. i was thinking of trying them in the perennial rye patch where we got some Ergot last year.

[mnjrutherford]

Hey, what about blight?

[castanea]

Mar 15, 2010 6:54:11 GMT -5 kathm said:

Odd that. When geologists look for copper ore they can often find it by the fact that a concentration of copper kills plants in the area. 'Copper clearings' indicate an area high in copper.

There's a big difference between micro particles of a substance and mass quantities. There are numerous trace elements that plants and animals need to be healthy, but large quantities of those same trace elements can often be toxic.

[johno]

That's logical (trace amounts).

There are rumors that linesmen here sometimes hammer copper nails into particularly troublesome trees that they aren't allowed to cut down.

[johno]

So, here's a question I've been struggling with... what about using Bordeaux mix as a foliar fungicide for tomatoes? Will the particles of copper that make it into the ground be beyond trace amounts? If not at first, is it plausible that I'd be able to tell when to stop using it visually?

[MikeH]

Mar 15, 2010 8:14:42 GMT -5 bunkie said:

interesting castanea. i was just reading on some blog about using copper pennies taped together to irradicate fungus and bad molds from areas. they're supposed to enhance the microbacteria, improve the soil. i was thinking of trying them in the perennial rye patch where we got some Ergot last year.

Ergot has also been linked to copper deficiency. Copper deficiency can delay flowering and triggers male sterility, causing the floret to remain open longer. Sandy or light loam soils are most likely to be copper deficient. Crops with a high proportion of tillers will flower unevenly, and also be exposed to infection for a longer period of time. ... The addition of copper will also help control ergot infection, but only in copper deficient soils.

And soil high in organic matter [is] chronically deficient in copper. I've planted the rye in a new raised bed which is almost nothing but organic matter.

I think I'll test the soil where my rye is growing. Hopefully, it tests deficient. And then hopefully, adding copper sulfate will start to reduce the ergot. There's also a mention that copper chelate can be used as a foliar spray.

Attachments:

[castanea]

From the University of Minnesota:

"Copper (Cu) is an essential nutrient for plant growth, but because only a small amount is needed, it is classified as a micronutrient. Most Minnesota soils contain adequate amounts of this nutrient for optimum crop yields. Organic or peat soils are exceptions and Cu might be needed in a fertilizer program when small grains are grown on these soils. Wheat is the most sensitive to Cu deficiency. Although barley and oat crops are less sensitive, Cu use will increase their yield when grown on organic soils.
Role in Plant Growth

Copper is an important component of proteins found in the enzymes that regulate the rate of many biochemical reactions in plants. Plants would not grow without the presence of these specific enzymes. Research projects show that copper:

promotes seed production and formation
plays an essential role in chlorophyll formation
is essential for proper enzyme activity

Deficiency Symptoms

In Minnesota, evidence of Cu deficiency has appeared when small grains are grown on organic soils in the northern part of the state. Symptoms of Cu deficiency are almost never seen in production fields in the remainder of the state. These deficiency symptoms are characterized by a general light green to yellow color in the small grain crop. The leaf tips die back and the tips are twisted. A typical deficiency symptom for wheat is shown in Figure 1. If Cu deficiency is severe enough, growth of small grains ceases and plants die after reaching the tillering growth stage. Wheat will not have grain in the head. Deficiency symptoms have only been observed when small grains are grown on peat soils."

www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/cropsystems/DC6790.html

[castanea]

"Copper (Cu++)

Function

Copper is essential for many plant functions. Some of them are

It functions as a catalyst in photosynthesis and respiration.
It is a constituent of several enzyme systems involved in building and converting amino acids to proteins.
Copper is important in carbohydrate and protein metabolism.
It is important to the formation of lignin in plant cell walls which contributes to the structural strength of the cells, and the plant.
Copper also affects the flavor, the storageability, and the sugar content of fruits.

Factors Affecting Availability

Root Growth: Copper is the most immobile micronutrient, therefore anything that inhibits new root growth will inhibit Cu uptake.
Soil pH: Acid soils increase Cu uptake and High pH inhibits uptake.
Organic Matter: Copper is readily and tightly complexed by organic matter, therefore high soil organic matter levels reduce Cu availability.
Flooding: Waterlogged soils can reduce Cu availability while they are saturated, however after they are drained the Cu will become available again.
Cu:Zn Balance: High Zn levels will reduce Cu availability.
Cu:N Balance: High N uptake in the presence of marginal Cu levels can lead to a reduction of Cu transport into the growing tips of plants.
Cu:P Balance: High soil and plant P levels can reduce Cu uptake due to reduced soil exploration by mycorrhizas associated with plant roots.
N Stress: Low N availability decreases the vigor of plants to an extent that it may fail to take up adequate amounts of many other nutrients. Copper uptake can be affected in this way.

High Response Crops

While this is an essential element for all plants, these crops have been found to be especially responsive: alfalfa, barley, blueberry, beet, broccoli, carrot, cabbage, celery, eggplant, flax, lettuce, oats, onion, parsnip, pepper, rye, spinach, sudangrrass, tomato, watermelon, and wheat.

Deficiency Symptoms

Young tissues show chlorosis, distortion, and necrosis (death). The death of the growing points often leads to excessive tillering in cereal crops and excessive branching in dicots (non-grass crops). Some vegetables show a blue-green color before advancing to chlorosis. Excessive wilting, lodging and reduced disease resistance result from the weak cell walls caused by Cu deficiency. Reduced seed and fruit yield is caused mainly by male sterility. Copper deficiency often causes a complete failure to set flowers. Lettuce and onions most commonly manifest visible symptoms with only a slight deficiency occurring. Copper is found to be evenly distributed in the plant, but is relatively immobile. Therefore, a constant supply is needed throughout the growing season."

www.spectrumanalytic.com/support/library/ff/Cu_Basics.htm

[cletus]

I have a couple of the Schauberger-inspired brass garden tools from Germany, and I must say I love them. They never rust and it really does seem like they "go in the ground easier" as is mentioned in the documentary of VS, which you can watch for free at: archive.org/details/Victor_Schauberger_Comprehend_and_Copy_Nature

[12540dumont]

what site sells them?

We've used copper in the garden....copper bands around slug/snail sensitive plants.

I used to have a whole string of copper bands cut from 3 inch copper pipe....before the recycle bandits came.

Now I can't afford 3 inch copper pipe!

[cletus]

Yea the copper tools are not cheap either obviously, but I appreciate good tools which I enjoy using. There is some anecdotal evidence of these tools helping slug problems. Did you find the copper bands to help? They are out of Austria, excuse me, : www.kupferspuren.at/en.html , but I got mine through UK distributor at implementations.co.uk