Interview with Hida Manns - Mycorrhizal fungi

[ottawagardener]

I was delighted when Hida Manns, a researcher in alternative agricultural, who I have seen speak two years running at the Canadian Organic Grower sponsered Eco Farm Day agreed to do an interview with me:

veggiepatchreimagined.blogspot.com/2010/05/fungi-instead-of-fertilizer-hida-manns.html

Feel free to make comments on the blog too

[ottawagardener]

For those interested, she is giving a talk in Ottawa, June 1st at the Grey Room of the Bronson Centre titled Organic Agriculture as a Buffer for Climate Change. Come and meet me there. If you tell me ahead of time, I"ll bring my big box 'o' seeds.

[ottawagardener]

She took us on a whirlwind talk from, as another audience member said - Lloyd from COG - the microscopic world of fungi hyphae to the macroscopic conditions of the ocean currents. If I were to poorly sum up the gist of what she was saying, it would be this:

Residue - organic matter on the surface, and active vegetation moderate the extremes in moisture in the soil which helps to moderate moisture in the air and therefore moderates the extremes in diurnal (day/night) temperatures. Ultimately, this helps to buffer the effects of climate fluctuations expected in climate change. There were more details about carbon sequestration in organic soils, symbiotic fungal communities as insurance policies against drought and bostering immune systems in plants and how 'weed' growth (mostly perennial grasses in her garden) harbour beneficials and prevent pest plagues.

A really interesting researcher that is worth following.

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[zadok]

Very cool. I did some tests using Mycorrhizal fungi on a few plants last year. some with it some without. the results were astounding. Plants with the mycorrhizal fungi had almost doubled in growth to the others. There is some good info on it in paul staments, mycelium running:how mushrooms can help save the earth.

[garnetmoth]

second year with good rabbit manure loads into the garden. Ive seen a lot more fuzzy root litter and bajillions more worms this year. Im also getting some little mushrooms here and there.

Sorry I didnt see this last year, but better late than never!