Jeff Lowenfels, "teaming with microbes" what does RIU think?

I have recently befriended and have spent some time talking gardening with the author of "teaming with microbes" and recently of "teaming with nutrients". I have been growing with chemical fertilizers for the past 7 years and after reading his books, discussing organic grow techniques and some online browsing I am convinced to give it a try, just for a few head stash plants that I plan on curing and keeping for me and my guests that I would smoke with.

Has anyone else read this, or these, books, and what do they think about the case he makes for organic gardening, is it really that much better than the advanced nutrients chemical frets I use to burn my plants with? Or am I going to drop yield in place if a slight increase in flavor and smell and wish I had never done it.

Though this may sound like a organic vs chemical feet post, I am more curious if my fellow RIUers know of these books and have an opinion about the information within. Thanks RIU!

There are a few "Teaming" themed threads here on RIU. I just read the dead zone in our Gulf of Mexico is 2X as big as last year. Fertilizers are again the cause. I have very little respect for fertilizers or the companies that make them.

In my opinion, fertilizers are unsustainable, though most guys don't really care.

https://www.rollitup.org/organics/427826-soil-food-web-gardening-compost.html

teaming with nutrients is quite a bit more technical than teaming with microbes and to be honest, I am a bit lost reading it. but like i did with teaming with microbes, i will just read it to the end and hopefully everything will make sense by then lol.

teaming with microbes is a must read book and I have convinced several friends to stop using chemicals only from getting them to read this book. i have a long list of people wanting to read my book after looking at my wicked veggie garden.

I have yet to take a look at Teaming with Nutrients, however i do plan on picking up a copy. I have read most of Teaming with Microbes. It seems the difference between the people who read it and the people who do not, is that once you read it you cringe at the thought of nuking your soil with in-organic fertilizers.. Teaming with Microbes is a good start, You can find more information on organic gardening from Dr. Elaine Ingham.

Teaming with the Microbes opened my eyes...

Check the link in my sig

I'll have to snag the 'nutrients' book, wasn't aware of it. Read 'microbes' 4 or 5 years ago. Good book, but a little too basic, that's why I'm looking forward to the nutrients book.

All in all, microbes is a good book especially for someone just starting out. I've been gardening for a number of years and that's probably why it seemed a bit basic. Still, learned some things.

Wet

I haven't read "Nutrients," but there's some talk about it on RIU and how it stinks compared to "microbes"

the way i look at it is teaming with microbes should be the first one on the list, and is also much easier to read. teaming with nutrients is not an easy read ... unless u are already familiar with all that stuff.

Teaming with Nutrients isn't really hoeing any new territory. It's a good basic botany book with a little on the practical side. I enjoyed the read but not as much as Teaming with Microbes where I was learning a new paradigm; that's always more exciting. Of course anything with chemistry in it is going to be dryer than a book without any...but life is chemistry so it's a little hard to skip the subject and he handles it at a basic level.

That's probably the best summary out there. One is a Bio101 review, the other changed the way we think and perceive. Don't get me wrong. These two authors make money off one another, as they are in the horticulture industry, but the book puts things into perspective nonetheless.