Great article as usual, Tom. Now I have four more books to add to my gigantic pile -- us noobs have so much catching up to do.

Question: I believe the nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus for synthetic fertilizer are most commonly derived from oil, yes? Do you think that rising petroleum prices, and the likelihood that production may have peaked, will cause the industrial agriculture system to crash? Or is there an alternate way to synthesize these chemicals from something we have unlimited amounts of...say, from feedlot manure? Of course, feedlot cows eat corn, which requires massive amounts of artificial fertilizer...

My secret hope is that "peak oil" could force the whole unhealthy system to reboot.

Bonnie aka Dairy Queen

These days, fertilizer is derived from natural gas, which is finite but more abundant than petroleum. Natural gas prices are tied to petrol prices, and they did go way up over the past several years, putting a serious squeeze on conventional farmers.

But I do think your broad point is right -- the clock is ticking on cheap and easy industrial food.

Tom, nice piece. When I was researching my book I couldn't figure out why more people didn't know about Albert Howard, and the revolution he launched in farming. Rudolph Steiner of the Biodynamic school was talking about many similar issues at the same time. I think you would like this other book that puts Howard's work in context:

Philip Conford, The Origins of the Organic Movement

A battered copy of 'An Agricultural Testament' found in a used book store some 30 years ago is what got me started composting and growing things organically. It's right there on my bookshelf next to Schumacher, J.I. and my favorite trinity:  Wendell, Wes and Gene.  

I didn't know U of K had reprinted The Soil and Health - thanks for the tip.

What has always delighted me about this subject is its simplicity, and complete and utter sensibility.  It just makes sense, and it isn't at all difficult, to feed and build the soil by re-using available plant matter and animal manure, speeding the decomposition process so as to have what amounts to a local fertilizer factory.  As a backyard composter, I am able to generate several tons of beautiful soil a year in my tiny suburban yard using the abundance of prunings and clippings generated on the property.  My neighbors export all their plant waste to the curbside collection program, which isn't necessarily all bad, but it is a resource outflow... and returns nothing of food value to them.  My compost helps me grow a year-round supply of vegetables and fruit in season.  And I don't need to take an extension course to learn how to make it - I learned from the master himself.