BlueStar Blog

On reading the previous entry, one could make the argument that the only reason the information about charcoal and moisture was available to be published in a woman's magazine is because someone had to do serious research through the scientific method to find this out. Without this research, one could argue, we would have never known how to benefit from the use of charcoal.

Perhaps, but perhaps not.

Let me introduce the concept of "Terra preta", "Amazonian dark earth", or "Indian black earth". Linda and I first heard of this on a radio show by Patrick Timpone not that long ago. According to wikipedia, "Terra preta... is a type of very dark, fertile... soil found in the Amazon Basin... [These] soils are of pre-Columbian nature and were created by humans between 450 BC and AD 950.[6][7]"

Terra preta was created through the introduction of wood charcoal, pottery shards, bone, and manure to the soil. This soil amendment is so powerful and beneficial that "Thousands of years after its creation it has been reported to regenerate itself at the rate of 1 centimeter (0.39 in) per year[8]..."

While apparently the question still remains as to whether terra preta is an intentional creation or a simple byproduct of habitation, the point here is threefold.

• First, when a society lives Harmoniously with Creation, the likely outcome or byproduct of such Life is naturally beneficial to the environment.
• Second, scientific research is unnecessary to live in such a way and benefit from such Life. 
• Third, there is great Wisdom in the use of "primitive" technology and knowledge.