Growing without man made chemicals is superior to growing with chemical fertilizers that destroy the ecological balance of the soil.
Did you know that chemical fertilizers are salts? Did you know that the Romans when they conquered other countries salted the earth to prevent them from growing? Guess what you are doing when you using chemical fertilizers? Salting your own soil and reducing your soils ability to maintain a balanced ecosystem!

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Superior
Growing without man made chemicals is superior to growing with chemical fertilizers that destroy the ecological balance of the soil.
Did you know that chemical fertilizers are salts? Did you know that the Romans when they conquered other countries salted the earth to prevent them from growing? Guess what you are doing when you using chemical fertilizers? Salting your own soil and reducing your soils ability to maintain a balanced ecosystem!
Soil Basics
Here are a few tips on keeping your soil alive and healthy....
First Basic rule of keeping soil alive is to maintain a proper ph level. Ph levels determine what bacteria are present in your soil. Bacteria will only survive within a small ph range. Each plant has its specific ph level. That is why some plants are acid loving and some are not. All plants with too high of a alkaline ph (anything above 7.4) will have a reduction in specific bacteria which in turn will have a reduction in the availability of trace minerals which the plants can then use.
This translates to brix levels of the plant.
What is brix?
Brix (°bx)
Definition
Relative density scale  indicates the percent of sucrose by weight (grams per 100 milliliter of water) in a solution or juice of a plant measured in degrees Brix (°Bx). A refractometer is used for measuring solids dissolved in water, it corresponds directly to the refractive index scale. A refractometer allows you to accurately measure the percentage of sugar or brix in any liquid with just 2 or 3 drops.
Very simple to use. Just press a liquid sample down against the glass plate. Point it toward a light source and look through the eyepiece to view the reading. A refractometer is a "must have" for anyone growing their own food or wine. Don`t guess when to pick, just take a few samples from throughout your plants to determine instantly the sugar or brix content of your citrus before picking. Also, handy for taking quick readings to insure that the brix level is staying high enough.
A good Brix level to maintain is 16 or higher.
For more information on the refractometer and how you can determine the brix levels of your citrus as well  as everything you eat and lawns, flowers etc
visit
http://www.crossroads.ws/brixbook/BBook.htm
Refractometers and charts are available from:
    •    Pike Agri-Lab Supplies Inc. RR2, Box 710, Strong, ME 04983 (207-684-5131).

    •    Online auction houses, such as eBay.
    •    Rex Harrill, PO Box 6 Keedysville, MD 21756 301-432-2979 will assist anyone who cannot obtain an instrument.