Secrets of the Soil: New Age Solutions for Restoring Our Planet by Peter Tompkins

by Peter Tompkins

Explores scientific and mystical developments that renew and enhance the soil, among them rock dust fertilizer, biodynamic agriculture, and other highly unusual fertilizers.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Plants, Gardening, Nature, Sustainability

Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Peter Tompkins was an American journalist, World War II spy, and best-selling author.
His best known and most influential books include The Secret Life of Plants, published in 1973, Secrets of the Great Pyramid, reprinted in paperback in 1997, and Mysteries of the Mexican Pyramids, published in 1976. He is the father of author Ptolemy Tompkins.

Reviews

[Thai Son · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely informative book. I think the 5 star is basically me going a bit too much ahead of myself. This book will deserve this rating when I can actually try some of this gardening stuff. But as a person who has been lately immersed in more spiritual practices, this book makes sense. I only hoped that it could point to some more failures at some of these homeopathic practices, because presenting 100% affirmative experiences on a subject considered controversial by most is not a good strategy. Though the counter arguments of the goodreads reviewers (labeling this as pseudoscience, followed by some silly quotes that are irrelevant) are pretty weak, they would serve as very strong deterrence for any new reader. The prose was fine, decent storytelling smudged between a lot of information that can be a bit wearing sometimes.
I think this book is very good as a guide to an aspirant organic farmer, or anyone with an agenda regarding this spiritual-love-organic farming practices, but it is not for the uninitiated. I look forward to translate this to vietnamese and also try some farming myself.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. We have already established that Peter Tompkins is a kook. Like all great kooks and raving nutters, however, he makes some valid points. I think bio-dynamic gardening is great, and that is a major topic of this book. Also, no one else, at the time this was written, was raising the alarm about the erosion of topsoil and the horrible chemicals being used to sustain plant growth. History has vindicated Tompkins on his concern for the soil, and I highly applaud his efforts.

[Sally]

This book is mentioned in Chicken Tractor: the permaculture guide to happy hens and healthy soil. Apparently, seedlings that "hear" recorded pre-dawn birdsong absorb 7 times the nutrients and moisture.

?? Sounds like a *very* interesting book!

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most non-traditional book on soil that I have read yet.

Fascinating how the authors can relate the energy vortex phenomena of Sedona (Arizona) to the swirling produced when A Very Special Compost is stirred into a barrel of rain water.

Now if I can just get some fresh cow manure and a few cow horns, I will be on my way to much better soil.

And I need to do a lot more reading on Rudolf Steiner's biodynamic agriculture.

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, it does ring alarm bells and present many sufficient arguments for avoiding chemicals and treating the land organically. Yes, I know it says "New Age" on the cover. There's still so many bogus and essentially unbacked claims in it (no, your Sri Lanka degree means nothing) that as a whole it drags down the good points by association. Also seemed more like a collection of essays or articles than an actual flowing book. To be referenced, but not read cover to cover.

[Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, it’s a bit ‘way out’ and a bit dated. But the message it sends in how we treat our planet is even more relevant today than when it was written. It’s not an easy read in the sense that it doesn’t flow from page to page, however if you stick with it, it’s a rewarding read.
If you have any interest in biodynamics then you’ll enjoy it.

[Marcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm ashamed to say I wasn't able to finish this book. The movement into the esoteric realm turned me off and I lost interest in it.

[P H · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were 171 native earth worms in New Zealand the European settlers and others introduced approximately 23 more. That's the only correction needed that I found, it's an excellent work.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad writing combined with stunningly bad 'science.' Just open it at random and try not to find fault with the very first sentence you read. Ready? Heeerre we go: "Agile as goats, they leap over boulders and icy streams, make holes in the ice in winter to plunge into glacier-fed streams, as swimmers second to none." (This was about humans, mind you).
Recommended for those who like crystals and eating special pricey dirt and dust.

[Sissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one as a sequel to Secret Life of Plants. It is somewhat more critical but may be more difficult to read in that it is dense and deals more directly with biodynamic gardening, heavily. But the main point, is that we are rapidly losing our topsoil, and we should be actively doing something about it if we want to sustain ourselves.

[Davy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some general "far-out-ish" ideas on health of soil being critical to planetary health. As a general concept, good. There is more than NPK to growing plants- however, writing is a little wide eyed and glassy on some things, and the current chapter is declaring that we were actually undergoing global cooling (circa 1998) which might be a little embarrassing to the authors today.

[Juliana Haught · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'll eventually come back to this book, but for now, I've given up. I wanted to read it because I was enjoyed _The Secret Life of Plants_ so much. Each chapter features different people practicing different ideas about soil health. Interesting, but I've got other topics on my plate for the time being.

[Sarah]

AND the movie Heima

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interacting with the land (farming, gardening, eating food, etc) -- I highly recommend this book. You will see soil...earth...our health...in a whole new light.

[Ryan]

Wow. Why did I cry while reading a book about soil? You'll have to read it to find out.