We, as growers, have a responsibility to serve quality crops to consumers. We also, however, have a responsibility to serve quality products to the subterranean living things that support our plants... What is the difference between an organic farmer and a biologic farmer? Well, "organic" means that the products are certified by an authorizing agency, while "biologic" means that they are either alive or meant to feed the live biology (organisms) in the soil and on the plant. As such an organic farmer might not be concerned about the balance within the plant's soil substrate nor the nutritional value of the crop. Conversely, biologic farmer focuses on what is being fed to the plant's soil and its biology rather than the plant itself. It is as if the plant is a by-product of a well-balanced soil. This is because there is the thought that a healthy, diverse and alive soil system will produce healthy and vibrant disease-free plants that are more holistic and integral in their nutritional and medicinal content. How to cultivate a biologically alive and diverse soil system It is time to wake up and realize what we are putting in our gardens. We have forgotten about the health and well-being of our planet, ourselves and our gardens Maybe we lost track when we began to focus solely on the yields. Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides have depleted our soils and tainted our ground water, streams and ocean. They have given us a false sense that they are better than what nature can offer. Campaigns have convinced us that in order to keep up with the growth of the population of the planet, we need to bioengineer plants and the "food" we are feeding them. So much of what we put into our indoor and outdoor gardens goes to waste simply because the plants do not have an intact immune system response to uptake all the nutrients that they are given. However, by turning to nature for our garden nutrients, we can nurture full-nutrient uptake. Herbs contain high amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, sulfur, copper and iodine. The idea that plants only need nitrogen during their vegetative state and phosphorus during fruiting/flowering/seeding stages is simply untrue. Plants crave biodiversity and uptake many different nutrients at all stages of growth. All in all, we have forgotten that nature is the only true authority of the plant kingdom. However, there are more than 5,000 years of herbal health studies that prove herbs promote health in humans, livestock and gardens. Plants respond to the same nutrients as we do. They need proper amounts of minerals and vitamins to boost immunity—which in turn leads to maximum nutrient uptake—and produce large, multi-generational yields. These same vitamins, minerals, trace elements, antioxidants and sugars are also the key to transforming nutrients into easily accessible food—a process that takes place in the soil thanks to live bacteria and fungi. (Herbs also help remediate carcinogenic compounds in soils and create more organic food for these beneficial bacterial friends.) The bacteria can have huge positive impact on the fertility of our gardens; therefore, it follows that healthy soil and diverse soil biology will equate into healthy, abundant plants. Herbs will play a key role in the future of agriculture, just as it was in the past. Alfalfa, nettle, burdock root, yarrow, comfrey, chickweed, kelp, dandelion—just to name a very few—are ever present, totally renewable and sustainable. They grow on the edges of our gardens and they can be found in soluble forms in health food stores. Used in conjunction with beneficial bacteria, they can be added into tea brewers, foliar sprays and sprinkled in as a soil amendment. Weeds, herbs and beneficial microbes can be put into barrels with a bubbler and be ready as a root drench within 24 hours. Also, microbial manure from organic herbs is one of the best ways to help plants receive immediate nutrients. In hydroponic and aeroponic gardening settings, herbs can play a key role in pure nutrient up take. They can be steeped for 24 hours and then used as a vitamin and mineral supplement. They can also be used as a foliar spray for new cuttings. Some herbs also contain different healing properties, and knowing these properties is key to knowing what to use and when. Superfoods for plants A superfood is a food that contains exceptionally high nutrient content, so a small amount can be used to supply large quantities of nutrients. (However, it is important to note that plants cannot be harmed by adding too much of any beneficial herb.) Below are some herbs—listed by the nutrients and elements they contain in high amounts—that can be considered superfoods for your plants. Just remember that searching out organic, non-GMO and sustainably harvested herbs is paramount to providing nutritious food, medicine and soil. Calcium: alfalfa, burdock root, chamomile, chickweed, dandelion, horsetail, kelp, mullein, nettle, plantain, raspberry leaf, red clover, shepherd's purse, violet leaves, yarrow, yellow dock and wild yam Iron: alfalfa, burdock root, catnip, chamomile, chickweed, dandelion, horsetail, kelp, thistle, mullein, nettle, oat straw, plantain, raspberry leaf, shepherd's purse, spirulina and yellow dock Magnesium: alfalfa, catnip, chamomile, chickweed, dandelion hops, horsetail, mullein, nettle, oat straw, raspberry leaf, red clover, sage, shepherd's purse, spirulina, yarrow, yellow dock, raw cacao and wild yam Phosphorus: burdock root, turkey rhubarb, slippery elm bark and wild yam Nitrogen: alfalfa, kelp, nettle and spirulina
 Potassium: burdock root, catnip, hops, horsetail, nettle, plantain, raw cacao, red clover, sage, skullcap, spirulina and wild yam
 Sulfur: horsetail Iodine: calendula, turkey rhubarb and kelp Vitamin C: alfalfa, burdock root, chickweed, hops, horsetail, kelp, peppermint, mullein, nettle, pine needle, plantain, raspberry leaf, red clover, rose hips, violet leaves, yarrow and yellow dock Vitamin Bs: alfalfa, burdock root, catnip, chamomile, chickweed, hops, licorice, mullein, nettle, parsley, peppermint, raspberry leaf, raw cacao, red clover, rose hips, spirulina and yellow dock