Lifestyle

When raised according to the ill-founded principles of intensive agriculture, cotton is one of the most ecologically destructive crops which can be planted. In response to disease and insect pests, the majority of cotton producers become dependent on a chemical arsenal which impacts heavily upon the soil and surrounding environment. The scale of this problem can be understood from estimations that cotton production accounts for one quarter of the total volume of pesticides used throughout the world each year. After a while, continued application of these pesticides contributes to sterile soils. Because they become devoid of the living organisms which promote normal nutrient recovery and plant growth, sterile soils are dependent upon a continual...