| (Thomson, Illinois)By now most Americans know that | | | | living there originally had adapted their lifestyle to it, he |
| the real first Thanksgiving had very little to do with | | | | is able to show his reader why the Pilgrims came so |
| what is shown in elementary school pageants. What | | | | close to failing. But it wasnt just the fish fertilization that |
| they may not know as much about is the story of the | | | | saved them. The Pilgrims changed from a large |
| Pilgrims survival in the New World, the Native | | | | collective farm to the Native American technique of |
| American Squanto who helped them and how it all had | | | | using smaller family gardens that made optimal use of |
| a lot to do with the dirt underneath their feet. | | | | the pockets of better soil. They also began to copy |
| Even after surviving through their first winter, the | | | | the Native American companion planting gardens that |
| Pilgrims fate was still very much up in the air and | | | | helped to nourish the soil. Companion planting is |
| dependent on learning to cultivate the poor soil of the | | | | growing specific varieties of plants in the same space |
| area in which they had made landfall. Squanto, a | | | | to benefit the plants and the soil. |
| Native American who spoke English because he had | | | | While all of this information makes sense in a historical |
| been kidnapped by early English explorers and taken | | | | context, Squantos Secret Garden doesnt end there. |
| to England, was sent to act as an interpreter. Among | | | | Many of the soil problems that the Pilgrims had to |
| other things, he taught them the now famous | | | | overcome are problems today because of over |
| technique of burying a dead fish in each mound of | | | | farming and soil depletion. Heid refers to scientific |
| corn in order to fertilize it. | | | | studies that show how the nutritional value of fruits and |
| Both Squanto and the Pilgrims had no way of | | | | vegetables has diminished dramatically over the past |
| understanding the science behind fish fertilization and | | | | 40 years. Other studies show that organic fruits and |
| the other techniques that were borrowed from the | | | | vegetables are nutritionally superior to those produced |
| Native Americans. That is exactly what Bill Heid, the | | | | using traditional farming methods. The answer, Heid |
| president of the Thomson-based Solutions From | | | | contends, is the same now as it was in Squantos day: |
| Science set out to explore in Squantos Secret Garden, | | | | using marine-based fertilization. |
| a free Thanksgiving eBook available at: Heid has also | | | | Specifically geared towards the backyard gardener, |
| developed a new product called ProtoGrow that | | | | the second half of Heids book explains how to grow |
| brings about the success conditions engineered by | | | | an organic garden using Native American planting |
| Squanto. ProtoGrow, is an organic super-food for | | | | techniques and marine-based fertilizer to enrich and |
| plants that acts as an alternative to traditional, | | | | improve the soil. A variety of companion planting |
| chemical-based fertilizers. It was created to actually | | | | possibilities are suggested along with layouts for three |
| mimic Squantos fish fertilization technique. | | | | traditional Native American gardens that suit different |
| What a lot of people dont know, says Heid, is that the | | | | environments and soil conditions. It culminates with a |
| food the Pilgrims grew probably tasted better than the | | | | selection of English and Native American recipes |
| food we eat today. And it was also better for them. | | | | making use of garden produce that are based on |
| That is because fish, and all marine life are uniquely | | | | what was actually eaten at the first Thanksgiving. |
| suited to giving the soil the nutrients that will make it | | | | By reconnecting people today with one of Americas |
| produce the best food. In addition to providing the soil | | | | greatest heroes and his life-giving gift to the Pilgrims, |
| with vital nutrients like calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, | | | | Heid hopes to revitalize interest in the forgotten |
| potassium and sulfur, marine life is the best source of | | | | gardening methods that gave birth to the very first |
| trace elements. Trace elements are the near | | | | Thanksgiving. The story goes that Samoset and |
| microscopic amounts of different elements that are | | | | Squanto welcomed the Pilgrims and then asked for |
| necessary for the human body to survive and that | | | | beer. But in the end, it wasnt the beer the Pilgrims had |
| poor soil often lacks. Food can only ever be as good | | | | for the Native Americans, so much as it was the fertile |
| as the soil you grow it in, Heid explains. | | | | gardens and bountiful harvest the natives returned so |
| In Squantos Garden, Heid looks at what really | | | | freely. I really want to show all Americans why |
| happened as the Pilgrims learned to cultivate the land | | | | Squantos Secrets worked for our Pilgrim Fathers and |
| properly. He also goes back far earlier to examine the | | | | how his life-giving secrets are even more valuable |
| problems of the soil in New England through the areas | | | | today. As Americans, we should all be thankful for this |
| geological history. By learning about the rocky, poor soil | | | | great man. |
| conditions in the area and how the Native Americans | | | | |