Holy Cow! Humboldt Co. Company Goes All Vegan, Dude

 

Vegan gardeners have recently begun worrying about the animal products in their plant foods.  Almost all fertilizers are animal product based.  A Humboldt Co.  is offering an entire product line that has no animal by products in it. According to a press release in the SF Gate,

Humboldt Plant Fertilizers (HPF) is breaking new ground by becoming the only natural liquid plant nutrient company banning any use of slaughterhouse by-products such as the bone meal, blood meal, and feather meal almost universally found in all other natural fertilizer products.

Every product manufactured by HPF now bears the “Holy Cow” symbol, which clearly states the pledge to never use animal by-products. The other major nutrient lines may have single amendments, but not a stand alone system of natural nutrients for vegetarians to grow medicinal marijuana.

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

51 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
martha
Guest
martha
12 years ago

Hardly vegan since fish products will still be used. I guess fish processing plants are not slaughterhouses. Kind of picking and choosing words here. Not “no animal products” just “no mammal and bird” products. Ridiculous.

martha
Guest
martha
12 years ago

Hardly vegan since fish products will still be used. I guess fish processing plants are not slaughterhouses. Kind of picking and choosing words here. Not “no animal products” just “no mammal and bird” products. Ridiculous.

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  martha

Whoa, Nothing I read explained that they would be using fish. No animal products means no fish to me.

martha
Guest
martha
12 years ago
Reply to  Staff

Nowhere on their site does it state “no animal products”, so you clearly need to go back and read it again. You are mistaken.

From their website:
..This symbolizes our pledge to never use any slaughterhouse by products. You will never find any bone meal, blood meal, feather meal or any other by products that are derived from the slaughter of any MAMMALS OR BIRDS”.

I would bet you a large amount of money that it’s chock full of fish processing by products; and certainly fish processing is slaughtering.. Hardly vegan, and they don’t claim it to be. You do. You are wrong.
Bad bad reporting.

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  martha

Martha, maybe I’m misunderstanding but it appears you are complaining because I did not find the “no animal products” on their site. You are right. I did not find it on their site; I found it in their press release–quoted on the blog post above which states that the package has “the pledge to never use animal by-products.”

Please explain to me if I have misunderstood.

tra
Guest
tra
12 years ago

There’s been some discussion of this on Heraldo’s blog:

http://humboldtherald.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/medical-pot-fertilizer-co-just-says-no-to-meat-industry-slop/#comments

This may be great fertilizer, I don’t know. But their press release, which fouses on what isn’t in their fertilizer, makes no mention of what is in it, so it’s hard to judge.

At any rate I agree that if (as a commenter on Heraldo’s blog claimed) it includes “ocean fish” and “ocean fish scales,” then they shouldn’t be claiming that it contains “no animal by-products.”

tra
Guest
tra
12 years ago

There’s been some discussion of this on Heraldo’s blog:

http://humboldtherald.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/medical-pot-fertilizer-co-just-says-no-to-meat-industry-slop/#comments

This may be great fertilizer, I don’t know. But their press release, which fouses on what isn’t in their fertilizer, makes no mention of what is in it, so it’s hard to judge.

At any rate I agree that if (as a commenter on Heraldo’s blog claimed) it includes “ocean fish” and “ocean fish scales,” then they shouldn’t be claiming that it contains “no animal by-products.”

Scooter
Guest
Scooter
12 years ago

It’s funny though that the labels are too small to read the ingredients, IF they even put them on the label. Most “liquid” plant foods do not list their ingredients, they just give the “guaranteed” percentages of NPK, and throw out something like the word “organic” or the word “vegan”. Nobody talks about ammonium nitrate, or muriate of potash. If you use either on a food farm it takes 3 years minimum to regain your organic certification. Three years! Indoor growers “flush” for ten days and call their herb “organic” cause that’s what the bottle of Advanced Nutrients says to do. Look at a bottle of Bud Candy and see if you can figure out what is in it or what it is for. I will tell you, it is artificial color and artificial flavor. Use primary nutrient sources on your herb, like guano’s, worm castings, oyster shell flour, and your own compost, not something from a bottle with a pretty label. In this wild west market, it is the only way to be sure.

scob do
Guest
12 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

If I`m not mistaken, I believe bat guano is a animal product. Now for worms , Where do they belong in the chain ? are worms animals ? I listened to a vegan tell me, the line in the sand is. Does it have a face ? I know fish have a face,as do cows and goats, Bats have a face. What about bugs ? they have some sort of face. They tell me I should only eat grains, grains have no face. and seaweed has no face. But it is confusing to me.

Scooter
Guest
Scooter
12 years ago

It’s funny though that the labels are too small to read the ingredients, IF they even put them on the label. Most “liquid” plant foods do not list their ingredients, they just give the “guaranteed” percentages of NPK, and throw out something like the word “organic” or the word “vegan”. Nobody talks about ammonium nitrate, or muriate of potash. If you use either on a food farm it takes 3 years minimum to regain your organic certification. Three years! Indoor growers “flush” for ten days and call their herb “organic” cause that’s what the bottle of Advanced Nutrients says to do. Look at a bottle of Bud Candy and see if you can figure out what is in it or what it is for. I will tell you, it is artificial color and artificial flavor. Use primary nutrient sources on your herb, like guano’s, worm castings, oyster shell flour, and your own compost, not something from a bottle with a pretty label. In this wild west market, it is the only way to be sure.

scob do
Guest
12 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

If I`m not mistaken, I believe bat guano is a animal product. Now for worms , Where do they belong in the chain ? are worms animals ? I listened to a vegan tell me, the line in the sand is. Does it have a face ? I know fish have a face,as do cows and goats, Bats have a face. What about bugs ? they have some sort of face. They tell me I should only eat grains, grains have no face. and seaweed has no face. But it is confusing to me.

Uti
Guest
Uti
12 years ago

They never claim to be vegan on their website, just to not use bird and mammal “slaughterhouse by-products”. For some strict vegans even using guanos would mean the product is animal based. I guess everyone has to decide for themselves where they want to draw their personal ethic line.

Uti
Guest
Uti
12 years ago

They never claim to be vegan on their website, just to not use bird and mammal “slaughterhouse by-products”. For some strict vegans even using guanos would mean the product is animal based. I guess everyone has to decide for themselves where they want to draw their personal ethic line.

tra
Guest
tra
12 years ago

They never claim to be vegan on their website, just to not use bird and mammal “slaughterhouse by-products.”

Their Press release makes a broader claim: “Every product manufactured by HPF now bears the ‘Holy Cow’ symbol, which clearly states the pledge to never use animal by-products.”

Since fish are obviously animals, if they use fish-industry byproducts like fish meal, fish emulsion, fish scales then they are already breaking their “pledge to never use animal by-products.”

tra
Guest
tra
12 years ago

They never claim to be vegan on their website, just to not use bird and mammal “slaughterhouse by-products.”

Their Press release makes a broader claim: “Every product manufactured by HPF now bears the ‘Holy Cow’ symbol, which clearly states the pledge to never use animal by-products.”

Since fish are obviously animals, if they use fish-industry byproducts like fish meal, fish emulsion, fish scales then they are already breaking their “pledge to never use animal by-products.”

martha
Guest
martha
12 years ago

They were misquoted in their press release.

martha
Guest
martha
12 years ago

They were misquoted in their press release.

Staff
Member
12 years ago

Martha, thank you for finding the correct information– that along with tra’s link to the Heraldo comments–help explain that according to some comments there, the company may have been misquoted. As a blogger, I rely a great deal on informed readers pointing out helpful facts.

{deleted self-pitying, thin-skinned response–sorry for those of you who read it}

scob do
Guest
12 years ago
Reply to  Staff

kim , I never met you, but you are doing a bang up job on this web page. I know how hard you work and all your sacrifice, I am sure lots of time your family wonders. Where is she ? Thanks for all your hard work keeping us informed.

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  scob do

Scob Do,
Thanks for your kind words especially because they shook me out my exhausted state and made me realize how self-pitying, and thin skinned I sounded. I hope you were the only one who read that whine…

steve
Guest
steve
12 years ago
Reply to  Staff

Where does the time go? I’m so busy! Even if I wanted to do more things, my schedule wouldn’t allow it!

4 o’clock: Wallow in self pity.
4:30: Stare into the abyss.
5 o’clock: Solve world hunger (tell no one).
5:30: Jazzercise.
6:30: Dinner with me, I can’t cancel that again!
7 o’clock: Wrestle with my self loathing.
8 o’clock: Grovel a little more whine with my cheese?
9:30: Commiserate with Kym, the tireless blogger.

I’m booked! I’m exhausted! There’s nothing I can do! Course if I bump the loathing to 10, I can still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling and slip slowly into madness. But what would I wear!

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  steve

Oh, dear. You read it didn’t you…Next time, I’m waiting 5 before I publish. Instead of publishing and then waiting five before I delete!

steve
Guest
steve
12 years ago
Reply to  Staff

Kym, no matter how you slice the pie, you’re awesome. One of the best things we like about you (besides tireless reporting) is your sense of humility, social justice, responsibility towards others, seeing beauty in the world, and keeping it all– the family and humble adobe, too– together under one roof. You set a good example. I’m not always so good at that.

Your articles and responses are always well grounded and on the mark. Your stamina is legendary. Hindisght and self-doubt are always 20/20 vision when looking back.

Bump the self pity to 10 pm– and find something to wear. 🙂

anon
Guest
anon
12 years ago
Reply to  scob do

+1

Staff
Member
12 years ago

Martha, thank you for finding the correct information– that along with tra’s link to the Heraldo comments–help explain that according to some comments there, the company may have been misquoted. As a blogger, I rely a great deal on informed readers pointing out helpful facts.

{deleted self-pitying, thin-skinned response–sorry for those of you who read it}

scob do
Guest
12 years ago
Reply to  Staff

kim , I never met you, but you are doing a bang up job on this web page. I know how hard you work and all your sacrifice, I am sure lots of time your family wonders. Where is she ? Thanks for all your hard work keeping us informed.

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  scob do

Scob Do,
Thanks for your kind words especially because they shook me out my exhausted state and made me realize how self-pitying, and thin skinned I sounded. I hope you were the only one who read that whine…

steve
Guest
steve
12 years ago
Reply to  Staff

Where does the time go? I’m so busy! Even if I wanted to do more things, my schedule wouldn’t allow it!

4 o’clock: Wallow in self pity.
4:30: Stare into the abyss.
5 o’clock: Solve world hunger (tell no one).
5:30: Jazzercise.
6:30: Dinner with me, I can’t cancel that again!
7 o’clock: Wrestle with my self loathing.
8 o’clock: Grovel a little more whine with my cheese?
9:30: Commiserate with Kym, the tireless blogger.

I’m booked! I’m exhausted! There’s nothing I can do! Course if I bump the loathing to 10, I can still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling and slip slowly into madness. But what would I wear!

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  steve

Oh, dear. You read it didn’t you…Next time, I’m waiting 5 before I publish. Instead of publishing and then waiting five before I delete!

steve
Guest
steve
12 years ago
Reply to  Staff

Kym, no matter how you slice the pie, you’re awesome. One of the best things we like about you (besides tireless reporting) is your sense of humility, social justice, responsibility towards others, seeing beauty in the world, and keeping it all– the family and humble adobe, too– together under one roof. You set a good example. I’m not always so good at that.

Your articles and responses are always well grounded and on the mark. Your stamina is legendary. Hindisght and self-doubt are always 20/20 vision when looking back.

Bump the self pity to 10 pm– and find something to wear. 🙂

anon
Guest
anon
12 years ago
Reply to  scob do

+1

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
12 years ago

Misquoted in their own press release? This is the end of the trail I found, and it looks like a site where YOU put your OWN press release (though it’s not credited).

You can make your own local, sustainable vegan nutrients with wild plants and herbs and veggies from your garden, using homemade lactic acid bacteria cultures to make fermented plant extracts and bokashi compost. Gil Carandang is one natural farmer who has taught a lot of people some of these basic techniques, try googling any of these terms.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
12 years ago

Misquoted in their own press release? This is the end of the trail I found, and it looks like a site where YOU put your OWN press release (though it’s not credited).

You can make your own local, sustainable vegan nutrients with wild plants and herbs and veggies from your garden, using homemade lactic acid bacteria cultures to make fermented plant extracts and bokashi compost. Gil Carandang is one natural farmer who has taught a lot of people some of these basic techniques, try googling any of these terms.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
12 years ago

Sorry, left off the URL in haste:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/9/prweb8815004.htm

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
12 years ago

Sorry, left off the URL in haste:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/9/prweb8815004.htm

freshbudz
Guest
freshbudz
12 years ago

Some companies have someone handle PR. It’s possible to tell your PR department to make a change after it’s too late. why the witch hunt? Chill out, and try to understand that mistakes do happen. Remember, when you point your finger at someone, you have three pointing back at you….

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  freshbudz

I don’t think Matthew’s comment was a witch hunt. Of course, anyone can make a mistake. They sound like a cool company–just not quite what I had thought when I read the release.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
12 years ago
Reply to  freshbudz

I think people are right to be really skeptical of these products, meaning every commercial offering that promises to make your buds the most dankest ever, put you in control of nature, all you hafta do is give us your money. I am sure there are really good products out there, I’ve used some that I would use again in the right circumstances. But there are also a lot of products that may contain hidden ingredients, and the bottom line is, if you didn’t make it yourself, you may not be able to know for sure what’s in it. And then you smoke it…or eat it…or vaporize it.
The confusion about this press release and just what is or isn’t in this nutrient line is ample proof, in my view, that people are pushing the line of what they can truthfully say about their products. I looked at the photos on the site that show the guaranteed analysis, and they also say what the nutrients are derived from: in each case, it was a chemical name; if they use actual plants in their nutrients, I could not discover that from looking at their site. Maybe someone else found that information.

freshbudz
Guest
freshbudz
12 years ago

Some companies have someone handle PR. It’s possible to tell your PR department to make a change after it’s too late. why the witch hunt? Chill out, and try to understand that mistakes do happen. Remember, when you point your finger at someone, you have three pointing back at you….

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  freshbudz

I don’t think Matthew’s comment was a witch hunt. Of course, anyone can make a mistake. They sound like a cool company–just not quite what I had thought when I read the release.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
12 years ago
Reply to  freshbudz

I think people are right to be really skeptical of these products, meaning every commercial offering that promises to make your buds the most dankest ever, put you in control of nature, all you hafta do is give us your money. I am sure there are really good products out there, I’ve used some that I would use again in the right circumstances. But there are also a lot of products that may contain hidden ingredients, and the bottom line is, if you didn’t make it yourself, you may not be able to know for sure what’s in it. And then you smoke it…or eat it…or vaporize it.
The confusion about this press release and just what is or isn’t in this nutrient line is ample proof, in my view, that people are pushing the line of what they can truthfully say about their products. I looked at the photos on the site that show the guaranteed analysis, and they also say what the nutrients are derived from: in each case, it was a chemical name; if they use actual plants in their nutrients, I could not discover that from looking at their site. Maybe someone else found that information.

freshbudz
Guest
freshbudz
12 years ago

I have again emailed them. (And they responded back immediately) All of their products are 100% organically sourced. Some ingredients are stated with scientific names as a requirement by the Dept of Ag.
Furthermore, Matthew, why don’t you just email them as well? These are your neighbors, and you may even know them. I’m sure they would be glad to communicate with you and answer any questions you or anyone have. That’s what I love about living in this tight knit, small community.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
12 years ago
Reply to  freshbudz

It was my mistake: if you look closely on the label images provided on the website, you can read the list of “derived from”s–and they’re mostly recognizable things: sea kelp, rock phosphate, “ocean fish.”

It’s interesting to see that they use California-sourced kelp, that is certainly more sustainable than shipping it from Norway (though I wonder if the species is as good here).

I don’t have any ill will at all toward these guys, and I wish them the best. But I know that a lot of people think that only a few wizards can make products that will help your plants, and that’s just not true. Market hype around grow gear is, along with “bud porn” (not closeups of buds; I mean those skanky ads with naked chicks with buds arrayed on their bodies), something we could probably all use less of.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
12 years ago
Reply to  Matthew Meyer

By the way, I am more in Earth Juice territory, and I have called THEM before, and they were immensely helpful. I bet these guys would be too.

Anne on a Mouse
Guest
Anne on a Mouse
12 years ago
Reply to  Matthew Meyer

I’ve been here since the 70s and have seen a whole bunch of gardens over the years. Probably the most vigorous plants I’ve seen, with some of the biggest, tightest buds on them, were grown by a dude I know who uses no amendments from the grow stores. He has chickens and horses and gathers all kinds of local plants to put into his compost. He does soil tests and is always turning the compost piles. Some of them he keeps covered with black tarps. He works the soil a lot. He gets sand from the river and seaweed from the ocean. I’ve seem him bring home a pickup full of horse tails. I don’t know what he all adds to his soil, but I know he doesn’t buy amendments. Not even Stutzman or guano. One exception, he uses some potting soil for starting seeds.

freshbudz
Guest
freshbudz
12 years ago

I have again emailed them. (And they responded back immediately) All of their products are 100% organically sourced. Some ingredients are stated with scientific names as a requirement by the Dept of Ag.
Furthermore, Matthew, why don’t you just email them as well? These are your neighbors, and you may even know them. I’m sure they would be glad to communicate with you and answer any questions you or anyone have. That’s what I love about living in this tight knit, small community.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
12 years ago
Reply to  freshbudz

It was my mistake: if you look closely on the label images provided on the website, you can read the list of “derived from”s–and they’re mostly recognizable things: sea kelp, rock phosphate, “ocean fish.”

It’s interesting to see that they use California-sourced kelp, that is certainly more sustainable than shipping it from Norway (though I wonder if the species is as good here).

I don’t have any ill will at all toward these guys, and I wish them the best. But I know that a lot of people think that only a few wizards can make products that will help your plants, and that’s just not true. Market hype around grow gear is, along with “bud porn” (not closeups of buds; I mean those skanky ads with naked chicks with buds arrayed on their bodies), something we could probably all use less of.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
12 years ago
Reply to  Matthew Meyer

By the way, I am more in Earth Juice territory, and I have called THEM before, and they were immensely helpful. I bet these guys would be too.

Anne on a Mouse
Guest
Anne on a Mouse
12 years ago
Reply to  Matthew Meyer

I’ve been here since the 70s and have seen a whole bunch of gardens over the years. Probably the most vigorous plants I’ve seen, with some of the biggest, tightest buds on them, were grown by a dude I know who uses no amendments from the grow stores. He has chickens and horses and gathers all kinds of local plants to put into his compost. He does soil tests and is always turning the compost piles. Some of them he keeps covered with black tarps. He works the soil a lot. He gets sand from the river and seaweed from the ocean. I’ve seem him bring home a pickup full of horse tails. I don’t know what he all adds to his soil, but I know he doesn’t buy amendments. Not even Stutzman or guano. One exception, he uses some potting soil for starting seeds.