Unlocking the Secrets of EGO: Edging Green Out in a World That Forgot Nature

Hey folks, Michael Stangl here from Stangl’s Enviro Lawn Care in St. Catharines, Ontario. Back in 2012, I attended the “I Can Do It” event by Hay House, and the next year, I caught Deepak Chopra live at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. His words on EGO—”Edging God Out“—hit me hard. It was about how our egos disconnect us from something bigger, something spiritual. But over the years, as I’ve dug deeper into soil health and regenerative practices, that acronym evolved for me: EGO as “Edging Green Out.” We’ve edged nature out of how we grow plants, lawns, and food—prioritizing control over connection. Today, let’s unlock what that really means, why it happened, and how regenerative ways are bringing us back. No fluff, just real talk from 45 years in the dirt.

The Original EGO: A Personal Wake-Up

Deepak’s take was profound: Our egos push away the divine, leaving us isolated and unbalanced. It stuck with me because, in my world of lawns and landscapes, I saw parallels everywhere. We humans love control—quick fixes, perfect outcomes, no mess. But that ego-driven mindset edges out the “green“—nature’s wisdom, the biological web that sustains everything from soil to us. We’ve treated the earth like a machine to tweak, not a living system to partner with.

Think about it: In our yards, farms, and gardens, we’ve prioritized ego-boosting results—flawless greens, bumper yields—over harmony. And it’s cost us big.

The Green Revolution: Industrial Takeover, Not True Progress

Fast-forward to the mid-20th century’s “Green Revolution.” Sold as a miracle—high-yield crops, chemical fertilizers, pesticides—it promised to feed the world. But visionaries like Sir Albert Howard (the father of organic farming) and William Albrecht (soil scientist extraordinaire) saw through it. Howard warned in the 1940s that synthetic inputs destroy soil life, leading to dependency and decline. Albrecht echoed that, showing how mineral imbalances weaken plants and animals alike.

They were right. The revolution wasn’t green—it was industrial gray. It edged nature out by:

– Forcing Growth: Chemicals like nitrogen fertilizers spike yields but burn through soil carbon, compact the ground, and strip biology. Plants grow fast but weak—low in natural sugars (Brix), stressed, and vulnerable.

– Creating Dependency: We became hooked on inputs, vaccines for “sick” crops/animals, processed foods loaded with sugars. It all disrupts biomes—from soil microbes to our gut flora.

– Epigenetic Assault: Emerging science shows these exposures flip gene switches across generations—epigenetics. Kids today face rising illnesses tied to their parents’ (and grandparents’) chemical loads. Processed sugars and toxins weaken resilience, echoing in health crises we blame on everything but the root.

Industry squashed the uprising. Howard and Albrecht? Labeled outdated or fringe. Critics got called “crazy” or “conspiracy theorists” by marketing machines and lawyers.

Division was key: Conventional (fast, forced) vs. Organic (slower, “expensive,” lower yield). Ego won—measuring success by speed and scale, not sustainability.

Conventional vs. Organic: The False Divide

Conventional ego says: “Force it or kill it.” Inputs override nature—grow or die. It works short-term but builds compaction, pest pressures, and costs.

Organic fights back: No synthetics, but it takes longer to rebuild life. Yields might dip at first, expenses rise from natural alternatives. Industry loves pitting them: “Organic can’t feed the world!” But that’s ego talking—edging green out by ignoring nature’s efficiency.

Regenerative: The Drive Back to Nature

We’ve seen it right from our front door to the farm: my own lawn hitting Brix 15 this season, pests fading away on their own, and the janitors (those helpful weeds) gradually clocking out as the soil revives. On farms we’ve guided through the transition, there can be a short dip while biology rebuilds, but yields will match, plants are far more resilient, all with far fewer inputs and at times, less time in the field.

As John Kempf likes to say: “Test, not guess.” Regenerative agriculture isn’t guesswork or ideology—it’s data-driven, using our heads and the tools already at our fingertips.

Here’s the unlock: Regenerative isn’t a revolution—it’s a return. We edge green “back in” by building living soil from dead dirt. No more forcing; we partner.

How? We measure life first—microscope for biology, soil DNA tests for microbial diversity, mineral and carbon assays for balance, EC for soluble salts, Brix for plant sugars, and even geological testing (from Spencer Zehr at Natur-All.ca – for deeper rock mineral and paramagnetism analysis).

Then strategies flow:

– Targeted minerals (gypsum, rock dust…) to fix deficiencies.

– Biofertilizers and microbes (like our Nature’s Brew) to wake up biology.

– Carbon sources (compost, molasses, cover crops) to feed the web.

– Paramagnetic amendments, biochar, animal integration, smart irrigation—whatever the numbers call for.

The secret of EGO? It’s not the enemy—it’s a reminder. When we edge green out, we pay in health, costs, and legacy. Unlock it by edging green in—regeneratively.

Ready to reconnect your lawn or farm to nature?

Thanks,  

Give me a call. We’ll measure, strategize, and watch the magic unfold.