by Joel Bleifuss

About the author: Joel Bleifuss is a senior editor for In These Times, a biweekly liberal magazine.

These days a home gardener hoping for a bumper crop can walk into the local nursery and pick up a bag of the multipurpose Milorganite. “Natural organic fertilizer,” the bold-faced hype proclaims. The fine print explains: “This product meets ‘Exceptional Quality’ standards as defined by the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency].” But in 1993 that same fine print warned: “Should not be used on food crops... most natural organic fertilizers contain trace amounts of heavy metals.”

Sewage Fertilizers

What’s up? Milorganite hasn’t changed. It’s the same old shit, or, more precisely, sludge from the Milwaukee municipal sewer system. Nor has there been any change in...