Question
I live in the Pacific Northwest and have become quite sick of the endless cycle of chemical lawn fertilizer and the problems associated with.  I want to know what you recommend for a good plan of attack for my lawn here in the Northwest.  Specifically what you would recommend for an organic lawn fertilizer, etc.  

Thank you

Answer
Cutting to the chase here:  GET A SOIL TEST!

I can't say that enough.  It's the step NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR.  Bravo to your Say No To Chemicals step.  But now you need to do the most intelligent next step:  A soil test.

Your local Cooperative Extension or Agricultural School will give you a good one.  Don't settle for a diy home self soil test.  Get a real one, done by scientists in a laboratory.

The Rolls-Royce of Soil Testing is conducted at Soil Foodweb Inc.   Their world headquarters is in Oregon:

http://oregonfoodweb.com/

This is a test like no other.  State of the Art ne plus ultra testing by people who practically invented the concepts.  But it's expensive.

For modest but practical testing you can go to your local Coop.  You did not mention your location (state or city) but if you write back I will gladly give you a link for that.  Those usually run around $25-30.

Why do you NEED a soil test NOW?

Simple.

Ever bake a cake, Larry?

You take out the cookbook and you find a recipe.  Then you look at the Ingredients, and you make a list, right?

You take that list, and you look in the cupboard and see what you have.

Do you have Flour?  If you already have Flour, you don't need to Flour.

Maybe you already have Eggs.  Scratch those off the shopping list.

You check everything and then you go to the supermarket, and pick up everything you don't have.  Then you get your pots and pans together, you meausre everything, you set the oven temperature.

Now, Larry, what is the oven temperature?

You have an oven, but you don't know how to set the temperature?

What's the pH of your soil?

You don't know!

A soil test will tell you what's in the cupboard, what's the oven temperature, how long was the cake in there... These are things you NEED to know to grow wonderful green grass.  AND you'll save money!  If you have Eggs, you don't need to buy Eggs.  Maybe you don't need Flour.  Maybe you already have butter.  Then you don't need those things.

But you have to get a soil test to find out.

AFTER you get the soil test, you'll know EXACTLY what is in your soil.  And if you get one from Soil Foodweb in Oregon, you'll even know the microbiology in your soil.  Which is a BEAUTIFUL thing to know when you are doing the Organic thing.  Because Organics is ALL ABOUT MICROBES.

Let me tell you what you're getting into, Larry.

It's not just getting rid of Chemicals.  Which I don't need to beat you over the head with, because you already get it.

It's about using Science.  Using Bacteria and Fungi and Potozoa and Nematodes.  It's BETTER LIVING THRU BIOCHEMISTRY.

I was telling someone today, look at all the WONDERS that Modern Medicine has put in our medicine chests.  Look at how many lives were saved because Science was able to find a FUNGUS that cured Polio (Penicillin).

Same goes for your Lawn.

The Best Organic Fertilizer is ONLY going to be the one(s) that you need.  If you do not need Phosphorous, you do not want any Organic Phosphorous.  Multivitamins are NOT good for your Grass.  You just want to get the ones you need.  And that is the most perfect thing you can do.

But get your soil test first.

And learn how to make Compost Tea.   That will re-stock your soil with Microbes.  And it will help rebuild the life in your Soil.  Earthworms are part of the food chain down there.  And they are one of the most intense soilbuilders that money can buy -- except they're free.

I've talked enough here.  Your turn.  Sorry for the long answer, I do get carried away sometimes.  Most of the time, actually.  Thanks for writing.