The Power of Soil

This appeared in the January 16, 202 edition of the Fish Wrap.

I’m not sure what people mean when they talk about soil and dirt, but this is what we mean when we get excited about soil. Plants work with soil to turn sunlight into energy and building blocks for every living thing on the planet. From dust to dust - we are made from soil. There is a spectrum from super high-functioning soil to inert dirt. Dirt is a substrate that acts like florist foam to hold plants upright while all their nutrition comes from outside. Soil is a living, breathing, closed-loop ecosystem that requires no inputs. 

You know high-functioning soil when you see it and smell it. It is moist and dark and has a cottage cheese like texture. High functioning soil develops powerful qualities like drought tolerance, disease resistance and availability of minerals and nutrients. Bugs, worms, bacteria, fungi and all forms of microbiota live in the soil and form a thriving, symbiotic relationship with the plants. There are trillions of microorganisms in each handful of soil, only a small fraction of which have been identified. 

When left undisturbed, the soil builds a vast network of mycelium which acts as a communication system of nature. The strands of mycelium are like the connections of the internet - the real world wide web is underneath our feet! The mycelium network is nature’s own nervous system. Our soils are massive organisms that eat, drink and breath.

Regenerative farming means different things and is implemented in many ways, but the core principle, that is shared by all who use the term, is promoting soil health above all else.  The difference between regenerative farming and conventional farming is the focus and priority on soil health. At Regenerative Life Farm, we love talking soil and love eating food grown in the living, breathing soil! Join us!