Day 13 - Soil

The answer is right under our feet!

Soil
In 2004 I enrolled in an "Introduction to Permaculture" class. One of the exercises was to create a garden bed. We did this using a layer method, first cardboard on the ground to keep the weeds from coming through and then layered native soil, straw and compost in a lasagna-like preparation.

On an intellectual level, I understood what we were doing— allowing nature and time to do the work of creating garden soil. But for me, the lesson really hit home when we were guided over to a garden bed that the previous class had prepared maybe six weeks earlier. The instructor encouraged us to plunge our hands into the soil. It was warm and moist filled with worms and life. I could sense that this soil would create a beautiful garden. I knew that, given time, ours would do the same thing.

We sat quietly, marveling at the soil. The instructor said:

“Are you working the soil? Or is the soil working you?”

At this I realized how happy I was with my hands in that soil. Create the conditions and life will thrive. Let nature do what it does—we just need to do our part.

Many climate solutions involve care of the land and soil. Soil draws down carbon--it takes it out of the air and turns it into LIFE. Soil feeds us. Healthy soil is one of the most awesome ways to reduce global warming.

Is it any wonder that one of my favorite solutions is Composting.

Here is why I like it so much:

• It can be implemented both locally--by an individual, or scaled to a whole community;
• It is easy to learn how to do it;
• We don't need any government action to make it happen;
• We would want to do anyway for many other reasons -- to grow food, create healthy soil, create beauty;
• When we compost, we divert food waste from landfills where it would otherwise decompose and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas;
• Composting creates life from death. 

Compost creates beauty.  And there are plenty of amazing ways soil can help us reverse global warming. Intrigued? Check out the  videos below from from Kiss the Ground (and there are plenty more on their channel!). And this is just ONE of the many climate solutions.

Day 13 Action:
Take out your notebook. As you review the five surprising solutions you wrote down yesterday, glance at the entire Drawdown list or consider the work from Kiss the Ground...

1.  What is your favorite climate solution so far?

2. Why do you like it? Is it beautiful? Easy to do? Can you implement it on your own? Can you implement it with others?

Post your answer in the comments below. Be sure to let us know which solution you are most drawn to and why.

Think about where you might find resources to inspire you to take this solution further.

To creating beauty,

Denise

The Soil Story

The Compost Story

BONUS: Other fantastic videos from Kiss the Ground