Don't treat soil like dirt
- col-conservation-corner
- August 18, 2024
- 681
I often think back to the days of being an Earth Team volunteer for Tuscarawas County USDA-NRCS. One of the employees there at that time gave me good advice I haven't forgotten. That advice was “don’t treat soil like dirt.”
Much of our society today takes soil for granted, but we need to remember most of the products we use and are surrounded by are connected to the soil. Our food is grown in soil or grows the food that feed the animals we eat. Drinking water from wells comes from the ground. Our homes are made from clay bricks and lumber grown in soil.
In addition to these goods, soil also produces glass, paper, pencils, medicines, cotton for clothing, wool and leather, gasoline, diesel, natural gas, plastics, computer chips, laptops, phones, cellulose from corn to make diapers, cat litter, and drywall, to name a few. The list goes on and on.
Besides the products soil produces, soil alone has considerable health benefits for all life forms. Soil serves as a reservoir for water and nutrients. Soils will provide appropriate water and nutrients to the plants and animals we eat, only if these soils haven’t been extensively farmed. This is why crop rotation and no-till farming are so important.
SWCD has an abundance of information on these topics. Stop in for more information. The nutrients in soil are calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon, in addition to abundant and beneficial organisms such as live bacteria. The live bacteria in soil supports healthy development of plants and fights disease. These organisms will do the same for us too. Not only does soil boost our immune system, but it also is important for our microbiome or gut health.
Our gut should have approximately the same number of live microorganisms that the soil generally does. If we were to eat an entire diet of bagged, processed food each day, we would feel drained and become sick. Gut research has shown those who live in urban settings, where there is less exposure to the soil, naturally have less biodiversity in their microbiome. We have weaker microbiome compared to our ancestors because we do not have constant exposure to soil-based organisms.
Nowadays we over-wash our produce before we eat it, which reduces the good nutrients that should be helping our gut. Several tips to help keep as much good bacteria on our produce include the following:
—Do not scrub your fruits or veggies if they are organic or homegrown.
—Leave the skins on.
—Toss the garden gloves and get your hands dirty while weeding, gardening or planting.
—Walk barefoot outdoors, also known as grounding.
Soil-based probiotics are available too. Of course, only use healthy, diverse soils. Beware of contaminated soils with heavy metals and industrial or human pollutants.
Lastly, there are many career opportunities specializing in soil than one would think. Soil scientist positions are in demand. Most county health departments now require each landowner to hire a certified soil scientist to provide a report on their soils to install a proper onsite wastewater treatment system. There also is a need for agronomists, archaeologists, biologists, environmental specialists, civil engineers, economists, crop scientists, conservationists, geologists, botanists/ecologists, foresters, grazing specialists, pedologists, horticulturalists, farm managers and excavators, to just name a few. The demand for these positions is only on the rise with growing populations and focus on health.
So remember the advice I was given: “Don’t treat soil like dirt.” Consider all the reasons soil is a valuable resource to us, from the products we use to the significant health benefits it supplies and the jobs it creates.