Here are five practical actions that anyone can take to contribute to building healthier soil for a more sustainable planet:
- Composting Organic Waste: Start a compost bin for kitchen scraps and yard waste. Composting enriches the soil by adding nutrients and improving soil structure. It also reduces landfill waste. Simple items like fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and grass clippings can be composted.
- Planting Cover Crops: In gardens or agricultural fields, plant cover crops like clover, vetch, or rye in the off-season. These plants prevent soil erosion, suppress weeds, and improve soil health by fixing nitrogen and adding organic matter when they decompose.
- Reducing Soil Disturbance: Minimize tilling and digging in your garden. Tilling can disrupt soil structure, harm beneficial soil organisms, and lead to erosion. Instead, practice no-till gardening techniques, which preserve the soil’s natural composition and support a healthy microbiome.
- Using Organic Mulches: Apply organic mulches like straw, wood chips, or leaves around plants. Mulching helps retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, suppress weeds, and gradually adds organic matter to the soil as it decomposes.
- Incorporating Diverse Plant Species: Cultivate a diversity of plants in your garden or landscape. Different plants contribute various nutrients to the soil and attract a range of beneficial insects and microorganisms. This biodiversity creates a more resilient and healthy soil ecosystem.