Living Soil and Soil Health

 The earth beneath you teams with life.

    The ground under us is a vibrant thing. Especially if treated well and allowed to perform its natural cycles. It is also the foundation for life on this planet. Healthy soil is the key to both the flora, fauna, and humans, living a well-fed life. The living soil is home to an extraordinary number of things: animals, insects, fungi, bacteria, microbes, also the nutrients and minerals that make the biochemistry of life possible. A healthy home environment encourages growth, abundance, and love.

What is living soil?

Living soil, is in essence, soil that can support a healthy ecosystem. Both above ground and underground. When I think of Living Soil, I think of the mycelium growing throughout, dark and rich with organic matter critters, creatures living happily, and our plants happy and well-fed. My husband and I have been gardening in our current spot for almost 3 years now. Each year we see more native plants, animals, pollinators, and mushrooms. 

Our Approach

    We have learned much about the earth beneath us these past few years. We have seen firsthand some of the benefits and restorative properties of gardening with clean and living soil in mind. If we treat the soil well and give back to it, it will provide. Treating it well means composting to return the borrowed nutrients, not littering, and being sure to not overwork the soil. Many make the mistake of thinking they need to till their garden every spring.

Not all soil is the same

    Take the time to learn about the soil you're working with. We've learned here at Sølvfelt Farm, that new areas need heavy amendments of organic matter to kick-start them and that there will be quite a few rocks to re-home. We're also experimenting with plants that aid in breaking up hard soil, so don't be afraid to try new things.

    Your soil could be like ours, with high clay and sand. It could be nice and loamy (the sweet spot of soil), or silty: which is terrible for wet areas as the water sits on top and doesn't diffuse nicely. This can also lead to water traveling in terrible ways and causing erosion. 

No-Till Farming

    Unless the soil is hard and packed, there is no reason to use a machine to rip apart the delicate ecosystem beneath us. Motorized tills disturb, destroy, and traumatize the surrounding fauna and flora. There are times when they can be called for, but more often than not, a nice spade and shovel will work wonders. 

 The soil here is of a high clay content and is prone to packing. Even with that, we have found our inground food and flower beds have stayed relatively fluffy. This is important because soil that is packed and hard inhibits root growth. If the plant is wasting energy to force roots through hard soil, it will not have enough to develop fully and produce. 

Limitations

I want to interject here and state that not all our bodies can easily perform the task needed for inground beds and that's ok. We all do what we can, how we can. Raised beds are great for those who can't get down to the ground, and pots on a porch for those who need even and flat surfaces, there are many ways to garden and if they allow you to garden then do it. There is no need to be able to be self-sufficient right off the bat. We do not grow 100% of what we eat here, a good portion comes through other local Farmers and Ranchers in our area, and yes, even the grocery store.

Living with Nature

    Living soil isn't something we can truly control. We can only aid it and benefit from it. But learning to recognize it and aid it will help us create a healthier environment for us and our world. One that we can look back proudly on and know we did well in helping to nurture and aid the natural world for the future. Never forget, the soil is where it all starts and without it, well, things would be vastly different.

    Thank you for joining me today and taking the time to contemplate the little things right under our feet.

Gods watch over you, 

- Rosemary