PARTNERS
“The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all. It is the healer and restorer and resurrector, by which disease passes into health, age into youth, death into life. Without proper care for it we can have no community, because without proper care for it we can have no life.”
— Wendell Berry, American novelist, poet, environmental activist and farmer
Soil is vital to life. Healthy soils are foundational to food security, water protection, and human health, as well as creating resilient ecosystems and fighting climate change. Healthy soils are teeming with life, which captures carbon from the atmosphere. From there, the carbon is either stored safely in the earth or transformed into valuable nutrients.
However, soil is not an infinite resource. It can take over a hundred years to form, depending on the ecosystem. Warming temperatures, mismanagement of natural areas, and industrial farming have combined to create dried out, loose, and unhealthy topsoil. The Midwestern United States alone has lost 57.6 trillion metric tons of soil as a result of modern agricultural practices.
When the health of our soil is at risk, so too is the health of our communities. Loose topsoil can be picked up by the wind and harm both the physical environment and local communities. For example, Coccidioides, the fungus that causes Valley Fever, thrives in loose topsoil in the American Southwest. This disproportionately impacts Latine and Indigenous farmers who work in the area. Sustained megadrought conditions have only worsened the threat, resulting in a rapid increase in cases from 1998 to 2019.
Soil loss is not only a threat to the health of local communities, but also to their livelihoods and global food supplies. From the American Southwest to Sub-Saharan Africa, many farmers identify soil loss as the most pressing concern for agriculture, even when compared to drought.
For decades, farmers and governments have sought to counter soil loss by supplying low-cost artificial fertilizers to fields. However, this can create a myriad of other issues, such as nutrient sources and over fertilization, without combating soil or biodiversity loss.
While soil loss is one of the most pressing problems impacting our food systems and health, solutions do exist. The power to change the way we interact with our soils and create a healthy and green future for generations to come is in our hands – or rather, beneath our feet! Soil is key for any climate solution.
Rather than add fertilizers to fields, plants can be used to regenerate and build back the soil. Dr. Roland Bunch, author of Restoring the Soil, is a leader in the field of regenerative land management and major proponent of this approach, which he calls green manure. Green manure refers to the planting of certain species that enhance soil health by storing water, adding nutrients, preventing weed growth, and decomposing to enrich soil. This vegetation is as simple and commonplace as bushes, vines, and trees. Green manure holds the potential to eliminate need for artificial fertilizers, which have harmful side effects for farmworkers, nearby communities, animals, end consumers, ground water sources, among other detriments, while actually strengthening soils, protecting food systems, and eliminating loose topsoil and the threat of Valley Fever.
Such practices have positive impacts beyond the field. Regenerative agricultural techniques are an effective way to heal our soil and planet by storing carbon back in the ground. Keeping carbon locked in is critical in combating climate change and creating a more sustainable future. Our partner Kiss the Ground works tirelessly to raise awareness, inspire participation in the regenerative agriculture movement, and restore soil health. It is not enough to preserve what is left; we must also restore what has been lost.
There are many organizations using innovative solutions to keep our soils healthy. Another partner, The Organic Center, worked with the University of Maryland to examine over 150 different published studies to see how organic management can enhance soil health and provide for long-term sustainability. Our partner Everyone cares for the soil as a certified organic manufacturer that values transparency, choosing to meet food-level guidelines of the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), as there are no certifications for personal care products.
You do not need to be a farmer or researcher to help save soil. We can all promote soil health and health of our communities by supporting local, organic, regenerative farms where we live. When buying produce, look for the third-party certifications, including the Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC). Composting is another great way to promote soil health in your own home or garden, and you can encourage your school and surrounding community to do the same, redirecting valuable nutrients from landfills to contribute directly to healthy soils. Use compost for your own plants, drop it at a nearby community garden, or find a local pickup service that puts it to good use.
Help heal our planet by saving our soil!
When we talk about climate change, soil is often left out of the conversation — yet it is one of the most important layers of the solution! As environmentalists, it is critical to understand the relationship between agriculture, soil, carbon, and climate change. Furthermore, it is imperative to learn about and honor the deep traditions and roots of sustainable and regenerative farming practices that BIPOC communities have practiced for centuries. Soul Fire Farm, Rock Steady Farm, and Green Heffa Farms are a few inspirational examples.
Your first task is to get informed. Read this article about Black farmers practicing regenerative agriculture. Then, watch one video on Soul Fire Farm’s YouTube channel and write a short reflection.
In 200 words or less, respond to the following:
– What are your three biggest takeaways from the video?
– Did the video inspire you to learn more about the topic?
– If so, share two ways?
Then, share one fact about regenerative agriculture on Instagram as a powerful text-driven post. Tag @TurningGreenOrg, @KissTheGround, @OrganicCenter, any resources used or organizations referenced, and #PGC2022.
Upload a PDF Document of your response and a screenshot of your social media post. Include your name (or team name), username, and school on your upload.
Submission Guidelines
Now that you’ve been introduced to the wonders of soil, we encourage you to dig deeper. Knowledge is power!
It’s time to complete your very own Soil Quest. Our partners, Kiss the Ground and Captain Planet Foundation, have created a training module to help you be an advocate for healthy soil. You can go at your own pace with this brief training and by the end, you’ll be ready to advocate for soil in your community!
After completing the Questions, Uncover, and Explore sections of Soil Quest, reflect on which aspects you can apply locally. Write down three interesting findings from your quest.
Post a photo that encapsulates healthy soil on Instagram (credited appropriately!) with a short caption that includes at least one of your learnings, tagging @TurningGreenOrg, @KissTheGround, @CaptainPlanetFdn, any resources used or organizations referenced, and #PGC2022.
Upload a screenshot of your screen showing the list you made and a screenshot of your social media post. Include your name (or team name), username, and school on your upload to be eligible to win.
Submission Guidelines
Gardens promote climate resiliency and personal resilience. Not only does planting a garden help the environment, but it also offers the opportunity to provide food for yourself and others. Regenerative gardening is also be a great way to replenish soil around you — for healthy plants, air, and animals too.
It’s time to get your green thumb on!
Start thinking about where you could plant a garden, whether indoors or out. What would work best for your space and lifestyle? Are there seeds that you could grow indoors for a few months and then replant outside in the spring? Could your kitchen use an herb garden?
Now, create a plan for your garden. Consider what you would plant and why those select items. If you need extra guidance, check this beginner’s guide on gardening. Check out this video from Kiss the Ground for five easy ways to make your garden regenerative. Download the regenerative living guide to make informed decisions that support soil health and a regenerative lifestyle.
In a document, describe the following in about 500 words:
Upload a PDF Document of your response. Include your name (or team name), username, and school on your upload to be eligible to win.
Submission Guidelines
Our partner released a full-length documentary by the same name, Kiss the Ground, that unearths the devastating impacts of industrial agriculture on our planet — and the potential of regenerative agriculture to balance our climate, replenish vast water supplies, and feed the world.
Gather at least 3 friends or family members for a screening of the documentary, either in person or remotely. It is available on Netflix and other streaming services or you can access it using this link: https://vimeo.com/464327339 Password: viva
Raise, discuss, and record answers to the following questions:
Share a screenshot or image from the film on Instagram with a caption that includes one of your favorite facts to raise awareness about healthy soils! Tag @TurningGreenOrg, @KissTheGround and @KissTheGroundMovie, as well as #PGC2022.
Upload a PDF Document of your response and a screenshot of your social media post. Include your name (or team name), username, and school on your upload.
Submission Guidelines
Up to 10 Greener and 10 Greenest outstanding submissions will be selected as winners.
Each Greener Winner will receive:
Each Greenest Winner will receive:
