The functioning and health of our soil not only determines the vitality of the plants that grow out of it, but also has cascading effects on other socio-ecological symptoms. Soil that has a balanced amount of nutrients, a supportive root system, and is well-aerated, has the potential to prevent massive algal blooms, lessen the negative effects of flooding events, and even capture carbon. Healthy soil is the foundation of a robust and resilient food system.
A visual demonstrating the value of a healthy soil.
Photo by: The Ecological Landscape Alliance
Through the soil & water contemplative practice, I began to make the connection between soil and our socio-ecological systems. Similar to how soil serves as the foundation of our food system, our current linear model of production, and capitalist ideology, serve as the foundation of the global socio-economic system. By enabling waste, encouraging constantly increasing rates of production, and relying on environmental and social externalities to keep prices low, we have an inherently unsustainable and unhealthy foundation.
The failures of this system have been exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a series of expected self-perpetuating injustices. Although watching these negative consequences unravel has been frustrating to say the least, it is hardly surprising. The foundation of our economy is based on unsustainable, and inequitable principles, so it is expected that in the face of a disturbance our socio-economic systems do not demonstrate resilience.
Image by: LiberationNews.org
Currently, there is a push to integrate systems thinking in regard to soil health; as Alan Richardson, a member of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation says, ““Historically we’ve fertilized the crop… We’ve been interested in the crop. The paradigm shift is in thinking that you have to fertilize the system, the microbes and all that. And through that you support the crop.” This contemplative practice made me realize that if we ever want to achieve sustainability within our socio-ecological systems, this same mindset needs to be applied to our socio-economic system. By creating a foundation that is rooted in a circular model of production, and values quality of life as opposed to quantity of money, we have the potential to create a healthier, more resilient society.
Resources:
https://www.resilience.org/stories/2017-11-09/healthy-soil-healthy-plants-healthy-people/
https://grist.org/food/heres-a-solution-for-those-out-of-control-toxic-algae-blooms/
https://www.700milliongallons.org/types-of-gsi/
https://landinstitute.org/our-work/perennial-crops/
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/world/europe/coronavirus-inequality.html
https://www.liberationnews.org
https://www.ecolandscaping.org/about/
https://grist.org/food/the-secret-to-richer-carbon-capturing-soil-treat-your-microbes-well/