Check out NCAT's podcast episode for "Voices from the Field." This episode, #326: Exploring Soil Organic Matter with Dr. Johannes Lehmann, looks at soil health, misconceptions, and ways to improve yours.
The word of the day is biochar!
What began as research into this soil additive in 2011 has exploded in popularity. ATTRA defines biochar as "biomass, such as forest waste or animal manure, in a low-oxygen environment [in] a process known as pyrolysis." It's used as a soil amendment to "improve moisture retention, nutrient availability, and aeration and create habitat for beneficial soil microbes." Learn more here!
Reading Resources
A roundup of worthy water- and farming-focused reads from around the web.
WHO/UNICEF Progress Report Analyzes Gender Inequalities in WASH
Learn about how access to clean drinking water and sanitation impacts gender inequalities. This is a summary of the report by SDG Knowledge Hub, an International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) project on UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal: 6 Key Questions, Answered by Katie Lebling, Eliza Northrop and Colin McCormick of the World Resources Institute
Explore how the ocean can help CO2 capturing efforts with nascent methods and technologies.
Inside the Technical Tasting: Unlocking the Secrets of Our Award-Winning Wines by the Dundee Hills Winery Association
Raise a glass to the historic Dundee Hills, and learn how vintage reports are crafted from the annual technical tasting.
Farming with Soil Life: A Handbook for Supporting Soil Invertebrates and Soil Health on Farms by Jennifer Hopwood, Stephanie Frischie, Emily May, Eric Lee-Mader of SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) and the Xerces Society
This free handbook provides information on creating and maintaining healthy soil.
Climate Primer by Elise Haschke, NCAT Climate and Agriculture Program Manager; Lee Rinehart, NCAT Northeast Regional Director; and Darron Gaus, NCAT Sustainable Ag Specialist
Read ATTRA's climate primer, a comprehensive guide to the most pressing issue of our time. ATTRA is a knowledge source for sustainable agriculture, created by the US Dept of Agriculture Rural Development and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT).
