This week, Rē’s co-directors Ashlei Laing and Felix Bivens began preparations to soil block for our LOVE garden. Soil blocking is a technique that involves lightly compressing potting soil into blocks for transplant seedlings and seeds. Soil blocks serve as both the container and growing medium for growing seedlings, eliminating the need for plastic trays. Have you given any thought to what you are planting in your spring beds?
Discussions of soil got us thinking a lot about dirt, dust, and sediment. In this newsletter, we will share some recent news and research on soil: degradation, regeneration, global soil surveys, etc.
- The Ecdysis Foundation announces the 1000 Farms Initiative to investigate regenerative agriculture across the U.S.
- Civil Eats explores the the state of dust research and the role farmland plays in dust storm formation.
- Scientists report only a handful of common bacteria gobble up most of the carbon in soil.
- Emma Marris reviews Jo Handelsman’s new book, A World Without Soil and calls for government action.
- A handful of scientists have started to train their ears to the worms, grubs and roots underground. Turns out, it’s not that quiet.
- Researchers find that herbicide residues in soil harm plant hormones and plant-insect interactions.
- China launches third national soil census to find out soil types and distribution.
- A new study reports that the Mediterranean is the most susceptible region in Europe to soil degradation and desertification.
If you are interested in learning more, keep reading!
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