Let's talk dirt for a bit - that's always fun.

There is something weirdly asymmetric about the planet named Earth losing its earth, but that’s what’s going on around here. Consequently, any who aspire to save the Earth, must first save the earth. Yet soil, which is literally under our feet, is like “dark matter” to us. It is Terra Incognita. Consequently, we either ignore it or treat it like dirt.  

Past generations had a closer relationship with soil. An Australian farmer I visited explained that his ancestor had set out with only his dog for companionship seeking suitable land. Upon encountering a likely spot, his method was to dig up a handful of soil – deeply inhale the vapors, then taste it. Snacking his way around the continent in this manner, he identified a valley, so fertile generations have since farmed it!  

If only we had his note-book....

1827 notes on Australian soil

March 3rd – Coastal flatland 

Aromatic:  Funky, dense, heady. 

Taste: Gritty, slightly plummy, I am getting forest-floor, and just a lick of shoes-without-socks - lingers. Lingers long.

April 15th – High escarpment 

Aromatic: Evenly balanced – rotting cabbage and overripe peaches in equal measure.

Taste: Earthy – dusty and dry, just a hint of Kangaroo dropping, chased immediately by wet dog.

June 27th – River valley 

Aromatic: Velvety on the nose, green, rich, full-bodied, musky, strong mushroom.

Taste: A sultry mistress of devilish wonder - fertile, abundant, willing land, undulating landscape of unusual beauty. A sinuous river curving languidly along the entire length of this unspoiled valley, itself mysterious under concealing shrouds of morning mist draped across the lower acres like fine creamy silk edged in black lace. I have found her.

Diary note, (Feeling oddly flushed, feverish, and giddy, with a sudden, strong yearning for human companionship.)  Note: Avoid eating soil that smells strongly of mushrooms.

I am a keen gardener. I build up fertile flower and vegetable beds via relentless and enthusiastic composting and mulching. I am more exuberant about creating rich dark abundant soil than is seemly. I can’t help myself; it is a joy to me. However, even I draw the line at deep inhalation and chowing down on the flower beds.  

We each are true sons and daughters of the soil. We even characterize good folk as being “down to earth”.

The health, wealth, and vigor of a nation is founded in the robustness of its people’s health. The people’s health, in turn, closely reflects the abundance and vitality of the soil. Throughout history, civilizations have prospered only when they have access to the abundantly fertile soil. The historical record shows the collapse of civilizations closely parallels the loss of their soil fertility.  

Burgeoning populations demand intense exploitation of productive areas. Over time this degrades the soil until it can no longer deliver the crops. Over-grazing, deforestation, annual plowing, intense irrigation, and extreme mono-cropping ensure erosion and loss will follow. Cascading soil degradation and eventual desertification of once-abundant areas is the usual result. The rapid demise of the civilization’s power, advantage, and influence are, by that stage, guaranteed.

The Fertile Crescent, so named because it supported large cultures for centuries, is now a desert! Globally deserts are proliferating while fertile soils are disappearing at an ever-increasing rate. Virtually all land suitable for agriculture is already under cultivation – we have nothing in reserve. 

A most critical function of soil is its ability to continue producing most of our food. We have this one chance of getting this right by caring for our earth, or we will all be eating dirt before biting the dust.