Humus, but not the other very similar sounding one (Humous) which you find in circular containers in the supermarket. This one is found in the soil. Humus is an essential ingredient. It promotes a healthy ecosystem needed to create the strongest and healthiest soil possible. It is created from decaying plant and animal matter, like what occurs in compost heaps. Humus is created within the cycles of nature, and mother earth is very good at recycling waste and using it to naturally fertilise the land. Amongst a number of great functions Humus aids in bounding the soil together which prevents flooding, it retains vital nutrients in the soils, and promotes the flourishing of essential organisms in the soil such as Mycorrhizal fungi, which connects plants roots and important fungi together in an interlinking system of wonderful symbiotic nutrient sharing! Unfortunately though since industrial agriculture came on the scene, humans have been responsible for degrading Humus and it is having a catastrophic impact on the land and the atmosphere. The most salient point I will touch on is the issue of Carbon retention. Back to school for a moment.... Carbon is an essential element in the reason for life as we know it and is the 4th most abundant element in the universe. It is needed in the atmosphere and serves a very important function, however too much Carbon in the atmosphere creates an off balance, and contributes towards rising global temperatures and global warming. When farmers plough their land they break up Humus aaaand when this occurs Carbon that was being held in the soil dissipates into the atmosphere. A staggering report has shown that the amount of Carbon being lost from the soil is twice as much as that being emitted from power stations and general fossil fuel burning. I couldn't actually believe this when I heard it. Monoculture is the term used for industrial agriculture, and that is what we rely on to feed the billions on this planet, using techniques such as ploughing which are breaking up the soil. Polyculture is the term used for dynamic agriculture, planting a variety of crops within a given area, imitating a natural ecosystem. It also means not ploughing the land and therefore preserving it's natural healthy state. The below Ted talk explains in further detail more about this issue. If you have 20 minutes I really implore you to check it out.
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AdamThe idea is to document my perspective as I embark upon a journey into the world of organic gardening and permaculture, through the medium of literature, music and art Archives
February 2017
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