Chapter 9. Soils

The soil beneath our feet provides our food as well as livelihoods for billions of people. It is also essential for the earth’s ecosystems and reducing climate change. Soil is beyond value and yet through bad practice it is quickly diminishing worldwide. This chapter explains how to protect, increase and improve your soil, for food and livelihood security and for the protection and regeneration of our earth.

Topics include soil identification, pH, deficiencies, organic soil building materials, bacterial activators, compost, liquid compost, biochar, worms and worm farms, mulch and legumes.

Contents include:

• What is healthy living soil?
• Benefits of healthy living soil
• Different types of soil – clay and sandy
• Soil pH – acid and alkaline
• Nutrient cycles
• Soil nutrients – the plant builders
• Biota – the soil builders
• Organic soil improvement strategies
  – Micro-organism activators
  – Biochar – activated charcoal
  – Liquid compost
  – Compost
  – Worm farms
  – Humanure
  – Organic and natural mulch
  – Legumes
  – Green manure crops