We'll feel the effects of peak oil - already are . . . but we've long passed peak soil. The good news is we can restore soil if we get on it.
Doing something with the soil ourselves gives us a place to stand with others as we ask for change. |
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We've based our economy on
exploitation of resources, as if soil and water and the earth's delicate
web everywhere were ours to plunder. However, climate change and
inexorable shortages of oil, coming soon to a planet very near you, are
just two notices from the real landlord, that we were very wrong. Soil
and water everywhere are in serious decline.
We're way down from peak soil. But whereas there's no
going back from peak oil, peak soil can be recovered and restored. Whatever else it is, relocalization is reconnection to
the land. Our present and future
health, and much of our thinking, stem directly from that connection.
Each individual's reconnection will involve some act of local growing or
directly supporting those who do. It's that central. The time to learn food preparation and cultivation is now while it's relatively easy to do so. This year
we'll be growing an extra plot of something just to give away. We're part of a local initiative
called "Abundance Plots", a plan to encourage local people to grow
more of once crop to share with others. You might want to start it where
you live! Each person who's part of
the Abundance Plot registers and agrees to grow some extra for give
away; a few times during the growing season registrants will make the
rounds and get stuff that others have an abundance of - it's like a
non-contiguous community garden. You could start this idea with just a
few friends and expand it next year if you like. We also hope to be part of teaching and learning to do the
preserving of foods grow in the Abundance Plots. Maybe some folks will
be able to get their entire vegetable supply for the year that way! One of the first things we did around food production was
plant apple, pear, and nut trees, thinking about the long-term future.
(They'll take a while to produce.) |
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