Ways of dealing with poor soil quality/CO2 in atmosphere

[helwen]

The article is an overview on agricultural and pasturing practices, and refers to global warming, but it's interesting that more people are adopting practices (some of them old ones, really) that are improving the soil's ability to retain moisture and CO2 (carbon sequestering!): http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/10/28/04621/746 . The reasons are primarily financial of course, because people need to make a living, but I think it's great that the end result is healthier food and environment (fewer inputs of pesticides and chem. fertilizers needed).

Check out the side bars for the stories of various folks. I was impressed by the rancher whose well had been dry since the 1950s and now has 10 feet of water in it -- in New Mexico, drought and all. And really impressed by the guy in Australia, who changed his land management practices for business reasons, with unexpectedly great results. I don't understand how he is able to harvest the grain, but there's a method to the madness, and he has not only improved the soil but is making more profit. He's done so well that another thousand Australian farmers are going to follow his lead. And apparently the technique is catching on in Europe and North America too.

EDIT: This is more detail on how the direct sowing of a grain crop is done, and how the soil has improved at the Australian place: http://www.regional.org.au/au/stipa/papers/stipa2001-04.htm. {note: remember when the author mentions months that the seasons are different than in North America -- their winter is our summer}

Comments

[harpnfiddle.livejournal.com]

I was watching something on the dustbowl of the 1930s and what if it happened again. It is all too possible with our agriculture practices as they currently are.

[patrickd2007.livejournal.com]

The bit about carbon sequestering is really incredible. It looks like there are plenty of opportunities to reduce our impact on the environment. I'm actually working with a group now to petition congress to include a 35 miles per gallon fuel economy standard by the year 2020 in their current energy bill. The petition is here if you want to take a look http://energybill2007.us

[handymonkey]

Not news to you, but picked up by Wired on 11/7/07 - The End of Oil is Upon Us. We Must Move On - Quickly.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link... yes, peak oil and what to do about fuels is getting to be more and more mainstream news. IEA and others are finally getting more strident about being heard.

Needless to say, I'm happy we don't live in an oil-heated home any more... the farm has oil, but it's back-up for the wood furnace. A real furnace, not one of those horrid short-stack things, which should be illegal -- dirty, inefficient, and hazardous to everyone's health.

And fortunately the in-laws also believe in not having the house at ridiculously warm temps. We have a separate thermostat, but it's nice to know they conserve as well (granted that's partially a economic decision, but nothing wrong with that...)