(originally posted 10/25/07)

Dirt. The lowly stuff we look down and tread upon every day, often thoughtlessly. Actually we should spare it some thought and respect for we owe our life to it.

The mythologies of many ancient tropical planting cultures, especially those of the Pacific, contain stories of how staple food plants sprouted from the buried body of a sacrificed deity. In The Power Of Myth, Joseph Campbell says:

”… so in the forest and planting cultures, there is a sense of death as not death somehow, that death is required for new life.”

The ancient Polynesians thus likely celebrated life and death equally, as two sides of one coin, spinning in a continuous cycle to sustain the culture.

The concept may be uncomfortable for some of us to grasp, but it is well worth the effort to try. Through their traditions the tropical planters of old expressed a remarkably acute insight into the immense powerhouse contained in our soil as home to the cyclical process of life and death. Understanding these ancient concepts offers us a key to a future of improved health and prosperity for Polynesia and the rest of the world.

The first step toward this goal is to address the alarming rate of soil loss through erosion we are experiencing. Secondly, we can explore ways to conserve our soils with their biological processes intact. Reviewing some principles that govern soil health and retention reveals several simple things we can do to preserve our soil and its vital qualities and hopefully inspire others around us to do the same.

An important occurrence that influences soil erosion happens when rain hits the ground. Rainwater will either be absorbed into the soil or it will run off the surface. Runoff can cause serious problems. As raindrops run off, they consolidate into ever larger and more powerful rivulets that scour the earth and carry off an increasing amount of soil with them. Often valuable soil is eroded from a place where it is needed and deposited where it literally mucks things up and causes damage.

Rainwater’s absorption into the soil is a far more desirable option. Rain diffuses into the soil as it is absorbed making it available to the myriads of plant roots and surrounding organisms. The remaining water spends considerable time filtering through the earth into underground aquifers. These aquifers are the source of pure refreshing spring water that resurfaces or remains in storage underground. When the soil gets over saturated with water the surplus is not absorbed but drain into streams or rivers that generally lead to the ocean. Water naturally tends to stay contained within the banks of these established waterways except in the most extreme flood conditions.

In a healthy soil ecosystem most rainfall is absorbed while very little runs off. Unfortunately, many modern cultural practices have tipped the scale in favor of runoff. Deforestation is one of the primary causes for this imbalance.

Established trees and shrubs hold lots of soil with their root systems. But in addition to that, they do another important thing in terms of erosion prevention, something so overlooked, it\’s like the Secret, the Holy Grail of soil conservation. They provide shade. When the blazing sun beats down on our landscape the ground heats up. Without trees or other vegetation in place to keep the soil cool by intercepting the solar energy to create growth and oxygen, the exposed hot soil repels the cool rain causing run off. Of course, the steeper the grade, the worse the effect.

Here\’s what you can do:

• Plant trees and shrubs to provide at least dappled shade to every square foot of your property that isn’t used for vegetable gardens, lawns, or other sun-loving purposes. The steeper the slope, the more densely shaded it should be.
• Minimize sunny areas and choose the flattest possible spots for them – create more level areas by terracing if necessary.
• When clearing for construction, select the site carefully and clear plants only from areas that are really needed for the project.

We’ll explore more causes of runoff and erosion in a subsequent article. In the meantime, please post your comments and questions about erosion prevention here, or contact me if you are looking for helpful and effective advice on your soil conservation challenges, whether small or large, homestead or mining company.