Hi there! I have been busy collecting ideas, memories, and things that keep me inspired. More often than not these days, I find myself collecting photographs and written notes, rather than tactile items (but see typewriter below…). This issue comes from this irresistible pull to collect and share. I hope you find some inspiration here. Send me a note if you do!
A soil observation from my recent trip to the Mojave desert
The desert is a dynamic place. Soil particles aren't prone to staying put. Wind and water create desert surfaces by lifting and moving soil, dust, and sand.
Wandering around Death Valley recently, I noticed small piles of sand gathering next to shrubs. Shrubs of Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) dot the valley floor in an almost consistent pattern that arises from the limited water resources of the desert. Adjacent to each shrub lies a miniature sand dune. Just one small hill of sand, nestled atop an otherwise flat surface covered with some scattered rocks. These little dunes were as consistent as the shrubs themselves.
The Black Phoebe is the first bird whose personality I really got to know. She taught me the joys of studying and noticing bird behavior, a way of being in nature that goes beyond identification and categorization.
My husband and I started birding during the pandemic. We lived in a condo at the time, both working from home (me teaching online class from our closet, him from the kitchen table). During those repetitive and uncertain days, we, like so many, found solace in observing the birds around us.
In the afternoons, we would walk along a nearby trail that followed a fence line surrounding an agricultural field on one side and a creek on the other. We consistently came across a Black Phoebe. She would come on walks with us, perching on a fencepost, then flying up a few posts ahead as we made our way down the trail. We would walk the path together this way, fencepost by fencepost. After many such walks, I learned to appreciate her personality. It felt like I'd made a friend.
A photo of a Black Phoebe perched on a branch that I took (left) and a charcoal drawing I made based on that reference photo (right).
Hello, my soil friends! I write to you from my mechanical keyboard with a simple idea to take with you into the weekend. I hope you enjoy!
a simple idea
That nature inspires is no novel idea. When we see soils as part of nature, we open ourselves up to the possibility of being inspired by soils. Soil forms and features can inspire our creative practice and art. Knowing soil's ecological functions can inspire curiosity and care. Learning about soil degradation can inspire environmental advocacy. Getting to know our local soils can inspire us to take action in our communities.
Hello my friend! My essays continue to be inspired by my teaching this winter. This week, we visited an alluvial soil and learned about the different kinds of evidence we use to describe and interpret them. I've summarized those ideas here to help you find and observe alluvial soils in your area!
Hello friends! Here's to lots of soil love in the new year. Today's essay is inspired by the course I am teaching this quarter (soil morphology). We went on a field trip last week and it sparked an idea about how we accept uncertainty when observing nature. I hope you enjoy!
Describing soil teaches us to accept uncertainty
When soil scientists go to study a new soil, the soil profile is often where we begin. The soil profile is a vertical cross-section of soil that has been exposed by nature or your shovel. Digging reveals horizontal layers of soil and gives us an entry way into describing a soil's features. Soil scientists describe the features and properties of a soil profile for three reasons:
Happy World Soil Day! Let's celebrate soils today and everyday.
Soil is one of my most influential teachers. I look for lessons in the soil, and listen closely when I find them.
There is one lesson I keep coming back to again and again: Good things take time to develop. I am able to apply it to so many of the "good things" in my life. One good thing that keeps me going in this uncertain world is the process of learning. Few things bring me greater sense of purpose, but in our distracted modern life, it can be hard to focus on learning for learning sake. The process of learning takes time, practice, patience, and a belief that there is always more to learn about the things we already "know".
Thanks for making space for me (and soil) in your inbox! Today's essay is about how soil particles move across the Earth's surface by erosion. It's been raining in California recently, so erosion is on my mind. This natural process leads to interesting soil features that we can observe while exploring outside. I hope you enjoy!
If you're wondering why this email looks different than previous newsletters, I explain my decision to move to a new newsletter platform at the end of this email.
