stand with soils, not above them
Happy World Soil Day!
In this issue:
a little inspiration from my sketchbook
a soil I came across in the desert
standing with soils
a field guide recommendation
FROM THE AUTHOR
Hi, friend.
Every year on World Soil Day, I reflect on my life lived in pursuit of soils knowledge. The first World Soil Day was held on December 5th, 2014 - the same year I started my PhD. I have celebrated it every year since and now, 10 years later, I am still here, writing about, teaching about, and learning about soil.
There are two things I hope to convey with my writing, artwork, and advocacy:
Soils are beautiful, natural wonders worth conserving.
Soils have many lessons to teach us about the world and our place in it.
How are you celebrating World Soil Day? I'd love to know. Reply to this email and tell me what you're up to today.
Thank you for taking the time to care about soil today, and every day.
Take care and stay curious,
Yamina
FROM THE SKETCHBOOK
soils contain simple wisdoms:
make space for what’s below the surface
PROFILES
Water flowing through the desert exposes soils in ways unrivaled in any other ecosystem. It is one of the reasons I love the desert - you can see what’s happening below the surface! I was delighted to come across this cut bank on my wanderings last week. Notice the thin layers of platy structure at the surface. This feature forms from repeated wetting and drying events when air-filled pockets between soil particles (pores) lengthen and connect horizontally, rather than vertically.
Share your recent soil profile sightings with us! Email your photo to wonderofsoil@outlook.com with a caption that includes a general location and I might feature it in a future issue.
STAND WITH SOILS, NOT ABOVE THEM
For those of us living life on land, soils are a constant companion. Step outside and we have access to soil, even if it is sometimes hidden from view. Getting to know our local soils requires that we find ways to literally get beneath the surface. Vegetation, cement, and asphalt often obscure our ability to see and interact with soils directly.
This is where the art of soil observation comes in. Soils are everywhere, waiting to be noticed, but we need to know what to look for.
Soil scientists look for the soil profile, the vertical cross-section of soil that reveals the layers beneath the surface. From a practical standpoint, we study the soil profile because soil features change with depth. The properties of the surface can be quite different than what's beneath. Digging a hole reveals layers of soil material that, when studied carefully, give us insight into how a soil formed.
I have convinced myself that soil scientists observe soils in profile view for more than just practical or scientific reasons. Observing the profile is a way of being with soil.
When we observe soils in profile view, we orient ourselves next to the soil, rather than above it. Yet, in our day-to-day lives, our default position is walking on top of soil perhaps without giving it a second thought. When we interact with soils by looking down on them, we subtly reinforce the notion that humans are somehow above, better than, or more than soils.
We can embody soil care by finding ways to stand with soil, rather than above it. The physicality of observing a soil profile can serve as a reminder to build a relationship with nature rather than separating ourselves from it. Instead of considering the soils "beneath my feet", I like to reframe this as the soils that support and ground me.
"With" is the operative term here. Standing "with" soils means we are accompanied by soil, like an old friend and loyal companion. The words we use can shift our mindset and conception of how we relate to soils. This is exactly the mindset we need to address the soil degradation crisis.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
I came across a lot of holes in the ground while wandering around the Mojave desert this week. I was reminded of how many organisms, big and small, call soils home.
At one point, I even watched a rock wren bounce in and out of a burrow near our campsite. These birds create stone patios outside their nests thought to serve as alarm systems for predators and regulate water flow into the nest cavity.
The whole (hole?) trip, I wished I had brought my copy of A Field Guide to Desert Holes by Pinau Merlin with me. This little volume gets right to the point. The book is thoughtfully designed and helps you figure out who burrowed and inhabits each desert hole. It is both technical and detailed, yet whimsical and fun to use. The guide is organized by ground holes (my favorite, of course) and elevated holes, then by size. It is easy to narrow down options and includes both illustrations and photos to help you learn more about your find. I recommend it to anyone who lives in or visits the desert Southwest.
The book is even on sale now for only $5! I am not much into gift guides (nor affiliated with this book or author), but I have to admit this would be a great gift for the nature lover in your life.
If you enjoyed this issue of soil mail, please share it with a friend!