Snuggled securely below the surface in the fertile soil of Farmer Jones’ field Milford and Minnie Microbe (proud members of the local microorganism community) took a few minutes to relax from the busyness of their lives. “You know Minnie,” Milford began, “we’ve had a wonderful life. Just think of the comfortable home we’ve been able to enjoy while we raise our thousands of children.”
“Mercy sakes!” replied Minnie. “We’re so fortunate to live in the times that we do. Remember the stories we heard from our great grandparents about the dark days before Farmer Jones began practicing regenerative agriculture? Every year he plowed up the ground tearing the microbe community from its home and exposing it to ultraviolet light and other elements. And the poisons – Lordy! Sprays for this and sprays for that. Not to mention the chemical fertilizers. Why our poor ancestors could hardly establish a colony. The fewer of us there were the more the soil hardened and compacted. When heavy rains fell the soil wasn’t able to soak it up; it washed away carrying fertilizers and chemical sprays with it.”
“Yes, those were dark times Minnie,” Milford sighed. “Thank goodness Jones began to read books like The Soil will Save Us by Kristin Ohlson. He learned that by practicing no-till farming we microbes could thrive. With trillions more of us regenerating the soil by simply eating, growing and dying his ground became enriched and more balanced. As the land became more fertile, by using cover crops Jones was able to eliminate costly chemical sprays and fertilizers. He had already known about plants taking in carbon dioxide and combining it with water and sunlight to make food. But until humans faced a potential crisis from CO2 warming the atmosphere he didn’t realize we’re even more helpful. We consume that greenhouse gas from plant roots and bury it securely in the soil. Good thing too! Right now there’s more CO2 in the atmosphere than in all of human history.”
“Looks like some humans are finding that agriculture that uses little or no chemicals is not only economical but also makes for a healthier world. It builds the soil, improves water retention, avoids run-off pollution, and helps soak up excessive CO2. We do need to take care of this earth - the only home we’ll ever know. With the humans we are forever…Earthbound.”
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