Mind your soil

And mind how you tend your garden

The past nine months since we moved back to Australia have been dry.

Frighteningly so, especially after coming from the lush greenness of Ireland.

In the past few weeks, considerable consistent rain has fallen.

For soil to cycle well, it needs moisture.

Without moisture it’s very hard for microbes in the soil to do their work.

Healthy soils are bursting full of microbes, there are literally billions of them even in a teaspoon of healthy soil.

As the rain falls, growth occurs.

Depending on the health of the soil that could be a diverse mix of native grasses or it could be a paddock full of thistles.

Thistles are not ideal if your aim is to graze stock.

Right about now farmers are hearing from their agronomists.

Advising the application of pre-emergent herbicides. (The agronomist employed by the company that sells the herbicides).

“Obviously everyone else is applying herbicide spray right now…”. (I.e. don’t be the only one in the district not joining the party).

Herbicides are chemicals designed to kill plant life. They were developed in the 1940’s during experiments around their use in warfare.

It doesn’t just kill the target weed species - it can kill everything else too.

Including the microbes living in the soil.

We aren’t sure of the residue of herbicides and the connection to human health.

Enter the agronomist who advises you to sow your paddocks with a suitable seed (also sold by the agronomist).

And because you’ve killed the microbes to enable soil chemistry to naturally balance, surprise, surprise, you’re going to need some fertiliser (also sold by the agronomist).

In a healthy eco system, the farmer isn’t relying on an agronomist, a seed company or a chemical company.

They are trusting their gut. Their instinct.

They are employing natural, free tools to recover and rebalance their soils.

The farmer is being guided by what their soil asking for.

Compact soils grow plants with long deep tap roots.

Enter deep rooted plants such as thistles or docks.

If the earth is bare, ground cover will grow in the form of any plant that can survive these harsh conditions.

Regenerative agriculture is a way of healing the land without the need for chemical inputs.

Reading the land.  Acting accordingly.

That may be if the season is dry to de stock.

Before the land becomes bare and unable to sustain any life. See the livestock as trading stock and not an asset.

Regenerative agriculture is about trusting your gut.

Allowing Nature to do her thing.

Allow healing.

Encouraging an environment that stimulates the seed bank just waiting below the surface for the right conditions to emerge.

It’s a bit like us isn’t it?

When things aren’t going right or we’re not feeling well

It’s easy to look for a quick fix. Listen to the “experts”.

The alternative?

Slow down.

Be mindful.

Listen to what your gut is trying to tell you.

The microbes that live in the soil are the same type of microbes that live in your own gut.

Do you need to put yourself in a different environment?

One that allows you to grow and flourish?

Be the best version of yourself?

Mind how you tend your own soil.

Kylie x