A recent scientific article estimates that the world’s soil moisture loss due to water is 3,941 cubic kilometers from 1979 to 2016. This is an enormous amount of water. Lake Huron holds 3,500 cubic kilometers. Unless you are a soil microbe, springtail, worm, or robin foraging for worms, soil moisture likely isn’t at the top of your list of concerns.
Rob, thank you for this fabulous post. I’m working to popularize a humble initiative, entitled.: retire, your lawn, plant Hope. Since 30 to 40% of all land is privately owned I’m attempting to get churches institutions and homeowners to transition their manicure lawns to one of four models. Either naturalizing them, regeneratively gardening, planting the new deep rooted, grasses, or rewilding. I’m going to include this post in every presentation again thank you.
Please don't discriminate against plant communities in our landscapes. Quick release fertilizers kill soil microbes. Established lawns don't need it and still build soil, thickening the carbon sponge a third faster than other plants. Lawns in Springfield MA were found to be home for 94 species of bees, provided the lawns were not watered because bees hate water drops and pith nesting bees dislike flooding.
Need more Beavers!!!
My thoughts exactly : )
A human build floating wetland is in the Charles River. I believe it cost $40,000.
Beavers work for bark.
Bring it on. We need more plants and wildlife, the panoply of life!
The scale of moisture loss you highlighted was eye-opening.
Thank you for shedding light on such an overlooked issue in such an engaging way.
All true
Thanks for a very clear and concise reminder of how it is to pay attention to building codes as well as individual actions.
Bring it on. We need more plants and wildlife, the panoply of life!
Rob, thank you for this fabulous post. I’m working to popularize a humble initiative, entitled.: retire, your lawn, plant Hope. Since 30 to 40% of all land is privately owned I’m attempting to get churches institutions and homeowners to transition their manicure lawns to one of four models. Either naturalizing them, regeneratively gardening, planting the new deep rooted, grasses, or rewilding. I’m going to include this post in every presentation again thank you.
Please don't discriminate against plant communities in our landscapes. Quick release fertilizers kill soil microbes. Established lawns don't need it and still build soil, thickening the carbon sponge a third faster than other plants. Lawns in Springfield MA were found to be home for 94 species of bees, provided the lawns were not watered because bees hate water drops and pith nesting bees dislike flooding.
Who said anything about Quick release fertilizers ?
Chem lawns, those with quick release fertilizer are bad. Natural lawns have wildflowers, healthier soils and grass roots go deep.
And those natural lawns are exactly what this initiative is activating for.