The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 12 Autumn 2015 High res | Page 3

The Year of the Soil
Did you know that soil was a nonrenewable resource? You might be
thinking at this very moment, “What is
she on about now?” Well, that was my
first reaction when I read about this,
as I was thinking you cannot burn,
smoke or eat it, so, why is it a nonrenewable resource?

“Soil is a finite resource,
meaning its loss and
degradation is not recoverable
within a human lifespan.”
www.fao.org

I think many of us take our soil for
granted, thinking that if we simply
add a bit of fertiliser, everything will
just bloom as per usual. However, the
United Nations has brought much
awareness of the rapid degradation
of our soils and has made 2015, ‘The
Year of the Soil’. When the UN focuses
on an issue, generally it should not
be taken lightly, especially when
33% of the soils on our delicate
earth have degraded due to erosion,
nutrient depletion, chemical
pollution, salinization and many other
factors. The FAO and UN are doing
much to promote the sustainable
use of our soils, an important ally
and foundation for us gardeners,
horticulturists and farmers.

“Soils constitute the foundation
of vegetation and agriculture.
Forests need it to grow. We
need it for food, feed, fibre, fuel
and much more.” José Graziano

da Silva, FAO Director-General

Even though us gardeners might
have a small impact on the soil, the
expression ‘Charity begins at home’
comes to mind. We can play a big
role in the preservation of soils by
reducing the use of pesticides and
other chemicals; improve our soil
health by using more compost, as well
as using more efficient methods of
watering to prevent erosion. Think of
soils like our bodies; the healthier we
eat or live, the healthier we become:
it’s not rocket science really!

“Soils also host at least
one quarter of the world’s
biodiversity. They are key in the
carbon cycle. They help us to
mitigate and adapt to climate
change. They play a role in
water management and in
improving resilience to floods
and droughts.” José Graziano da

Silva, FAO Director-General.

In this issue of the magazine, there is
an interesting article on our soils in
Zimbabwe; this is a good place to start
for many, as we need to understand
how soil works and get the most out
of it, and give back to it at the same
time. The future of our soils is more
important than we think, according to
the FAO who state:

“The current demographic
trends and projected growth in
global population (to exceed 9
billion by 2050) are estimated to
result in a 60 percent increase
in demand for food, feed and
fibre by 2050.”
Now, that’s food for thought! If you
are interested in reading more facts
on this, have a look at the FAO website
(www.fao.org).
However, before you start to feel
down on these pretty disturbing facts,
soil has some good news for us too!
Soil contains a happy bacteria called,
Mycobacterium vaccae, which triggers
the release of serotonin, the chemical
that makes us feel happy and not
depressed! So if you are having a
tough day, get out into the garden and
get your hands dirty!
Happy Gardening!

Kari

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