Mixed Vegetable Polyculture Trials

By Ben Stallings |

This 2015 study by Naomi Van der Velden mobilized citizen scientists from around the UK to compare the productivity of highly diverse garden beds to less diverse ones. The results suffer from small sample size (n=50 to start, but only 24 completed the trial): no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Participants felt that the more diverse plots were harder to tend and had more damage from pests and disease than the less diverse plots.

Understanding Soil Health and Watershed Function: A Teacher's Manual

By Ben Stallings |

This excellent textbook by Didi Pershouse is currently available as a 2017 reviewer's edition from the author's Web site. Once the book is published, it should be available at www.soilcarboncoalition.org/learn . In addition to theoretical lessons and discussion starters, it contains detailed instructions for hands-on demonstrations of soil water capacity (illustrated by a slice of bread vs.

Bringing Back the Soil with Elaine Ingham

By Ben Stallings |

This PDF contains the slides from a webinar by Dr. Ingham. It details the history of agricultural soil mis/management, why we need to respect the soil food web, and how we can solve soil problems with appropriate compost and compost tea. It includes a case study of Governors Island, NY and ends with a sales pitch for Ingham's classes.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RXO4ZbNcNyOi8xG_lvM1T3wNte7-eaKV/view

Right Under Your Feet: Soil Health and the Climate Crisis

By Ben Stallings |

This 18 page PDF from the Climate Reality Project is another great explanation of why soil ecology is important and how to foster it, at home, on the farm, and in government incentives.

https://www.climaterealityproject.org/sites/climaterealityproject.org/f… Health and Climate Change.pdf