10 Things to Improve Soil
Just for Families » | 10 Things to Improve Soil
Now that
you are interested, why not learn more and see how you can make a difference in soil
quality?
- Recycle. Recycling yard waste reduces landfills and increases
the amount of nutrients that could be returned to the soil. www.chicagorecycling.org/
- Start a worm compost bin. Earthworms are natural recyclers! Feed
your organic kitchen scraps to them and watch them turn it into the perfect environment
for your garden and the critters that love to live there. This increases the quality
of soil in your backyard or school and, by separating organic garbage from trash,
you reduce curbside trash and landfills. www.mastercomposter.com/worm/wormcomp.html
- Start a regular compost pile. Let bacteria, fungus, and insects,
as well as water, temperature, and chemistry turn your raked leaves and grass,
organic kitchen scraps, and other decaying material into fertile soil. You'll
need a special spot in the backyard or corner of the school yard, but you'll have
fun checking the temperature and noticing the microscopic activity that goes on
to make healthy soil! journeytoforever.org/compost.html
- Support farmers who grow crops organically, without
the use of pesticides and herbicides that strip the soil of nutrients, and use
low-tillage methods. www.purefood.org/organlink.htm
- Read and incorporate the principles of the International Earth Charter
into your lifestyle. www.earthcharter.org/,
environet.policy.net/
- Learn about your local area's special dumping, run-off, and hazardous
waste disposal rules, as well as what toxic materials you may have in your home.
www.envirolink.org/index.html,
environet.policy.net/health/cabcon_report.vtml
- Grow things. Start a backyard or windowsill garden or farm a
small plot in a local community garden. You'll learn about what kinds of soil
makes the best-tasting and healthiest plants. www.chicago-botanic.org/whatsnew/CommunityProg.html
- Have a No Trash Lunch Week. Try to bring your lunch to work or
school for an entire week without using any non-recyclable materials. Things that
are OK to include are organic material for the compost, recyclable plastic, glass,
and aluminum—see if you can create a lunch habit in which nothing is put
in the curbside trash can! www.mdc.state.mo.us/nomoretrash/
- Plant native species in your backyard or on your school campus.
Lessen the negative impact of asphalt and concrete on our critter friends' homes!
Create prairie lands, school gardens, or volunteer in areas that are being restored.
www.prairieclub.org/
- Plan a volunteer workday to help clean up a vacant lot, river
habitat, or other place in need of restoration. www.chicagoriver.org/
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