LIVING SOIL ~ RESOURCE GUIDE
An Evolving Solutions Guide for Ensuring
the 7 Core Needs of all Humans and Animals Are Met
Food Security is Soil Security. Chemical agriculture treats soil as inert and an empty container for chemical fertilisers. The new paradigm recognizes the soil as living, in which billions of soil organisms create soil fertility. Their well being is vital to human well being. Looked at from this point of view, the immediate aim of fertilization is not to increase yields and fertilize plants, but to build up soil fertility.
— Vandana Shiva
This evolving Resource Guide builds on the Solutions Guide by focussing specifically on inspiring resources, initiatives and topics that are related to the 2nd Primary Task of Eco-Governance, which is to ensure the 7 Core Needs of all Humans and Animals are met in the shortest possible time through guaranteed access to:
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Living Soil
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Healthy Water
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Vitalizing Food
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Fresh Clean Air
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Physical and Emotional Safety
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Comfortable Shelter
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The conditions and resources needed for all to realize their unique potential – in mutual enrichment with their communities and ecosystems.
Explore All Core Needs
Overview of Contents with Links to Each Section
(You can also use the anchor menu on the left to navigate between sections)
Challenges to SOIL
Current Threats
The 10 main threats to soil functions:
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Loss of soil biodiversity
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Soil contamination / pollution
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Soil erosion
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Soil organic carbon loss
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Nutrient imbalance
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Soil acidification
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Waterlogging
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Soil compaction
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Soil sealing
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Salinization
Primary Causes
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Industrial Agriculture
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Animal Factory Farming
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Deforestation
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Mining
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Urban sprawl / human settlement
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Desertification
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Widespread lack of education and understanding about the importance of soil health.
Whole-System Solutions ~ LIVING SOIL
See also the Solutions Guide for additional resources
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AGROFORESTRY / FOOD FORESTRY – What is a Food Forest?
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ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION CAMPS – HOW IT WORKS | Ecosystem Restoration Camps
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HOLISTIC PLANNED GRAZING – Holistic Planned Grazing | Vale da Lama / Our Animals | Vale da Lama
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NATURAL FARMING – Masanobu Fukuoka Natural Farm
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ORGANIC AGRICULTURE – Why Organic? ~ IFOAM
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PERMACULTURE – What is Permaculture? | Permaculture Magazine
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REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE – Resources | Regeneration International
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SOIL REGENERATION – Resources | Dr. Elaine’s™ Soil Food Web School
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SYNTROPIC AGRICULTURE – What is Syntropic Farming? | Agenda Götsch
What Can I / We Do - Now?
Composting
"Composting garden and kitchen waste is a great way of helping the environment with the added benefit of producing a free soil conditioner for your garden. So, instead of filling your dustbin with rotting food and garden waste, which can produce unpleasant odours, why not put it to good use. The compost you produce can then be mixed with your soil to provide nutrient-rich food product for your garden." — Less Waste: Home Composting
Compost Simply with Morag Gamble from Our Permaculture Life. Watch her amazing series HERE
Instructional Video On How To Build The Composting Bioreactor. Read and download the written manual on building the bioreactor HERE.
Community Compost Program with Rob Greenfield Watch his amazing series HERE
Food Not Lawns (oldie-but-goodie) with Heather Jo Flores. Growing SOIL and FOOD together. Check out the movement HERE
Documentaries, Short Films & Talks
THE NEED TO GROW | Trailer. Register to watch full documentary (96 mins) HERE.
Life in Syntropy | Syntropic Agriculture ~ Short film (14 mins)
Ecosystem Restoration Camps (4 mins)
Trailer for Kiss the Ground.
Watch full documentary (84 mins) HERE.
Incredible 1.5-Acre Permaculture / Syntropic Food Forest (24 mins) | Happen Films
Natural Farming With Masanobu Fukuoka: Minimal Effort And Abundant Yields (60 mins)
How to Accelerate Soil & Ecosystem Restoration | John D. Liu & Dr. Elaine Ingham (126 mins)
Additional Resources
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Start a Community Composting Project | Localization Action Guide
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Navdanya | Living Soil (Vandana Shiva)
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Regenerative Agriculture, What is it? | Kiss the Ground
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Resources | Soil Health Institute (including SHI Lesson plans for high school and college)
Summits and Conferences
The Soil Regen Summits offer an extraordinary variety of talks and panel discussions by world leaders in the field of soil regeneration – all for free.
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SOIL REGEN SUMMIT 2022 | Soil Regen Summit Collection
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SOIL REGEN SUMMIT 2021 | Revisiting Soil Regen Summit 2021: Hope for the Future
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Soil Revolution (example of in-person conference, Colorado, US)