Happy Holidays! A Time to Give Back to Mother Earth

By Danielle Jure

Every year, I promise myself “I will be more prepared for Christmas.” It’ll be a breeze, I think to myself. I’ll have all the gifts bought and wrapped with a pretty red bow weeks before the big day. And dinner on Christmas Eve? No problem! Instead of elbowing Aunty Mary out of the way for that last bag of cranberries or snatching the green beans out of Uncle Joe’s greedy fingers, my groceries will have been bought weeks ago. No insane Costco lines for me, not this year!

But inevitably, I am let down. Suddenly it’s two days before Christmas and I haven’t bought a single gift or defrosted the turkey. Panic sets in. Oh well, I think sadly. There’s always next year.

So instead of putting myself through the highs and lows of the holiday season, I decided to think of a new way I could give back without all the stress and pressure. And I realized, “Why not go to the very source of life?” What has sustained me and nurtured me all my life? And not just me, but every single human being on this planet. Why, Mother Earth herself! And more specifically, her soil. Everything we need to thrive comes from the ground. Vegetables grown in fertile earth reflect the quality of the soil. It allows plants to grow and express their fullest potential without disease or need for herbicides, pesticides, or insecticides. And when we consume these happy, strong, disease-free and chemical-free plants, we ingest the blueprint of health the plant carries, contributing to our own vibrancy and health.

HEALTHY SOIL: THE CORNERSTONE OF LIFE

While some may think of soil as lifeless dirt, that is far from the truth. Healthy soil is absolutely teeming with life. Microbial life, that is. Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, are among the many microorganisms that live in the ground and create the foundation of an elegant and delicate ecosystem. Beneficial bacteria improve soil structure and manufacture antibiotics that help plants combat disease. Fungi helps plants absorb water and nutrients. Together, this dynamic duo is known as organic matter, and the more organic matter, the healthier the soil.

COMPOST

One of the easiest ways to create a thriving microbiome is with compost. Compost adds organic matter to your soil, and luckily you don’t need to own a tractor to make great compost. In fact, the county of Kauai provides free composting bins! Just collect your veggie scraps and eggshells, rake up old leaves and green waste and put it all in your compost bin. It’s a good idea to avoid composting meat and bones, as they can bring pests to your compost pile. In about six to nine months you’ll have black gold! The compost you create with your food scraps and green waste is amazingly beneficial when put in your garden or around the base of your trees. So don’t throw out the leftover green bean casserole this year, compost it!

MULCH

Another fantastic way to protect your soil is by using mulch. Mulch is an excellent way to smother weeds and conserve groundwater. Mulching your garden is especially important in the summertime. It keeps the plants cool and retains moisture in the soil. Make mulch from leaves by raking up a pile and mowing over it to shred the leaves. You can also collect the grass clippings after mowing the lawn. Sprinkle a thin layer over your garden beds. You can even use newspaper as mulch! Layer several sheets of paper together and water before covering with grass or compost. A well mulched garden has been shown to increase vegetable yields by up to fifty percent! Be sure to skip the dreaded mulch volcano, a pile of mulch piled too high around a tree or vegetable that will eventually cause rot. Aim instead for a layer of mulch about 1-2 inches high.

VERMICOMPOST

Next up is vermicomposting. Worms are used to breakdown and digest food scraps. The result is a rich, organic amendment called worm castings. Castings contain beneficial organisms that can be put back into your garden to enrich your soil and plants. Vermicompost is also higher in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium than traditional compost. These are three primary nutrients plants need to grow and thrive. Just a handful of worm castings can feed a plant for several months. Vermicomposting bins are available over the internet, or you can make your own bins. You will also need moist shredded newspaper or cardboard and a few cups of leftover food scraps to get started. And worms, of course. Here’s a little tip; the type of worm used in composting is different than the worms you see in your soil. The two main worms used for compost are called Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubellis. They can be ordered online or found at your local vermicompost center.

Compost, mulch, and vermicompost are wonderful practices that support strength and resilience in the soil, which in turn supports life both above and below ground. As we head into the holidays, let’s remember that we are a vital part of this system. We can choose to contribute in a way that safeguards the longevity of the soil and ensures our own continuity. And that can begin with throwing your leftover casseroles into the composting bin instead of the trashcan. So this holiday season, give the gift of healthy soil!