"The threat of nuclear weapons and man's ability to destroy the environment are really alarming. And yet there are other almost imperceptible changes - I am thinking of the exhaustion of our natural resources, and especially of soil erosion - and these are perhaps more dangerous still, because once we begin to feel their repercussions it will be too late." (p. 144 of The Dalai Lama's Little Book of Inner Peace: 2002, Element Books, London)

Almost a year ago, this site ran my interview with Dr. David Montgomery, author of "Dirt; The Erosion of Civilizations". Among other things, we talked about the thesis of his book, that the fall of most civilizations can be traced to the exhaustion of arable soil. He explained the hubris of modern farming techniques that try to conquer the land rather than adapt to it. He warned that modern civilization is facing that same precipice of failure as soil conservation efforts of the 1980's and 1990's have been lost in the rush to produce bio fuels and solve the fossil fuel problem and grow crops based on technology rather than sustainability.

At the beginning of January, the New York Times ran an Op-Ed written by Wes Jackson, a plant geneticist and president of The Land Institute, and Wendell Berry, a farmer in Kentucky. They warned that despite catastrophic soil erosion caused by the Iowa floods last year, "even worse damage is done over the long term under normal rainfall - by the little rills and sheets of erosion on incompletely covered or denuded cropland, and by various degradations resulting from industrial procedures and technologies alien to both agriculture and nature."

Jackson and Wendell's thesis parallels Montgomery; "Civilizations have destroyed themselves by destroying their farmland." This destruction of farmland and loss of topsoil has been amplified under a modern agricultural system that relies on tilling fields, monoculture, and rampant use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

While Montgomery focuses on the importance of no-till farming practices as a solution, Jackson and Wendell promote the importance of crop rotation and perennial plants. All three agree, however, that soil conservation must become an important part of the U.S. farm bill. The reality is that there are alternatives to oil for keeping a civilization going, but there are no alternatives to healthy soil. Yet, because dirt is everywhere and it is consider to be free, we don't realize its value. Jackson and Wendell frame it this way:

Soil that is used and abused in this way is as nonrenewable as (and far more valuable than) oil. Unlike oil, it has no technological substitute - and no powerful friends in the halls of government. - The New York Times

Unfortunately, the new agriculture secretary, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, whose agribusiness ties run deep, is not considered to be a friend of sustainable agriculture. Sustainable food advocate Michael Pollan commented to NPR on the choice of Vilsack for Secretary of Agriculture, "It's hard to avoid the conclusion that this is agribusiness as usual. That said, there are reasons to be cautiously hopeful. Vilsack's spoken encouragingly about capping subsidies and using that money to drive a conservation agenda...On the other hand, he presided over the biggest expansion of feedlot agriculture in Iowa."

Peak oil is on most everyone's mind. Issues of water conservation are becoming increasingly part of the global consciousness through films like Flow and the experience of recent droughts. But what of soil, the true black gold, the basis of civilization? We abuse it and ignore it at our peril.

Individuals can impact soil conservation in multiple ways; buy produce from local farms and farmer's markets. Talk to the farmers and find out if they are practicing sustainable agriculture and using no-till farming. Choose organic over conventional produce whenever possible. Talk to your Senators and Representatives about the farm bill and the importance of soil conservation. Call the Secretary of Agriculture and ask that promotion of sustainable farming be a priority. Perhaps most importantly, talk about soil issues and help raise interest so we won't be sounding the alarm bells after it's too late.

Related Reading:
How You Can Start an Urban Farm
Biochar: Applying Ancient Knowledge in the Information Age

Image Credits:
nitrate.com
kingsestate.com