“Find a location in your area where the soil has never been cleared of native vegetation or tilled. Look at that soil in its native condition to get an idea what a functioning soil should look and act like.” – Jon Stika
Our Regen Reads recommendation this month is “A Soil Owner’s Manual” by Jon Stika.
Fertilizer costs continue to rise as soil health continues to decline. Between chemical inputs and extreme weather events, our soils are up against battles that they have never encountered before. So how can we support our soils in the attempt to restore its health and counteract the generations of harm that have been inflicted on it? Jon Stika recommends learning about and returning to the original mechanisms that built soil health into what it used to be — fertile, resilient, dynamic.
Every farmer encounters a certain issue on their farm: soil erosion, unmanageable weeds, pests destroying their crops, soil compaction, you name it. In “A Soil Owner’s Manual”, Stika urges the reader to redefine their thinking and get to the bottom line of why these issues appear on the farm. Typically, any issue that a farmer faces is an indication of what is lacking in the ecosystem, usually resulting from a disruption in the ecosystem processes. By focusing attention on the root causes of these problem areas, a farmer can solve their current issues and more down the line simply by rebuilding natural processes and adhering to regenerative principles.
“A Soil Owner’s Manual” is an easy-to-read guide that leads you to an understanding of biological systems in the soil, and it is sure to help you navigate the ecological world of agriculture. Purchase your copy today!
Regen Reads is COG’s monthly regenerative agriculture reading list. 📖