The Soil Will Save Us by Kristin Ohlson
The Soil Will Save Us is a book that explores the science of soil health and its connection to the carbon cycle. The author, Kristin Ohlson, argues that healing the land and turning atmospheric carbon into beneficial soil carbon could potentially reverse global warming.
Through her travels around the world researching the topic, Ohlson finds numerous best practices in soil science, farming and ranching practices, and the food community that drives the demand for sustainable agriculture.
The main themes of the book include the importance of soil health in supporting life on Earth, the relationship between soil and climate, and the potential for humanity to work with nature in a beneficial way to reduce carbon from the atmosphere.
Ohlson introduces visionary scientists, farmers, foodies, ranchers, and landscapers, whose work shows that earth can be healed and offers the hope that seemingly intractable problems like climate change, air and water pollution, food quality, and even obesity have the same low-tech solution.
What I Liked
I liked how this book digs (pun!) into an overlooked topic for consumers, gardeners, and farmers alike.
What I Did Not Like
The book did not dig into some of the nuances as to why we still use the soil the way we do and what incentives are driving farmers to farm the way they do. She leaves it too much on guesswork and either incompetence / malice – when it’s neither.
- The book explores an important and overlooked topic.
- It highlights best practices in soil science and sustainable agriculture.
- It offers hope for solving major environmental issues through simple solutions.
- The book lacks depth in discussing the underlying reasons for current farming practices.
