In August, I was fortunate to attend the first international Cornell Soil Health Workshop. There were farmers, scientists and agricultural agents from Africa, Korea, Pakistan, France, Honduras, Jamaica and the United States. I represented the homeowner/landscaping segment with my friend, horticulturalist and arborist, Chuck Sherzi. Cornell brought together scientists representing the physical, chemical and biological aspects of soil because they are so interconnected. images by Teresa Matteson

Soils around the world are becoming deficient in organic matter and the Cornell group is exploring ways of measuring and correcting the problem. Organic matter is lost by constantly tilling the soil without replacing these valuable assets. A soil low in organic matter can become lifeless and infertile. Irresponsible use of chemicals compounds the problem. Various methods of tilling or not tilling, as well as the use of cover crops are ways to invigorate the soil. These scientists have developed a way to measure all aspects of a soil to come up with the Soil Health Assessment. It measures biological activity, compaction and water holding ability as well as the chemical components and organic matter. All these things affect each other. It will be available in the spring.

The complexity of farming around the world and the importance of replenishing depleted soils are two things I brought back from this conference. We visited successful organic farms and others that needed some chemical inputs. All the farmers were concerned about the health of their soil. I learned a lot about soil. I also learned how little we understand about it, yet it is the essence of life. The importance of good soil is becoming more evident to scientists and farmers around the world. It has made me more committed to improving the soil in New England lawns. With good soil, you can have a good organic lawn.

 To see more pictures from the trip by Teresa Matteson, click here.