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Where Does Soil Fit into Climate Change?
Since the Copenhagen climate talks are in the news this month, it seemed like a good idea to give an overview of the soil aspect of climate change. This is a very general discussion for those people looking for a starting point. If you are looking for a more technical discussion, this will not be it. [read more]

5 Soil-Based Gifts for Gardeners
Have you been trying to think of a gift for a gardener who is always talking about improving their soil or conserving their soil? Is your gift recipient a sustainable gardener? Here are a few gift ideas for that gardener that is striving for healthy soil. [read more]

Current Soil-Related Articles in the News

These are a few recent news articles mentioning soil and environment-related topics that currently appear online.  I try to pick one article each day to highlight. Sometimes I will select two articles. Sometimes it will be a slow news day and I won't find any to highlight.  Each one has a short description to clarify the subject of the article. If you are interested in the subject, clicking on the title will take you to the entire article, outside this website.

Sources of Pollution in Waterways (American Society of Agronomy, 8 Mar 10)

A group of scientists funded by the New York Academy of Sciences has found that stormwater runoff is the main source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) pollutants in the New York/New Jersey harbor. Other sources considered were tributaries, atmospheric deposition, wastewater treatment plant discharges, combined sewer overflows, and storm water runoff. Stormwater runoff contributed about half of the total load. Atmospheric deposition was important for smaller PAH compounds.

Economic value of nature 'still invisible', says UN (EurActiv, 8 Mar 10)

The United Nations is attempting to construct an initiative that puts a price on nature such as soil, forest, or fresh water. It is hoped this initiative will convince policymakers to implement a "polluter pays" principle to protect nature. Currently our economic systems are not geared to defending or preserving anything that does not have economic value.

Simple steps can reduce risk of exposure to lead (The Province, 7 Mar 10)

This article discusses the sources and how to reduce lead exposure, especially for children. Two primary sources of lead exposure for children are soil and household dust. The article also describes some symptoms of lead exposure.

Soil develops slowly but can be lost quickly (The Chatham Daily News, 5 Mar 10)

This is a nice, basic little overview of soil. The formation of soil from rocks, minerals, plants, and animals is covered. This leads to a description of soil composition, soil profiles, and leaching. Finally it covers soil erosion caused by wind and rain as well as soil erosion caused by human activities.

Shifting Soil Threatens Homes’ Foundations (New York Times, 4 Mar 10)

Extended wet or dry periods can have a big effect on the soil beneath buildings. Clay soils will shrink during droughts and swell during floods. This can cause buildings to sink or push upward. Sandy soil loses its adhesive properties during dry weather, causing it to pull away from the foundations. Heavy rains will cause it to shift to collapse beneath the building.

All News Articles

If you are looking for Howard Garrett's web site for his radio show, the correct address is http://www.dirtdoctor.com/.

Soil Science Resources
Internet resources and educational materials on soils, soil minerals, agricultural, and environmental subjects. [read more]

Soil Facts
I put together some facts about soil for another purpose and thought they might interest others. [read more]

Soil Science Books
Soil science books on Amazon