Public awareness about soil health has increased in recent years, and more people from outside of ranching and farming communities have learned about the role that soil plays in our world. Since the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, government entities like the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have been implementing soil health initiatives. Understanding the complex interactions between soil, human health and environmental quality is essential for sustainable land and water management. 

Many natural processes occur in the soil including decomposition, nutrient and water cycling, carbon sequestration, and nitrification. Healthy soils are incredibly rich in life ranging from microbes and soil fauna. The quantification of carbon sequestration has received tremendous attention in the past decade as large emitters of greenhouse gas emissions attempt to offset their carbon footprint. The emerging carbon market continues to fuel the advancement of our understanding and quantification of soil carbon sequestration. 

In addition to the benefits that healthy soil has as a solution to offsetting carbon dioxide emissions, soil health remains central to many other conversations. Healthy soils act as a biological filter and buffer system and keep our lakes, rivers, streams and air clean. When soil has a higher percentage of organic matter (carbon) soil's ability to hold and retain moisture is improved, this helps reduce erosion. Healthy soils can hold tremendous amounts of water, much like a sponge. When soil also has no organic structure, it is more prone to drying out completely, leaving the topmost layer of soil exposed to the atmosphere, which in a dry Pacific Northwest summer will result in more dust events. We see this every summer when the mid-summer winds pick up after tilling and we end up with tons of topsoil dust blown across the Panhandle. This significantly impacts air quality, as well as contributes to the loss of topsoil. Implementing practices that promote soil health and reduce erosion can contribute to improved water and air quality and the overall health of ecosystems.

Practices that have been shown to promote soil health by increasing nutrient and water retention include reducing tillage which helps retain soil moisture. "No till" farming also helps prevent wind and water erosion. Other practices, such as the introduction of cover crops, help to maintain soil moisture as well as increase water infiltration and soil organic matter. Enriching the soil’s organic matter also helps to contribute to a balanced soil pH contributing to the absorption of micronutrients which in turn, helps farmers to grow crops with higher levels of micronutrients. Healthy soils contribute to reducing the accumulation of toxic elements in the soil as well including heavy metals. 

Supporting these conservation and regenerative initiatives helps to bring awareness to soil management and is essential to the promotion of resilience for the future of agriculture. It is time we rally our local “save the soil” movement here in the Northwest and strive to support our local agriculture systems that are leading initiatives to build soil, reduce pollution, reduce agricultural input dependency and grow nutrient-rich, healthy foods.

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Joni Kindwall-Moore works to promote regenerative agriculture locally through her involvement with Spokane Conservation District’s Farmed Smart and Biofarming programs and her company, Snacktivist Foods. They are developing programs for our local farming communities to bridge the gap between soil health-focused, regenerative commodities to markets in the NW and beyond. You can see her speak at the upcoming Northwest Intertribal Food Sovereignty Summit on March 6-9.

The Our Gem Coeur d’Alene Lake Collaborative is a team of committed and passionate professionals working to preserve lake health and protect water quality by promoting community awareness of local water resources through education, outreach, and stewardship. Our Gem includes local experts from the University of Idaho - Idaho Water Resources Research Institute, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, the Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission and Kootenai Environmental Alliance.