The pace and extent of climate change are frightening and overwhelming. Actions to mitigate the crisis include reducing the use of fossil fuels, installing solar panels, and avoiding driving and flying. But neighborhood gardeners can help limit climate change as well, while feeding their souls by tending their own green space.
Control of atmospheric carbon is central to slowing climate change; in fact, it may be key to the survival of our species and the planet. The effort to plant more carbon-absorbing trees is crucial, and growing a diversity of garden plants is also important. While growing healthy plants, we take care of our soil. Photosynthesis of growing plants absorbs carbon and releases oxygen. Carbon is used to build plant tissue, from stems to roots. Healthy soil holds more carbon than the atmosphere and all vegetation combined. Only the ocean is a greater carbon sink than healthy soil. What a great system! Good plants are grown and the planet survives.
Plant material left to decompose in the soil results in soil organic matter that sequesters carbon and feeds soil microbes. Make a compost pile and dig the decomposed plant material into your garden. Now that it’s winter, use a cover crop like clover or alfalfa on your vegetable beds, and dig it into the soil in the spring. This feeds the beneficial soil fungi that fix the carbon and nitrogen, helping your plants grow.
Avoid tilling the soils. Tilling damages the essential microbial communities and structure of the soil, reducing fertility and drainage. The carbon in plant roots and microorganisms brought to the surface by tilling is exposed to the atmosphere, which turns it into carbon dioxide gas. Here we go again—we are putting carbon into the atmosphere. Poorly drained soils cause runoff and negatively change the balance of fungus and bacteria in the soil.
Use herbicides sparingly. If used, paint them on the plant target rather than spraying. It is not yet known what effect herbicides may have on the soil microbes essential to plant growth and our production of food.
Grow a diversity of plants to extend the growing and carbon sequestration season and encourage a range of soil microbes that help plants use carbon. Growing plants with different root structures also enhances the stability of soil structure. Don’t leave much unplanted soil. Mulch any bare soil with bark chips. Insects and birds that are also a part of our ecosystem will benefit. And we humans can enjoy flowers and foliage during all four seasons.
Thus, by growing a garden we are doing our bit to help control climate change. Plant plants and nurture your soil…and your soul.