From the SOIL UP

GPMGA HOPE Soil Team, Part I

GPMGA's SOIL TEAM

From the Soil UP Presentation, Part I  

soil team
soil team soil team
hope logo


Regenerative Gardening

For an inspired introduction, check out this video by Jimi Eisenstein:

Sustainable vs. Regenerative Gardening. Sustaining simply means maintaining what exists, while regenerative means improving your garden.

Natural life in the soil: Did you know that there are more microorganisms in one teaspoon of soil than there are people on the earth? Some of these participate in carbon sequestration.

Goals of regenerative gardening:
1. Draw down atmospheric CO2
2. Rebuild topsoil
3. Provide both drought & flood resilience

Principles
1. Minimize Soil Disturbance
2. Maximize Plant Cover
3. Embrace Biodiversity

Practical applications for gardeners
Cover the soil:
  • Cover crops, Ground covers
Feed/nurture the soil:
  • Compost / Organic material
  • Hügelkultur / Chop-and-drop
Avoid disrupting the soil:
  • No till / Cut (not pull up
Cultivate deep roots:
  • Natives / Other perennials
Energize with diversity:
  • Companion planting /Crop rotation/
    Mixed cover crops

For further inspiration to engage in regenerative gardening, check out this video from “Kiss the Ground.”

Watch for the HOPE Soil team's next program in Feb 2025.



vce soil


“Out of the long list of nature’s gifts to man, none is perhaps so utterly
essential to human life as soil.” – Hugh Hammond Bennett




Virginia Cooperative Extension


Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.