Soil health is at the heart of organic agriculture, and current understanding of soil dynamics has validated and refined the practices developed by pioneers of the organic movement.
Organic farmers nourish soil naturally by using quality compost, cover crops, mulches, integrated crop and livestock production, and other considered practices.
Healthy soil supports optimum plant growth, has increased capacity to retain water and intercept runoff, resist erosion, filter out nutrients and pathogens, and suppress pests, weeds and diseases. We also know that healthy soils sequester carbon, helping to mitigate climate change.
Learn more about soil health and the role of organic and regenerative agriculture practices through the articles and resources below.
Video series from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Soil Health and Organic Farming Webinar Series
From eOrganic.
What 40 Years of Science Tells Us About Organic Agriculture
Dr. Kris Nichols
Working with Living Soils in the Market Garden
JM Fortier
Bringing Plants & Animals Together for Soil Health (DeLisa Lewis)
Ask an Expert: Soil Testing (Amy Norgaard, Dru Yates, & Emma Holmes)
Intergenerational Soil Stewardship (Marjorie Harris)
Soil Health & Cover Crops (Saikat Kumar Basu)
Healthy Soils Yield Resilient Operations (Rachel Penner)
Living Soil Film – Soil Health Institute
Nutrient Management Calculator
BC Ministry of Agriculture
Organic Nutrient Management Resources
UBC SAL Lab
Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
Resources on soil quality and health in organic systems.
Oregon Small Farms Program
The Rodale Institute
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Every day should be World Soil Day
Insights from Canadian Organic Growers.