Soil Health
Recruiting Soil to Tackle Climate Change:
A Roadmap for Canada
PRESS RELEASE
Canada’s 2030 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets
Agriculture’s Greenhouse Gas Footprint
SOILS AT WORK – BECOME A SOIL BUILDER
From and because of soil, life on Planet Earth exists.
We depend on soil and it depends on us. The food that we eat.
The trees and plants that give us oxygen to breathe.
The water we use and drink.
Our weather patterns and climate. All are connected.
Whether you are a home gardener, landscaper or farmer, healthy soils are fundamental for success as well as our collective efforts to live sustainably. From food production, clean air and water, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and climate change mitigation — all these necessities rely on healthy productive soils.
We invite you to explore the learning and information provided on this page and through the links to help your learning about healthy soil and the ways to both attain as well as maintain it.
Special thanks are extended to Agriculture & AgriFood Canada, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Ontario, Soil Conservation Council of Canada, Communities in Bloom, Rod Black and all the members & supporters of The Compost Council of Canada for their support in the development of these materials and the advancement of this work to better understand and partner with our soils for the betterment of all.
Chapter 1: What is Soil Health?
Test your understanding through this quiz
Chapter 2: The Biology of Soil Structure
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Chapter 3: The Biology of Soil Fertility
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Chapter 4: The Biology of Disease and Pest Suppression
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Chapter 5: The Biology of Soil Carbon
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Chapter 6: The Ecology of Soil Health
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Chapter 7: Soil Health Principles and Practices
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Chapter 8: The Unique Role of Compost in Soil Health and Climate Change
AN OVERALL QUIZ TO TAKE FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF YOUR SOILS AT WORK READING/LISTENING:
Congratulations on becoming a SOIL BUILDER !
Thanks for your interest in Soil Health !
We encourage you to continue your learning by also reading the recently-released publication – RECRUITING SOIL TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE: A Roadmap for Canada.
This has been jointly published by the Soil Conservation Council of Canada and our Council,
with support from the Metcalf Foundation.
A Climate-Smart Lawn and Garden Guide
This year’s gardening season offers all of us a great opportunity to tackle Climate Change, speaking up for our concern for the well-being of our planet and growing better.
The following pages summarize the essential Soil Health steps that each of us can take to garden with the climate and the environment in mind.
Together, we can tackle Climate Change right in our backyards.
Stop digging
Keep the soil well-rooted
Nurture the soil
Shield the Soil
Welcome diversity
Better Yield and Nutritional Value When Vegetable Crops are Grown in Compost-Amended Soils,
Manitoba Agricultural Research Finds
To hear a summary presentation of Dr. Abbey’s research findings, please visit:
https://youtu.be/at0oYPo2eIQ
OUR SOIL INFLUENCES OUR BRAIN HEALTH
A presentation by DR. BONNIE KAPLAN
Professor Emerita of the University of Calgary
and co-author of THE BETTER BRAIN
View the presentation here:
https://youtu.be/rlEqMO4L30k
The Compost Council of Canada is the national non-profit, member-driven organization dedicated to advocating and advancing organics residuals recycling and compost use. The Council serves as the central resource and network for the compost and organics recycling industry in Canada and, through its members, contributes to the environmental sustainability of the communities in which they operate.