‘Tis the year of the soil

An element that often goes overlooked in our plight for green farming measures and saving the rhinos, is soil.

This year is the International Year of Soil, an important element in the earth’s composition and our lives, albeit not usually given a second thought. It goes without saying that soil is crucial to the existence of man, animals and several organisms.

Spokesperson for Maropeng, Harry the Hominid agrees, “Soil is very important because it gives us food, cleans and stores water and holds carbon which we need to survive.”

The recent spate in global warming and pollution have contributed negatively to our soil. Farming, pollution and the erection of new cities are some contributing factors that are damaging our soil.

Since 2015 is Soil Year, Harry gives a few tips and tricks to help look after our soil and avoid a dim future:

•  Start your own compost pit or create a worm farm with waste from your house.
•  To stop the top layer of soil from washing away during a storm, dig trenches or put in drain pipes around the house.
•  If you are growing your own vegetables, make sure your feed the soil and make sure water does not wash away the top soil.
•  Try not to use chemicals, pesticides and products that pollute our soil. Try and use environmentally-friendly washing powders, soaps and detergents.
•  Recycle. Always make sure your waste is recycled.

“We all need to work together to protect our soil. Let’s make it our mission this year to make a difference. Happy Soil Year!” Harry said.