The BIG picture… ….. our BIOSPHERE

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

PRECYCLING GIVING THOUGHT to what you NEED Making CHOICES with the LEAST IMPACT If buying NEW is the best choice… CONSIDER PACKAGING and it’s IMPACT USE it up… WEAR it out… MAKE it do… …or DO WITHOUT !

WHY REDUCE our IMPACT on the EARTH? The United States is 5% of the WORLD’S POPULATION, but… … the United States PRODUCES 25% of the WORLD’S WASTE!!! This is our BASIS for SUSTAINABILITY

The IMPORTANCE of SOILS “SOIL is the most COMPLEX ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM on the PLANET” IMPORTANT to CIVILIZATIONS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmA6sw5ZSyk GROWING POPULATIONS, but LIMITED LANDS SOIL is an INTERFACE between CRUST and ATMOSPHERE

The SOIL's CRUST If you have a GIGANTIC APPLE - 200’ in diameter …. the SKIN would represent the CRUST of the earth…and the SOIL:EARTH ratio

INTERFACE between CRUST and ATMOSPHERE TEMPERATURE

INTERFACE between CRUST and ATMOSPHERE CARBON CYCLE through gas exchange

INTERFACE between CRUST and ATMOSPHERE NITROGEN CYCLE

INTERFACE between CRUST and ATMOSPHERE MINERAL CYCLES - Phosphorus

INTERFACE between CRUST and ATMOSPHERE WATER CYCLE

The IMPORTANCE of SOILS IMPORTANT to CIVILIZATIONS GROWING POPULATIONS, but LIMITED LANDS SOIL is an INTERFACE between CRUST and ATMOSPHERE SOIL is a MEDIUM for PLANT GROWTH

SOIL is a MEDIUM for PLANT GROWTH Anchorage Water – H2O Oxygen – O2 14 Essential Nutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S B, Cl, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn, Mo, Zn

SOIL MATRIX 3 PHASE SYSTEM – The arrangement of SOLID, LIQUID and GAS in SOILS The IDEAL soil …

ROOTS grow in PORE SPACES

ROOTS grow in OPTIMAL CONDITIONS Best Pore Spaces Best Water Best Oxygen Best Nutrients ROOTS also grow … …in the PATH of LEAST RESISTANCE

AGRICULTURAL USES of SOILS CROPLAND

AGRICULTURAL USES of SOILS GRAZING LAND

AGRICULTURAL USES of SOILS FOREST LAND

AGRICULTURAL USES of SOILS ORNAMENTAL LANDSCAPES

NON-AGRICULTURAL USES of SOILS RECREATIONAL

NON-AGRICULTURAL USES of SOILS BUILDING FOUNDATIONS Shrink-swell

NON-AGRICULTURAL USES of SOILS BUILDING FOUNDATIONS Load Bearing Capacity

NON-AGRICULTURAL USES of SOILS WASTE DISPOSAL

NON-AGRICULTURAL USES of SOILS BUILDING MATERIALS Traditional Sod and Adobe

NON-AGRICULTURAL USES of SOILS BUILDING MATERIALS Newer Rammed Earth and Cobb techniques

NON-AGRICULTURAL USES of SOILS LANDSCAPE BUILDING MATERIALS Engineered Soils

LAND USE in the United States Most land is in AGRICULTURAL (25%), RANGELAND (27%) and FOREST LAND (27%) Much is being LOST to URBAN DEVELOPMENT (7% and growing) …

LAND USE in the WORLD … and SOIL DEGRADATION Erosion Pollution Loss of Organic Matter Desertification Changes in Chemistry Salination – Saltiness

LAND USE in the WORLD SOILS are NON-RENEWABLE in our lifetimes BMP’s – Best Management Practices are important to understand and implement to MAINTAIN SOIL QUALITY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M3QT0CI9wA

What Can You Do? VALUE: Reduce Material Consumption I value longevity, quality over quantity, sharing and spacious simplicity VALUE: Conserve Energy and Natural Resources I value the limited gifts and life forms of the natural world and will not waste them thoughtlessly From BE the CHANGE - ACTION GUIDE ACTIONS and IMPACT What actions do I do, daily or regularly, to lessen my impact on the earth? (Big or small, it doesn’t matter…. baby steps count!)