Co-Create with Nature to Form Terra Preta Inspired Soil - Using Ashes and Mulch
Living close to nature, we can form the most extraordinary soil. We use twigs and cuttings from the food forest to fuel fires, returning the ashes, char, and mulch to the forest floor.
Amazon Rain Forest soil is called Terra Preta, meaning dark earth. Ashes, woodchip mulch, and composted kitchen waste create a habitat for soil life when added to the ground.
While the scientific community is busy arguing about who is right, I'm going ahead with creating my version of terra preta with the resources I have around me. Twigs and fallen branches go into the fire to heat the house or cook food, and when they are turned to ash, they go back into the garden.
Since we dug swales and berms to conduct rainwater earlier this year, we are taking advantage of those structures to add the fireplace ash onto the soil surface.
The amazon rainforest was once inhabited by millions of people, who grew edible, medicinal, and useful plants. Due to a tragedy of some sort, the society was obliterated, but the ancient buildings can be detected using ground penetration lidar.
Check out the video for details, and if you are curious, explore the concepts of terra preta and biochar.
Be sure to get copies of Tutu's books and get started growing your infinitely abundant food forest today!
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tutu-Sainz/author/B07ND3W7VB
