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Soil is not a dirty word
What you feed the soil, you
feed yourself!
In his riveting new book, Soil is Not A Dirty Word, Craig Castree shares
urgent insights into the symbiotic relationships between plants and the
microscopic worlds of bacteria and fungi that sustain them. This book will
transform the way you see the ground beneath your feet.
During his three-year dive down the rabbit hole to discover the shocking
truths hidden in soil, Castree discovered that our understanding of soil has
been fundamentally flawed for over 80 years.
While soil might not be the typical topic of conversation, it’s time it became
a priority. Modern agricultural practices promised increased productivity
but have instead led to diminishing returns. Our topsoil—the thin layer
that nourishes the planet—erodes at an alarming rate, and autoimmune
diseases rise as the soil microbiome becomes more disconnected from
plant and human microbiomes.
Soil is Not A Dirty Word goes beyond just sounding the alarm, it offers a
solution after solution to the problems most of us never knew we had with
soil. With a regenerative approach that revitalises the soil, reduces reliance
on chemical inputs, and restores its nutrient density, Castree’s strategies
promise to revolutionise edible gardening, farming, and growing food plants.
This isn’t just a manual for gardeners and farmers—this is a call to action for
anyone concerned about our planet’s future, our health, and the legacy we
leave for generations to come.
feed yourself!
In his riveting new book, Soil is Not A Dirty Word, Craig Castree shares
urgent insights into the symbiotic relationships between plants and the
microscopic worlds of bacteria and fungi that sustain them. This book will
transform the way you see the ground beneath your feet.
During his three-year dive down the rabbit hole to discover the shocking
truths hidden in soil, Castree discovered that our understanding of soil has
been fundamentally flawed for over 80 years.
While soil might not be the typical topic of conversation, it’s time it became
a priority. Modern agricultural practices promised increased productivity
but have instead led to diminishing returns. Our topsoil—the thin layer
that nourishes the planet—erodes at an alarming rate, and autoimmune
diseases rise as the soil microbiome becomes more disconnected from
plant and human microbiomes.
Soil is Not A Dirty Word goes beyond just sounding the alarm, it offers a
solution after solution to the problems most of us never knew we had with
soil. With a regenerative approach that revitalises the soil, reduces reliance
on chemical inputs, and restores its nutrient density, Castree’s strategies
promise to revolutionise edible gardening, farming, and growing food plants.
This isn’t just a manual for gardeners and farmers—this is a call to action for
anyone concerned about our planet’s future, our health, and the legacy we
leave for generations to come.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 20, 2025
Great practical guide on to how grow vegetables & care for soil.
Information is slightly repetitive but still thoroughly enjoyed it and intuitively agreed with the simple tips that craig has practised with success over his life
1. all types of soil can be regenerated with compost. decomposed and applied correctly (on top of mulch layer, on cool periods of the day & thoroughly watered in). we should all be home composting as much as we can
2. all soil needs to be covered with a mulch layer to ensure minimal drying out, minimal compaction
3. topsoil, the upper 200mm layer is important to keep in tact & most of the fungi, composting insects & bacteria lies here. try not to disturb. so when veggies are finished, cut off at the base of the stem (don't just pull out) and let the roots decompose. when planting new veggies, dig minimally
4. putting plants into soil significantly helps the soil
5. no artificial products or pestacides are needed when soil is managed well and planting with diversification
Information is slightly repetitive but still thoroughly enjoyed it and intuitively agreed with the simple tips that craig has practised with success over his life
1. all types of soil can be regenerated with compost. decomposed and applied correctly (on top of mulch layer, on cool periods of the day & thoroughly watered in). we should all be home composting as much as we can
2. all soil needs to be covered with a mulch layer to ensure minimal drying out, minimal compaction
3. topsoil, the upper 200mm layer is important to keep in tact & most of the fungi, composting insects & bacteria lies here. try not to disturb. so when veggies are finished, cut off at the base of the stem (don't just pull out) and let the roots decompose. when planting new veggies, dig minimally
4. putting plants into soil significantly helps the soil
5. no artificial products or pestacides are needed when soil is managed well and planting with diversification
April 2, 2025
Great discussion of soil. I thought the section on compost was very good.
Page 164- “By understanding soil better, we are a lot further down the track of undoing the mistakes of the past.�
Page 164- “By understanding soil better, we are a lot further down the track of undoing the mistakes of the past.�
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
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