a stream of consciousness on soil (kind of)

[yesterday]

what I like about this blog is that it can be whatever I want it to be. so today we're talking about farming. specifically, soil. and more specifically, the relatively little I have been learning about mycorrhizal fungi in soil. 


I won't be getting too technical, because I am still learning and also I don't want to and also I know for a fact some of my readers definitely know way more about this than I do. 


Also, let's back up. After debating for a while the cost, I decided yesterday to sign up for one of the Cornell Small Farms Program courses, just in time for the first class. At first I was only reminded of how much I hate online learning, but then later was reminded of how much I love learning, specifically practical learning, even if it is online and dumb. The class is covering some basic vegetable farming topics for beginning farmers-- soil health, common mistakes, choosing the right equipment, some business basics, etc. For $200 I think it's going to be a good investment. Actually, already I know it is because I'm actually sitting down and learning and researching and planning for the things I want to do next year. And I've long felt deficient specifically in my scientific knowledge related to growing stuff, and already, just in one night and one additional afternoon (right now) I'm learning a lot about soil and what the heck is going on in there. 

Specifically I am realizing why a number of my friends are so compelled by mushrooms/fungi because they seem pretty darn interesting. Who know that so many plants rely on them for so much of their nutrient uptake? And conversely the fungi rely on the plants to get their...carbon I think? Something important anyway. Or that it's fungi that glue soil together into its clumpy aggregates? Not me. I think they are also what's responsible for taking organic matter, compost, etc and turning it into usable things for your crops. Like, compost alone isn't really anything (I guess it inherently can do things for your soil structure but that isn't it's main point), instead it needs to be further broken down and transformed by all those living things in the soil. Typing some of this out I want to say "duh" because some of it is stuff I maybe half knew already, but I am feeling very excited, competent, etc to start to get a better grip on this stuff scientifically speaking. also the way I've jotted some of this down here might be wrong still, so don't be trying to read this blog thinking your getting a bona fide education because I cannot and will not guarantee this!! 


this also has me thinking about just how complicated nature is. I've been hearing for years that there are billions of microorganisms in a single teaspoon of soil, etc etc so I didn't think it was nothing, but at the end of the day it did always feel mostly like if you put a vegetable plant in good soil, it would pretty much grow. and I guess that's true, but beginning to better understand all those factors that constitute that good soil really complicates things. And I wonder, why does it have to be so complicated? why can't it be as simple as putting plants in dirt? I fully expect to keep unraveling these answers through the scientific research on the subject, but it does also make me reflect on the god I believe created all these complex natural systems, and I wonder what he was thinking making everything so complicated. did he just have that much (infinite) time on his hands that he could do it this way, why rush? is there something symbolic in the interconnectedness of it all that we humans should be extrapolating on to better understand how we exist in the world-- so connected to other living things, other people, etc, and that nothing can be or should be tried to be done on one's own? (wow that sentence turned into a real mess, but I don't much feel like cleaning it up. sorry.) also just how absolutely beautifully complex our natural world is! 


this all reminds that I've chosen the right path with farming, because truly I think I will be learning new things, unraveling theses complex systems, until I either quit or die. and I love that and I'm excited by that prospect. 


what else is on my mind: 

  • re: my post on identity crises, I am lately coming to grips with the fact that I am definitely addicted to sugar. it's somehow hard to admit and yet extremely obvious. in particular you cannot keep me away from sour candy lately. (sour gummy skittles are surprisingly good fyi)
  • outraged at the current coffee prices-- today I paid $7 before tip-- way higher than what I thought I saw on the menu, and also not very good coffee. don't even get me started on when they don't put more espresso in the larger latte sizes. 
  • I wonder how my blogging output might change once I'm able to talk to my sister again (ie once she's back from her honeymoon)..... 
  • I had a funny little to-do list this week which might shed some small insight onto the rest of my life lately. also relevant is that it's friday I haven't really done any of these things (except some soil readings, but I'm not done actually)

  • Get Medicaid 
  • Make focaccia 
  • Veg course readings ? 
  • Clean room (laundry) 

  • Also for making it this far, you get the first look of anyone on the internet of some wedding pics!!  







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