What is World Soil Day?
Soils are an extremely important aspect of our ecosystem, and protecting them is essential to preserve biodiversity. Indeed, soils foster multiple living organisms, including plants and crops destined for human consumption. However, Earth’s soils are frequently endangered, due to certain agricultural practices for example.
Since the early 2000s, organisations such as the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) have alerted global leaders on this matter. Finally, in 2012, the United Nations adopted the 5th of December as the annual soil global observance day, or World Soil Day.
How can I participate?
1. Create a DIY Compost Heap at Home
You can contribute to healthier soil and a healthier planet right from your own backyard or apartment! A simple and beneficial way to observe World Soil Day is by starting your own compost heap. Kitchen waste such as vegetable trimmings, spent coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, and even shredded newspaper can be composted. Turning these scraps into organic compost reduces the waste that ends up in landfills while enriching your garden’s soil.
Starting a compost bin is quite simple. You’ll need a ventilated container with a tight lid to keep unwanted critters away. Add your kitchen scraps, along with some dry organic matter such as leaves or shredded paper. Turn the compost every few weeks to aid decomposition and within a few months, you’ll be rewarded with rich, dark compost that boosts the nutrient content of your soil and helps your plants thrive.
If you live in an apartment or have limited outdoor space, don’t worry – there are composting systems designed for indoor use. With a small compost bin or worm farm, you can still contribute to soil health and sustainability.
What if you don’t have a garden to use this compost in? Many community gardens would be thrilled to take your nutrient-rich compost or consider sharing it with gardening neighbors. It’s a prime example of circular economy – transforming waste into resources, and it’s something everyone can get involved in.
2. Learn more about our planet
World Soil Day is also the perfect opportunity to educate yourself or others on contemporary environmental challenges. Indeed, there is always something new to learn, and it is necessary to be informed in order to properly care for Mother Nature!
Lucky for you, we make learning fun at Forest Nation! Our online quizzes in ForestPlay allow you to learn eco-facts and test your knowledge in an interactive way, whilst earning SEED points to plant trees in your Forest! Fun and eco-friendly!
3. Watch the “Kiss the Ground” Documentary
This new documentary sheds light on the importance of preserving our soils in the fight against climate change. Narrated by Woody Harrelson, and featuring experts or A-list celebrities such as Gisele Bünchen and Ian Somerhalder, Kiss the Ground guarantees to ‘leave you feeling hopeful’ for the furure.
Actually, ForestNation’s Senior Ambassador Julian Lennon is an executive director on this project, and his White Feather Foundation partially funded early stages of production! Kiss the Ground is at the crossroads between a love story to our soil and a glimmer of hope for the future, making it the ideal activity for World Soil Day! Available to stream on Netflix or Vimeo.
4. Appreciate the outdoors
Another great way to celebrate our soils, and nature in general? Spend some time outside! World Soil Day is on a Saturday, so how about you take the day off and just relax in calm, natural surroundings…
Have a stroll in the most beautiful parks in your area, alone or with your loved ones! If you’re lucky, you could even plan a cosy weekend getaway to nearby mountains or woods!
5. Give back to Mother Nature
Of course, you can also actively give back to Mother Nature! Show some love by spending the afternoon tending to your garden or simply watering the plants on your balcony.
Living in a flat without sufficient space for larger plants doesn’t mean that you can’t still have a little bit of nature inside! Don’t let this stop you. Check out our tree kits, which allow you to grow your own tree inside your home without taking up any space at all! Furthermore, our tree kits follow methods of agroforestry that boost the soil’s ability to capture carbon, therefore looking out for our planet’s health!
