Biospheric Resonance

In part one of this series, we introduced the concept of looking to the traditional ecological knowledge contained in the creation myths of the ancient Polynesian cultures. There are to be found clues to the importance of soil and to simple, actionable ways we can conserve this resource. We looked at rainwater runoff as a key factor in soil erosion, and its first cause, deforestation and consequent lack of shade, plus ways to counterbalance it.

Now, let’s continue exploring the causes of excessive runoff. The next one that needs to be discussed is the proliferation of non-permeable surfaces. A non-permeable surface is any surface that collects and then sheds rainwater rather than letting it through into the soil beneath it. In practice this basically means roofs of buildings, and all paved surfaces such as roads and parking lots, most man-made objects that occupy surface space on the earth. Of course we need buildings to live and work in and roads to travel on, etc. So I am not proposing that we eliminate all such things from the landscpe. However, the way we situate, design, and construct these objects has a tremendous influence on the runoff situation. This means there is a lot you can do in that area to minimize their negative impact.

Many roofs still shed directly onto the surrounding ground , eroding it right there and then. Others have gutters diverting it to a sewage system, turning valuable pure water into destructive waste. Every roof needs to have gutters connected to catchment tanks. The supply of clean fresh water is dwindling very fast on this planet and wars are already at this moment being fought over it. Forget oil for a moment, without water you won”t live to enjoy another drive in your car. Even if you”re currently hooked up to a municipal water supply, catching the rain off your roof is extremely beneficial to your security and will save you tons of money in the long run.

Roads and parking lots are part of a complex, large-scale polluted runoff problem. Good solutions are already being applied in some places in the public and private infrastructure. On a smaller, down-home scale, you can minimize problems associated with paved surfaces in the following ways:

• Make driveways and other paved surfaces only as large as they need to be to function.
• Construct flat or gently sloping driveways and parking spaces out of a thick bed of open-grade gravel or cinder.
• Construct steep driveways with two concrete “tracks”, with turf, gravel, or ground-cover plants in between.
• Another good alternative for all paved areas where locally available is interlocking pavers with holes or open spaces. In these holes, grass or groundcovers can be allowed to grow.
• Wherever water sheets or gushes off existing paved surfaces onto the ground when it rains, create small ponds and gardens with moisture-loving plants to retain the water.

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Tags: better site design, erosion prevention, land management, land use, landscape construction, local ecological knowledge, rain water catchment, soil conservation, sustainable design

Dirt. The lowly stuff we look down and tread upon every day, often thoughtlessly. Actually we should spare it some thought and respect for we owe our lives to it. The mythologies of many ancient tropical planting cultures, especially those of the Pacific, contain stories of how the culture’s staple food plants sprouted from the buried body of a sacrificed deity. In The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell says:

… so in the forest and planting cultures, there is a sense of death as not death somehow, that death is required for new life.

The ancient Polynesians thus likely celebrated life and death equally, as two sides of one coin, spinning in a continuous cycle to sustain the culture.The concept may be uncomfortable for some of us to grasp, but it is well worth the effort to try and understand it. Through their traditions the tropical planters of old expressed a remarkably acute insight into the immense powerhouse contained in our soil as home to the cyclical process of life and death. Understanding these ancient concepts offers us a key to a future of improved health and prosperity for Polynesia and the rest of the world.

The first step toward this goal is to address the alarming rate of soil loss through erosion we are experiencing. Secondly, we can explore ways to conserve our soils with their biological processes intact. Reviewing some principles that govern soil health and retention reveals several simple things we can do to preserve our soil and its vital qualities and hopefully inspire others around us to do the same.

An important occurrence that influences soil erosion happens when rain hits the ground. Rainwater will either be absorbed into the soil or it will run off the surface. Runoff can cause serious problems. As raindrops run off, they consolidate into ever larger and more powerful rivulets that scour the earth and carry off an increasing amount of soil with them. Often valuable soil is eroded from a place where it is needed and deposited where it literally mucks things up and causes damage.

Rainwater’s absorption into the soil is a far more desirable option. Rain diffuses into the soil as it is absorbed making it available to the myriads of plant roots and surrounding organisms. The remaining water spends considerable time filtering through the earth into underground aquifers. These aquifers are the source of pure refreshing spring water that resurfaces or remains in storage underground. When the soil gets over saturated with water the surplus is not absorbed but drain into streams or rivers that generally lead to the ocean. Water naturally tends to stay contained within the banks of these established waterways except in the most extreme flood conditions.In a healthy soil ecosystem most rainfall is absorbed while very little runs off.

Unfortunately, many modern cultural practices have tipped the scale in favor of runoff. Deforestation is one of the primary causes for this imbalance. Established trees and shrubs hold lots of soil with their root systems. But in addition to that, they do another important thing in terms of erosion prevention, something so overlooked, it’s like the Secret, the Holy Grail of soil conservation. They provide shade. When the blazing sun beats down on our landscape the ground heats up. Without trees or other vegetation in place to keep the soil cool by intercepting the solar energy to create growth and oxygen, the exposed hot soil repels the cool rain causing run off. Of course, the steeper the grade, the worse the effect.

Here’s what you can do:

• Plant trees and shrubs to provide at least dappled shade to every square foot of your property that isn”t used for vegetable gardens, lawns, or other sun-loving purposes. The steeper the slope, the more densely shaded it should be.
• Limit sunny areas to those needed for above mentioned purposes and choose the flattest possible sites for them – create more level areas by terracing if necessary.
• When clearing for construction, select the site carefully and clear plants only from areas that are really needed for the project.

We”ll explore more causes of runoff and erosion in part 2 of this article series. In the meantime, please post your comments and questions about erosion prevention here, or contact me if you are looking for helpful and effective advice on your soil conservation challenges,  whether residential, agricultural, or industrial.

Tags: better site design, erosion prevention, land management, land use, landscape construction, local ecological knowledge, polynesian mythology, soil conservation, sustainable design