47: Four DIY Soil Health Tests

Sarah Lindblom returns to Dirt Rich today to share four soil health tests that you can do at home to gain insight on the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological function. These tests can be valuable to gardeners and farmers at any scale, and can be done using simple materials from your recycling bin:

1. Infiltration test - simulates a 1 inch rain event, demonstrates soil structure and indicates biological activity
2. Slake test - simulates an extreme rain event, demonstrates soil structure and indicates biological activity
3. Earthworm test - Indicates soil biological activity
4. pH test - Helps you track soil acidity

Directions for each of these tests and a “Soil Health Report Card” to help you track your results are available on the SFA website. See Sarah demonstrate the tests in this video for a visual walkthrough. 

Sarah also gives an overview of how the physical, chemical, and biological components of soil health and function are interconnected, and briefly discusses approaching soil health using systems thinking. The Venn diagram graphic she uses to illustrate is here.

Sarah Lindblom operates Solar Fresh Produce in Buffalo, MN and is entering her eighth growing season. She has run a CSA and a farm store and primarily grows produce, herbs, flowers, and raises bees and chickens. She is also the president of the Crow River Chapter of SFA.

 

Sarah Lindblom, Solar Fresh Produce

Katie Feterl, Communications Director, Sustainable Farming Association

 

Recommended reading:

Thinking in Systems by Donella H. Meadows

Miraculous Abundance by Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer

Permaculture Design by Aranya

The One-Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka

The Lean Farm: How to Minimize Waste, Increase Efficiency by Ben Hartman

 

The viewpoints of the speakers expressed within or outside of this episode do not necessarily reflect the goals and mission of SFA.

Dirt Rich is produced by the Sustainable Farming Association.

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