Working with the Ecosystem rather than Against it
At Barnhouse Farms in Melrose, the NM Healthy Soil Program supports increased sustainability and profitability for our agricultural community.
Soil and Water Don’t always Make Mud
It is strange we don’t pay much attention to our soil and water, as all of life depends on them. It begs the question why children love mud so much…
Groundwater, Soil Health and Land Management: A Complexity of Linkages
Understanding the aquifer systems beneath the High Plains is critical to preserve groundwater resources, improve water cycling and influence soil health.
The Water-Harvesting Soil-Carbon Sponge
There is a powerful, beneficial partnership between the hydrologic cycle circulating life-giving water and the carbon-based, soil-building, carbon-cycling life in the soil—known as the soil-carbon sponge.
Acequia culture models restorative solutions
Traditional farmers have the tools to make agriculture one of our most restorative solutions to the climate crisis –but for land based ways of life to persist we need policy that supports implementation and improvement of these strategies.
Healthy Soil: Our Future
Happy National Soil Health Day! We’re celebrating with the release of a short video, featuring New Mexico ranchers sharing the principles & benefits of planned grazing for greater soil health.
The Great Work of Our Time
What is the great work of our time? What will our work be, going forward? Watch this intimate animation by author, educator & soil sponge strategist Didi Pershouse.
Soil Health in the Southwest
New video series from USDA/NRCS released! Watch how soil health works on a grand scale in CO, AZ and NM.
Water in Plain Sight: Hope for a Thirsty World
Building soil, restoring land, and working with the water cycle for a cooler, wetter planet. Read an excerpt of the 2019 book by Judith Schwartz.
The connection between soil organic matter and soil water
One benefit of increasing soil organic matter is to store more water in your soil. Why does this happen? Because soil organic matter creates pores in a range of sizes.