Become Dirt Wise in the International Year of Soils

Remember the phrase "God made dirt, so dirt don't hurt!" It may be a silly expression, but it's true. In fact, the dirt beneath our feet isn't just harmless, it's live-giving. Sustainable soil and land management is central to ensuring productive food systems and sustaining and nourishing our way of life.The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has proclaimed 2015 the International Year of Soils to focus attention on the life-sustaining layer of earth we walk upon and tend.There are many reasons soil is vital for our existence, reasons beyond food growing. As the FAO points out, other than being the basis for plant growth, soil is important because:• It supports animal biodiversity above ground, including wildlife and domesticated livestock.• It plays a fundamental role in the quality and availability of our water supply.• It functions in pollution control, regulating nitrates and pesticides, etc.• It provides the base materials and foundation for our buildings and roads.• It helps preserve the earth's history and cultural heritage.And finally, it helps combat climate change: "[S]oils have been recognized as having a key role in modifying and ameliorating the risks and effects of climate change. Soil organic matter is one of the major pools of carbon in the biosphere and is important both as a driver of climatic change and as a response variable to climate change, capable of acting both as a source and sink of carbon."Bottom line? We need to care about the health of our soil. Your congregation can do this by nourishing the dirt around you (and in turn, nourishing your community!). Become Dirt Wise in 2015. Our free Dirt Wise curriculum will teach your congregation how to start, maintain and celebrate a garden. We provide scripture reflections, discussion questions, and readings for small group study to take your soil-tending to a deeper level.At GIPL, we often encourage "caring for the Earth," and this is that care in its most literal sense: caressing the loamy, earthy dirt, getting it under your nails and in the creases of your hands as you till and plant, providing sustenance for all.Email us today to order Dirt Wise for your congregation today!