SOIL MAKES LIVE POSSIBLE Have you ever really thought ... › wp-content › uploads › 2016 › 07 › ... · Soil makes up the outer layer of the earth’s surface, (-2_CLICK MOUSE

Soil & Water Stewardship

Na2onal Associa2on of Conserva2on Districts (c) 2014 www.nacdnet.org [email protected]

SOIL MAKES LIVE POSSIBLE Have you ever really thought about soil? What it is? What it does? Why we need it? In the next few minutes we will explorer soil, and hopefully give you a better understanding of the Earth’s most critical natural resource. Soil – it nurtures life and death; under grids cities, forest and oceans; and feeds all terrestrial life on Earth. It is the substance that few people understand and most take for granted.


Na2onal Associa2on of Conserva2on Districts (c) 2014 www.nacdnet.org stewardship @nacdnet.org

Leader: Out of the soil, God shaped the form of a man and breathed life into Adam People: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Leader: Out of the soil, God produced the first stewardship responsibility for Mankind, to work and take care of the of the earth in the Garden People: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.

Soli & Water Stewardship


Leader: Out of the Soil, injus2ce cries out for the spilt blood of the innocent. People: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His mercy endures forever. Leader: As the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all na2ons. People: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.



Leader: Into the soil spilt the atoning blood of Jesus, forever taking root and never to lose power. People: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Leader: Into the soil of our hearts a 2ny seed is scaTered, producing fruit with eternal value. People: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.



Leader: Out of the mud and mire the Lord liUed me, He set my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. People: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Leader: Give thanks to the Lord who alone does great wonders, who made the heavens, and spread out the earth upon the waters. People: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever



Soil makes up the outer layer of the earth’s surface, (-2_CLICK MOUSE FOR NEXT PICTURE) it nourishes the plants we eat, the animals we use for food and fiber and the thriving underground, better know as the kingdom of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, earthworms and other microbes that are critical to the planet’s food web.



Did you know that Topsoil is the most productive soil layer and the layer that is the first lost due to soil erosion. (CLICK MOUSE FOR ARROW Pointing to top soil) Erosion occurs naturally because of the wind, water and ice acting on any exposed rock or soil surface. Human activities are responsible for 60-80% of all erosion. (CLICK MOUSE FOR raindrop) Also did you know that a single rainstorm can wash away centuries old accumulations of soil from damaged, neglected or badly managed ground.



In many places on the earth, soils are eroding faster than they can be rebuilt. Though soil is a renewable resource in theory, soil forms slowly. For all practical purposes, the soil we loose today will never be replaced in our lifetimes. The natural processes that make soil can take more than 500 years to form one inch of Topsoil. Think about it…that’s a really long time.



When soil erosion happens, much of the displaced sediment – as well as pollutants that are mixed with it such as pesticides, oil, grease and excess nutrients wash into streams, rivers and eventually the ocean. This in turn effects water quality and disrupts the health of terrestrial and aquatic life.



Roots from plants and trees act like fingers and hold on to the soil, they hold it together and help prevent the soil from erosion. If all the plants and trees are removed as well as the surface litter such as leaves, tree limbs and organic matter; and the soil is left bare, this is the time it is at most risk of erosion. You can see how the water is clean when it runs over vegetation as it combines with water that has run over bare soil and adds sediment to the water. Photo by: Rob Brown, Indiana USACE



But there is hope, through proper management of the soil, farmers and landowners using conservation techniques called Best Management Practices are able to minimize erosion and sedimentation. Some of these Best Management Practices include No-Till Farming, Buffer Strips and Terracing and other conservation techniques.



The soil in developed and developing areas such as subdivisions and cities are often forgotten or dismissed as a resource – until homes are damaged by soil movement, lawns and vegetation die off or contaminants seep into our drinking water, do we really know how important soil is? Soil in urban and community areas are many times taken for granted.



Knowing about soil and its potentials and limitations can help urban planners and those living in urban areas to make good decisions. This knowledge can help them address such issues as properly locating land uses like lakes or land-fields, it can help with controlling an erosion problem or even excessive sedimentation into a lake or stream. Soil management is as critical to the health and well-being of urban and community residents as it is to the productivity of agricultural and forested lands and the lively hood of farmers and ranchers.



Since the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s the protection of the soil from erosion and degradation has greatly increased -2-CLICK MOUSE FOR NEXT PICTURE) through the formation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and several state and federal conservation agencies. Partnering together these conservation groups assist landowners and the general public through education and technical assistance to show them the importance of the soil and how to properly manage it. Soil – the natural resource to which humans literally owe their very existence.



Soil Stewardship Week 2014 April 27 – May 4, 2014 For addi2onal informa2on about Conserva2on or Stewardship and Educa2on ac2vi2es go to: www.nacdnet.org

Or contact your local Soil and Water Conserva2on District at ________________________________________ (DISTRICTS PUT YOUR CONTACT INFO HERE)

Or visit hTp://www.nacdnet.org/about/districts/directory to find your local district



The Na2onal Associa2on of Conserva2on Districts (NACD) Stewardship Week is one of the largest conserva2on-‐related observances. The 3,000 conserva2on districts that make up NACD, manage soil and water conserva2on programs in virtually every community in the United States. Since 1955, NACD has sponsored the na2onal Stewardship Week program by selec2ng a theme and developing materials for schools, communi2es and churches of all denomina2ons. Stewardship Week, celebrated annually between the last Sunday in April and the first Sunday in May, reminds us of our personal responsibility to care for the natural resources which we all depend upon. The celebra2on and observance of Stewardship con2nue throughout the year not for just one week. The concept of Stewardship involves personal and social responsibility. We have a duty to learn about and improve natural resources as we use them wisely. By doing this we can achieve material and spiritual growth in our own lives, and leave a rich legacy for future genera2ons.

Contact your local Soil and Water Conserva2on District to see how you can become more involved in conserva2on ac2vi2es in your local community.

Visit hTp://www.nacdnet.org/about/districts/directory sec2on for state contacts.

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SOIL MAKES LIVE POSSIBLE Have you ever really thought ... › wp-content › uploads › 2016 › 07 › ... · Soil makes up the outer layer of the earth’s surface, (-2_CLICK MOUSE