Life on the Edge

This delicious looking, round, red apple is an organic apple. Many people talk about wanting to buy organic produce, but instead, choose non-organic because the price is cheaper. Most likely, these same people throughout the year give generously to environmental organisations.

However, probably more important than funding WWF or Greenpeace is to use one’s money to support, even demand, organic produce be sold at one’s local grocery store. I say this, not because organic produce is tastier and healthier (which it is), but because supporting organic and biodynamic farming is the single most effective way to help preserve and sustain our environment.

None or minimal chemical usage is part of the reason, but what I want to focus on in today’s blog is dirt; that layer of top soil that has to grow all the food required to feed six billion people daily.

Only a tiny portion of the earth’s land is capable of producing food. Current farming and forestry practices are diminishing this thin layer of fertile top soil. Organic/biodynamic farming seeks to bolster and increase the fertility of the soil.

How much of the earth’s land is available to grow food?

Imagine the earth is the above apple. Take this apple and cut it into four quarters. One part is covered by land. The others are covered by water. Discard these three pieces.

Cut this land section in half. One of these halves is covered with mountains, desert or ice. Discard this piece.

Cut the remaining piece into fourths. Three of these are rocky, too wet, too hot, too infertile, or covered with roads or cities. Discard these.

Only 1/32 of the apple remains.

The thin layer of red of this section represents the topsoil that must feed the world.

We had better look after it.