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Viewing posts by Peter Donovan

California update: November 2017 with Sequoia Riverlands Trust

Posted by Peter Donovan 6 years, 2 months ago

The Soil Carbon Coalition, with Peter Donovan and Didi Pershouse, completed a working residency with Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT) in October-November 2017. The purpose:
  • bring the Soil Carbon Challenge (site-specific baseline measurements of soil carbon) to the San Joaquin Valley
  • develop capacity in SRT and in local high schools to make repeatable observations around soil health and watershed function
  • promote the possibility of a shared, evidence-based understanding of soil health and watershed function in the San Joaquin Valley, and learn what works for this


Keith Berns (Greencover Seed) on rebuilding the nation's soils

Posted by Peter Donovan 6 years, 6 months ago

From the 3rd Southern Soil Health Conference. What leaders are needed, what workers are needed, and what tools are needed to rebuild the nation's soils.


Walter Jehne: Restoring water cycles to naturally cool climate

Posted by Peter Donovan 6 years, 6 months ago

Walter Jehne, former CSIRO Climate Scientist and Microbiologist, founder of Healthy Soils Australia, explains the role of water in climate change and climate mitigation at an intensive workshop at Lake Morey Resort in Vermont, USA (November 2016). Water is the largest greenhouse gas and yet climate models have not fully included it because 1) it is considered too hard to model and 2) it is not considered possible for humans to influence. Jehne shows how we CAN work with hydrological cycles and the soil sponge to naturally, safely cool the climate, but only if we get started right away.



U.S. crop insurance

Posted by Peter Donovan 6 years, 8 months ago

Losses covered by federally subsidized U.S. crop insurance have declined substantially in the last three years. See table, and maps of indemnities by county:



Soil, water, and hope

Posted by Peter Donovan 6 years, 11 months ago

SOIL, WATER & HOPE: with PETER DONOVAN