The power of observation and a receptive mind are critical to farming, soil health, research, and all discoveries. Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt start the New Year and third season of the 4 The Soil podcast with another conversation with Dr. Stuart Grandy, Professor of Natural Resources and the Environment, at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). It turns out the most powerful tool farmers and gardeners have regardless of size is taking time to observe and reflect on what is happening and observing how soil and plants respond to different management strategies. This tool can be used while sitting in a lawn chair or on a tractor. Therefore, the power of observation, good on-farm research, and a receptive mind should never be undervalued in building soil health and discovering the multiple functions and resilience soil can provide particularly during times of drought.

To learn more about Dr. Grandy's research at the UNH Center of Soil Biogeochemistry and Microbial Ecology, please visit https://colsa.unh.edu/soil-biome. More information about Dr. Grandy’s mentor and peer Dr. Matt Liebman, Professor Emeritus and Henry A. Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, can be accessed at https://www.agron.iastate.edu/people/liebman-matt/

Archives of two years of the 4 The Soil: A Conversation podcasts can be accessed at https://www.4thesoil.org/podcast. Also, to pledge your support 4 The Soil, please visit https://www.4thesoil.org/take-the-pledge and let us know what you are observing on your farm or in your garden in building soil resilience and health.

4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.

Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.

To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today’s program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.