Leaps of Consciousness

A vast number of beings live in a tiny amount of soil: not only the things we can see like fungi, worms and beetles but billions of organisms we cannot see: microbes, bacteria, protozoa and nematodes.

"The health of soil, plant, animal and man is one and indivisible." - Sir Albert Howard.

Sir Albert Howard (1873-1947), Lady Eve Balfour (1898-1990), and Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) are considered the leading proponents of organic agriculture.

Big Agriculture's use of artificial fertilisers gradually exhausts and poisons the soil. It reduces the number of living organisms, water retention and harms the physical characteristics of the soil. Vibrant living black humus becomes dead compacted mud.

This has been known for many years but the short-term gains, greed of commercial interests, and advertising led to the dominance of industrial agriculture.

In her book Regenerative Farming and Why We Need It Now, Marina O’Connell examines six alternative farming methods; biodynamic, organic, agroforestry, regenerative, agroecological and permaculture methods. She’s combined elements of all of these in the Apricot Centre in Devon.

In his Goi Peace Award Acceptance Speech Satish Kumar said “If we can have a holistic view of soil, soul and society, if we can understand the interdependence of all living beings, and understand that all living creatures – from trees to worms to humans – depend on each other and we are all gifted with human spirit, then we can live in harmony with ourselves, with other people and with Nature. That is why I present you this new trinity of Soil, Soul and Society.”