Program on the Environment

Believe it or not, the dirt under your feet, that grows your grass, and feeds our bodies, is very much alive! My research focuses on this invaluable living ecosystem, to further argue against the use of intensive tillage and chemical additives in conventional agriculture, and for the biotic management of modern farms. I have conducted field research at 3 certified WSDA organic farms in the Washington area, the UW Farm in Seattle, SkyRoot Farm, and the Organic Farm School (OFS), both on Whidbey Island. Each farm practices varying levels of soil disturbance, SkyRoot being no-till, UW being semi till, and OFS being full till. This project aims to find if in-soil invertebrates can be used as indicators of general farmed-soil health and measure how these results track with differing levels of tillage. Using a variety of methods that measure soil fertility, Haney and MicroBIOMETER tests, and invertebrate abundance, Berlese funnels and liquid earthworm extraction, I have found strong evidence to suggest that increased soil disturbance leads to: decreased soil health and losses in soil organic matter, in-soil arthropods decreasing in taxonomic diversity, size, and abundance as soil tillage increases, and that mindful, human-led management techniques can improve native soil health rather than deplete it. These few results already suggest that in-soil invertebrates can be used as bioindicators of soil fertility and that intensive tillage negatively impacts soil health. My research will continue after my Capstone is completed, as I am working towards having my work peer-reviewed and published.