Roisin O Riordan
In 2014, scientists studying the soil in Central Park were surprised at the vibrancy of the microbial life they discovered. Roberto Nickson on Unsplash, FAL
When you think about soil, you probably think of rolling fields of countryside. But what about urban soil? With city dwellers expected to account for 68% of the world’s population by 2050, this oft forgotten resource is increasingly important.
City-based agriculture is on the rise. But urban soil is more often associated with contamination and risks to health. However, the earth in our parks, gardens and roadsides actually underpins many aspects of daily life. As our recent research paper highlights, urban soil hosts wildlife, stores water, provides food, helps combat the climate crisis and improves wellbeing.
Blow up your TV
Throw away your paper
Go to the country
Build you a home
Plant a little garden
Eat a lot of peaches
Try 'an find Jesus
On your own
Those lyrics from John Prine's 1971 song, "Spanish .
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Rear View: Remember live music? It s back at INXS tribute show at Kate in Old Saybrook
Vinnie Penn
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Remember live music?
While many world-renown musical acts are cautiously optimistic about announcing tours for late summer and definitely fall, the key word is cautiously.
It is important to keep the word “tentative” in the back of your mind while purchasing tickets, even if the date promoted on a given venue’s website might not be so bold as to place it there.
The safer bet as we emerge from the darkness that is was the pandemic seems to be the tribute act. They are an ambitious lot, often playing as close to 365 days a year as possible and, that being the case, are the perfect guinea pigs. For some it is supplemental income working in a tribute act even a labor of love. For others, though, being the lead singer in a Tom Petty tribute band or Bon Jovi is the day job, and it’s been a lot of days since they got to play.
When you think about soil, you probably think of rolling fields of countryside. But what about urban soil? With city dwellers expected to account for 68% of the world’s population by 2050, this oft forgotten resource is increasingly important.
City-based agriculture is on the rise. But urban soil is more often associated with contamination and risks to health. However, the earth in our parks, gardens and roadsides actually underpins many aspects of daily life. As our recent research paper highlights, urban soil hosts wildlife, stores water, provides food, helps combat the climate crisis and improves wellbeing.
In other words, soil provides multiple ecosystem services: the benefits we derive from the environment.