Let It Grow Foundation

17/11/2023

How coal forms

Fun Coal Fact:
In 1918, coal miners marveled at a petrified tree stump encapsulated in a coal seam, a vivid reminder that coal is more than just fuel - it's a preserved piece of our planet's ancient past.

The process of vegetation being preserved in a coal seam, such as in the case of a petrified tree stump found by coal miners, is an interesting phenomenon rooted in geological and biological processes. Here's an overview of how it happens:

1. Formation of Peat: Initially, plant material, such as trees, ferns, and other vegetation, accumulates in swampy or wetland environments. This plant matter doesn't fully decompose due to the anaerobic (low oxygen) conditions in these wetlands.

2. Burial and Compression: Over time, layers of sediment, including mud and sand, bury the plant material. As more sediment accumulates, the weight compresses the plant material underneath.

3. Chemical Changes and Coalification: Under the pressure and increased temperature from the overlying sediments, the plant material undergoes chemical changes. This process, known as coalification, gradually converts the plant material into coal. During this process, water and volatile substances are driven off, and the carbon content increases.

4. Preservation of Vegetation Structure: In some cases, the conditions are just right to preserve the structure of the original vegetation within the coal seam. This can include leaves, bark, and even whole tree stumps. The process of petrification, where the organic material is replaced with minerals, can also occur, further preserving these structures.

5. Discovery in Mining: When miners excavate coal seams, they occasionally uncover these preserved pieces of ancient vegetation, providing a direct and tangible link to the Earth's geological and biological history.

This preservation offers a window into the past ecosystems and environments, showing us what was present millions of years ago when coal was formed.

Photograph by J. Horgan, Jr.

05/10/2023

Repost from
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Organic farming is better for the environment.

Organic farming is a win-win for people, animals and the planet. It takes a Gaia holistic approach that works with Mother Nature to grow healthy, nutritious food while at the same time preserving earth’s natural ecosystems.

It offers a solution to some of our greatest problems: climate change, food insecurity and biodiversity loss.

Ways that organic farming positively impacts the environment:

• Eliminates persistent and harmful pesticides from entering the environment
• Builds healthy topsoil and prevents erosion
• Supports water conservation and water health
• Reduces carbon dioxide and helps slow climate change
• Preserves natural habitats for wildlife
• Supports animal health and welfare
• Doesn’t cause algae blooms or nitrate leaching from runoff from petroleum-based fertilisers often used in conventional farming
• Encourages biodiversity which protects humanity from future health threats

PGS South Africa
Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture in Southern Africa

30/08/2023

09/06/2023

11/05/2023

These samples are the same soil type and have been in a corn-bean rotation for the past 20+ years, however their treatment has been substantially different. The soil on the left has not been tilled or had anhydrous ammonia applied for over 20 years and has had a cereal rye cover crop grown after harvest for the last 5 years. The soil on the right has been tilled each year, as well has had anhydrous ammonia applied in the fall. This picture was taken about 2 minutes after the samples were submerged in water. The tilled soil essentially “exploded” as soon as it entered the water. Repeated tillage has destroyed the structure of the soil, eliminating pore space and destroying the biological “glue” that helps hold soil together, and as a result the soil has collapsed. In contrast, due to minimal soil disturbance the tillage-free soil has excellent pore space and extensive biological activity, and as a result has provided the soil with a healthy structure that can withstand the impacts of water.

Within 5 minutes the tilled soil was completely gone, whereas the tillage-free soil remained almost entirely intact. We decided to see how long it could last and kept adding water to it (to keep up with evaporation) over the course of several weeks. We gave up after 6 weeks, in which the tillage-free soil sample was still about 95% intact.

16/04/2023

Time to give up and let the clover take over! Clover doesn’t need to be mowed, watered, weeded or fertilized, and it’s softer than grass. Want to make your yard more sustainable and wildlife friendly, but still want a soft patch of grass to play on? Plant clover! You can either mix it in with [....

05/04/2023

13/09/2022

11/09/2022

The jabuticaba tree from South America. The fruit grows directly on the trunk and branches and tastes like blueberry yogurt.
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