The Cool Down
Expert issues dire warning about common landscaping product: 'I truly don't und…
One of the reasons landscaping fabric is so damaging to plants is because the fabric contains microplastics.
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Microplastic Crisis: Agricultural Soils Hold Far More Plastic Than Oceans, Farmer Reveals Sustainable Solution
A recent video from Blossom and Branch Farm, a fifth-generation regenerative farm, has brought to light the critical issue of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils. The video asserts that soil is now the world's largest reservoir for microplastics, containing an estimated 4 to 23 times the amount found in oceans. The content highlights the pervasive use of landscape fabric, which is identified as plastic, in both landscaping and market farming. Over time, exposure to UV rays and moisture causes this material to degrade, releasing microplastic particles that can persist in soil for thousands of years, impacting microbial function and posing a threat to human and food safety. The video also notes that other common gardening products, such as 'biodegradable' mulches, biosludge-based composts, bagged soils, fertilizers, plastic seed trays, and pots, contribute to this escalating problem. In response to this environmental concern, Blossom and Branch Farm demonstrates a sustainable alternative to plastic weed barriers. The method involves replicating the weed-blocking abilities of fabric by using specific plants. These plants are grown until they are on the verge of flowering, then cut or crushed to form a thick layer of debris on the soil surface. New plants are then directly planted into this organic layer, effectively suppressing weeds naturally. The farm emphasizes that the responsibility to reduce plastic use in gardening and agriculture ultimately falls on consumers. This approach offers a practical, environmentally conscious solution to mitigate microplastic pollution in our food systems.
