Sink Carbon Into the Soil: Reverse Climate Change from the Garden
- Jon Mychal Heatherly
- Mar 21
- 3 min read
Solve Our Climate Crisis with Sustainable Methods Like Composting, Perennial Gardening, and Getting in Right Relationship with the Land.
Soil health is the foundation of a thriving ecosystem, yet industrial agriculture and human activity have degraded it at an alarming rate. As gardeners, we have an opportunity to combat climate change by sequestering carbon in our soil and adopting regenerative gardening practices. This guide explores how home and community gardeners can nurture soil as a living system, reduce carbon footprints, and contribute to ecological restoration.
Understanding the Carbon Cycle’s Impact
The carbon cycle is the natural process by which carbon moves through the atmosphere, ocean, biosphere, and Earth's interior. However, human activities—such as fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and industrial agriculture—disrupt this balance, releasing excess carbon into the atmosphere and accelerating climate change.
Soil, however, serves as a crucial carbon sink. By saving soil health, we can store more carbon and mitigate environmental damage. Read more about the carbon cycle here.
Shift Perspective: Regenerative Gardening
Traditional agriculture treats soil as an input-output system, depleting its nutrients without replenishing them. Regenerative gardening, on the other hand, acknowledges soil as a living ecosystem that must be nurtured.
Key Principles:
Mimic Natural Ecosystems: Forests thrive without fertilizers or tilling—our gardens can too.
Foster Soil Microbiology: Healthy fungi and bacteria build resilient soil.
Prioritize Long-Term Soil Health: Regeneration takes time, but the benefits are lasting.
Embrace Community-Based Solutions: Decentralizing food production strengthens food sovereignty.
Shift from Control to Collaboration: Rather than eradicating pests or weeds, create balanced ecosystems.
Some Regenerative Methods:
Shift Focus from Transaction to Relationship
Build Soil Health
Localize Food Production
Try New Crops
Minimize Tilling
Cover Crops
Rotate Crops
Composting
Reduce Food Waste
Companion Planting
Agroecology
Silvopasture
Perennial gardening
Native Food forests
Share what you learn
Composting: Transforming Waste into Soil Wealth
Composting diverts organic waste from landfills, builds nutrient-rich soil, and enhances microbial activity.
The Basics:
Browns (carbon sources): Dry leaves, straw, paper, sawdust, wood chips
Greens (nitrogen sources): Fruit/vegetable scraps, grass clippings, coffee grounds
Do NOT Compost: Meat, dairy, oily foods, pet waste, plastics
Composting Methods:
Backyard composting
Vermicomposting (worms!)
Bokashi (fermented composting for urban settings)
Hot/cold composting
Reducing Food Waste & Landfill Emissions
Decomposing food in landfills generates methane, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO₂). Reducing waste through meal planning, proper storage, community composting, and food donations minimizes this impact. Community-based solutions, such as potlucks and gleaning programs, further prevent waste.
Regenerative Practices
Cover Crops: The Living Mulch
Plants like clover, rye, vetch, and buckwheat prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and enrich soil.
Crop Rotation
Alternating plant families (e.g., leafy greens → legumes → fruiting crops → root vegetables) prevents nutrient depletion and pest buildup. (e.g., corn → soy → buckwheat → root vegetables)
Perennial Gardening
Perennials like asparagus, berries, and fruit trees require less tilling, sequestering more carbon.
Polyculture & Soil-First Gardening
Companion planting (e.g., Three Sisters: corn, beans, squash)
Forest gardening (layered food production)
Encouraging beneficial insects and biodiversity
Riparian Zones: Natural Carbon Storage & Erosion Control
Riparian zones—vegetated areas near waterways—stabilize soil, filter runoff, and store carbon. Planting native species along streams and ponds enhances local ecosystems and prevents soil loss. Three major rivers wind through Tennessee, and we have countless tributaries and waterways.
The Bigger Picture: Scaling Up Carbon Sequestration
If regenerative gardening and farming were widely adopted, global carbon sequestration could significantly increase. Advocacy for local composting programs, soil restoration projects, and regenerative farming policies can scale up these efforts and combat climate change.
Final Thoughts: Gardening as Climate Action
Every gardener has the power to make a difference. By adopting regenerative practices, composting waste, and shifting our relationship with soil, we contribute to a healthier planet.
Reflection Questions:
How can we work with nature instead of controlling it?
What short-term trade-offs are necessary for long-term soil health?
How can community gardens play a role in climate resilience?
What’s one simple step you can take today to improve soil health?
By embracing regenerative gardening, we don’t just grow food—we restore ecosystems, build community resilience, and create a more sustainable future. 🌱
Murfreesboro Community Gardening invites you to join the movement. Whether through composting, polyculture, or riparian restoration, every action counts. Let’s grow together!
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