Soil is a complex network. Soil is home to a variety of microorganisms and contains a variety of materials. Mycorrhizal fungi are responsible for such a complex system. Through the network created by them, different plants are connected to each other, and the movement of water, carbon, nitrogen, and other nutrients and minerals in the soil between plants becomes possible. More specifically, through this network, plants that grow in resource-rich conditions (plenty of light, water, nitrogen) are able to provide essential nutrients to plants growing in less fertile conditions. In natural ecosystems, plants can obtain 80-90% of the nutrients they need from symbiotic fungi. For example, this connection allows some plants to grow in the lower layers of shady forests, where there is very little light.

Thanks to this process, forests become multi-layered (can have 7 layers) and become more productive. Since 95% of plants are able to establish such connections, it is possible to create such a forest model in one's own garden by stimulating the development of mycorrhizal fungi. Such fungi can be introduced to a new environment by bringing soil or plants from areas where mycorrhizal fungi already live. Disturbing soil by tilling or compaction kills the fungi, so they are missing from agricultural fields and other degraded soils. Some companies also sell these fungal inoculants so they can be applied to soil or plant roots before planting.

Also important are the fungi, insects, worms and microorganisms living in the soil, which, through decay or other means, make the nutrients and minerals available to the plants in the soil. They also play a key role in soil structure. as these organisms move through the soil, they open pathways for air and water, allowing underground life, including plant roots, to breathe.

Jim Kowalewski is an experienced permaculturist living in Florida. He implements the principles of permaculture in his own garden and tells about his results. Jim points out that the only way to grow plants sustainably is to have healthy soil. To grow healthy plants, we need to feed the soil, not the plant.

Before discovering permaculture, Jim Kovaleski used to be an ornamental landscaper, planting grass monocultures and fertilizing people's lawns with synthetic fertilizers until he discovered permaculture. Permaculture changed his life; he now grows food sustainably on his and his neighbors' land. He feeds his soil with grass and woodchips, which is both a mulch to protect the soil from the sun and wind and healthy nutrition for the soil organisms.

Here are some permaculture principles that Jim follows.

1. He never waters his garden. The soil is saturated with the necessary organic matter from the decomposition of the grass and turns into a giant sponge that absorbs every drop of rainwater. The only way is through plants to remove water from the soil.

2. Jim never weeds his land because weeds cannot grow on that land. The reason is that the thick layer of mulch does not allow the sun's rays to reach the weed seeds. Another reason is that weeds, being pioneer plants, prefer to grow in compacted, nutrient-poor soil. Pioneers are those plants that grow first in degraded soil because they are resistant and can initiate the process of soil formation.

3. Jim never uses fertilizers. When the grass mulch decomposes, all the nitrogen in the grass is returned to the soil and becomes available to be used by other plants.
4. Jim never tills his soil. Tilling kills soil life, destroys the structure created by the soil macro and microorganisms, and releases the CO2 stored in the soil, destroying the soil sponge and contributing to climate change. Moreover, plowed soil has a more limited water absorption capacity. Water flowing over the surface carries away the fertile outer layer of the soil, turning the soil back into dust.
5. The carbon in the grass mulch is captured from the air and is stored in Jim's soil as the organic matter sponge, helping to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. So Jim is doing his part to help fight climate change.

The philosophy of permaculture is that the problem is also the solution. Weeds are problematic but are nature's solution to maintaining soil health. People like Jim understand this and copy nature to solve the problems that arise. In this way, he is able to grow food on a commercial scale in his home garden with minimal effort and maximum yield.

2. If there are tall weeds, cut them so that it is possible to cover the ground with cardboard.
3. Create a layer against weeds. The best solution is cardboard, which is thick enough and easy to get. The cardboard does not allow the weeds to rise above the mulch and have access to the sun's rays. It is important not to leave open parts between the pieces of cardboard so that weeds do not grow between them as well.
4. Add at least 8cm of mulch on top of the cardboard layer. Any organic material can serve as mulch: leaves, grass, wood chips, sawdust, or wool.

James Pirigioni lives in New Jersey, where the climate almost matches the prevailing climate in Armenia. James has been practicing permaculture for ten years. When he was just starting to take care of his garden, there was only sand in the area, which dried completely after a few hours of rain. There were also troublesome weeds growing everywhere, and James wanted to get rid of them.

To solve these problems, he introduced the layered mulch method.

1. If the soil is dry, water it because when the mulch layer is added, the water will be retained under the layer.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a repository for the world's plant diversity and is located on the Norwegian island of Svalbard in the remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. It is the center of the world's food security, ensuring us in the event of resource mismanagement, war, disease, or natural disasters. 4.5 million seeds are stored here. Even if there are electrical problems, the permafrost that encloses the warehouse maintains the required cold temperature of -18°C. Seeds are a great way to preserve the genetic material of plants, which is important for preserving the Earth's biodiversity.

There is also a natural repository of seeds, the soil. Soil, as a natural reservoir of seeds, began to be studied in 1859, when Charles Darwin, using soil samples taken from the bottom of a lake, was able to observe the emergence of seedlings. Seeds have been found that have survived in the soil for around 1,200 years, proving that the soil is equally efficient and has a much greater capacity than man-made storehouses. Most of the seeds are pioneer species in the soil, especially the seeds stored in the deep layers of the soil. This is the reason that as a result of plowing the soil, they rise to the outer layer and begin to grow, reaching the sun's rays.

To create a seed store, you must first collect the necessary seeds. We can collect various kinds of seeds of vegetables, herbs, and fruits either from our own garden or from the appropriate store. After collecting, you should wash the seeds and wait for them to dry. Then pour the seeds into paper envelopes. The paper will not interfere with ventilation and, at the same time, will prevent mold, rot, or seed germination. We will make notes on the envelope about the type of plant, the number of seeds, and the growing days. We will put the envelopes of dried seeds in hermetically sealed glass containers, and we will keep the containers in dry, dark, cold conditions. In case of hot weather, the seeds can be transferred to the refrigerator. The seeds can be stored in this way for up to ten years. In the video, you will see how to make your own envelopes.

In Bingara, they started a community project called Carbon Farm. The project aims to find different solutions to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the soil. Each member of the community tries a method, and at the end, each one tells about their results. In addition to combating climate change, the project also contributes to more fertile soil and water conservation. For every 1% increase in soil carbon, 175,000 liters/hectare more water can be stored in the soil, as the carbon in organic matter absorbs water like a sponge. The biggest goal of the Bingara community is to become a closed system, that is, to meet the community's food needs and to compost all organic waste generated.

In some countries, the government hires farmers and landowners to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. For example, in Austria, the owner is paid $8 for storing one ton of carbon in the soil. In other words, making one dollar per year for each square meter of land is possible. This is one of the projects initiated by the governments of the countries aimed at improving the climate.