People & Media...

Rapidly approaching the ripe old age of 2, my daughter understands the importance of water for living things to remain that way. Not only does she faithfully help my wife water our tomato plants and the tree in the middle of our backyard, she also waters the concrete patio slab, her playhouse, and
the mulch around the house. I'm not sure if she's figured out which inanimate objects water helps, but she's headlong into an experiment that shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

While I've never claimed to have a green thumb (a trait my daughter has picked up from my wife, not me), I have learned a great deal this summer about mulch and the importance of it. Maybe it's because I discovered that my mulching mower works so well that I don't have to bag the grass ... and it's better for the environment creating better water retention and less waste to the dump.

Philippe Bourseiller's book 365 Ways to Save the Earth blends beautiful photographs with informative tidbits and daily practical advice. Here's what Bourseiller has to say about mulch and soil erosion:

"Soil erosion is caused by wind and rain and is aggravated by human activity. The texture of the soil, the gradient of the ground and the plants growing in it all play a part. When soil becomes impacted through heavy rainfall, water is not able to penetrate the surface and so runs off, eroding the edges of river banks and ponds as it does so. Bare spots on a lawn and exposed shrub and tree roots are signs of soil erosion in a garden. Signs of erosion in the country side are muddy water in streams or drainage ditches, the build-up of silt and the widening and deepening of streams and rivers.

"Help prevent soil erosion: use mulch on flower beds, install guttering and downpipes that discharge rain water onto areas where it won't cause damage, and protect the soil where it enters the ground by using splash blocks or drainage tiles."