Something magical is hiding right under our feet! It's cryptobiotic soil, and we've got the dirt on this desert superhero. 🌱 A network of microscopic organisms thrives along the surface of the Colorado Plateau and binds desert terrain together. Far too often, this desert superhero is overlooked, but in reality, the presence of cryptobiotic soil is crucial to the survival of our beautiful red rock paradise, preventing erosion and fostering plant growth. 🔬 This intricate web of life, including cyanobacteria, fungi, lichens, and mosses, forms a living crust that safeguards the delicate balance of life in one of nature's most challenging environments: the desert. 🥾 While the cryptobiotic soil safeguards the desert, you can help safeguard this biological soil by following one principle—Don't Bust the Crust! Sticking to the trails and avoiding camping or walking on cryptobiotic soil will help mitigate the human impact on this desert superhero! #allwaysadventure #goguidedgobeyond #rappelling #adventure #abrakanabra #utah #zion #zionnationalpark #canyoneering #slotcayon #couplesvacation #familytime #travellikealocal #rockclimbing #uthadotcom #backcountry #lexusoffroad #gxoffroad #toyotaoffroad #cryptosoil #dontbustthecrust #biologicalsoil
On this week’s episode of “I’m adorable and I live in your soil” 1- Dancing Nematode 2- Rotifer on a Mission 3- Totally Tubular Tardigrade I know you all really only tuned in for the tardigrade Have you noticed that I’ve pretty much developed an entire Farmy Network of great shows? I know. I know. TLC you call me anytime you’re ready to develop the Feeling Farmy Network. #soilfoodweb #microorganisms #soillife #nematode #rotifer #tardigrade #microscopy #feelingfarmy #biologicalsoil #amicroorganismisamicroorganismnomatterhowsmall #nomatterhowsmall
So, this happened…I got published in the coolest of cool publications! This is the official National Park Service brochure that’s at the Colorado National Monument Visitor Center and hands out at both entrances. It’s been many years since they have updated this brochure so I’m tickled to get in there! Out of 7 photos in the brochure, I got lucky. With all that said, it’s just a little 1x1.5” photo of dirt. 😄 Also known as biological soil crust, so remember…don’t bust the crust. #csdekalbphotos #published #publishedphotographer #coloradonationalmonument #colm #nps #npsvolunteer #npsvolunteerphotographer #biologicalsoil #dontbustthecrust #parkservice #visitgrandjunction #gofruita #visitcolorado #travel #explore #getoutside #playlikealocal #naturephotography #naturelover #naturephotography
Tips from Leave No Trace: What it means to travel on durable surfaces 🥾 ON TRAIL 🥾 Stick to designated trails (the most durable surfaces) Traveling on established paths helps protect: 🐾 Soil 🌿 Plants 🦌 Wildlife 🌵 Sensitive habitats Further protect trails by walking single file in the center of the trail. This maintains the path and helps prevent: ↪️ Winding the trail 🪵 Trail reconstruction OFF TRAIL 🥾 Stick to durable surfaces Most durable: 🐾 Gravel 🪨 Sand rock ❄️ Snow Also durable: 🍂 Leaf litter 🌲 Pine duff 🌾 Dry grasses 🚫 Avoid fragile surfaces, like ferns, wet soils, steep slopes, lichens, mosses, wildflowers, and biological soil crusts. For more Leave No Trace tips, follow @leavenotraceorg . . . 📍Grand Canyon National Park, AZ 📸: @theflott . . . #LeaveNoTrace #Sustainability #TrailTips #Hiking #Camping #biologicalsoil #hikearizona #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark
I thought this jelly lichen was so beautiful, but I showed it to someone and they said they didn’t know about beautiful, but that it is interesting. I guess I am a nerd. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ My knowledge of lichens is limited, but this one had little round beads that I assume are for reproductive purposes. ⠀ This was so tiny that I never would have noticed it without my jewelers loupe, it blended right in with the soil. Swipe to see a size reference, a little twig is pointing to it. It was photographed somewhere between 4 & 5x with an mpe65 lens. Focus stack of 179 images. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #jellylichen #collema #collemaceae #licgen #cryptobioticcrust #cryptogamuccrust #biologicalsoilcrust #biologicalsoil, #mpe65 #focusstacking #dontbustthecrust #zerenestacker #lowdesert #sonorandesert
The highlight of the week was having these two lovelies move into one of The FACTORY’s fields 🐗🌾They are currently digging up the ground in preparation for a veg crop in 2023 – pigs are fantastic biological ploughers 🐽These brothers are particularly friendly, and there will be no shortage of love and attention from our team! 💕 Many thanks to Catherine from our neighbouring social farming enterprise for the loan 🙏 . . #biodiversity #pigs #organicveggies #veggiegarden #biologicalsoil #savesoil #savesoilsavelife #ecobusiness #holisticbusiness #consiousbusiness #thefactory #FACTORY #makeapositiveimpact
Meet your farmers: Hello, we are Matt and Abby. We met six years ago and have since shared a strong passion for food in all ways. Early on in our relationship, we loved to spend all of our free time cooking each other healthy meals and roaming the health food store isles for clean ingredients and organic produce. When we weren't doing that, we were outside exploring the great outdoors for new and exciting connections to living plants and mushrooms that we could incorporate into our food-centric lifestyle. A few years ago, we became ecstatic about the idea of starting a farm together. After learning about commercial farming practices and their harmful effects on the planets ecosystems, we knew we wanted to do it differently. We wanted to grow the healthiest food so our family could eat it with a clean gut and concious. We are so grateful to announce that we will have another farm hand this coming spring. While this journey has been full of ups and downs, when I reflect back on it all, I wouldn't change a single thing. We are beyond grateful to be in the position we are in and we are so excited to see what this coming year brings. #naturalliving #meetyourfarmer #biologicalsoil #plantbased #notill #notillgrowers #nospray #healthyeating #healthylifestyle
“We’ve never had a better chance… ...to make a greener world. Covid-19 has delivered unusual environmental benefits: cleaner air, lower carbon emissions, a respite for wildlife. Now the big question is whether we can capitalise on this moment.” • Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, University of Queensland, is chief scientist at the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science . . . . . #globalwarming #gbr #greenworld #planttrees #dontwastetime #universityofqueensland #cleangreenfairfood #australianacademyofscience #biologicalsoil #regenerativeagriculture
Burdekin River flood marker, coffee at Heritage Arcade Charters Towers en route to Christine Jones’ Creating Functioning Soils workshop at Severnvale Station west of Charters Towers. Excellent! . . . . . . . #soil #creatingfunctioningsoils #soilhealth #biologicalsoil #growingsoil #christinejones #soilscientist #severnvale
NIHIKÉYAH BLACK MESA: Did you know that ni’hazęęs plays a vital role in maintaining stable and productive arid ecosystems? Cryptobiotic soil crust, also known as ni’hazęęs in the Dził Yíjiin region, is made up of cyanobacteria, lichens, mosses, and fungi. Cryptobiotic soil crust can be found in soil surfaces in arid and semi-arid ecosystems (drylands). Cryptobiotic soil growth and development is attributed to microcoleus vaginatus, a filament-structured (bundle forming) cyanobacteria. When moisture is introduced, the cyanobacteria filaments become active and move through the soil in a web-like fashion, leaving behind a sticky gelatinous sheath that collects soil particles. The more the cyanobacteria filaments grow, the more they collect soil particles, thus hardening/expanding the cryptobiotic soil crust. A well-established cryptobiotic soil crust can contribute to the following: 🏔 Stabilize surface soils 🛠 Prevent wind and water erosion 💨 Nitrogen fixation 🌱 Enhance nutrient availability to vascular plants Unfortunately, cryptobiotic soil is easily disturbed, and its recovery rates are slow. What took years or even decades to create can easily be destroyed in a matter of seconds. Let’s do our part to protect these delicate ecosystems in our backyard. If there is another name for bio crust in your region, we would love to hear it. 🙌🏽 Source: Waterman, Ben. “Cryptobiotic Soil Crust: Protector of Delicate Arid Ecosystems.” ACSESS, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 28 Mar. 2020, acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.2134/jnrlse.2001.0014. #DontBustTheCrust #BlackMesa #Arizona #BioCrust #BiologicalSoil #Cryptobiotic #Soil #Crust #Navajo #Diné #DinéBizaad #NavajoNation #Conservation #Indigneous #Arid #AridLandcapes #Southwest #DesertSouthwest #Delecate #Nature #Protect #Biodiversity #RezLife #HonorTheEarth #AirdSoil #SoilScience #DesertLife #SoilRestoration #LandRestoration #Ecology
Google: “Mustard as a Cover Crop.” Thanks for a solution, #MSU! We think wild mustard fields are beautiful in the spring, but let’s face it, the plant is invasive, AND it’s growing along an area of our property that we will want to plant. Since we are committed to not using #herbicides, we’ll use the mustard for #biologicalsoil #covercrop this year. We’ll irrigate the soil over 10 days, and chop and hoe the mustard into the soil for biomass, which after decomposition, releases glucosinolates that act as a natural #pesticide which attracts useful insects. Next year, we’ll pull the plants early, or do it again if we need to continue to rejuvenate the soil before planting. Mustard can be toxic to goats so we can’t deploy a #rotationalgrazing strategy there. (We also considered choking the mustard with #eucalyptusmulch.) #permaculturefarm #urbanfarming #volunteersneeded #wildmustard #medicinalplants #nativeplants #learning
Thinking of starting a home compost? Ever wondered about the process behind how our food can become a nutritious waste reducing soil? Or maybe just wondering what compost is in the first place? You can find all of this and more on our Resources page with Ben Tyler of @yourbiologicalcompost @pocketcityfarms - check out the Featured resource - Link in bio - 🍏🍋🥒🥬🥦🌱🌿🍂 #compost #marketgardens #soil #biologicalsoil #regenerate #environment #nature #foodwaste #fightfoodwaste #reduce #reuse #circular #local #urbanfarming
🇺🇸 Go back to the start, free spirits! 🇨🇭Retournez au debut, esprits libres! 🍅🍅🦠🌱 #tomatoes #homegrown #tomates #tomatescherry #cherrytomatoes #tomatescerises #knf #koreannaturalfarmingtechnique #soilfoodweb #soilfoodwebgrown #soilfood #biologicalsoil #organicsoil #composting #compost #compostbin #instapicture #pics #picsofinstagram #picoftheday📷 #allnatural #allday #allnight
Spring is here flowers are blooming. These are some perennials i planted last year name escapes me at the moment lol. Cant wait for veggies to start producing and to get my ladies selected for outdoor. 🙌🏽🌱🌸🌞✌🏽 #springflowers #newenglandgardening #flowers #organic landscapes #naturalfarming #biologicalsoil #livingsoil #sustainableliving
Yes, David Attenborough you’re spot on. In the craziness of today, life in the country carries on at the same tempo🥦🌽🌶🥬 🐄 🐕 🌳 . . . #farmlife #goodlife #clean #green #blueskies #trees #biologicalsoil #cleanair @farmdogs #joy #solace #achachaplantation
🌲 Do you know about cryptobiotic soil or biological soil crust? It’s a ‘living’ soil, if you will. It plays a vital role in desert health. The microorganisms bind the crust together into a ‘shell’ of you will. . This crust keeps unstable, highly erosion prone areas to become resistant to both wind and water erosion. . They also contribute nitrogen and organic matter to ecosystems which is critical in deserts. Sadly, all too often we do not notice this and our human activities destroy and damage these soils. . It can take a few years to several DECADES to recover. Some impacted areas may never recover. . 💕 Help protect this fragile, crucial life by remaining on designated roads, routes, and trails at all times. . The last photo shows damaged crust due to tire activity. . . . #BiologicalSoil #CryptoBioticSoil #CryptoBioticSoilCrusts #ProtectOurEnvironment #ProtectNature #ProtectNatureAndWildlife #MotherNature #BLM #Boondocking #BoondockingRules #campingrules #hikingrules #hike #bekindtotheearth #earthoutdoors #ecosystems #dispersedcamping #freecamping #publiclands #publiclandsproud #gorving #homeiswhereyouparkit #takeahike #liveoutdoors #theoutbound #xscapers #wander
Inoculated soil for cuttings. #biologicalsoil #organicclones #nextgeneration #hemp #fungi
Our Video is finally up on how to create amazonia Terrapretta soils! Right in your very own pot - this video was made to guide you on running NO TILL in your pots, specifically with out No Till Potting Blend 🐝 In the Amazon, they used Inga tree or ice cream bean instead of Lucaena- for our area Lucaena is a weed, meaning it will grow no matter what you do, we wild harvest the seed to make sure its climate resistant, drought resistant, pest and disease resistant 🐂 Watch here - https://youtu.be/fZBs5SiyLlQ #buildingsoil #notillmanagement #potgardening #livingsoil #biologicalsoil
The Anubis Auto Flower says Goodnight Lights out!! 🤣😎😎😴😴😴😴😴😴 #anubisauto #anubisautoflower #anubisstrain #anubismarijuana #bluepyramidseeds #marijuanagrow #marijuana #biogametight #biologicalsoil #soilgrown #foxfarmnutrients #supremegrowersmycotea #supremegrowersbudcharge #supremegrowersmycoblast #supremegrowerssoilblast #supremegrowerskelpblast #supremegrowerssoilblast #vermontcraftcannabis #vermont420 #vermontlegalgrow #vermontmarijuana #vermontcannabisgrower #vermontmarijuanagrower #vermontgreenbud #710dab #rosin
#ROSSfinds ! When you see one of the illest #horticultureproduct line around( that your local stores discontinued because hicks don’t know anything but MF Miracle Gro) at #Ross you buy that shit ASAP !!! ~People AND PET safe ~☝👍😍 #DrEarth #allpurposefertilizer #biologicalsoil #inoculant • #fishbonemeal #bonemeal #kelp #Pureandnatural #soilmicrobes #mycorrhizae #gardenfinds #gardeningmusthave #fertilizer #thatgoodgood #goodshit #gardeningtips #gardeninglife #healthysoil #soilislife #createdforlife #plantaddict #flowerjunkie
Don't bust the crust! . . . #cryptobioticsoil #livingenvironment #southernutah #naturephotography #closeup #geology #biologicalsoil #biology #organisms #highdesert #pariarivervalley #earth #lifeelevated
Carbon Farming Innovation Network came for a tour! 🌀 . . . #biologicalsoil #carboncycle #watercycle #drawdown #regenerativeagriculture #agroecology #carbonfarming #greenamerica #mainstreetproject #ecologicaldesign
Imagine how many conversations about soil health are going on right now in this one building. Day #2 ACRES Conference 2017 #soilhealth #biology #biologicalhealth #biologicalsoil #soilconference #acres2017 #educateyourself #farming #biologicalfarming #balancedsoil #minerals #letstalkdirt
Happy soil = Happy plants! #livingsoil #biologicalsoil #cleanmedicine #fungi #greenflower #organiccannabis #growyourown #boutiquecannabis #artisancannabis
"All boundaries are conventions, waiting to be transcended". I wish I knew why though. Communication boundaries are harder to transcend than climbing over a mountain. A feeling is harder to share than a state boundary. No one can ever understand the feeling of being alone. Who can convey it? If they could it wouldn't exist. Only faith ensures there's a good reason #deathvalleynationalpark #deathvalley #desert #isolation #cloudatlas #alone #isolated #mountain #storm #cloudy #stormcloud #ominous #amargosa #california #mordor #ilovenature #valley #biologicalsoil #gnosis #boundaries #transcendence #nevada
The Death Valley floor is so much wider than it looks. It's not often solid, it's saturated and soft. Biological soil just beneath this surface is super sensitive to disturbance as I just found out, so in the future I will literally tread lightly. #deathvalleynationalpark #deathvalley #biologicalsoil #saltflat #desert #biology #naturelover #telescopepeak #hiking #california #solitude
#aloevera #plant #takingoff #after #repotting #transplanting #into #plantersii #SoilSolutions16 #tracemineral #planters2 #green #biologicalsoil #healtysoil #grow #sustainablefarming #growth #sustainableagriculture #growsomethinggreen #organicfertilizer #newshoot #aloe #pottedplants
photosynthesizing november
Plants lovin the tea 🙏 #microbialcatalyst #biologicalsoil #acct #batguano #microbebrew
@nhammonddesign leading the way back from the confluence. What a trek but so worth it. #bigspringtimeadventure #biologicalsoil
Leading into Cyclone Canyon. This picture does no justice! #keepitwild #keepexploring #makeadventure #campvibes #biologicalsoil #bigspringtimeadventure
More stunning views from Confluence Overlook hike. #utah #bigspringtimeadventure #keepitwild #biologicalsoil #makeadventure
#biologicalsoil #catci #paria #toadstooltrail