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The farm beneath our feet
Our farm sits on the Tanana River floodplain, where sediments carried by glacial waters settled over thousands of years. These layers of alluvium — silt, loam, sand and organic matter — form the foundation of our farm.
Working with the Permafrost Grown Project scientists, we discovered how dynamic our soils are.
The dark upper layer is a thin band of living soil where plant roots, microbes and organic matter interact.
Below is a loamy layer shaped by seasonal moisture movement.
Deeper still, the bluish-gray colors caused by reduced iron is evidence that water occasionally saturates the soil and limits oxygen.
Working with the Permafrost Grown Project scientists, we discovered how dynamic our soils are.
The dark upper layer is a thin band of living soil where plant roots, microbes and organic matter interact.
Below is a loamy layer shaped by seasonal moisture movement.
Deeper still, the bluish-gray colors caused by reduced iron is evidence that water occasionally saturates the soil and limits oxygen.
Beneath the boreal forest of North Pole, the soil holds the
memory of ancient rivers.
memory of ancient rivers.
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Permafrost Grown researchers dig soil pits, like the one shown here, to analyze the soil layers. They look at the color, texture and composition to understand how permafrost thaw changes soil properties
Notice how the soil color changes as you look deeper into the pit. |
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Art and text by Brian Schlumbohm, a peony farmer and farmer-collaborator on the Permafrost Grown Project.
Research led by Chien-Lu Ping, professor emeritus at the Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension, and research member of the Permafrost Grown Project.
Research led by Chien-Lu Ping, professor emeritus at the Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension, and research member of the Permafrost Grown Project.
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