Celebrating International Mother Earth Day

This Mother Earth Day the Pacific Organic Learning Farms Network POLFN in Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Tonga urge farmers in the Pacific to be mindful of what they put into their soil.

Organic farming practices discourage burning and promote the return of plant residues to the soil, which helps to feed soil organisms and create Soil Organic Matter (SOM). SOM increases the soil's capacity to store nutrients and improves soil physical properties such as structure, permeability, moisture holding and drainage, and aeration, which are important for plant growth.

Feeding activities of larger soil organisms such as earthworms help to re-distribute organic residues in the soil through their channelling activities as well as increase aeration and drainage through their burrowing activities.Organic farming practices such as retaining residues, just like in a natural forest, helps to activate soil organisms and their interactions, which enhance soil processes that maintain or restore soil productivity.