1.1.2 About this course
The aim of this course is not to share knowledge as facts or single truths, but to invite you into a process of exploring Soil through different lenses, with a hope that it can contribute to a curious inquiry into that which we cannot see with the naked eye, but which nonetheless underpins our existence. This may take the form more of question-asking and venturing into uncertainty than of presenting answers.
This course has been written by me, Alice, one half of The Kitchen Garden, though it has been informed by numerous encounters and conversations with others, human and more-than-human. In my backpack is a twenty year-long chapter of studying and working in medicine with a particular interest in equitable healthcare and lifestyle medicine, a passion for soil health and permaculture (with a four year chapter of co-running a small permaculture-inspired farm), and a much more recent focus on transformative change, relationality and futures thinking, as part of my masters studies. All these and more, have played a part in the motivation and formation of this course, which draws on an assumption that how we view the World, matters. Therefore, this course, being written by me at this time, offers just a slither of possible perspectives, and yet I hope to welcome you into a wide open space of possibilities, a space to expand from in ways that resonate and reflect with you in your context.
Module 2 focuses on stories about Soil – some may feel more familiar than others. These stories, yours included, are there to remind us of different perspectives and how they shape the way we navigate. Module 3 may feel like stepping into biology classes at first, as we touch on soil composition and functions. But soil health is also a social process as much as a biological one. And soil health is an interspecies endeavour, humans included. In module 4, we look at some common food production methods and how they impact soil health. Does feeling a part of Nature affect how we interact with Soil? We begin to explore this more in module 5, where we look at ways of participating in healthy soil systems as gardener and consumer. In module 6, the focus shifts to exploring ways of navigating change, as individuals and collectively. With guidance from thinkers in the fields of relationality, eco-philosophy, Indigenous research, posthumanism and futures thinking among others, this module is about nurturing curiosity and openness, of probing subconscious perspectives of reality and stories that make these seem foundational. The motivation behind this course orients itself along a narrative of Soil as living, having agency, and being intimately connected with everything we love, care for and are. You will nonetheless find other narratives reflected too. What does this multitude do? And can we hold different narratives in our awareness at the same time?
This is a short course and every aspect of it can be traced far deeper and wider, like an ever-growing mycorrhizal network, where curiosity is perhaps the most vital fuel, and journeying attentively with others, not just humans, an essential mode of travel. I cannot over-emphasise that this course is contextual, coming from one context (the one I find myself in) and entering your context (the one you find yourself in), and I invite you to follow any trains of thought, associations and connections with your own experiences as they appear. It is through this, that I hope this course can sow seeds unbeknownst to me, in the Place you find yourself.
Lifestyle medicine – A field of medicine that emphasises lifestyle factors related to human health, how they are influenced by social factors, and ways to empower changes in lifestyle to improve health and quality of life.
More-than-human – a term used to signify inclusion, agency and awareness beyond humans. The term can include other species, but can also include natural phenomena such as rivers, wind and clouds.
Mycorrhizal network – Mycorrhizal networks are formed by fungal mycelium (thread-like parts of fungi) interacting with plant roots and can be very extensive
Permaculture – a design system that uses whole-systems thinking and inspiration from natural ecosystems (we come back to this term later in the course)
Relationality – this term refers to being in relationship with others, and is also related to a way of perceiving the World, what is real and how knowledge is produced (we come back to this in module 2)