Terra Preta: How the World's Most Fertile Soil Can Help Reverse Climate Change and Reduce World Hunger

by Ute Scheub, Ute Scheub, Haiko Pieplow

Terra preta is the Portuguese name of a type of soil which is thought to have almost miraculous properties. The newspapers are flooded with reports about “black gold,” scientists believe that two of the greatest problems facing the world – climate change and the hunger crisis — can be solved by it. The beauty of it is that everyone can do something about it because since 2005 the secret of producing this black soil has been revealed — and it is a secret that seemed to have been lost forever with the downfall of the once thriving Indian culture of the Amazon basin. The recipe is astonishingly simple as all you need are kitchen or garden wastes, charcoal and earthworms, so it can be produced on every balcony or on the smallest of garden plots.

The authors set off on a treasure hunt and condensed all the knowledge about the world’s most fertile soil into a convenient guidebook. In addition to a sound instruction manual on producing terra preta and organic charcoal (biochar), the handbook covers fundamental principles from climate farming to closed-loop economy. It makes a passionate plea against synthetic fertilizers and genetic technology

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Science

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2013

Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some interesting info on soil and how different societies used or created soil that helped sustain crops. Also gave pretty good demonstration on how to make bio char soil. Got boring and long winded at parts though.

[JS · Rating 2 out of 5]

A strange and rambling book entirely devoid of citations.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Information is great, but the writing is a bit tedious. worth the information.

[Elentarri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terra preta is the Portuguese name of a type of man-made soil which is thought to have almost miraculous properties. This soil is made from a variety of kitchen or garden wastes, charcoal and earthworms, so it can be produced on every balcony or on the smallest of garden plots. This soil is able to absorb soil contaminants, retain moisture and provide nutrients for the plants, as well as replace top soil lost through erosion. This is an interesting, but somewhat long-winded and simplistic book that discusses the importance of soil and how to produce your own humus/compost/black soil or terra preta.

[Montana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quickie review:
- info rich
- well written & edited
- too few pictures / drawings where there REALLY needed to be some
- *spoiler* there's a whole chapter on "humanure" O.O

[Jason]

Controversial topic across the boards.