Digging deep for healthy soil

Jan 4

Tori Waugh helps farmers share soil health wisdom, as executive director of the Ontario Soil Network. Photo submitted by Tori Waugh

By Patricia Lane & Tori Waugh

These in-their-own-words pieces are told to Patricia Lane and co-edited with input from the interviewee for the purpose of brevity.

Tori Waugh helps farmers share their wisdom on soil health. As executive director of the Ontario Soil Network, she uses soil science, adult education principles, facilitation and conflict management skills to support farmers to move into leadership in their communities. Tori also advises other groups interested in soil health and was recently named a Clean50 Emerging Leader for her influence on the way an estimated 2,500 Ontario farmers treat the soil across 180,000 acres.

Tell us about the Ontario Soil Network.

In 2019, agriculture emitted 72.7 MT of CO2e in Canada. One of the most effective ways to cut these emissions is to rebuild organic matter in our soils and sequester more carbon. This also improves the quality, yield and sustainability of our food systems.

But change proposed by outsiders is often resisted by the tight social networks that are such important parts of life in rural communities. The Ontario Soil Network (OSN) equips its farmer members across southern Ontario to lead their communities into a better future for everyone. Agricultural science might caution against tilling but a dairy farmer who has always tilled will be more likely to stop if he hears a fellow dairy farmer's positive experience with the change.

Peter Allan

Digging deep for healthy soil

Tell us about the Ontario Soil Network.

Her school of thought? Plant a pocket forest.

Encouraging women in the Global South to use their voice