Oct. 19, 2015, 7:30pm, to be followed by a Q&A session with Sandor Katz
Muenzinger Auditorium, CU-Boulder campus
Deborah Koons Garcia (Filmmaker)
USA, English, Color, 104 minutes
Introduction by Sandor Katz.
Sponsored by Chefs Collective, Fresh Thymes Eatery, and Ozuké
Symphony of the Soil is a documentary that explores the complexity and mystery of soil. Filmed on four continents and sharing the voices of some of the world’s most esteemed soil scientists, farmers and activists, the film portrays soil as a protagonist of our planetary story. Using a captivating mix of art and science, the film shows that soil is a complex living organism, the foundation of life on earth. Yet most people are soil-blind and “treat soil like dirt.”
In the process, it looks into how treating the soil right could help solve some of our most pressing environmental problems. Symphony of the Soil starts with an overview of soil science, which encompasses the birth of soil, the life cycle of soil, the physical components of soil, the soil orders, the microorganisms that cycle nutrients, soil and plants, and the interrelationship of the many members of the soil community, including humans. Soil is alive, and its health and survival are intricately connected to that of all life.
The use of soil as an agricultural medium is also a major line of inquiry. Various farming practices that replenish the soil are presented as well as conventional practices that misuse and deplete it. The film references the latest scientific research about the dangerous environmental and health effects of the toxic chemicals and nitrates so prevalent in industrial farming today. In the same vein, it brings up other topics as biofuels, genetic engineering and overuse of nitrogen, as well as the crucial role soil plays in sequestering carbon.