Get to know your 4 The Soil: A Conversation podcast team. Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, Sarah Koth, and Eric Bendfeldt share their background and aha moments in learning about and building soil health. Jeff mentioned the influence of his father but also his library of soil health books he has accumulated since his retirement from the U.S. Navy. Mary recalled her earlier work in environmental and conservation studies and the importance of the human dimension in soil health and the protection of natural resources. Sarah highlighted her background in environmental communications and advocacy at James Madison University and her introduction to soil health in interning and volunteering with community-based organizations that were working to address food security and justice. Eric reflected on his introduction to soil health and fertility issues working with the Mennonite Central Committee, the relief, peace, and development agency of the Mennonite church, in Tanzania, East Africa.


In listening to Jeff, Mary, Sarah, and Eric, it is easy to recognize that no matter what our various backgrounds and experiences are that we can all be 4 The Soil! We would be interested in learning about your aha moments with soil health and the care of natural resources.

A few soil resource authors mentioned during this episode included Jon Stika, Wendell Berry, Gene Logsdon, Joel Salatin, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Leah Penniman.

Virginia Graze 300 is a program of Virginia Cooperative Extension whose mission is to enable Virginia farmers to achieve 300 days of livestock grazing by facilitating better pasture management and environmental stewardship. To learn more about Virginia Graze 300, please visit https://ext.vt.edu/agriculture/graze-300.html

If you want to pledge your commitment to soil health, please visit https://www.4thesoil.org/take-the-pledge or the Virginia Soil Health Coalition website.