"Soil Song" explores the vibrancy of our soil —
I’m fascinated by the impact our environment has on our health and wellbeing.
Improving soil health can enhance both the environment and human health by supporting biodiversity, improving food quality, and even promoting mental wellbeing through more vibrant and stable ecosystems. Soil ecoacoustics offers an innovative tool for monitoring soil health and guiding sustainable land practices that benefit both human and environmental health.
Photo by Ellie Coltar
These paintings, using sand and soil collected from Minnesota, and beyond, are a visual reflection of the degrading vibrancy of our soil’s health and a call for our part in environmental advocacy.
Ecoacoustics, which studies soundscapes within ecosystems, offers insights into soil
health by monitoring the presence and activity of soil-dwelling organisms. Healthy
soils typically feature rich, diverse soundscapes filled with clicks, pops, and
crackles generated by invertebrates like worms and beetles moving through the soil.
This acoustic diversity is much reduced in degraded soils, which lack active, life-
supporting microbial communities essential for soil productivity and ecosystem
balance.
In 2025,
I’ll be conducting field recordings of soil in Minnesota.
Follow my journey on Instagram. @briharringtonart
Soil: A Vital Resource
Healthy soils are vital for human well-being.
They play crucial roles in supporting food security, filtering contaminants, and contributing to climate resilience. Microbes within these soils influence the nutrient density of crops, which directly impacts human health by providing higher quality nutrients in our food supply. Additionally, soil microbiomes are linked to the human microbiome, impacting immunity and gut health in ways that researchers are just beginning to explore.
Unfortunately, soil health is declining due to a combination of environmental, agricultural, and human-induced factors that degrade soil structure, reduce biodiversity, and lower nutrient quality.
Improving soil health can enhance both the environment and human health by supporting biodiversity, improving food quality, and even promoting mental well-being through more vibrant and stable ecosystems. Soil ecoacoustics offers an innovative tool for monitoring soil health and guiding sustainable land practices that benefit both human and environmental health.
Soil Matters:
Check out this video by the BBC Ideas on the importance of soil
“Soil is underappreciated. But it's vital in so many ways. Here's a look at the importance of soil - and why soil matters so much. This was made in partnership with The Royal Society. Animation by Flock London.”