Soil often doesn’t get the attention that it deserves, but it is integral to the ecology of cities.

Oliver Milman reports on a frequently overlooked aspect of urban ecology: soil science. Soil scientists say that this thin layer of the planet can provide valuable information about the environmental health of a city, writes Milman:
Taking gallon-sized samples of soil from select spots helps researchers put together a soil map of an area. Layers of soil have differing amounts of sand, silt and clay: some have lots of organic matter, others hold a lot of water. Typically, in cities, the soil is contaminated.
Urban gardening and farming means food is grown in city soil, and soil also filters water and captures pollution, notes Milman. In addition, soil in cities supports trees and plants that in turn provide shade, stabilize wetlands in coastal areas, and help reduce carbon levels.
Milman notes that the NYC Urban Soils Institute hosts the Urban Soils Symposium and works to highlight the importance of soil in urban environments.
FULL STORY: 'We're black sheep': the people who are fascinated by soil in cities

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
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Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
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Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
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MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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