Dirt is ancient, alive, and essential to agriculture. But it is not necessarily eternal. And that can be a big problem.
 

Deborah Koons GarciaCalifornia's soil--and the people who study and work with it--plays a large part in Symphony of the Soil, but filmmaker Deborah Koons Garcia says that's not just because the Golden State is her home.

Half a century ago, the innovations of technology and chemistry that enabled big jumps in agricultural productivity were lauded as the "green revolution." Now, however, says Garcia, the consequences of some of those practices are seen as unfortunately detrimental, especially as used by big agribusinesses, and small-scale methodologies are re-emerging as more cost-effective and sustainable alternatives.

 Symphony of the Soil will get a premiere screening Monday evening, July 30 at 7 pm in Sonoma State University's Person Theater, as part of the US Biochar conference.