Here’s something many of us grapple with, especially as we age: how do we nurture our own well-being today while also serving as a good ancestor and leaving something positive for future generations? The answer, in part, lies in a surprisingly humble place—the soil.
Only as good as the soil it’s grown in
We know that, to a certain extent at least, we are what we eat. But it’s not quite as simple as “a tomato is a tomato is a tomato.” Modern agriculture’s till-fertilize-spray model depletes crops’ nutrient density, diluting fundamentals needed to maintain wellness like iron, zinc, and calcium. By contrast, food grown regeneratively with a focus on building soil health (through no-tilling, diverse cover-cropping, and rotations, for example) is proving to be nutritionally superior. These nutrients become even more important with age, since our ability to absorb them naturally declines—yet our bodies rely on them to help fend off ailments.
But regenerative agriculture doesn’t just support human health; it also helps the planet. By building soil that holds more carbon, water, and microbial diversity, these practices favour a future where we can feed ourselves without endangering the Earth’s climate or living systems. To respect and nourish one is to respect and nourish the other, and the benefits are reciprocal.
Micro-regeneration
Looking to leave your own small patch of soil in better health for future generations? Here are three ways to do it:
- Turn your food scraps into a microbially rich soil amendment with an indoor worm bin or an outdoor compost pile.
- Ensure your soil is covered with organic matter or a cover crop to protect, feed, and maintain moisture for the microbial life below.
- Practice no-till by leaving the soil and its mycelial webs, worms, and microbial communities undisturbed.
Closer to home
Growing nutrient-dense food in a way that replenishes rather than depletes the land needn’t only happen in far-off fields. Gardening can bring the practice right to our own backyards and community spaces, and when older and younger people get their hands dirty together, the rewards multiply.
The collective garden run by Green Chinatown Montreal embodies these benefits. “Our garden is a rare opportunity for many of our apartment dwellers to have any contact with nature and the growing world,” says volunteer coordinator Bill Mersereau. At the same time, younger adult volunteers and Chinese seniors enjoy a cultural exchange, with the elder generation imparting the “right way” to grow Asian vegetables such as long beans, bok choy, and daikon.
From garden to gut
Contact with living soil has long been instrumental in populating our human microbiome with helpful bacteria. But in this era of modern farming, urbanization, and a more sterile food chain, our soil exposure is sorely lacking. Short of getting our hands into the microbial-diverse humus of a regenerative garden, soil-based probiotic supplements can help fill that gap. Bacillus coagulans can support digestive health, while Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus clausii offer immunomodulatory and antimicrobial benefits.
Garden language
Stemming from the Green Chinatown model, the Kahéhtaien Jardin Lumb (KJL) weaves Indigenous participation and plants into its garden nearby. Seniors join this collective to connect with plants and soil, to grow vegetables that are difficult or expensive to source at a grocery store, for monthly social activities, and, in some cases, to share their expertise as retired farmers.
As for the youth involved, Monique Ling, KJL organizer, shares that many are “members of diasporic communities who are looking to regain connections to their culture and community.” Although the youth and seniors often don’t share the same primary language, Ling says, “Gardening is a great way to build these connections with limited language because it is such a hands-on activity. A lot can be communicated through pointing and miming, and it’s fun for people to teach others the different names for plants in their respective languages.”
Legacy of soil
Just as supporting regenerative farms is an investment in the soil and the ecological relationships we need to sustain the future of our food production and physical health, intergenerational gardening is an investment in human connection and knowledge. Call it building cultural topsoil, if you will.
Don’t forget the hat and…
Time outside is always a good thing, but remember to protect your skin and eyes from sun-related damage with these essentials:
- Sunscreens: Mineral-based formulas are considered the safest.
- Sunglasses: Look for a pair labelled with 100 percent UVA and UVB protection or “UV absorption up to 400 nm.” The more they cover and wrap around your eyes, the better. While polarized lenses aren’t more protective, they can help reduce glare.
This article was originally published in the March 2026 issue of alive magazine.
