A three-year research project focused on food security in the North and building knowledge on sustainable agriculture processes with First Nations and Urban Communities
What is Terra Preta?
Terra Preta soils are found in many areas of the Amazon. For decades, prominent archaeologists claimed there were few people and no big civilizations in the Amazon they believed the soils in the Amazon were too poor to grow large crops to sustain large and civilized populations.
However, a small group of archaeologists found signs of areas of human settlement very large civilizations. When investigating these areas, they found Terra Preta soils over vast areas of the Amazon. Based on the Terra Preta soils that Indigenous people created, archaeologists proved that Indigenous agriculture practices supported large civilizations in the Amazon.
Testing showed that Indigenous Terra Preta soils generated and grew up to 800 times the food crop of regular Amazon soils.
Terra Preta soils are highly fertile and contain high amounts of organic matter, pottery, and charcoal, as well as nitrogen and phosphorous, which are key nutrients for plant growth
Dr. Steeves’s Work
Dr. Steeves’s interest in recreating Terra Preta soils was based on her knowledge of food insecurity in many First Nations communities, especially in the north.
In 2020, Dr. Steeves received a small grant and started recreating Terra Preta soils in raised beds in her small urban yard. She built 26 raised beds placed on her front yard, back yard small space along her driveway and anywhere she had space, there was a raised bed. Some beds were regular soils with compost, and some were Terra Preta soils she recreated. She found that Terra Preta Soils in Northern Ontario produced a larger crop yield (minimally 2-6 %) than non-Terra Preta soils in raised bed plots.
Current Research
In this new research, three soil types will be tested at two field trail locations at Harvest Algoma and the Thessalon First Nation Greenhouses site with Niigaaniin Services. All crops will be weighed measured and tested for nutritional content.
Researchers will gather data on soil health and any difference in crop yields between three soil types and on any differences between crop nutrition in crops of corn, beans, squash, carrots, and beets.
Community Involvement
All Niigaaniin Services communities and Food Bank Farm and community members will be invited to take part in the research process, creating the soil and the gardens and in tea, feast and talk days, knowledge sharing and gathering.
The Team
Paulette Steeves (Cree-Métis, Algoma University)
David Thompson (Rural Agri-Innovation Network RAIN)
Colin Templeton (Food Bank Farm)
Niigaaniin (Kinoomaagewin)
Community members are encouraged to join in creating Terra Preta soils, planting gardens, and attending knowledge-sharing events. Your participation will help revive traditional agricultural practices and improve food security in Northern Ontario. For more information on this project please contact: paulette.steeves@algomau.ca
This project is funded in part by the Governments of Canada and Ontario under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
