I concur with these ranchers in Kansas: our recent heavy snow made me giddy for what it means for our soil and our crops. Snowfall is not only a welcome reminder that winters still do indeed exist in the lower Midwest, it’s also a welcome blanket of moisture for the land. The drought left our soils parched last summer, and so this nice slowly-melting precipitation is helping to restore moisture in our topsoil and subsoil. Snow can also be an excellent barrier over bare ground to prevent soil erosion from happening, especially when we experience high winds.
And although it seems a bit paradoxical, another benefit of snow for a farm or garden is that it can actually help to keep soil warm. It acts as an insulator, preventing the soil and also root systems from going through alternating freezing and thawing cycles that could leave irreparable damage to plants. For example, every inch of snow makes the soil about 2 degrees (F) warmer than the air temperature. The insulation effect helps protect perennials, bulbs, ground covers, and strawberry plantings.
So the next time you -like me- lament the dreary winter weather we’ve been having these last few days (weeks.. months?), just think about how much better those cucumbers are going to taste when the soil they’re grown in has had a nice drink of water all winter.
For local FARMS,
Molly Rockamann
Founding Director