| Soils from Volcanoes: A New Marijuana Hybrid? | | | | growing region. |
| Why do people live on dangerous volcanoes? The | | | | The verdant splendor and fertility of many farmlands |
| main reason is the rich volcanic soil. People are willing | | | | of the North Island of New Zealand are on volcanic |
| to take high-risk gambles for the most basic things of | | | | soils of different ages. Volcanic loams have developed |
| life -- especially food. | | | | on older (4,000 and 40,000 years old) volcanic ash |
| However, the most basic things of life for some, | | | | deposits of the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions. |
| equate to Cannabis. Medical Marijuana and the relief of | | | | Combined with ample rainfall, warm summers, and mild |
| symptoms from some ailments have pushed Cannabis | | | | winters, these regions produce abundant crops, |
| to the forefront of social consciousness. As disastrous | | | | including the kiwifruit found around the world in modern |
| of an event that Volcanoes pose, there is a silver lining. | | | | recipes. The altered volcanic ashes are well-drained, |
| Hawaii of course, came about from Volcano activity. | | | | yet hold water for plants, and are easily tilled. Deep |
| Hawaii also has some of the most nutrient rich soil for | | | | volcanic loams are particularly good for pasture |
| growing. Add goo-gobs of sunlight, and you create my | | | | growth (there is a large New Zealand dairy industry), |
| favorite Marijuana strain of all time, Kona Gold. So, | | | | horticulture, and maize. |
| when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Or, when | | | | Life-forms on the Earth's surface exist primarily by |
| life gives you volcanic ash, create a new Cannabis | | | | consent of nature's partnership -- heat from the sun, |
| strain. Before we start licking our chops at the ash | | | | and nutrients from rocks that have been decomposed |
| potential, let's examine what it's all about. | | | | and recombined into soluble molecules by chemical |
| Close to an erupting volcano the short-term destruction | | | | reactions with moisture and gases such as carbon |
| by pyroclastic flows, heavy falls of ash, and lava flows | | | | dioxide from the atmosphere. The process is known |
| can be complete, the extent of the damage depending | | | | as "chemical weathering." Chemical interactions of the |
| upon the eruption magnitude. Crops, forests, orchards, | | | | atmosphere with rock release key elements from |
| and animals grazing or browsing on the volcano's | | | | rock-forming minerals which are then accessible to |
| slopes or surrounding lowland can be leveled or buried. | | | | growing things. Volcanic rocks make some of the best |
| But that is the short-term effect. In the long run, | | | | soils on earth because they not only have a wide |
| volcanic deposits can develop into some of the richest | | | | variety of common elements the rock and are readily |
| agricultural lands on earth. | | | | chemically separated into elemental components. |
| One example of the effect of volcanoes on | | | | After the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980, people |
| agricultural lands is in Italy. Except for the volcanic | | | | who were living downwind from the eruption were |
| region around Naples, farming in southern Italy is | | | | concerned that the ash that fell would be detrimental |
| exceedingly difficult because limestone forms the | | | | to the agricultural farmlands of eastern Washington. |
| basement rock and the soil is generally quite poor. But | | | | This concern was countered by a group of |
| the region around Naples, which includes Mount | | | | knowledgeable earth scientists. Volcanic ash may be |
| Vesuvius, is very rich mainly because of two large | | | | considered as a time-release capsule, rich in nutrients. |
| eruptions 35,000 and 12000 years ago that left the | | | | Further Reading |
| region blanketed with very thick deposits of tephra | | | | Fisher, R.V., Heiken, G., and Hulen, J.B., 1997, Volcanoes; |
| which has since weathered to rich soils. Part of this | | | | Crucibles of Change. Princeton, Princeton University |
| area includes Mount Vesuvius. The region has been | | | | Press. |
| intensively cultivated since before the birth of Christ. | | | | Molloy, L., 1993. Soils in the New Zealand |
| The land is planted with vines, vegetables, or flowers. | | | | Landscape-The Living Mantle. New Zealand Society of |
| Every square foot of this rich soil is used. For example, | | | | Soil Science, Canterbury. |
| even a small vineyard will have, in addition to grapes | | | | Sheets, P. D. and Grayson, D. K. (editors), 1979. |
| and spring beans on the trellises, fava beans, | | | | Volcanic Activity and Human Ecology. New York, |
| cauliflower and onions between the trellis rows, and | | | | Academic Press. Copyright (C) 1997, by Richard V. |
| the vineyard margin rimmed with orange and lemon | | | | Fisher. All rights reserved. |
| trees, herbs, and flowers. It also is a huge tomato | | | | |