Why is fertile soil so important?

Roots to Glow 

We couldn’t be more proud to say that the cacay in each and every NAYA product is derived from the fertile soil of the Colombian Amazon using regenerative farming methods. And this matters and makes the difference. 

What does Fertile Soil consists of

Fertile soil contains all the major nutrients needed for basic plant nutrition (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), as well as other nutrients needed in smaller quantities (e.g., calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper).

Usually a fertile soil will also have some organic matter that improves soil structure, soil moisture retention, and also nutrient retention. That’s why you’ll never get anything less than the best organic cacay oil from us, packed full of everything it should have— no nasties inside.

It is more important than ever that farming practises are carried out in an environmentally sustainable way, and so we use the ancient practice of forest gardening.

What is Forst Gardening

Forest gardening offers a low-maintenance sustainable method of plant-based food production, and is an agroforestry system based on woodland ecosystems. It incorporates surrounding fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables that too can be harvested by humans. And ultimately maintains and protects the biodiversity.

We choose to opt for this method rather than mono-culture farming typically used in agricultural environments, where most of the prime forest was lost a long time ago – cleared for monocultures of grain crops, grazing or felled for building ships and housing.

The issue with the agri-business

One of the biggest issues with agri-businesses using monoculture systems is that they are heavily oil and chemical dependent and are slowly eroding and polluting our soils and water courses. But not only that – the other issue is stated in the term itself – Mono. It does not allow for biodiversity. Thus the once fertile soil will also degrade by planting only one type of plant instead of working with nature; instead of against nature and allow for variety. Nature is wild. Nature has variety. Exactly the same way we were created; uniquely but in huge variety.

Forest gardening on the other hand creates a multi-layered and sustainable garden, allowing for the maintenance of soil fertility, and produces nutrient-rich and diverse foods.It ensures for the biodiversity mother earth has created to continue to live on.

Tierra Radiante - Roots to Glow

That’s why at our Tierra Radiante – Roots to Glow Project, we work with nature and allow for variety. We plant where the forest has been deforested and plant within existing farms that already harvest other types of plants that are compatible with our cacay plants to enrich the environment.