“It feels regenerative”: An affective atmosphere of soil care in vegetable gardening

Soils are on the political agenda, recognized as central actors for agricultural transitions. At the same time, soils are often difficult for humans to relate to. This paradox—soil as central to sustainability but distant to most humans—motivates the question: what regenerative soil relations emerge from the practice of soil care in vegetable gardening? To answer this, our study draws from twelve months of ethnographic fieldwork at two vegetable gardens in Luxembourg to elaborate on the affective dimension of soil care. The prolonged engagement allows for an analysis of the caring practices and the collective affective relations that emerge from them. Gardeners enact respect for the soil through their practices to create the conditions for soil life to flourish. In addition, collective dynamics can create a vibrant and uplifting affective atmosphere. Rather than igniting passion for soils in individuals, we argue that the paradox of soil relations is best addressed collectively, by nurturing practices of respect and immersions in an affective atmosphere. It is crucial to move beyond individual responsibility for the agricultural transitions and to engage people affectively through collective forms of participation.