055 Roots Deeper Than You Show
Hey Vetiver, above the ground you are just a clump of grass. Below it, your roots go down three metres.
Who around us is holding far more than they show?
Who around you is holding far more than they show?
On the edge of a field, a plain clump of grass grows in a line. Nothing special to look at.
But when the rains come and the slope above washes away, the soil behind this grass stays put.
What really happens
Vetiver, or khus, looks like an ordinary clump of grass above the ground.
Below it, its dense roots grow straight down, often about three metres deep. That is why farmers and engineers plant it to stop soil from washing away.
How we know: Vetiver's deep roots and use against soil erosion are documented by the World Bank's vetiver programmes and agricultural researchers.
The turn
Some people look ordinary. Quiet. Easy to overlook.
Below the surface, they are holding a family, a team, a whole slope together.
Three takeaways
- Do not judge strength by what shows.
- Quiet people often hold the most.
- Deep roots keep others from washing away.
Look below the grass.
The roots below the earth claim no rewards for making the branches fruitful.