Soil is not merely dirt, but rather a dynamic ecosystem beneath the surface. The term “living soil” refers to the diverse array of microorganisms, insects, worms, and other organisms that contribute to that ecosystem in the soil. In healthy living soil, microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes work together in what is known as the soil food web. Bacteria and fungi decompose organic matter, releasing nutrients that are essential for plant growth. Nematodes and protozoa consume bacteria and fungi, further cycling nutrients through the soil ecosystem. Additionally, earthworms and other soil-dwelling organisms play a crucial role in aerating the soil, improving drainage, and creating channels for root growth. Their burrowing activities and castings (worm poop) also help to incorporate organic matter into the soil, enriching it with nutrients and enhancing its fertility.

But soil organisms don’t stop with just creating great soil. They also form symbiotic relationships with the plants growing in the soil. Certain bacteria have the ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can utilize. These nitrogen-fixing bacteria form symbiotic relationships with certain plants, such as legumes, providing them with a source of nitrogen essential for protein synthesis and overall growth. Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with plant roots. These fungi extend the reach of plant roots, increasing their surface area for nutrient absorption. In exchange, the fungi receive carbohydrates produced by the plant through photosynthesis. Some soil microorganisms have antagonistic effects on plant pathogens, helping to suppress diseases. For example, certain bacteria and fungi produce antibiotics or enzymes that inhibit the growth of harmful pathogens in the soil, protecting plant roots from infection. Additionally, beneficial microorganisms can outcompete pathogens for resources, reducing their population density and preventing disease outbreaks. Other soil microorganisms can even produce plant growth-promoting hormones which stimulate root development and enhance plant growth.

And microorganisms aren’t done yet. They also play a major role in carbon sequestration. Accounting for nearly 80% of the greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide can remain in the atmosphere for 300-1,000 years. But some microorganisms have the ability to use carbon from the atmosphere and sequester it in the soil. Some microorganisms incorporate carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into their biomass during growth and metabolism. Other microorganisms receive carbon through their symbiotic relationship from plants that have absorbed it from the atmosphere, using it and sequestering some of it in the soil.

Although there is still much research to be done, and we do not yet have a full understanding of the inner workings of microorganisms in the soil, it’s clear that soil is in fact living with a multitude of microorganisms at work to support plant life and stabilize atmospheric gases. Despite the exceptional qualities of its ecosystem, living soil is under threat.

Living soil in a natural process that’s existed on earth for millions of years. Soil organisms have been making fertile soil and providing a carbon sink undisturbed long before people populated this planet. You can think of the floor of the rainforest to understand how living soil works. Ripe fruit falls to the ground. Tree branches and leaves that might be damaged by a storm or animals fall to the ground. The resident animals certainly use the rainforest floor as a waste receptacle. All of these organic matters lie on the rainforest floor acting as protective mulch for the rainforest floor. They slowly decompose and get incorporated into the soil. As they decompose, soil microorganisms use these matters releasing nutrients back into the soil for plant use, allowing for the abundant and diverse life known to the rainforest. The cycle repeats more or less undisturbed and the living soil continues on.

However, not unlike trust, it takes a long time to build living soil and just one event can erode it completely. Think of a typical farm. The field, full of diverse native plant life, is cleared for planting crops. Heavy machinery is used to make the work easier, but in the process, the soil is compacted by the weight of the machines, which also harms some of the soil organisms. Farmers till the land to break up the soil compaction. This further harms soil organisms especially fungi which are killed quite easily from these movements in the soil. Farmers plant a single crop, such as corn, in that field. The lack of plant diversity can no longer support the massive diversity in soil microorganisms and more die off. In the Fall and Winter, after harvests, the soil is left bare and exposed to the elements. The top layer of the soil dries out, there is no plant life growing, and no organic matter is being added back into the soil. The result is that much of the soil organisms die off. As the natural process has been completely interrupted and the soil lacks the diverse array of organisms it once had, plants do not grow so well there in future years. Farmers turn to synthetic fertilizers applying them in large quantities to the soil. These synthetic fertilizers provide some nutrients to the plants, but do nothing to feed the organisms in the soil. The plants grow okay, but when disease or drought strikes, the entire crop is eliminated as there were no microorganisms on the soil whose symbiotic relationship supports plant life throughout these cataclysmic events.

This is a somewhat simplified example of how living soil can be lost and become dirt, but it is happening every day in our agricultural and gardening practices. By becoming knowledgeable of the living soil, you can create it where it is missing, nurture it where you have it, and protect it from disappearing. All you need to do is feed the soil.

As you think of the living soil, imagine it as an animal terrarium enclosure. You need animals (microorganisms), substrate (soil), food (organic matter), humidity (water), and a lid (mulch) to trap humidity. No matter the quality of your soil, you can create or sustain existing living soil by adding these things to your soil.

As described above, living soil is teeming with bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and protozoa. Soil that is devoid of life (think dry cracked clay soil) can easily have life added back into it. Composted manure and garden compost are full of microorganisms, and incorporating either or both of them into your soil will bring life back to your soil right away. However, despite the abundant microorganism life available in these items, they do often lack a diversity of fungal life. Many fungi have symbiotic relationships with plants and cannot live without them, which is why they won’t be found in a bag of manure. You can find these fungal additions from a plethora of companies that have made mycorrhizal fungi available to the home gardener. Before purchasing these soil additions, be sure to research the company and product to ensure you’ll actually be receiving a quality product that will be beneficial to your garden.

In order to not only survive but thrive, microorganisms need soil to live in. While this may seem obvious, there are many potting mixes, soil amendments, and other products on the market that contain soilless materials. Peat moss is the most common soilless material found in a plethora of products from potting mix to raised bed mixes and even some manure mixes. In fact, in the United States, you are hard-pressed to find any garden “soil” products/amendments being sold without peat moss. While the ecological problems associated with harvesting peat moss are highly detrimental to the planet in and of themself, the use of peat moss in the garden is also detrimental to our living soil. Peat moss does not really contribute to the normal decomposition and recycling of material processes. Peat moss can take many years to break down. It also reduces the effectiveness of the living soil ecosystem as peat moss can actually inhibit some fungi growth leading to reduced populations. In order to allow microorganisms to thrive, real soil is essential.

If the soil is living, you must feed it. Organic matter that decomposes, feeding the soil organisms is essential, and in turn, the process will provide the soil with Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and micronutrients crucial for plant growth and health. The options for organic matter are seemingly endless from composted manure, garden compost, worm castings, green manure, mulch made from organic materials, and more. Using a good mixture of these materials is beneficial for not only diversifying the available nutrients but also diversifying the microorganisms present. Perhaps even more enticing for gardeners is the fact that many of these organic materials can be made for little or no cost right in your garden.

Feeding the soil with organic matter also means that synthetic chemical fertilizers, which are as confusing as they are expensive, are unnecessary. Have you seen the variety of tomato (and other) fertilizers being marketed with different N-P-K values, the prices they’re listed at, and the frequency with which they recommend you apply it? Add to the confusion and cost, the negative environmental impacts of synthetic fertilizer production factories and the harm it does to soil organisms by failing to give them organic substances to survive off of, and we say, no thank you!

We’d also be remiss if we didn’t mention diverse plant life as organic matter. As stated above, some microorganisms have symbiotic relationships with plants. The microorganisms receive nutrients through the plant’s roots. Different microorganisms interact with different plants, and mono-crop fields do not allow for this diversity to exist. Although we may have limited space in our garden, companion planting as much as possible can be additionally beneficial for a thriving living soil ecosystem.

Water is crucial to all living things on this planet including living soil and the organisms within it. Regular watering is implied when you have plants growing, but even when you don’t, perhaps over Winter, the living soil benefits from rain and snow. Soil that dries out can kill off microorganisms leaving your soil devoid of life. This is also why you’ll never see us suggest putting a black tarp down to prevent weeds. Blocking soil access to water can also be detrimental to soil life.

Hand in hand with our water requirement, mulch provides a valuable service acting as a lid for the soil helping to trap moisture and prevent the top layer of soil from drying out. It’s really that simple. Many options exist for mulch such as wood chips, straw, compost, wool, or even living mulch in the form of cover crops. By using organic matter as mulch you can get even more benefits for soil health as the mulch will eventually decompose and feed the soil.

Here at Love our One, we don’t use synthetic chemical fertilizers, and we generally don’t add organic fertilizers (garden compost or composted manure) throughout the growing season. We keep nutrients simple by only adding natural composted and compostable materials to our garden beds when needed, such as compost before plantings or mulch as needed for the different seasons and growing stages of the plants. We’re able to do this because we focus on feeding the soil. Our soil is full of organic matter and organisms which allow plants to get all the nutrients they need naturally. By focusing on the soil, you’ll have healthier and larger plants.