How often do you find yourself thinking about soil? Admittedly, I think about soil more than most.
Sometimes, I imagine soil as a wise elder who’s seen it all or the jaded one proclaiming loudly: “Get off my lawn!” Even with all my time personifying soil, the time spent ruminating about the earth’s crust is an act of love. It is love for a thriving ecosystem we often overlook as we walk all over it.
To be clear, dirt is the gunk that gets stuck under our nails and hides under the refrigerator (note to self: clean under the fridge). But SOIL is more than dirt – it’s alive and thriving and can make all the difference for a small farm.
For anyone who can remember from their earth science classes, most soils are made of 25% water, 25% air, 45% minerals, and 5% organic matter. Let me tell you a little secret about soil health: it’s all about the life! That 5% fuels an underground party. There are microscopic powerhouses (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes) and macroscopic critters (earthworms, beetles, spiders) working overtime to keep our soil ecosystem chugging along.
You may ask yourself, “What’s in it for me?” As a small-scale grower, good soil health can make or break the business. Focusing on the four soil health principles—minimizing soil disturbance, maximizing soil cover, maximizing biodiversity, and maintaining continuous living roots—and the practices that support them will have you well on your way to better crops, fewer weeds, and less stress for plants and the farmer!
Small changes can do wonders on your journey to soil health, like adding organic matter or rotating crops. Soil doesn’t ask for much; it just needs a little TLC and maybe a cover crop now and again. If you are looking for more inspiration, Urban Soil Health introduced a new resource: Top 10 Small Farm Conservation Practices. It outlines (you guessed it) the top 10 practices with a lot of bang for their buck when implemented. You can find it on our website under the resources tab: urbansoilhealth.org/resources.
Sometimes, when I get invited to parties, I am the only one talking about soil and plants and conservation. Can anyone else relate? Alas, there is no need to be lonely! Soil health brings people together – workshops, community projects, and farmer meet-ups. Sharing knowledge and resources, advocating for better practices, and leaning on local conservation groups are all part of the journey. All these things are happening in your community and are supported by your St Joseph SWCD. Find your fellow conservation nerds throughout the year! Your local SWCD isn’t just full of acronyms – they’re full of help.
What’s the jist of it all? What can you do today for better soil health? Keep learning! Teach others! Start those projects you’ve been meaning to get around to, like that compost pile. And keep talking about our soil! It takes a few centuries to create a centimeter of topsoil. What’s a few minutes talking to your neighbor to save it? At the end of the day, soil health isn’t just for your farm—it’s for your whole community. Plus, playing in the dirt is still pretty fun, too.
Written by Terri Theisen Urban Soil Health Specialist – Northeast Area
This article was originally written for St Joseph Co annual report January 2025
Edited May 2025 with updated information