SOIL or DIRT?

SOIL HEALTH SERIES

To the naked eye, SOIL and DIRT look virtually the same. But in reality, the two are vastly different!

Soil

Soil is quite literally bursting with LIFE! It’s made up of multiple ecosystems of microorganisms, insects, and arthropods; an ecosystem that creates an extensive food web that provides nutrients the fuel needed to sustain a dynamic symbiotic ecosystem that supports plants, animals and humans.

Soil is created when mountain stones and bedrock are broken down by wind and rain over centuries. Leaves, plants, grasses, small bugs, and animals fall into the cracks of rocks and when these organisms start breaking down, soil begins to form.

Dirt

When soil is cut off from its ecosystem it dies and becomes dirt.  Dirt is comprised of sand, clay, silt, rocks, pebbles, and some organic matter, but is void of any life (beneficial microbes and nutrients).
Because dirt does not have a set structure, it will not become compact when moisture is added.

Dirt is dead soil and cannot support life. It can, however, get onto clothes and under the fingernails.

Source: soils.org