Soil Journal - Entry #1

What is soil?

As a beginner soil consultant, I have begun to notice many “normal” gardening practices which ought to be changed. 

There are many people who have been taught to interchangeably use all sorts of words, not just recently, but for many generations. My recent studies on soil have shown me that this too happens in the garden.

A very common mistake is using the terms ‘soil’ and 'dirt’ interchangeably. However, it doesn’t take much digging into the definitions to realize just how far from the truth this is. Dirt is a term most seem to associate with any sort of natural ground found outside. But in reality, soil, sand, and clay are not dirt. The most noticeable difference between dirt and soil is that dirt is a type of soil without any of the necessary nutrients, and with a lack of ability to produce good vegetation. Good vegetation would be considered to be any sort of plant that is beneficial to the soil, such as most grasses. Detrimental plants absorb any and most nutrients that could possibly be absorbed by any good, beneficial plant.

Terminology is important. This way, you can avoid errors when it comes to the type of soil you are using and so you can more effectively apply techniques and methods. So, in short, soil may be a mixture of dirt, clay, sand, different types of organic matter, gas, and liquids. I hope this has been useful and informational to you! With each new lecture I hear, I become inspired to change not only the soil, but the entire gardening experience for myself and anyone else who is interested in learning, too.

Make sure to stay tuned in for more gardening facts in the future! 

- Arian F.

Student Soil Consultant

3/14/25