THE DIRT ON SOIL

Dirt isn’t soil. Soil is a complex ecosystem that is present in our everyday lives. It makes life on earth possible, so it’s obvious why it’s so important!

So if dirt and soil AREN’T the same, then what’s the difference? It sounds like a simple solution, but the real difference between soil and dirt, is biology. When we talk about ‘biology’ we refer to the billions of living organisms that are present in each handful of healthy soil. These organisms perform many important roles in your soil including breaking down organic matter, aerating the soil, increasing soil’s water-holding capacity, and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. On a large scale, these benefits can prevent flooding and erosion, as well as runoff into local waterways. With more healthy plants sequestering carbon in the soil, healthy soil can also actively combat climate change!

When we describe soil as a living ecosystem, that’s exactly what it is. There are millions of species of microbes, bacteria, and fungi, that are present in healthy soil. These organisms create a shifting, living, environment that works with your plants to grow heathier produce and richer soil. There are many ways to support and rejuvenate the biology in your soil, even allowing you to turn dirt back into high quality soil. Adding compost is the gold-standard, since it not only returns biology, but it provides rich nutrients and organic material to improve overall soil quality. Purple Cow Activated Compost not only adds in diverse biology and organic matter, but is also inoculated with a rock and sea mineral complex, amending your soil with a complete spectrum of essential micronutrients and trace minerals. You can also try a liquid biological, such as our Purple Cow CX-1, to add broad-spectrum biology in an easy-to-use liquid concentrate.