- A soil that contains too much or too little organic matter cannot support plant life, and too much clay will not allow water to pass through to recharge groundwater.
- We may use "soil-less" mixtures of sand, peat and vermiculite for our flower pots in the summer, but it's just dirt--without fertilizer and water, the potted plants will die.
- The soil in our garden, provided it has been maintained, is a living organism that will nourish plants and retain water without any human intervention.