Let's Get to the Nitty Gritty About Soil VS Dirt!

I find I often gently correct people when they say to me, 'we just need dirt' or 'This dirt should be okay to plant in.' I even overheard a recent TV ad with doyenne Martha Stewart promoting a soil product, and she said, 'Dirt!' I was like, 'Oh no, Martha!' I'm not too sure if they would appreciate a message from this soil-to-soul mama about it, but still, I can't help myself!

So first---what's the difference? Secondly---does it even matter? Actually, the two are deeply connected.

Soil is alive. It’s a rich, dynamic blend of nutrients, minerals, air, water, organic matter, fungi, and microorganisms. It’s a living ecosystem—a cradle for life that grows more life. It nourishes plants, sustains animals, and ultimately feeds us. So yes, it matters deeply. Dirt, on the other hand, is what’s left when soil loses that vitality. It’s sand, silt, and clay—void of the living ingredients needed to support growth.

Soil becomes dirt through farming practices that strip it of life—over-tilling, chemical-heavy treatments, and poor land management. When the structure breaks down and the life within it dies, it can't breathe. It can’t hold water. And it can’t feed us. Topsoil is the lifeblood of our food system. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, 90% of Earth’s topsoil is at risk of degradation by 2050. The U.S. and other nations are facing a sobering reality—we may have only about 60 harvests left. In the Midwest alone, nearly 58 billion tons of soil have been lost in just 150 years due to tillage and disconnection from the Earth’s rhythms.

It’s daunting, I know—but in my quirky way of seeing the world, I truly believe we were never meant to mass-produce our food. We were never meant to treat the Earth as a commodity. Somewhere along the way, we spun away from the land—into cities, into suburbs—and handed over the sacred responsibility of growing our food to industries. What was once an intimate act of nourishment became a multibillion-dollar business. And with that came the rise of chronic illnesses, environmental damage from pesticides, and large-scale food recalls. We’ve distanced ourselves from the source, and we wonder why our bodies, and our communities are struggling. What we put into our bodies matters deeply. And then there’s the concept of food deserts—places where access to fresh, healthy food is scarce. I honestly go, huh? Has no one heard of community gardens?

So, where do we go from here? How do we shift—not just being better stewards of the Earth, but more mindful nurturers of ourselves, our families, our communities, and this planet, our home.

We are at a crossroads, a serious one, and truthfully, the seeds we plant now— or fail to plant—will shape the path for generations to come. This is more than soil. It is essential work. It is soul work.

In some upcoming Soil to Soul blogs, we'll explore the possibilites right outside your back door—from growing well-being through small garden spaces, to the magic of composting, to thriving community gardens (including one near Austin, Texas, that is dear to my heart).

Remember, friends—Soil to Soul is not just about gardening. It's about a way of living. A life rooted in connection, nurtured by nature, and sustained by intention. When we nourish the soil, we nourish ourselves.

with love, Christina