Soils of the earth are the basis for the production of most foods. As an elementary prerequisite, they are also the basis of our civilization. Furthermore they are an example of the fact that we are often not recognizing the importance of ecosystems we depend on and accordingly do not treat as carefully and respectfully as they deserve.

The soil that covers our earth like askin is a mixture of crumbled rock, organic material, air and water.

The soil is a species-rich, fascinating biotope on which our survival depends. Soils transform dead organic matter back into minerals, which serve as nutrient for plants, and thus return tot he cycle of nature.

Soils are the basis for the growth of plants, which provide us with food, but also wood, paper, medicines, and enable all animal life on earth.

The formation of soils is a lengthy process. It is estimated that in fertile regions the formation oft wo and a half centimeters of soil takes 500 years.

In nature we find a closed nutrient cycle: dead plant matter is decomposed and converted into nutrients, which are taken up again by plants for the build-up of organic material. In any natural garden such a closed nutrient cycle can be put into practice: all plant residues that accumulate during the year can be composted and added back tot he soil and plants as a fertilizer. In a compost heap similar tranformation processes take place as in the red layer of a soil.

In compost, new soil is created through the participation of soil biota and microorganism.