One of the most valuable resources in the world!

This resource is something we do not think about very often when we think about our daily lives but as my colleague's and I have been teaching four graders for the past 7 years it is one of the most important resources. What resource can clean our water, give use food and shelter and provide for many of the things we need to survive? I maybe a little biased in this because my degree is in the conservation of this resource but dirt, we use the term "soil", is that resource. Yes, my degree is in the dirt and dirt management.
Soil is the one resource that can filter water and is a necessity to plants in the natural world. More specifically topsoil. Yes, of course, man can grow plants without soil and filter water clean but can we do it as well as mother nature does it with soil. Not on the scale that she handles everyday.
One day a year we teach four graders the importance of soil, we ask them to categorize items that are in their homes or use everyday. We ask them to put the items into four categories plant, animal, soil and other. Of course, they like to put them into every category but soil. At the end, we tell them that the items in the plant and animal categories should be in the soil. This makes them really think and they do not agree at first but after using where does milk come from, a cow of course, and what does a cow eat, hay of course, and where does the grass grow, soil of course. They catch on really quickly. These items are not all food items. Maybe they are clothes or furniture. Try this; take any item and figure out what makes up that item. Take plastic for instance. Man made yes, but soybeans are used to make plastics. It is very hard to find an item that does not have some ingredient in the process that does not need soil.
So next time you have a chance take some time and think about were your food or household items comes from and don't forget that soil is probably one of the main ingredients that goes into the equation of producing that product. This is not always true but I bet you will be surprised how many fit into that soil category.
Soil is a valuable resource and as far a I am concerned it is as valuable as water for the benefit of the environment and us who live in it. Soil is not a renewable resource. We only have so much and just like our fossil fuels there could be a day when it is not usable due to lack of conservation to ensure it usable for future generations.

Did you know?

1. It takes 1000 years to make one inch of topsoil.
2. Only 1/32 of the land can be used for the production of food and fiber.
3. "Sediment", or it could be termed the "bad soil",from soil erosion is the leading source of pollution in our stream and rivers and the nutrients and other contaminants that can be attached to the soil particles are a leading source of pollution to our lakes.