Beneath every step is a living system that keeps the planet alive. Just one handful of soil contains billions of microorganisms that recycle nutrients, store water, and support life above and below the ground. These tiny communities are the foundation of every forest, farm, and ecosystem on Earth.
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We might say that Earth has the spirit of growth; that its flesh is the soil.“
But human activity is quickly damaging that foundation. Industrial farming, deforestation, poor land management, synthetic fertilizers, and climate change cause the loss of more than 24 billion tons of soil each year — much faster than nature can rebuild it. It can take up to 500 years to form a single inch of topsoil, so these losses are almost impossible to recover. As erosion strips the land of nutrients, crops produce less, food security suffers, and ecosystems become more vulnerable.
The damage spreads far beyond the soil — from polluted waterways and ocean dead zones to shrinking farmland and health threats like Valley Fever in the American Southwest. Dry degraded soil can harbor harmful fungi that disproportionately affect Latino and Indigenous farmworker communities near degraded land. Over efforts to control nature have harmed the very systems that sustain us.
The good news is that regeneration is possible. Around the world, farmers, scientists, and students are restoring soil with regenerative and nature-based practices. Techniques like crop rotation, cover crops, composting, and planting perennials rebuild organic matter, retain water, and naturally fertilize the land. Healthy soil stores carbon, supports biodiversity, and keeps water in the landscape — showing that working with nature, and not against it, is the key to a healthy planet.
This movement is growing. Kiss the Ground teaches and inspires people worldwide to join the regenerative agriculture movement. Re:wild Your Campus empowers students to transform school grounds into native ecosystems that restore biodiversity and protect soil health. Everyone creates sustainable, plant-based body care products using regenerative, organic, and ethically sourced ingredients, working with farmers who care for soil, water, and local communities.
You don’t have to be a farmer to help heal the soil — every choice matters. What you eat, how you manage waste, and the brands you support all make a difference. Choose local and regenerative foods; compost food scraps to return nutrients to the Earth; support farmers and businesses that care for the planet, and share their stories to inspire others.
Protecting soil means protecting our future. By choosing regeneration in how we eat, grow, and live, we can restore balance to the planet from the ground up.
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Soil is alive — it holds the memory of the Earth. Every handful shows growth, decay, and renewal. Most of the time we walk over it without thinking about our connection to it. Let’s change that today.
Regenerative gardens help heal soil, support wildlife and nourish people and the planet. Every seed planted and every handful of compost rebuilds life underground and captures carbon above it. Gardening is a way to restore — proof that regeneration can start anywhere, even right outside your door.
Using synthetic pesticides can significantly harm soil health. One of the primary concerns is the disruption of soil microbial communities. These chemicals can kill or inhibit beneficial microbes like bacteria and fungi that keep soil fertile and support plant growth.
Our partner Kiss the Ground created the documentary Common Ground, which shows how industrial farming harms the planet and how regenerative farming can heal it. The film illustrates how restoring soil health can balance ecosystems, replenish water, and help feed the world.
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