One of the most important things a gardener can do is to build up the soil in her garden. But keep in mind that soil-building is not a one-time operation – it’s a process. As humus is devoured by microorganisms, worms, and plants, more organic material must constantly be added in order to keep the soil biomass, and thereby the plants, well-fed and happy. Also, humus makes the soil porous and fluffy, builds a strong soil structure, and releases nutrients in a form that’s easily absorbed by plant roots. Chemical fertilizers will not add humus to the soil. These are merely nutritional supplements; plants and their soil need real food – organic material. This book shows you all sorts of ways to get organic material into the soil to improve soil health and soil fertility, which in turn improves plant health—for better gardens, higher yields, and more gorgeous flowers. SOIL BUILDING Saving the world, one dirt clod at a time Earthworms = earth movers Green manures Compost My soil is evil! GET TO KNOW YOUR SOIL TAKING SOIL SAMPLES THE SOIL FOOD WEB EARTHWORMS: THE SUPER SOIL SAVERS How to Protect Earthworms A Field Guide to Earthworms Epigeic Earthworms Endogeic Earthworms Anecic Earthworms ORGANIC MATTER AND HUMUS Mother Nature Shows Us How To Make Great Soil Don’t Let Leaves Go To Waste! MULCH THE WORLD! Fix Out-Of-Control Weeds With Newspaper Mulch COMPOST – BLACK GOLD Composting: Learn the Basics The Ultimate in Recycling: Extreme Composting! Sixty Weird Things You Can Compost! ORGANIC SOIL AMENDMENTS GREEN MANURES AND COVER CROPS Cover crops and their benefits Green manures and their benefits Places to plant them Plants to use for green manures and cover crops ALFALFA: A GARDENER’S SECRET INGREDIENT THE CASE AGAINST CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS NO-TILL GARDENING FIXING LOUSY SOIL Fixing Subdivision Soil Aerarate, Add Good Things to Improve Your Soil HOW TO MAKE A NEW GARDEN BED And, how to improve a very sad garden soil Raised garden beds to help the soil (and your back)