“Constant pleasure isn’t pleasurable.” –Baal Shem Tov
Have you ever heard of topsoil? The literal definition is the uppermost portion of soil in a garden, yard, or field. Okay, simple enough. But to climate scientists, topsoil is revered as the most valuable substance on Earth—a manifestation of pure magic. From nourishing our foods to sustaining our plant life to storing massive amounts of carbon, the 2-8 inches of soil below your feet is teeming with diverse microbial life that is responsible for nurturing all life on Earth. Jane Zelikova, a climate change scientist, gave an entire TedTalk aptly called “The Hidden Wonders of Soil” and described the soil as “the literal foundation of life on this planet.”
And it’s composed almost entirely of decaying organic matter.