Soils are always forming, and so are we

Sandy soil streaked with lamellae (thin bands of clay) in Dekalb, IL. Photo by author.

Soil is one of my most important teachers. Studying soils through a scientific lens has opened my eyes to the diversity of soil forms and the complexity of their functions. Beyond that, soil has also taught me more about my place in the world.

Soils are the living breathing skin of the Earth. They are complex, natural systems that exist in stunning variation across a landscape. Soils vary in…