The Kid's Re-generation Detective
What is soil?
Soil is made of ground-up rock, decaying plant and animal matter, air, and water. There is one other major soil component. Can you guess what it is?

Here's a hint: Is the soil alive or dead?

If you said dead, you are dead wrong! The soil is alive with microorganisms. But it doesn't move! you say. Well, no-not as far as your eye can see. Don't get worried--most people don't realize that the soil is alive. A look under a very strong magnifying glass will show at once that there is a lot of movement in soil. You will learn all about the billions-yes billions!-of living things that call the soil home in Step 2.

The best way to get to know soil is to grow plants or food yourself. What are you waiting for? Put your detective hat on and get your hands in the soil!

It's really easy to plant seeds and grow food. You don't need a big back yard or even any yard at all. All you need is a container filled with soil!

Begin exploring NOW!
For great tips to get started with gardening, visit Kid's Valley Garden


Part of your job is to share your knowledge with your friends and classmates. You could tell them about the connection between healthy soil and healthy food, or better yet, you can actually show them. Try this fun and easy experiment.


Sometimes people join together to grow plants-flowers, veggies, whatever!-in one large community garden. When you join a community garden, you can grow your own food, make friends, AND have fun! Community gardens not only beautify the way your neighborhood looks, they beautify the way your community feels. Brighten up the day of a sick or elderly person in your community by donating the flowers you grow to local nursing homes and hospitals. Provide food for the hungry near you by donating the food you grow to local food shelters. See how healthy soil and healthy food make happy and healthy people!

Check out these sites on how to start a community garden: The Food Project and How to start a community garden in philadelphia

Click here for a short listing of seed suppliers

Submit Your Story
Have you learned something about how healthy soil makes healthy food? Did you start a garden or try the celery experiment? Tell us about it! Share your ideas. Or, if you have questions, ask them! Click on these words: Submit Your Story.