You are what you eat, but have you ever thought that what you eat is also what it eats? Soil is one of the most, if not the most, important resources on the planet. In order to grow healthy food, you must start with healthy soil.

All good soil has 3 components: Structure, Water Retention, and Nutrients

Structure: good soil structure makes it easy for the roots of plants to move through. If the soil is too hard, the roots can't grow. (Never step on your garden bed because it compacts the soil.)
 
 

Structure Test: squeeze together a lump of soil in your hand, then open your hand. If the soil falls totally apart, its too sandy, if it stays totally together, it has too much clay, if it breaks apart in clumps its just right!

Water retention and drainage: good soil should neither be too wet nor too dry. If the soil is too wet, (after ample time to dry from a rain or watering) you may need more drainage. If the soil dries out very quickly after rain or a watering, you can help the water retention by adding more organic matter, like compost.

Water Retention Test: stick your finger into the soil a couple inches deep- it should be just slightly damp there.

Nutrients: good soil contains lots of nutrients that will feed your plant and in turn feed you! A plant gets 95% of the nutrients it needs to grow from the sun and from water. The other 5% (which is necessary), comes from organic matter. Nutrients in soil can be replenished by adding compost, the best organic matter.

Nutrient Tests: tests called "soil tests" can usually be purchased from gardening stores and local agricultural extension agents.