Earth’s Pharmacy: The Science and of Healthy Soil & Healthy People
When we walk through the Kona Cloud Forest, it’s easy to notice the towering trees, vibrant orchids, and the cool mist that softens the air.
But beneath our feet lies the true foundation of this thriving ecosystem: the soil. Often overlooked, soil is not just dirt — it’s a living network that nourishes plants, animals, and even us. Understanding soil health helps us see why caring for the ground beneath us is also caring for our own wellbeing.
What is Nutrient-Rich Soil?
Healthy soil is more than broken-down rock and organic matter — it’s a balanced mix of minerals, decayed plants, air pockets, and water that together create a foundation for life. Kona’s volcanic soils are especially rich, infused with essential minerals like magnesium, calcium, and iron that feed both plants and people.
Just as our bodies require a diverse diet, soil needs a variety of nutrients to remain fertile and resilient. When soil is balanced, plants grow stronger, ecosystems flourish, and food is more nutrient-dense.
The Hidden World of Microbes in Soil
A single teaspoon of healthy soil contains more microorganisms than there are people on Earth! These include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes, each playing a unique role in keeping soil — and by extension, life — thriving.
Beneficial bacteria break down organic matter into nutrients plants can absorb. Fungi form underground networks (mycorrhizae) that connect tree roots, allowing forests to share resources and communicate. This invisible web mirrors the microbiome in our gut, reminding us that health depends on unseen allies working in harmony.
(Photo credit: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-023-01932-3)
How Soil Health Affects the Planet
Soil doesn’t just grow food — it regulates water, stores carbon, and supports biodiversity. When soils degrade through overuse or pollution: plants weaken, food loses nutrition, and ecosystems collapse. The health of soil is directly tied to our own: mineral-rich soils lead to mineral-rich foods, diverse microbes strengthen our immune systems, and balanced ecosystems nurture mental and emotional wellbeing.
Modern research shows just how deep the soil–human connection runs. Globally, scientists estimate that soils store about three times more carbon than the atmosphere, making them essential allies in slowing climate change. Meanwhile, studies have found that over the past 50 years, nutrient levels in fruits and vegetables have declined by up to 40%, largely due to soil depletion from industrial agriculture.
By contrast, food grown in mineral-rich, biologically active soils carries more vitamins, antioxidants, and flavor — literally nourishing us from the ground up. Soil care, then, is not just about farming or conservation; it is about ensuring the resilience of human health, communities, and future generations.
✨ At Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary, soil is not just the earth we step on — it is a silent healer, teacher, and source of connection. To honor and care for soil is to honor life itself, remembering that what supports the roots of the forest also supports the roots of our own health. We are reminded that caring for soil is an act of reciprocity. By protecting the ground beneath us, we protect the very foundation of our own vitality.