There is a widely held misconception that soil is simply an inert space-filler intended to hold roots in place without much other benefit to plant and soil health. However, our soils bear a much more important role in our lives than just being a gritty substance that our kids and dogs track onto our kitchen floors. If you were to step outside and scoop up a handful of soil, you would be holding a world of more than one billion living organisms in the palm of your hand. Many of us take soil for granted, we abuse it with harsh chemicals, heavy compaction, and over tillage. When we neglect the health of our soil, we are damaging the complex and delicate universe living under our feet. Overtime, this misuse leads to soil that is unable to hold water, incapable of growing nutritious crops, and void of beneficial organisms.

If you are not a farmer, you may be asking yourself how soil health affects you personally. Did you know that produce grown in unhealthy soil is lower in vital nutrients than produce grown in soil with a thriving microbial ecosystem? Over the years, much research has been done to suggest over-tillage and overuse of synthetic fertilizer can have a negative impact on the nutrient value of produce because of the damage done to the soil.

The good news is that it's never too late to become better stewards of the soil. In some cases, we can even undo some of the damage done to the soil by nurturing the soil ecosystem. Composting is a popular soil saving trick that is common with many gardeners. Adding compost to your soil is not only a way to promote microbial life but also increases the soil’s ability to retain water. When choosing products to aid in the growing season, it is crucial that the products you add to your plants and soil are designed with soil health in mind. Many of the products that saturate the gardening market are made to quickly increase plant growth rather than plant and soil health. GardenGro by KozGro Organics is specifically formulated to boost the soil's natural fertility by creating an environment that allows the soil microbes to flourish while repairing previous damage. GardenGro not only helps to repair the soil, but also supports healthy plant functions, helps to reduce the effect of stress, and improves yields.

KozGro Organics’ line of products work well for Idaho soil because they were created for Idaho soil by an Idaho farmer in 1956. When you use a KozGro Organics product you can rest assured that you are contributing to the overall quality of the soil, improving the nutrition of your vegetables, and therefore, bettering the health of your family.

Article by Kaitlyn Butler