General Resources
Ohio State Soil Booklet
Soil Science Society of America | The Ohio state soil is the Miamian soil series—brown, loamy soil formed in glacial deposits associated with deciduous forests. This booklet explores the history of Ohio soils, Miamian soil’s ecoregions, and how to care for it.
Principles for High Functioning Soils
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) | Perfect for beginners, this short kit defines ‘soil health’ and shares what functioning, healthy soils are capable of. It also touches on some of the common practices used in soil health management systems.
Conservation Agriculture Webinars
Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) | In this series of on-demand webinars, researcher Mark Schonbeck discusses a range of soil health topics through the lens of organic agriculture. The webinar recordings are free to access, courtesy of the USDA.
Soil Health Fact Sheets
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) | This series of fact sheets explains the benefits of healthy soil, touches on the four key principles of soil health, and provides tips to improve a farm’s or garden’s soil.
Help Spread the Word
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Help Spread the Word -
Soil Health Educators Guide
USDA | This guide has resources, activities, and videos to help teachers implement their soils curriculum. Many of the guides double as lesson plans with questions to help students apply what they have learned.
Resources for Educators
Frontiers for Young Minds: Soil Biodiversity Collection
Frontiers | This series of research articles is designed for—and reviewed by—middle and high school students. Readers will learn about soil organisms and microorganisms, nutrient cycles, and the importance of soil for a healthy planet.
Frontiers for Young Minds: Soil Biodiversity Collection
Soils 4 Teachers | This immense resource includes lessons on a range of soil topics—soil biology, soil conservation, soils and art/culture, and more. Teachers can filter the resources by grade level, resource type, discipline, and core ideas.
State of Knowledge on Soil Biodiversity: Interactive Story
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | In honor of World Soil Day 2020, the FAO launched a children’s book contest to highlight the importance of soil organisms for children aged 6-11. In addition to the interactive story linked above, a collection of 10 stories from around the world can be accessed here.
