Soil - An Essential Natural Resource By Shirley McNeal

Soil is one of the most important and essential natural resources. Farmers and gardeners know this fact and go to great efforts to conserve it. They understand that when the soil is destroyed, then gardens will not be successful and good crops cannot grow. They also know that it takes a considerable amount of time for soil to form. Here we will look at elements that must come together in order to form soil.

Soil is defined as a covering over most of the earth's land surface. It is made of particles of rock and minerals, living things and the remains of living things. It takes thousands of years for soil to form just a few inches and for some parts of the country it has been less than that.

Soil is formed in two general ways:

· When weather conditions cause rock to break down.
· When soil is carried from one place to another.

How is soil made?

Air
Moving air, such as the wind blows sand against rock to wear it down.

Water
The force of running water can wear away rock. Rain and snow also help to break down rock into smaller particles.

Plants
Plants help the soil as they grow and when they die. As dead plants decay, it adds an organic material to the soil, which makes it more fertile.

Animals
The body waste of many animals helps to keep the soil fertile, as well as the remains of dead animals as they decay.

Now that you've had a lesson on the importance of soil as a natural resource and how it forms, you are now a more knowledgeable gardener. Use your knowledge to continually improve your gardening skills the next time you dig in the dirt to plant your flower or vegetable garden. Use your knowledge to develop an even greater appreciation for a natural resource that man cannot make, but has a responsibility to conserve and preserve for generations to come.

Article brought to you by Shirley McNeal, retired social services administrator and owner of My Southern Home Place...The Bargain Store for Wholesale Gifts, Collectibles & Décor located at: http://www.mysouthernhomeplace.com We celebrate families, children, health and home and our business reflects these core values. We have a passion for bringing you and your family products you will enjoy using and sharing with your friends. We invite you to visit our bargain store anytime.

Teaching Your Children About Environmental Consciousness By Victoria Cochrane

With the increasing urgency of environmental issues - from climate change and energy shortages to waste disposal and water conservation - the more you can educate today's younger generations, the better. After all, as today's youngsters mature into adulthood, they will continue to face many of the environmental problems being dealt with today. What's more, the rate at which the world is developing means the young people of today might have to deal with such issues on a more serious level in future years.

But raising consciousness about environmental issues isn't just about a lesson plan or two. Instead, it's about implementing a way of thinking in a youngster's life. So how can you go about teaching your children to live each day of their lives with a consciousness about the environment? There are countless ways - and many resources to help you do it.

To begin, there are a number of ways to implement environmental consciousness in the home - from energy and water conservation to recycling. Urge your child to turn off the television or the lights when they leave a room, and to be water-conscious during showers and while brushing their teeth. It's also important to teach them how to separate recyclables - a lesson that can be particularly fun if you explain what happens to all those bottles and cans once they arrive at a recycling plant.

Another great way to instill environmental consciousness in your kids is to start a compost pile in your backyard. Once again, you'll have to teach them what they can and cannot place into a compost pile and why - which can be incredibly interesting and thought-provoking for children.

However, environmental consciousness in the home is only part of it. After all, kids spend much of their time in school, where they're exposed to many opportunities to practice eco-friendly habits. Aside from some of the same environmental practices in the home - such as recycling, energy conservation and a compost pile - an interesting lesson plan could be introduced by teachers in their classrooms. From computer programmes and websites dedicated to environmental consciousness to games and lessons held outdoors, the opportunities are endless when it comes to teaching kids about being environmentally responsible in school.

Many schools also take the initiative to invite representatives from recycling plants to talk to school children; helping students further understand the recycling processes and their effects on other environmental issues - like climate change. So, if you're teacher or a parent with a child in school, it may be an idea to start teaching them about the environmental issues faced with today, and about their role regarding the environment; now and in the future.

Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.