When I was young, we frequently heard the phrase: 

That was definitely true, back in the day.
Today, in 2023, I wonder how much dirt we do consume and what are the benefits?

When I was young, and I walked to school uphill both ways, we ate a lot of fruit and vegetables fresh from the garden, while we were still in the garden! 

And, back then, the soil was rich with minerals and other beneficial components. 

Today, much of the land that grows our food has been depleted of a lot of the nutrients and is enriched with three: 
Nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus. 

In my gardens, I grow plants as naturally as I can, given that I am surrounded by farm land and whatever additives the farmers  use. 

My greenhouse / Hoophouse has soil to which I’ve only added compost, straw, worm castings, and dried leaves.

Each year, the soil will (hopefully) get richer and richer, healthier and healthier, and more complex with minerals drawn up from deep in the ground through plant roots and through the natural water from my well. 

Today, after dumping the snow off the roof of the Hoophouse, I stopped for a snack - a carrot, pulled from the ground, brushed off, and eaten just seconds after I had harvested it. … along with the specks of dirt that clung to the root vegetable.

Can’t get better than that.
- Debbie

Have you eaten some dirt today?