This episode of SciShow Kids is made in  partnership with our friends at Soil Cycle.
This episode of SciShow Kids is made in  partnership with our friends at Soil Cycle.

[♪ INTRO]
[♪ INTRO]

Hi, everyone! I was just working  in The Fort’s greenhouse.
Hi, everyone! I was just working  in The Fort’s greenhouse.

And Squeaks—I have some good news! The  plants are doing really well! Pretty soon,  
And Squeaks—I have some good news! The  plants are doing really well! Pretty soon,  

we should be able to make a yummy salad  out of the vegetables we’re growing.
we should be able to make a yummy salad  out of the vegetables we’re growing.

Gardening can be a bit dirty, but it’s worth it!
Gardening can be a bit dirty, but it’s worth it!

As I was cleaning up, I started thinking that maybe we should take
As I was cleaning up, I started thinking that maybe we should take

a closer look at the dirt our plants grow in.
a closer look at the dirt our plants grow in.

What we often think of as “just dirt” — especially  when we have to clean up — is really interesting.
What we often think of as “just dirt” — especially  when we have to clean up — is really interesting.

Scientists would actually call  the dirt in our gardens “soil”,  
Scientists would actually call  the dirt in our gardens “soil”,  

and it’s home to an incredible  number of living things.
and it’s home to an incredible  number of living things.

[Squeaks is doubtful]
[Squeaks is doubtful]

Ah that's right, Squeaks.
Ah that's right, Squeaks.

We can see a few animals like earthworms when we’re digging in the garden.
We can see a few animals like earthworms when we’re digging in the garden.

And they’re super important.
And they’re super important.

They help the plants in our garden  to get the air and food they need to grow.
They help the plants in our garden  to get the air and food they need to grow.

But there are other living things in the  soil that we can’t see with our eyes.  
But there are other living things in the  soil that we can’t see with our eyes.  

We need tools — like this microscope  — to see them. Let’s give it a try!
We need tools — like this microscope  — to see them. Let’s give it a try!

>>Grady: Howdy up there! I had  a feeling I was being watched…
>>Grady: Howdy up there! I had  a feeling I was being watched…

>Jessi: Oh, hi! Sorry, we didn’t mean to  startle you! I’m Jessi, and this is Squeaks.  
>Jessi: Oh, hi! Sorry, we didn’t mean to  startle you! I’m Jessi, and this is Squeaks.  

We’re hoping to learn more about  the kinds of living things in soil.
We’re hoping to learn more about  the kinds of living things in soil.

>>Grady: Well, you sure have come to the  right place! Name’s Grady, glad to meetcha!
>>Grady: Well, you sure have come to the  right place! Name’s Grady, glad to meetcha!

I’m what’s called a tardigrade. Some people like  to call my family and I “water bears” or “moss  
I’m what’s called a tardigrade. Some people like  to call my family and I “water bears” or “moss  

piglets”, but we’re our own little group  of living things — emphasis on the little.
piglets”, but we’re our own little group  of living things — emphasis on the little.

Most of us are only half of a  millimeter long — about the size  
Most of us are only half of a  millimeter long — about the size  

of a period at the end of a sentence!  So we tend to get overlooked a lot.
of a period at the end of a sentence!  So we tend to get overlooked a lot.

>Jessi: Well, I’m so glad we  didn’t overlook you! Would  
>Jessi: Well, I’m so glad we  didn’t overlook you! Would  

you mind telling us a little  bit about your neighborhood?
you mind telling us a little  bit about your neighborhood?

>>Grady: It would be my pleasure!
>>Grady: It would be my pleasure!

The soil I live in is a  mixture of things like water,  
The soil I live in is a  mixture of things like water,  

small pieces of rock, and air. It also  has a lot of what we call organic matter.
small pieces of rock, and air. It also  has a lot of what we call organic matter.

That’s our fancy term for things that  either were alive — like the remains  
That’s our fancy term for things that  either were alive — like the remains  

of dead plants and animals… or are alive, like me!
of dead plants and animals… or are alive, like me!

I’m one of billions of critters that can  be found in a single spoonful of soil.
I’m one of billions of critters that can  be found in a single spoonful of soil.

>Jessi: Wow! That’s a lot of living  things in such a small space.  
>Jessi: Wow! That’s a lot of living  things in such a small space.  

There are about seven billion people…  but they’re living on the entire planet!
There are about seven billion people…  but they’re living on the entire planet!

>>: And not only are there  a lot of us in the soil.  
>>: And not only are there  a lot of us in the soil.  

There’s also a lot of different  kinds of living things!
There’s also a lot of different  kinds of living things!

We call the different living things  in an area it’s biodiversity.
We call the different living things  in an area it’s biodiversity.

The “bio” part of the word means “living”, and  the word “diversity” means “different things”.
The “bio” part of the word means “living”, and  the word “diversity” means “different things”.

And soil has a whole heap of biodiversity!  There are more different kinds of living  
And soil has a whole heap of biodiversity!  There are more different kinds of living  

things beneath your feet in the soil  than there are above the ground.
things beneath your feet in the soil  than there are above the ground.

>: That’s amazing!
>: That’s amazing!

>>: What’s even more amazing  is how the living things  
>>: What’s even more amazing  is how the living things  

in the soil and life above the soil are connected!
in the soil and life above the soil are connected!

Take the plants in your garden, for example.
Take the plants in your garden, for example.

They’re stuck into the ground by  
They’re stuck into the ground by  

roots. And those roots also help them  slurp up things they need, like water.
roots. And those roots also help them  slurp up things they need, like water.

But they also release stuff  into the soil — like sugar.
But they also release stuff  into the soil — like sugar.

Microscopic living things — called  bacteria — can use this sugar to grow.  
Microscopic living things — called  bacteria — can use this sugar to grow.  

And in return, some kinds of bacteria  release things that the plants need!
And in return, some kinds of bacteria  release things that the plants need!

>: Well that’s a win/win!
>: Well that’s a win/win!

>>: And that’s only one example!  
>>: And that’s only one example!  

Other living things called fungi  also work together with plant roots.
Other living things called fungi  also work together with plant roots.

>: Fungi is the science word  for the group of living things  
>: Fungi is the science word  for the group of living things  

that includes mushrooms. It’s kind of  like how we talk about plants or animals.
that includes mushrooms. It’s kind of  like how we talk about plants or animals.

There are actually millions  of different kinds of fungi,  
There are actually millions  of different kinds of fungi,  

including the ones we see growing out of rotten  logs when we hike, and the tasty mushrooms we  
including the ones we see growing out of rotten  logs when we hike, and the tasty mushrooms we  

like to eat! Just talking about fungi  makes me hungry for some yummy mushroom soup.
like to eat! Just talking about fungi  makes me hungry for some yummy mushroom soup.

>>: Exactly! Though, these fungi  I’m talking about in the soil  
>>: Exactly! Though, these fungi  I’m talking about in the soil  

don’t look like the ones you put on your plate.
don’t look like the ones you put on your plate.

They grow in super-thin strands that  extend outwards from a plant’s roots.  
They grow in super-thin strands that  extend outwards from a plant’s roots.  

In fact, they kind of act like extra roots  that help the plant pull things from the soil!
In fact, they kind of act like extra roots  that help the plant pull things from the soil!

[Squeaks squeaks]
[Squeaks squeaks]

>>: It is kinda nice of them, isn’t it? Course,  they benefit, too. In return for helping out,  
>>: It is kinda nice of them, isn’t it? Course,  they benefit, too. In return for helping out,  

the plant gives the fungi some of the  food it makes and other useful things.
the plant gives the fungi some of the  food it makes and other useful things.

It’s a sweet li’l partnership!
It’s a sweet li’l partnership!

Though, not all soil fungi and  bacteria hitch themselves to roots.
Though, not all soil fungi and  bacteria hitch themselves to roots.

Some get energy by breaking down the dead  plants and animals I mentioned earlier.  
Some get energy by breaking down the dead  plants and animals I mentioned earlier.  

They’re what we call decomposers.
They’re what we call decomposers.

You can think of decomposers as the soil  
You can think of decomposers as the soil  

version of the workers that pick up  the recycling in your neighborhood.  
version of the workers that pick up  the recycling in your neighborhood.  

Think about what would happen if no one was  there to pick up recycling—it would pile up!
Think about what would happen if no one was  there to pick up recycling—it would pile up!

And so would dead plants and animals  if decomposers weren’t around!
And so would dead plants and animals  if decomposers weren’t around!

[Squeaks squeaks]
[Squeaks squeaks]

>: I agree, Squeaks! That would be  terrible! Decomposers sound super important.
>: I agree, Squeaks! That would be  terrible! Decomposers sound super important.

>>: They sure are! They also matter because  lots of soil-dwelling animals eat them.
>>: They sure are! They also matter because  lots of soil-dwelling animals eat them.

So in addition to cleaning up our  neighborhood, the decomposers that  
So in addition to cleaning up our  neighborhood, the decomposers that  

live in soil are an important source of food  for critters like worms and tardigrades like me!
live in soil are an important source of food  for critters like worms and tardigrades like me!

Then, after we eat them, the waste  we produce acts as a fertilizer,  
Then, after we eat them, the waste  we produce acts as a fertilizer,  

helping plants above the soil stay healthy.
helping plants above the soil stay healthy.

>: Wow, I didn’t know that our garden owes so much  
>: Wow, I didn’t know that our garden owes so much  

to all of the tiny things that  live in the soil! Thanks, Grady!
to all of the tiny things that  live in the soil! Thanks, Grady!

>>: Don’t mention it! Now, if you’ll excuse me,  
>>: Don’t mention it! Now, if you’ll excuse me,  

it’s supper time. And I had my eye on some  tasty fungi… So y’all have a nice evening!
it’s supper time. And I had my eye on some  tasty fungi… So y’all have a nice evening!

>: Thanks! You too - bye!
>: Thanks! You too - bye!

Squeaks, how about we go ahead and put our soil back in the greenhouse?  
Squeaks, how about we go ahead and put our soil back in the greenhouse?  

And then, we can go have our dinner, too.
And then, we can go have our dinner, too.

[Squeaks agrees]
[Squeaks agrees]

Thanks for joining us at The Fort!  These episodes about soil are brought  
Thanks for joining us at The Fort!  These episodes about soil are brought  

to you by our friends at Soil Cycle: a  composting organization based in Missoula,  
to you by our friends at Soil Cycle: a  composting organization based in Missoula,  

Montana. They take part of the food you  don’t want to eat anymore and turn it  
Montana. They take part of the food you  don’t want to eat anymore and turn it  

into great soil that helps plants grow big  and strong — they’re really soil experts!
into great soil that helps plants grow big  and strong — they’re really soil experts!

If you want to learn more about soil,  
If you want to learn more about soil,  

you can hit the subscribe button — we’ve  got more soil adventures coming soon. Bye!
you can hit the subscribe button — we’ve  got more soil adventures coming soon. Bye!

[♪ OUTRO]
[♪ OUTRO]