
 BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast
 BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast Caring for our soil, with Juliet Sargeant
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 Oct 8, 2025  Join award-winning garden designer Juliet Sargeant, author of *Start With Soil*, as she uncovers the secrets beneath our feet. Discover why healthy soil is crucial for life and learn about the fascinating biodiversity that exists within it. Juliet shares insights from her eye-opening trip to Tanzania, tackles the complexities of soil microbes, and provides practical tips on assessing your soil. With a focus on sustainable gardening practices, she emphasizes the importance of loving and understanding local soil to create thriving gardens. 
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Soil Is The Foundation Of Life
- Soil is the foundation of terrestrial life and the source of plant nutrients that feed animals and humans.
- Juliet Sargeant stresses that everything eaten ultimately starts with healthy soil.
Tanzania Visit That Changed Her View
- Juliet visited family farming the same land in Tanzania and found soil with virtually no organic matter or nutrients.
- That experience shifted her view from hobby gardening to recognizing global soil degradation.
A Complex Living Web Beneath Our Feet
- Soil hosts a complex web of organisms from visible worms to microscopic microbes working together.
- These interconnected life forms determine soil health and plant performance.


