How can we build a soil that will feed our plants? The goal in building soil is to create soil that is nutrient rich and is biologically active. We have learned, through the actions of Big Ag, that adding quick acting chemical fertilizers actually decreases the health of plants and the nutrient value of our foods (in addition to damaging aquatic life, birds and beneficial insect populations.) In gardening, less is actually more. If we add what plants need into the soil and make sure our soil is chock-full of a healthy microorganisms, then we actually will gain more.