>> I will need to tell my soil how much I appreciate
Amen!
In the other hand, where's the challenge in soils you can ALREADY grow things in?
The feeling of accomplishment, of being needed?
I guess maintaining and improving soil could be just as satisfying as "pedogenesis", but when I turn a square yard that not even weeds will grow on into fourishing Zinnias or Bok Choy, I feel as if I have done something substantial for the earth itself.
Probably the digging up, removing, screening and mixing are more due to my impatience and cheapness than true necessity.
If I (bought and) laid down 8-12" of something that plants could grow in, the rocks and clay under that would still gradually turn into "something" ... somewhat usefull ... over enough years. If I (bought and) added even more on top every year.
But I do like to "make soil" even if it is strenuous and time-consuming! It's less expensive than "store bought soil".
On the other hand, if I had access to unlimited leaves, grass clippings, compost and swadust, many assure me I could go the "lasagna" route instead.
I think of that as "sheet composting plus growing plants in the unfinished compost".
I guess it is stubburnness or inability to change that makes that unattractive to me (plus not having the raw material for more than 1/4" of 'lasagna', let alone 6-12").
I think of growing in soil as the "right way" not in unfinished compost. But many people say it works fine.
I think of "cultivating the soil" as something that I do, with pick and shovel and amendments, not something that worms and frost heaves and elluviation or other magic do over a period of years. That seems like waiting for glaciers, flooding and sedimentation to do the pedogenesis for me.
And why let the worms have all the sense of accomplishement?
Plus, even if I waited for years, adding 6" - 8" of compost or compost-makings every year, the knoweldge that everything under the duff layer was 30% to 50% rocks would make me feel like a very slack cultivator of the soil.
I guess I'm a dinosaur.
