Without good soil, tools might as well hang in the shed and seeds, plants and supplies remain at the garden center. Although these phrases may sound strange, they come from scientific concepts about soil.
Black gold is a common reference to humus.
Soils that contain humus often have many live organisms. Lack of respect for the soil shown by past civilizations has often permanently changed the land. Conversely, the land and soil have changed the forms and patterns of civilization. It has destroyed or preserved whole civilizations. Improper soil usage relates to many of our present global environmental problems.