Compost is garden gold. Use compost to add organic material and microorganisms into your soil. It adds air pockets, holds moisture, and boosts nutrient levels. Fully composted, local manure works as an organic fertilizer and should be added annually to your soil. Green manures, also known as cover crops, can also be grown with the intention of reincorporating the plants back into the soil. Chop em and drop em! Protect the soil with layers of mulch. This helps to regulate temperature, retain moisture, and slowly decompose and add nutrients. Embrace all kinds of soil fixers, AKA those weeds and wild plants. They are the first things to grow in poor soil and help to bring it back to life. And most importantly, leave the soil alone! Adopt no-till gardening so that you do not disrupt the soil culture below.