1. It cleanses toxic chemicals from the air.
2. It will decompose me, you, and everybody else.
3. It turns cowpies to cowpeas and “crap to carrots” (thanks to Upamanyu Chatterjee for this fine phrase).
4. It inactivates pathogens.
5. It purifies water.
6. It feeds the plants, which feed the animals, which feed the dirt again.
7. Given a few million years, it turns to rock.
8. Every single object can be traced to soil.
9. Mixed with water, it becomes luscious mud–feeling good on fingers, toes, and just about any other part of the body.
10. I play in it every week in ceramics class.

More, anyone?