--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: from the soil’s or soil dweller’s…" description: "\"“from the soil’s or soil dweller’s perspective, chemical additives are not such a great thing. With zai, the organic matter in the hollows attracts ter..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/judith-d-schwartz-9338_quote_from-the-soil-s-or-soil-dweller-s-perspe_1283062.jpg" --- # from the soil’s or soil dweller’s perspective, chemical… ![“from the soil’s or soil dweller’s perspective, chemical additives are not such a great thing. With zai, the organic matter in the hollows attracts termites. The termites, in turn, burrow around and create tunnels, allowing water to penetrate the ground rather than evaporate. Though usually…” quote by Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/judith-d-schwartz-9338_quote_from-the-soil-s-or-soil-dweller-s-perspe_1283062.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/judith-d-schwartz-9338_quote_from-the-soil-s-or-soil-dweller-s-perspe_1283062.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/judith-d-schwartz-9338_quote_from-the-soil-s-or-soil-dweller-s-perspe_1283062.jpg) > ““from the soil’s or soil dweller’s perspective, chemical additives are not such a great thing. With zai, the organic matter in the hollows attracts termites. The termites, in turn, burrow around and create tunnels, allowing water to penetrate the ground rather than evaporate. Though usually regarded as pests, termites in marginal lands play much the same role that earth-worms do in greener climes. In Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations”” [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage explains how termites, often seen as pests, actually improve soil health by creating tunnels that enhance water infiltration, similar to earthworms in fertile soils. **In simple terms:** Termites help soil retain water and stay healthy, like earthworms in richer lands. Key Takeaway Recognize beneficial roles of overlooked organisms. Themes environment agriculture ecology Mood educational practical Type scientific inspirational When to use this quote - sustainable farming - land restoration - soil conservation Key Concepts soil health bioengineering ecosystem services Questions to Reflect On - Can you apply similar natural solutions in your garden? - What other “pests” might be allies? A Different Perspective Termite benefits may vary by climate and soil type. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attracts Termites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attracts-termites-4152081/) [Pests Termites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pests-termites-4152083/) [Termites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/termites-469891/) [Termites Marginal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/termites-marginal-4152082/) [Termites Termites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/termites-termites-1718712/) ## Related quotes > [I know we're termites. But if all the termites got together, the house would fall down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florynce-kennedy/i-know-we-re-termites-but-if-all-the-termites-got-together-the-house/) [Florynce Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florynce-kennedy/) > [The books of Expectations have begun to despair of termites, Wedo not like Again and again broke Shred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-books-of-expectations-have-begun-to-despair-of-termites-wedo-not/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“I don't see anything other than pretensions and low mentality in women who make a man run after a hole that would soon be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/i-don-t-see-anything-other-than-pretensions-and-low-mentality-in/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [The termites have got me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-ruth/the-termites-have-got-me/) [Babe Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-ruth/) > [“The termites of reduction have always gnawed away at life: even the greatest love ends up as a skeleton of feeble memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-termites-of-reduction-have-always-gnawed-away-at-life-even-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Friends are like termites they only come around when its sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/so-sick-aka-mk/friends-are-like-termites-they-only-come-around-when-its-sweet/) [So-sick -AKA- Mk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/so-sick-aka-mk/) > [Assumptions are the termites of relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-winkler/assumptions-are-the-termites-of-relationships/) [Henry Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-winkler/) > [Learn to say No—and to be rude about it when necessary. Otherwise you will not have time to carry out your duty, or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/learn-to-say-no-and-to-be-rude-about-it-when-necessary-otherwise-you/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [If America was a house, the Left would root for the termites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/if-america-was-a-house-the-left-would-root-for-the-termites/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [Doubts over the cliff termites tend to fill the hollowness in relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/doubts-over-the-cliff-termites-tend-to-fill-the-hollowness-in/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“... Humans turn the places they live into great crowded piles of mud and stone, like the nests termites build--but what happens when in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/humans-turn-the-places-they-live-into-great-crowded-piles-of-mud-and/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“The foundations of some formerly strong lands became so riddled with termites of diminished purpose, so decayed with the decadence of smug moderation, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/the-foundations-of-some-formerly-strong-lands-became-so-riddled-with/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“Two things eat from the inside. Termites and Memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shouvik-bhattacharya/two-things-eat-from-the-inside-termites-and-memories/) [Shouvik Bhattacharya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shouvik-bhattacharya/) > [It is interesting, that termites don't build things, and the great builders of our nation almost to a man have been Christians, because Christians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/it-is-interesting-that-termites-don-t-build-things-and-the-great/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [“But fear isn’t a quiet pet that stays in a cage in the back room. Rather, as termites undermine the internal workings of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-layne-litzelman/but-fear-isn-t-a-quiet-pet-that-stays-in-a-cage-in-the-back-room/) [Amy Layne Litzelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-layne-litzelman/) ## More by Judith D. Schwartz > [“grasslands, grazing mammals, and pack-hunting predators evolved together. So if domestic herbivores can be managed such that their behavior mimics that of their wild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/grasslands-grazing-mammals-and-pack-hunting-predators-evolved/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“Steven Apfelbaum, a restoration ecologist in Wisconsin, says that every 1 percent increase in soil carbon holds an additional sixty thousand gallons of water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/steven-apfelbaum-a-restoration-ecologist-in-wisconsin-says-that-every/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“First you’ve got to change the ideology,” she says. “Until you can show people that they’re losing profits, you can’t get them to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/first-you-ve-got-to-change-the-ideology-she-says-until-you-can-show/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“According to Christine Jones, soils hold more carbon than the atmosphere and all the world’s plant life combined—and can hold it longer, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/according-to-christine-jones-soils-hold-more-carbon-than-the/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“from a soil microorganism point of view, a crop monoculture is akin to junk food: “If there’s just wheat or any one thing, it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/from-a-soil-microorganism-point-of-view-a-crop-monoculture-is-akin-to/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“Organisms we can’t see are accorded the same respect as those that are big and flashy or promise to give a nice immediate kick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/organisms-we-can-t-see-are-accorded-the-same-respect-as-those-that/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“One farmer I met, Gene Goven of Turtle Lake, North Dakota, put it more succinctly: “You build soil where the roots go—down!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/one-farmer-i-met-gene-goven-of-turtle-lake-north-dakota-put-it-more/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“Every field that’s turned into a parking lot or industrial park means more water siphoned off into gutters and culverts and less water in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/every-field-that-s-turned-into-a-parking-lot-or-industrial-park-means/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“the problem isn’t the amount of carbon per se—the quantity of carbon on earth is constant—but where that carbon is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/the-problem-isn-t-the-amount-of-carbon-per-se-the-quantity-of-carbon/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“understand that the greatest danger to wildlife was not poaching but habitat destruction—the same thing that ultimately threatened humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/understand-that-the-greatest-danger-to-wildlife-was-not-poaching-but/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“Slaps in the face like this provide opportunities for change. A drought definitely gets people thinking about how they can manage resources better. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/slaps-in-the-face-like-this-provide-opportunities-for-change-a/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“the planet’s current vegetative cover captures around 3000 EJ of the sun’s energy. This photosynthetic capacity would appear to be sufficient to feed only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/the-planet-s-current-vegetative-cover-captures-around-3000-ej-of-the/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“The use of chemical fertilizers and other treatments has increased worldwide as large tracts of agricultural land are turned over to commodity mono-crops. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/the-use-of-chemical-fertilizers-and-other-treatments-has-increased/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“Consider that farmers are sued when genetically manipulated seeds they don’t even want sprout on their soil. (The pretext: This is “patent infringement” and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/consider-that-farmers-are-sued-when-genetically-manipulated-seeds/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“The concept of the biotic pump, if correct, brings a new urgency to the need to conserve forests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/the-concept-of-the-biotic-pump-if-correct-brings-a-new-urgency-to-the/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) [Explore all 73 Judith D. Schwartz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) ## More Termites quotes > [The books of Expectations have begun to despair of termites, Wedo not like Again and again broke Shred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-books-of-expectations-have-begun-to-despair-of-termites-wedo-not/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [It is interesting, that termites don't build things, and the great builders of our nation almost to a man have been Christians, because Christians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/it-is-interesting-that-termites-don-t-build-things-and-the-great/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [I know we're termites. But if all the termites got together, the house would fall down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florynce-kennedy/i-know-we-re-termites-but-if-all-the-termites-got-together-the-house/) [Florynce Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florynce-kennedy/) > [“Two things eat from the inside. Termites and Memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shouvik-bhattacharya/two-things-eat-from-the-inside-termites-and-memories/) [Shouvik Bhattacharya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shouvik-bhattacharya/) > [“The foundations of some formerly strong lands became so riddled with termites of diminished purpose, so decayed with the decadence of smug moderation, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/the-foundations-of-some-formerly-strong-lands-became-so-riddled-with/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“... Humans turn the places they live into great crowded piles of mud and stone, like the nests termites build--but what happens when in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/humans-turn-the-places-they-live-into-great-crowded-piles-of-mud-and/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [Doubts over the cliff termites tend to fill the hollowness in relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/doubts-over-the-cliff-termites-tend-to-fill-the-hollowness-in/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [If America was a house, the Left would root for the termites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/if-america-was-a-house-the-left-would-root-for-the-termites/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [Learn to say No—and to be rude about it when necessary. Otherwise you will not have time to carry out your duty, or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/learn-to-say-no-and-to-be-rude-about-it-when-necessary-otherwise-you/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Assumptions are the termites of relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-winkler/assumptions-are-the-termites-of-relationships/) [Henry Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-winkler/) > [Friends are like termites they only come around when its sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/so-sick-aka-mk/friends-are-like-termites-they-only-come-around-when-its-sweet/) [So-sick -AKA- Mk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/so-sick-aka-mk/) > [“The termites of reduction have always gnawed away at life: even the greatest love ends up as a skeleton of feeble memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-termites-of-reduction-have-always-gnawed-away-at-life-even-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The termites have got me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-ruth/the-termites-have-got-me/) [Babe Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-ruth/) > [“I don't see anything other than pretensions and low mentality in women who make a man run after a hole that would soon be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/i-don-t-see-anything-other-than-pretensions-and-low-mentality-in/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“But fear isn’t a quiet pet that stays in a cage in the back room. Rather, as termites undermine the internal workings of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-layne-litzelman/but-fear-isn-t-a-quiet-pet-that-stays-in-a-cage-in-the-back-room/) [Amy Layne Litzelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-layne-litzelman/) [Browse all 16 Termites quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/termites-469891/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“from the soil’s or soil dweller’s perspective, chemical additives are not such a great thing. With zai, the organic matter in the hollows attracts termites. The termites, in turn, burrow around and create tunnels, allowing water to penetrate the ground rather than evaporate. Though usually regarded as pests, termites in marginal lands play much the same role that earth-worms do in greener climes. In Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Judith D. 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