{"aiVersion":"1","content":{"id":"cmo6hs0130004ez0tccsuw9oy","slug":"soil-is-alive-elaine-ingham-s-legacy-20260420","title":"Soil Is Alive: Elaine Ingham's Legacy","level":"EASY","publishedAt":"2026-04-20T01:04:02.812Z"},"topic":{"slug":"soil-is-alive-elaine-ingham-s-legacy-20260420","category":"science"},"article":{"paragraphs":["Elaine Ingham was an American soil scientist. She taught people that soil is alive and full of tiny living things called microorganisms. She founded Soil Foodweb Inc and the Soil Food Web School.","She died on February 16, 2026, in Fort Mill, South Carolina. She was 73 years old. Her work included the Soil Biology Primer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Many farmers and gardeners used her ideas to help soil health. She also taught how to make compost and compost tea. People around the world learned from her classes. Her lessons helped farmers grow healthier plants without many chemicals."],"wordCount":101,"readTime":2},"vocabulary":[{"word":"soil","example":"Good soil helps plants grow.","phonetic":"/sɔɪl/","definition":"the top layer of earth where plants grow"},{"word":"microorganism","example":"Microorganisms live in healthy soil.","phonetic":"/ˌmaɪkroʊˈɔrɡənɪzəm/","definition":"a very small living thing you cannot see without a microscope"},{"word":"compost","example":"We use compost in the garden.","phonetic":"/ˈkɒmpəʊst/","definition":"decayed plant material used to enrich soil"}],"quiz":[{"answer":"Elaine Ingham","question":"Who died?"},{"answer":"February 16, 2026","question":"When did she die?"},{"answer":"Fort Mill, South Carolina","question":"Where did she die?"}],"discussion":[{"question":"Do you notice differences in your garden soil from season to season?"},{"question":"Have you ever made compost at home? What happened?"},{"question":"What do you think about learning new ideas in a short course or workshop?"}]}