There are lots of micro-critters in the soil, and they are notably unfriendly towards each other. Another time we might address that fascinating topic. Today, I bring to your attention that there is a lab interested in soil samples provided by you, that might yield some helpful medicines. Here is the media thing Natural products discovery group asks for public's help with citizen science program and here is the page they should have linked you to NPDG - Natural Products Discovery Group | Citizen Science
Penicillin was the first antimicrobial isolated. Since then there have been many, but the 'toolkit' we are working with now is mostly based on soil-dwelling actinomycetes whose bad-boy chemicals have been modified for higher activity. There is no doubt at all that there are many other handy things waiting to be discovered. I have to wonder how much money OU has to devote to this, because there is more to it than just geophagy Anyway I say request your sampling kit because the effort involved in soil sampling is not much.
True enough, recently they just had to shoot a grizzly nearby because some filthy neighbors didn't keep their trash picked up. The bear apparently charged some children that were walking in the area.
