Despite its apparent ubiquity, soil is a finite, fragile, and vital substance upon which most terrestrial life depends. Using different arid landscapes across multiple geographies, this event will draw attention to soil as both a material and cultural medium, and to the evolving relationship humans have cultivated with it over time. The discussion will trace this relationship’s transformation, from practices of nourishment, care, and stewardship to attitudes of neglect and exploitation—and the risks such shifts entail. We will reflect on the co-dependency between soil formation and human habitation in harsh environments, and examine how changes in the anthropic factor can reshape the very processes that sustain the world beneath our feet.