"Human cultures around the globe, both in the past and in the present, have used sophisticated management techniques to build nutrient-rich, microbially-diverse, highly-productive soils that grew richer with continued usage. This study aims to begin investigation into healthy soil characteristics and soil-building strategies, with a focus on determining the availability of free soil electrons, and determining the importance of the soil microbial community’s role in producing these electrons. Free electrons from the soil are currently under investigation for use in electricity generation and improving human well-being. It is the goal of this study to provide some insight into how we can begin to rebuild degraded soil ecosystems by drawing from the diverse and rich human-history of soil-building techniques, such as ancient soils in the Amazonian Basin, and indigenous soils in Coastal British Columbia, to impress upon the audience the incredible importance of healthy soils for past, present, and future human health and future innovation."