Loam is the kind of earth gardeners hope for: a mix of sand, clay, and old dead plants (the dark, soft stuff). The sand lets water and air move through; the clay holds a little water so roots do not dry out in a day; the dead plants feed the next plants. That is why people call it “good” soil — not because it looks fancy, but because things grow in it without as much fuss.

LoamLoam is是 the kind of earth gardeners hope for園丁夢寐以求的那種土 a mix of sand, clay, and old dead plants混合了沙、黏土和腐爛的植物 (the dark, soft stuff)（就是那種黑黑軟軟的東西） The sand lets water and air move through沙讓水和空氣能穿透 the clay holds a little water黏土留住一點水分 so roots do not dry out in a day讓根不會一天就乾掉 the dead plants feed the next plants腐爛的植物則餵養接下來要長的植物 That is why people call it “good” soil這就是為什麼大家叫它「好」土 not because it looks fancy不是因為它看起來多高級 but because things grow in it without as much fuss而是因為東西在裡面長得比較省事

Though actually, people use the word a bit loosely. A scientist may only call it loam if the mix of sand, silt and clay sits in a fairly tight range; a gardener may say “lovely loam” for any dark, crumbly bed that feels right in the hand. You will also hear sandy loam, clay loam, silt loam — still loam, just leaning one way.

Though actually不過其實 people use the word a bit loosely大家用這個詞其實有點鬆散 A scientist may only call it loam科學家可能只有在沙、粉砂、黏土的比例落在特定範圍時 if the mix of sand, silt and clay sits in a fairly tight range才會稱它為loam a gardener may say “lovely loam”而園丁只要是黑黑鬆鬆、抓起來手感對的土 for any dark, crumbly bed that feels right in the hand就會說「這土真好」 You will also hear sandy loam, clay loam, silt loam你還會聽到砂質loam、黏質loam、粉砂質loam these are still loam, just leaning one way這些都還是loam，只是偏向某一種成分

In shops, “loam-based” compost means the mix is built on this earth, not only on peat or coconut fibre.

In shops在店裡 “loam-based” compost標示「loam-based」的培養土 means the mix is built on this earth意思是這個混合土是以這種土為基底 not only on peat or coconut fibre而不只是泥炭或椰纖

There is a rarer verb, to loam, meaning to cover something with this soil, but almost every student will meet the noun first. It sounds like home, with an l at the front.

There is a rarer verb, to loam還有一個比較少見的動詞to loam meaning to cover something with this soil意思是用這種土覆蓋某樣東西 but almost every student will meet the noun first但幾乎每個學生都是先遇到名詞 It sounds like home它的發音很像home with an l at the front只是前面多了個l