Earth

The element which we all are derived from and fall back to is the Earth. It is the Mother, that gives the platform to all elements and the element from which our food can be grown.

Gemstones, Metals & Minerals grow here. The miniature cosmos of microorganisms keep the wheel turning. This fine & unique local earth blueprint influences everything from the color of flowers grown in it to the bone density of a human consuming foods from it. Interesting as well, how native wild plants not only grow when we need them (e.g. nettle in spring time, used for blood cleansing) but indeed also where we need them (e.g. coca for preventing altitude sickness, thrives in high altitudes).

Locally

Most of Goa’s soil cover is made up of laterites.
Further inland and along the riverbanks, the soil is mostly alluvial and loamy.
The soil is rich in minerals and humus, thus good for agriculture. In addition, some of the oldest rocks (3,600 million years old) in India are found in Goa on the border with Karnataka.
Thick laterite layers are porous and slightly permeable, so the layers can function as aquifers in rural areas too.

Historically, laterite was cut into brick-like shapes and used in monument-building. The Temple at Chandor & Angkor Wat (Kambodia) are well known examples.

Quote
“The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all.” — Wendell Berry