Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should I invest in soil health for my home garden or landscape?

Healthy soil is the foundation of plant health, environmental health, and sustainable agriculture. By improving soil health, you can:

  • Reduce input costs by decreasing reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
  • Enhance water infiltration and retention, reducing irrigation needs.
  • Build resilience to climate extremes like droughts and floods.
  • Increase crop yields and quality.

Investing in soil health is an investment in long-term productivity and plant and ecosystem health.

2. What is high-quality, microbially rich compost?

High-quality, microbially rich compost is organic matter that has been carefully broken down by microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, nematodes, other beneficial micro and macro-organisms. It’s a nutrient-packed amendment that improves soil structure, enhances nutrient availability, and promotes healthy plant growth. Unlike conventional and most commercial compost, microbially rich compost focuses on maintaining a balanced and diverse microbial community that supports soil and plant health.

Benefits of microbially rich compost:

  • Improves soil fertility by providing essential nutrients.
  • Enhances water retention in sandy soils and drainage in compacted soils.
  • Supports the soil food web, creating a resilient ecosystem.
  • Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, pesticides/herbicides/fungicides, and soil disturbance.

3. What is the soil food web?

The soil food web is the interconnected network of organisms living in the soil. It includes bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, earthworms, insects, and more. These organisms work together to break down organic matter, cycle nutrients, and maintain soil health. When the soil food web is healthy, plants grow stronger, soils become more resilient, and the ecosystem thrives.

Key components of the soil food web:

  • Bacteria: Decompose organic matter and cycle nutrients.
  • Fungi: Break down tough materials like lignin and form symbiotic relationships with plant roots.
  • Protozoa and nematodes: Feed on bacteria and fungi, releasing nutrients for plants.
  • Earthworms: Improve soil structure and nutrient availability.

4. What are the soil health principles?

The soil health principles are guidelines for managing soil in a way that promotes a thriving ecosystem. These principles support sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.

The Five Soil Health Principles:

  1. Keep the soil covered: Protect the soil surface with cover crops, mulch, or plant residues to prevent erosion and water loss.
  2. Minimize soil disturbance: Reduce tillage to maintain soil structure and protect microbial life.
  3. Maximize plant diversity: Use diverse crop rotations and/or perennial plant cover to promote a balanced soil ecosystem.
  4. Keep living roots in the soil: Maintain active plant roots year-round to feed soil microorganisms.
  5. Integrate livestock: Use managed grazing to recycle nutrients and stimulate plant growth..

5. What is biochar, and how does it benefit the soil?

Biochar is a carbon-rich material made by heating organic biomass (like wood or crop residues) in a low-oxygen environment. It’s highly porous, which makes it an excellent soil amendment.

Benefits of biochar:

  • Improves soil structure: Increases aeration and water-holding capacity.
  • Supports microbial life: Provides a habitat for beneficial soil microorganisms.
  • Retains nutrients: Reduces nutrient leaching and makes nutrients more available to plants.
  • Long-lasting: Stays in the soil for decades, contributing to long-term soil health.
  • Carbon sequestration: Captures and stores carbon, helping to mitigate climate change.

6. How can I use compost and biochar together?

BioCompost: Biochar and compost complement each other when used together. Compost provides nutrients and a diverse microbial population, while biochar enhances soil structure and retains nutrients and water.

How to use them together:

  • Mix biochar into your compost pile during the composting process to inoculate it with beneficial microbes.
  • Apply compost and biochar together to your soil to improve fertility, water retention, and microbial activity.

Have more questions? Contact us or explore our products and services to start improving your soil today!