3-Steps to Rapid Soil Regeneration Part 2: Multiplying the Beneficial Microbes

In part two of our series on 3-Steps to Rapid Soil Regeneration we'll be looking at multiplying the beneficial microbes!
✅Learn more about the Soil Food Web 👉 www.soilfoodweb.com/
Once you have gathered all the different types of beneficial microorganisms you need, from your local area, the next step is to increase their numbers so they can be used to inoculate the soil.
In this webinar, we’ll be taking a deep dive into the aerobic composting method that Dr. Elaine Ingham has developed over the last 4 decades. During this process, beneficial microbes flourish and multiply, while pathogens are either killed or forced to go dormant.
Getting the recipe right for your compost is critical, and we’ll be looking at how this can be achieved. We closely monitor and control temperature, moisture and aeration levels throughout the process. After the composting process is complete, the microscope is used to assess the biology and then certain tweaks can be made to ensure that the balance between the 4 major groups of microorganisms is right, before the inoculant is applied to the soil.
Our panelists:
Dr. Elaine Ingham, Soil Food Web School Founder
Keisha Wheeler and Casey Ernst of Catalyst BioAmendments, Biological Compost Producers
Brian Vagg of Sprouting Soil, Soil Food Web Consultant
Dr. Adrienne Godschalx, Soil Food Web School Mentor
Dr. Adam Cobb, Soil Food Web School Science Communicator
-----------
Follow the Soil Food Web Blog: www.soilfoodweb.com/blog/
Follow us on Instagram: / dr.elaines.soil.foodwe...
Follow us on Facebook: / officialpagesfwcourses
-----------
The Soil Food Web School’s mission is to empower individuals and organizations to regenerate the soils in their communities. The Soil Food Web Approach can dramatically accelerate soil regeneration projects by focussing on the soil biome. This can boost the productivity of farms, provide super-nutritious foods, protect and purify waterways, and reduce the effects of Climate Change. No background in farming or biology is required for our Foundation Courses. Classes are online & self-paced, and students are supported by highly-trained Soil Food Web School mentors.
Over the last four decades, Dr. Elaine Ingham has advanced our knowledge of the Soil Food Web. An internationally-recognized leader in soil microbiology, Dr. Ingham has collaborated with other scientists and with farmers around the world to further our understanding of how soil organisms work together and with plants. Dr. Ingham is an author of the USDA's Soil Biology Primer and a founder of the Soil Food Web School.
00:00 Intro
07:07 Three Steps to Rapid Soil Regeneration
12:55 Get the right mix of starting materials for your compost
22:43 What is BioComplete Compost
36:36 Multiplying Microorganisms
01:06:11 Building Your Small Scale Compost Pile - Equipment List
01:09:59 Q&A

[@soilfoodwebschool]

✅ EXTENDED SALE! Sign up today and get 45% off our Soil Regeneration Classes 👉 promo.soilfoodweb.com/

[@michellel5444]

I live in Missouri in a new build home as of 4 years ago. I had zero soil. Basically clay and construction dirt/rock. Watching and participating in building soil has been so rewarding. The introduction of roots via one tree brought in so much life. However, it's clear in my food garden that I'm dealing with a pan layer that's anaerobic and I'm working hard to remedy that. As much as I love Dr. Ingham and have heard nearly all her lectures, it's not feasible for me to put in this much time to study the organisms (sadly), I ve learned so much and I feel I can better support good soil biology with good practices of always having roots in the ground, cover crops etc. 🤷‍♀️. Every little bit helps. Cookies and cakes!☺️ In winter I bury our kitchen scraps, cut my crops, leave roots in the ground and cover with leaves. The earthworms love it. I'm certain the biology profile is no where near perfect but my soil certainly breaks down material much faster than even a year ago. Ik I'm not your target audience but thank you anyway. As a side note, the "context" climate change box by the UN would be funny if it wasn't so tragic. The UN is to climate change solutions as Monsanto is to regenerative farming practices. 🙄 Beware industries and power structures that claim they are here to solve problems they rely on to exist.

[@robingroulx8743]

I have been growing for years and doing the same sort of, in-situ composting and trying various scenarios. Sounds like you are doing great. I have found personally that the less I help the better my plants. By that I am talking watering! Nothing gets water unless it actually begs for it! I mean How else do you trigger root growth naturally. Unless they are dying, And I might still capitulate to natural selection. It makes my plants stronger, more resilient, and absolutely not inviting aphids or mites , or fungus nats , or thrips, all of which are prevalent and apparently not interested in my plants until harvested (hurt or end of life). Over watering, broadcasting collectively, had very deleterious effects. It has to do with the rhisosphere, should be more in line with 30% moisture. Less is more!😇they have a very cheap moisture meter about $14 @ Canadian tire, it has 8" probes(s)😊 could be multi meter. Moisture/Sunlight/PH, Pay attention to the color coding, wet to dry cyclical is best 😉but roots can penetrate substantially, If you insist. water only what needs it, and you will enhance the plants metabolism! One more thing The compost, I use grass clipping, all Kitchen scraps, all garden scraps and I blend teas with just water and my spinach (bolting blended and dumped on any likely candidate, , I use all the same material that arose from the ground or fed by the ground. all natural, simple unembellished

[@anajinn]

Excellent post. Thank you. Thanks for the UN and Monsanto comments. Many people are still not aware of the massive worldwide frauds that are being imposed on us by government.

[@gamingrex2930]

UN is a paper weight organisation run by sociologists trying to solve environmental, economic and medical issues. Meanwhile 100 different nations and the UN Sec council plays game of thrones and actively try to under cut each other. I think they ARE trying. But fuck me if that was my job, i'd be unable to do jackshit and completely out of my depth.

[@tonysu8860]

I think it was a Charles Dowding KZbin video that describes his own gardening experiments which have been running for many, many years. Planting three different decent sized plots of various plants including typical plants in a home garden, he compared no compost vs adding different amounts of components with each new season and planting. His results were that it's useful to add a fairly good amount of compost in the beginning but if you practice good soil management (eg no-till) that after the 3rd season there was virtually no difference how much compost you started with and how much you might add later. So... Bottom line, it seems that if you want good yields and growth initially, compost can be very important but if you understand the principles of good soil management by your 3rd season and thereafter, enough good soil has been built (you only need a few inches or a foot or so at most) that "anything" you plant should do just fine and without any more soil management beyond good maintance. Additionally, you might look up and listen to any number of Christine Jones' various KZbin videos on plant diversity which I'm now trying... It's interesting that her science and various demos that have been running a few years now are producing immediate effects. The idea is that since time immemorial, mankind has been planting crops unnaturally, and have been damaging our agricultural environment. Yes, it's all been wrong since the earliest farmers... That we plant crops in monocultural patches, ie all our rows of corn here, the lettuce there, the wheat there, the tomatoes there and so on. The theory of plant diversity planting is that plants live and survive best with a diverse mix of microbial systems created by each plant's own root system, and that with proximity different plants can share their microbia with others. When you have a jungle of as diverse plants as possible, plants are incredibly more hardy, disease resistant and vibrant than the way we humans grow our crops separately and spaced from each other.

[@dreamingrightnow1174]

💯

[@teacupgardener3540]

Thank you for sharing! We are professional gardeners in Nashville Tennessee. Dr. Elaine's Soil Food Web School is a valuable resource telling the story of the living soil.

[@gaberali1396]

❤

[@tommysalsberry3357]

I worked for a San Diego based soils company, A-1 Soils, that was licensed by the state of California that ran and produced a monthly 10,000 yard Composting Facility and utilized a Front End Loader. The end product was a PREMIUM DARK RICH COMPOST and used by the Nursery, Golf Course, Sports Turf, and Landscaping industry. We had no problem utilizing all the steps mentioned in this video.

[@groovygrannysbicycle]

Greetings from my permaculture 'Schrebergarten' on the fringes of Cologne / Germany. I've learned so much from watching this webinar that I view my compost pile as a microbiological 'city' and named it 'Tamagotchi' because you need to feed the inhabitants all the time. I've got it on the ground and keep moving it along the fruit shrubs and trees every time I turn it, so these guys get some of the benefits as well before I spread it on the veggiebeds, rake it in and then cover it with mulch. Works great. Thank you people for sharing your wisdom.

[@cassierobinson9513]

East Texas! I learned about permaculture from Geoff Lawton a couple of years ago and I just found Dr. Ingham a few days ago and this has been so helpful! I can't wait to learn more.

[@cannaflex420]

Thanks for all the help. Dr Ingram. Had taught me so much and now my garden is nothing but organic living soil inside and outside

[@missadkins5882]

I love your channel. I haven’t seen you pop up on my feed in quite some time. I used to watch you religiously lol. Now that I found you again, I will continue to watch. I have watched five videos this morning already. I’m so ready to live off grid. You all motivate me. I don’t really understand why KZbin stop showing all of the videos I watch that are dealing with a living off grid, gardening, and home remedies but I’m going back in and finding everyone I’ve watched and trying to make it stay on my feed. Well, I’m sure I know why they do that but…. We won’t get into that today. Anyway, I’m very happy to be back on your channel. Y’all have a wonderful day and keep popping out these educational videos. It

[@gaiabeleza]

Who else do you like to listen to related to off grid life?

[@Gedeonholly]

Such an incredibly informative video. Thank you all!

[@marcoddimeglo5230]

I’m Marco from New Jersey. I’m the Italian Farmer

[@Mstymntntop]

I enjoyed listening to and watching the reactions of the husband/wife duo on the responses to the questions. Seems like they have a method that is a little different and works for them.

[@ashiskumarghosh6333]

Joined just now. I am from Kolkata , India

[@lindareese4579]

Thank you for this very informative information...it is very interesting...

[@uitenboogaartrogier5195]

Hello from countryside Japan. 11 month after the live dough, very interesting, thank you very much

[@carolbattaglio382]

I am on the Sunshine Coast in BC Canada. I am "c" a farmer and an environmental advocate

[@lifoterjames2328]

Writing from Cameroon glad to part this program just surprisingly bomb in to it

[@HeliIsoAho]

Thank you for the webinar. Great, useful information for everyone who grows plants. I'm enjoying the course and cannot wait to see 'who is who' through the microscope and if I have 'anybody home' in my soil!! Also looking forward to a tasty and nutritious produce that I'm going to grow with the help of these amazing, tiny organisms - Yay! :-)

[@soilfoodwebschool]

Our pleasure!

[@jamesboyd2208]

Hello everyone coming to you from Indiana

[@firdausmohammad5530]

Amazing content,keep up the good teamwork

[@madtattergh2kt115]

Their is SO MUCH to take in, it's hard to do things by yourself, it takes a couple of people ro start off right!!

[@dianaedwards9597]

Watching from Australia

[@jameswilliamson288]

chaga tea mixed h2o 50/50 great fertilizer and deters pest certain plants love it

[@universityinstructorj.p.sm5360]

In Tokyo... listening with thanks.

[@dumbsathanass8669]

Can summarize this video in a few paragraphs?

[@pops8975]

I think you could make a video game/simulation of Living Soil and it would be incredibly adventurous! Remember the Osmosis Jones animated movie?

[@LK-3000]

Never mind. Keisha and Casey answered my question @1:35:32. Thank you! I'm curious what you would do differently with this method if you're in the desert where summer temps get into the 100s, if you would do anything differently?

[@b_uppy]

When you remediate the soil carbon problem, you remediate the air carbon problem.

[@cariboochilcotinconservati2892]

great session

[@kevinjames4191]

#savesoil let's make it happen 🌱

[@420Trees]

Thanks

[@vickibrown5489]

Does anyone else get a “Miss Information” pop up text on this video regarding climate change? How can KZbin flag this video as miss information? Can we complain?

[@ilyarogozhin8630]

Pardon me, but it is not misinformation pop up for sure. I will try to comment it. Top soil is representing biggest carbon pool, more than available in atmosphera and ocean both. co2 concentration in atmospheric air will be significant increased during recent several decades if soil organic matter will be totally mineralised due to continuation of absolutely outdated industrial practices in place (green revolution massive chemical applications / tillage/ transfer food scrap to landfills). Soil food web proposing absolutely another concept and providing solution how to address such biggest issue.

[@mbailey12341]

Would some biochar or charcoal be a good acceptable carbon source when starting a compost pile?

[@andidelta9]

So I Can use the needles of "my" pine as brown material- but whats with (dried-out) Thuya? Can I use that, too? Thank you very much, lovely people

[@damedesmontagnes]

Hi, I used mulched aged leaves from a forest in my compost. Wow, there is a lot of mycelium when I turn it after just 3 or 4 days.

[@brianbarrineau2362]

HELLO FROM south carolina

[@D-Allen]

Keisha Wheeler and Casey Ernst- Please forgive me as I had not heard of your company until today. To All: That being said I had just purchased some compost to make compost tea from a company called "Boogie Brew". After listening to this video, I am in Minnesota and they are from California (I believe). Will this climate difference make the compost tea I am making, all wrong for my area? On a side note, the tea I am making is for an area of my lawn (about 1/2 acre) That the top soil was scraped off during construction and never returned. The lawn is really struggling to grow and I was hoping to add compost tea to get the microbes to create a nice soil. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

[@sojusliimtdflock]

Whoever thought cultivation could be so dangerous 💥💥💥

[@billiverschoore2466]

Is it true that maize produces, as it decomposes, methane for 30years? Yes i put food 'waste' in a worm bin plus some cardboard and straw, in dappled shade, then every August this goes mixed into a bin i'm turning, together with fresh green materials and some fresh manure, to give the bin material another heating. This because as i put any materials in a bin for the first time, and there is lóts of material on my plots, much of it goes on bit by bit rather than in one go which would have better and more controllable heating than the 'random' additions. Thank you all for another great webinar 🌳 🕊 💚

[@barnyardbrio7597]

great!

[@nailwall1078]

Chicken feed and alfalfa deer feed cheap as hell made with berrys too smell good for deer that add flavor everything I would use deer feed and some sorta homemade egg layer mix because thee calcium

[@rokonuzzamannoor8079]

So much important info for me...thank you🥰

[@soilfoodwebschool]

You are so welcome!

[@damedesmontagnes]

Can you please tell me the link to part 1? Thank you ♡

[@soilfoodwebschool]

@DIYDreams You can watch the replay of Webinar 1 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioHZhYZor76AorM Be sure to register for the full series here: promo.soilfoodweb.com/reg-webinar-the-soil-food-web-movement-va

[@eaauctions]

Greeting from Melbourne Victoria Australia

[@soilfoodwebschool]

Welcome! Thank you for tuning in!

[@billiebruv]

From my calculations, the cost of the course can be re-claimed in a weeks consultancy, or a month at worst case scenario. Or within a one year crop production

[@marlan5470]

If it keeps the farmer/rancher from losing the land they own, then it's good ROI.

[@billiebruv]

@@marlan5470 Yeah, it's cheaper than $30K+ for a science degree in Regenerative Ag, which is a 3 year course, and not online. The scope for potential business is far greater also

[@kryststar6800]

lol!!!!! Riiiiiiiiight,,,,,,, how many people have paid you four thousand dollars a week ?

[@billiebruv]

@@kryststar6800 Do the math, buddy. $150 for a lab sample, then compost, applications, and a follow-up application over 20 odd Ha. Note my original comment is based on a one-off consultation/Application. A millionaire guy i worked for would throw that cash around. And I'll be knocking on my neighbours' door, he's an abalone diver, money to burn.

[@jimp5133]

Can’t put a price in the value of regenerating the soil, the information you learn here is priceless.

[@Mstymntntop]

It is like you are doing sous vide cooking, but in the compost pile.

[@giuliobaecker5476]

Are BTK and BTG bad to use? Are they considered a pesticide?

[@howard977]

Dr. Elaine, is it true that we can reverse climate change by making our soil healthy thru the regenerative method of farming , ranching and gardening?

[@johndisbro2704]

Please can someone tell me what microscope and equipment that I need to go with it can someone tell me what kind of microscope and equipment that I need

[@ShtelmakhHenri]

I’m from Ucraine. My soil seems to be a perfect on it’s structure, quite black colour, but it is also easily sensible for different deseased and issues, parassitic insects etc. In the local ecosystem there s a lot of all good animals which indicate a good state of ecology (bees, hedgehogs, earthworms, ants, ladybugs, api) but in the other hand phytophtora, fusarios, aphids are very common in this area. and insects as colorado bug, or some aphid deal a damage to plants. What i would be focused on? The choice of what to plant/to avoid? Or maybe i need to focus on the permanent cultures instead of potatoes and tomatoes, taback, etc.?

[@efrenardales1496]

Try Redpepper-water based spray, apply it only during sunny days , During rainy days, pest couldn't just take the plight of moving anywhere in your farm.

[@ciarancullen3575]

Idk if this is still as relevant, but planting specific plants to attract predators and herbs with a lot of scent keep pests away and provides habitat for ladybugs and such

[@jamesboyd-li5pw]

Iover of the soil... Indiana

[@frkifrk]

can vermicomposting be replacement for hot bacterial composting?

[@normvanthoff]

I'm in Bali, love your work, hoping we can apply the lesson learned in the wet tropics ;-)

[@shaunkelly9053]

When they say no till? Does that include discing?

[@armandobambino]

very good information, the course is expansive for me.....one day....

[@inigomontoya8943]

I want to so badly

[@bronrobinson888]

Yeah, I would would amazing if they did a Home Gardners course that was affordable for everyday people

[@terryterry1655]

like to know more about Korean NAtural farming (KNF) .me from KL,Malaysia. keen in know how on OHN,IMO1,2,34,5 , FPJ,WCA and the whole works.seed soak solution and more

[@timothylytle4777]

Timothy lytle of syracuse new york actually auburn new york now

[@ashokdhamal5291]

Can I use anaerobic digestor bag to produce liquid fertilizer from biowaste

[@adasantos1565]

Arizona

[@buddhafarms-sustainability1277]

Namaste. Thank you for you teachings!

[@babarfaridsardar6259]

How can join live or programs scheduled for next time Love from Pakistan

[@soilfoodwebschool]

You get register for our current live webinars here: webinar.soilfoodweb.com/reg-webinar-rebuilding-soil-health Once you are on our email list, you will get notified of all our webinars. We also keep the replays on KZbin for you to watch on demand.

[@dougayers7517]

I understand that composting can be Aerobic or Anerobic. Composting should be done aerobically but if things go wrong it can turn Anerobic. I know Anerobic compost releases Methane. I've not heard anyone say if Aerobic composting produces methane or not? I'm wondering what is the difference in Methane production between Aerobic Composting and Anerobic Composting?

[@abhaydhorey7474]

does black cotton soil have some bacteria that are useful for its strength gain that is after feeding them with certain nutrients the bacteria can act and binds the soil grain if you have any such information related to growth of bacteria and simultaneously it will gain some strength then plz share

[@tonysu8860]

Correcting the comment in the Q&A about the Johnson-Su bioreactor (unless there is a new design I'm not aware of), That is essentially a compost that is heated up only once and then is a cold compost pile for at least 9 months before adding worms. I've criticized this design and feel that once the pile has cooled down below 90 degrees F (the temperature worms die) which would be after only about 10 days(my estimation), worms can be added immediately. For that matter, since any thermophilic reaction would be only in the pile within about 12" of each ventilation tube, there are plenty of pockets that never reach temperatures over 90 degrees F so it's likely that worms can be added on day 1, the worms should simply move away from any hot spots until they're comfortable for worms. IMO the Johnson Su bioreactor is little more than feeding cold compost to worms so the entirely concept is defective. Anyone should have at least as good results just feeding that pile used for the Johnson-Su bioreactor to an ordinary worm bin with the same number of worms and have a better result at the end of the year. People should also compare to the results and time operating a hot compost properly. Although it's a lot more work unless you use machinery, the result is in many ways far superior in quality after 3 months compared to the Johnson-Su bioreactor in 12 months because a hot compost breaks down everything including branches, and even wood blocks up to 2" thick to black carbon soil amendment while cold composting and even worm composting leaves behind big objects that should be removed before adding to soil.

[@chris432t6]

I like that first responders analogy.

[@diegonavas2888]

hi. what happen with food garbage. kitchen peels, potatoes, onions, pineapple, every week the house produce these resource, but i dont know if you can add every week to the compost pile. because is perhaps 80-90% water.

[@soilfoodwebschool]

Thank you for the great question! Please contact us at [e-mail] so a member of our Science Team can get back to you.

[@charlongronghang9131]

Good suggestion .....mam my village use chemical.......I want to stop ...use fertilizer......looking from....Karbi anglong....1st view....

[@F.S.O]

Gracias🇦🇷🇦🇷🥰🥰🥰

[@chriscoyle8684]

Hey ya chris here from new zealand

[@dinkozdedabilo4351]

Any book that someone can read for more info please from Dr Elaine

[@soilfoodwebschool]

@Dinkoz Debabilo Take a look at Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web, Revised Edition Book by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis. Dr Ingham has written the Foreword to this book -- a great read.

[@La-if9tg]

Tks :D

[@marrombar]

I wonder if you could make a tea with just a good forest soil, without adding any home made compost?

[@marcusparrado6600]

Absolutely.

[@mrbill700]

Yes

[@jasonschannel9017]

You wouldn't have the diversity that you'd have if you gathered the biology from a variety of local biomes. You may get different results from compost than you would soil because of the structural differences. I don't know for sure about the second part.

[@theresaburatynski2988]

Forest soil is higher in fungal than microbial forms. The “evolution” of soil ecology is to move from grass land bacterial dominate soil to forested fungal dominate soil?

[@the_artisan_life]

That’s essentially what the basic JADAM prep is

[@carlawairau768]

Carla from New Zealand

[@addcart7651]

Wow I just came upon this.

[@mopeaceproductions218]

Representing NEBRASKA!

[@yd8104]

Why mixing all the materials very well before making the pile might get enough heat? I thought that was a great idea, now i'm lost.

[@annelouw1553]

South Africa

[@rodneyhall1558]

Rodney Oklahoma I’ve got heavy clay soil I’m trying to grow❤fruit trees and pacan tree iv tride to grow vegetables they grow but don’t reproduce any new vegetables

[@chrisdewet4384]

Dr. Elaine.....How can i improve the soils on a farm in the Kalahari of Namibia? Deep, red sandy soils and still....farmers are able to plant and irrigate heavily, since the water infiltrates VERY fast. Total organic material %es are around 1.8%,,,!! HELP Pls.

[@soilfoodwebschool]

@Chris de Wet Take a look at the practices and methods Tiyeni are using: www.tiyeni.org/

[@vuknikolic6578]

What about adding bokashi to a compost pile?

[@soilfoodwebschool]

@Vuk Nikolic I know it may not be helpful to hear but it really does depend on many factors.

[@balrajtulshi9719]

From New Jersey’s

[@davidpayne878]

Michigan

[@raymondmcgravey9750]

North Dakoda

[@steph560]

Have you ever applied these concepts to pecan orchards? We struggle with scab (mildew) on our pecans

[@soilfoodwebschool]

Thank you for the great question! Please contact us at [e-mail] so a member of our Science Team can get back to you.

[@gregridgeway8790]

Any thoughts about digestate from a biogas reactor? I've seen several videos about how it is used as fertilizer, being nutrient rich however, I am very leery of how this would impact the biological soil environment. I've considered processing the material into honey comb biochar which might make for a good soil amendment but, I'd really rather not.

[@soilfoodwebschool]

Thank you for the great question! Please contact us at [e-mail] so a member of our Science Team can get back to you.

[@rodneydaipo760]

Rodney from Papua New Guinea

[@lethal2453]

I do understand why she doesn't get into it here, but there is Lactobacillus, which is a beneficial in anaerobic and aerobic conditions, some Lactobacillis fix plant issues, affected by anaerobic conditions.

[@lethal2453]

Also, anaerobic ferments are liquids containing the bloodbath of death of anaerobic bacteria once its exhausted the food source in the container, it all dies, and leaves nutrient rich microbial and plant food, mixed with Water, the ethanols are neutralised and become humic carbon and organic super oxides the plant uses for Rhizophagy.

[@busker153]

We compost to grow microbes. We have to turn the piles, though, which kills a lot of microbes, or runs them off. Do we generate more than we kill or run off in the process? or do they grow back/return during a settling period after the pile stops heating up? Curious...

[@manjichromagnon5480]

Of course. You turn the pile so that the microbes survive and don't get too hot

[@wholelover]

It's the rhizomes that are most disturbed but gently turning is necessary

[@busker153]

@@wholelover Rhizome Definition A rhizome (also known as rootstocks) is a type of plant stem situated either at the soil surface or underground that contains nodes from which roots and shoots originate (shown below). Rhizomes are unique in that they grow perpendicular, permitting new shoots to grow up out of the ground. When separated, each piece of a rhizome is capable of producing a new plant.

[@soilfoodwebschool]

Thank you for the great question! Please contact us at [e-mail] so a member of our Science Team can get back to you.

[@Jay-sb6qe]

so your saying if i go to the woods and gather materal it will help my garden

[@capgains]

What are the species discussed here Anaerobic ? Aerobic ?

[@soilfoodwebschool]

At the Soil Food Web School, we focus mainly on aerobic organisms.

[@savesoil3133]

#SaveSoil

[@kryststar6800]

So the courses are all online?

[@soilfoodwebschool]

Yes, you can sign up here: promo.soilfoodweb.com/

[@maigematthews5620]

I have a question… I’m transplanting over 100 white oak tree seedlings from cone shoots going in to 2 quart pots. I have peat moss, potting soil, worm castings I made myself, chicken manure, Blood & bone meals and Mikro-Myco. I need help with the portion ratios??? I was thinking 70:30 and combining the potting soil, worm castings, chicken manure, Blood & bone meals together for 30% of the mix, 70% peat moss and just sprinkle the Mikro-Myco in their roots.

[@soilfoodwebschool]

Thank you for the great question! Please contact us at [e-mail] so a member of our Science Team can get back to you.

[@johnndavis7647]

Cone Shoots? Do you mean cutting? Cut branch tips and put in water until roots grow then plant? I am looking for white oak acorns to plant.

[@traciperkins637]

I'm a back yard gardener. I have learned how to make LABS (Lactobacillus Acidophilus Bacterial Serum) at home. I was wondering what you had to say about it. Also, I have a Soil probiotic in capsules. It is bacillus subtilis and bacillus coagulants. Can I open the pill and propogate it in compost tea? Or would it be better to grow it in something like coconut water?

[@toastiesburned9929]

I wouldn't propagate then in liquid. I've heard that you'll select for water loving strains, which is great if you have a hydroponics system, but when you add it to soil, those water loving strains will die off and you'll select for soil loving lineages again. Better to grow them in the environment they'll be in for good. Compost tea just gets it into the soil.

[@soilfoodwebschool]

Thank you for the great question! Please contact us at [e-mail] so a member of our Science Team can get back to you.

[@jaylosk88]

If we inoculate some lactobacillus are we in the stage 1 of symbiosis of soil allowing the growth of bacteria and fungus with the properly mulch over the crop? am i right? after that we maintain the soil health with water and organic matter to feed this microorganisms without chemical fertilizants of course

[@soilfoodwebschool]

Thank you for the great question! Please contact us at [e-mail] so a member of our Science Team can get back to you.

[@RicoRodriguezGrows]

I am currently brewing microbe tea using an oxygen concentrator pushing 95% oxygen instead of room air (20%) I would love to hear a solid opinion on what the higher purity of oxygen is doing to the microbes. I brew 12 hours or so. Plants seem to absolutely love this tea every two weeks. The day after a tea my garden seems very happy. I did recently upload a video called 11 Trillion Microbes in a Bucket (Extreme recipe, too many ingredients)

[@manjichromagnon5480]

They probably get more oxygen from a higher volume of air from a larger pump than the smaller volume of concentrated oxygen from the machine

[@soilfoodwebschool]

Hi Rico, are you looking at your tea under a microscope? That amount of oxygen is great for growing aerobic organisms, which is what you want for a thriving soil!

[@yd8104]

My logic tells me that growing organisms at 95% oxygen and then suddenly putting them in normal conditions with 20% oxygen at best is useless because such a difference would stress them out and either kill most of them or make them dormant. Just imagine what happens when you go from sea level to mountains how you can struggle, or what happens when you breathe high oxygen levels. It's not at all adaptative to survival in my opinion. It would be a good idea to look at the actual quantity of organisms after returning to normal oxygen conditions.

[@michelbisson6645]

people of Jaddam in korea and japanese don t share this point of view, and go see what they do it is impressive...they say when we neglect anaerobic bacteria we cut ourself from half the equation that is right some anaeribic are bad but with full biodiversity is balance...go buy their books you will learn so much...korean work very very well and see their results...impressive...and see japan to lactose 100% anaerobice, and we hear in vermuculture cannt use lactose milk, go see what happen to worms once their fermentation is done worm multiply like hell...S we need to keep learning...many good teachers out there...

[@surfsaladita2778]

Playa Saladita GRO MX

[@tilskenstafford]

North Carolina

[@pennysimpson4707]

Taos, NM

[@tonysu8860]

The answer to different temperatures for worm composting is probably only partially correct. You'd never want a worm bin temperature to rise above 90 degrees F but on the other hand a lot of people maintain worm bins in cold environments and wonder why their worms aren't active. That's because all worms are cold blooded and are more active with warmer temperatures and some like African Nightcrawlers are especially sensitive at lower room termperatures. Although I haven't studied the issue scientifically, it's my understanding that all cold blooded animals fare better in warmer temperatures. But, there really is a negative associated with trapping worms in an environment with a thermophilic reaction... and that's lack of oxygen. In a proper thermophilic reaction, it's fueled by the activity of aerobic bacteria which is consuming oxygen which would compete with the worm's need for oxygen. The ideal situation probably is for a thermophilic reaction to exist but not too much plus have room for the worms to escape the oxygen starvation as much as for excessive heat. This is why it may be beneficial to place a worm bin near a water heater in winder or in partial sunlight in most climes around the world and not in total shade or a cellar that is cold all the time. Regarding the question about feeding worms excessively, that's actually a common issue unless the worm farmer is willing to pay daily attention to their worms. Ideally the food isn't blended and ground down so that microbes attack the food all ast once so the microbial decomposition happens very slowly but that isn't typically possible, either. The proper solution is to dig a hole in the corner or edge of the worm bin and place the food in that hole (and typically then cover to keep the flies from laying eggs in the decomposing food). Keeping in mind again that this is not to avoid thermophilic issues which are practically non-existent, this is to limit oxygen starvation which would happen if food is covering the entire surface of the worm bedding. By limiting the amount of surface area exposed to the surface, this allows worms to either move towards the food or away as they wish and can move to a part of the worm bin with plenty of oxygen. A common mishap is to just throw food on the worms or even mix food into the bedding which can suffocate the worms as they try to breathe.