Imagine your soil as one of those big sea sponges that can take in a lot of water but has plenty of space for air. That’s how healthy living soil works, teeming with fungus, bacteria, earthworms, protozoa and more.
These organisms cycle nutrients, improving soil structure and aeration. They also help protect your plants from disease and pests.
1. It’s Eco-Friendly
Whether you are a home gardener or large-scale grower, using living soil in your cultivation is the best way to ensure your plants receive the maximum benefits of the organic nutrients that it contains, and its better than plastic pots. Living soil is teeming with beneficial microorganisms, which create a healthy, self-sustaining ecosystem that promotes optimal plant growth.
These microorganisms, including fungi, bacteria, protozoa, arthropods and nematodes, decompose organic matter in the soil, converting it into nutrients that plants can absorb. This process is called nutrient cycling, and it helps prevent nutrient leaching and disease.
The presence of these microorganisms is one of the key reasons that living soil is more environmentally friendly than other types of growing media, such as standard potting soil. When used in conjunction with organic fertilizers and other organic inputs, such as wood ash, green manure and kelp meal, living soil can greatly reduce a grower’s reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
In addition, the organic materials in living soil break down over time, releasing nutrients that plants can use. In order to help the microorganisms decompose organic material quickly, it is important to add both raw and composted organic matter to your growing medium. This process is known as “cooking” the soil, and it allows the microorganisms to get a head start on breaking down and transforming organic materials into forms that plant roots can absorb.
It is also important to use a good quality, nutrient-rich soil mix, such as Gold Sky Organics Premium Organic Living Soil, and to properly prepare it before planting. This will allow the microorganisms to get acclimated to the new material and to begin breaking it down, which will help them start feeding your plants right away.
2. It’s More Nutrient-Rich
The idea of living soil is an entire ecosystem of living organisms that support plant growth and reduce the negative environmental impacts of industrial agriculture. This underground ecosystem includes bacteria, fungi, algae and mycorrhizal fungi that decompose organic matter and convert it into plant-available nutrients in a process known as nutrient cycling.
This natural process is important because soils that are rich in organic matter tend to be more resilient, with increased capacity for absorbing water and retaining it. When cultivated with living soil practices, these soils provide plants with essential nutrients while helping to prevent drought and soil erosion.
Living soil practices also support the growth of beneficial insects that are naturally resistant to harmful pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. This helps to promote biodiversity and create a more sustainable food system for the future.
Getting started with a living soil garden is easier than you might think. The first step is to stop using synthetic fertilizers and start composting your organic waste. This will help you to attract all the good bacteria, fungi and micro-arthropods that live in the soil. You can opt for a worm bin, a thermal pile (built at once and allowed to heat up) or a cold pile (which you continuously add to).
Once you have an active composting system in place, you’re ready to start working with your new living soil. This means mixing in a mixture of organic materials like peat, coco coir, aged tree bark, manure, worm castings and more. This will give your microorganisms a variety of nutrients to work with and encourage the growth of mycorrhizal fungi. Remember to only use aerobic microorganisms, like Oregonism XL that are oxygen-breathing to ensure your roots receive the nutrients they need.
3. It’s More Sustainable
When we think of “soil” we often see images of dirt that look dry, sandy or clay-like. What’s missing from these simple textural descriptions is a living, complex, and beautiful underground ecosystem that’s home to billions of bacteria, fungi, mycorrhizae, micro-arthropods (like nematodes and earthworms), and many more. These organisms work together to break down organic matter and transform it into nutrient-rich soil that plants can absorb. This process is known as nutrient cycling.
The practice of growing in living soil helps to restore this natural ecosystem and increase its ability to hold water, nutrients, and oxygen for plant roots. This is important in an era of heightened COVID-19 concern and the increased need for nutrient dense foods that can withstand challenging environmental conditions.
In addition, growing in living soil is more sustainable than traditional methods of gardening such as industrial agriculture and synthetic fertilizers. Industrial agriculture erodes soil, pollutes water and kills biodiversity. In contrast, living soil practices encourage the growth of beneficial microorganisms that prevent disease, nutrient leaching and erosion. In the long run, this leads to reduced input costs for growers.
The future of gardening will likely involve a growing emphasis on sustainability. With climate crisis, ocean garbage, and extinction rates on the rise, more people than ever are willing to pay more for sustainable products. This includes gardeners who are looking to grow in soil that’s healthier, richer, and more diverse than ever before. By using a mix of organic materials like compost, sphagnum peat moss, aged wood bark, coco coir and manure in the cultivation of their crops, gardeners can create a self-sustaining root ecosystem that doesn’t require the use of an extensive array of expensive supplemental nutrients.
4. It’s More Versatile
The organic living soil movement is based on the simple principle that healthy, balanced soil ecosystems teeming with beneficial microbes can provide the natural nutrition plants need to thrive. This contrasts with traditional commercial agriculture methods that rely on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, leading to degraded soil health and negative environmental impacts.
Living soil practices incorporate a variety of sustainable gardening techniques to foster rich microbial communities and increase nutrient uptake in plant roots. This is accomplished by adding a variety of composted and mulched organic materials to the soil, which provides food for the myriad of microorganisms that are essential in turning organic matter into plant nutrients. The use of organic materials also reduces the need for synthetic chemicals and fungicides, which are harmful to beneficial microorganisms in the long run and pollute our waterways.
Beneficial microorganisms are the unsung heroes of organic living soils, working to break down organic matter and release nutrient-rich soil for plants. They can also protect against pathogens, which are harmful organisms that threaten crop production. The best way to promote the growth of these important organisms is by practicing organic gardening techniques, avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and using products like compost tea and microbial inoculants.
The science behind microbial soil ecology is complex, and new research is constantly emerging. However, there are a few great books that break down the basics and give gardeners a good start on building a successful living soil system. These books include Teaming With Fungi, Teaming With Nutrients, and A Gardener’s Guide to Soil Biodiversity by Jeff Lowenfels. These books cover the (literally) microscopic details of soil biodiversity while providing easy-to-follow guidance for incorporating these principles into your own garden or small-scale commercial facility.
5. It’s More Affordable
A living soil grows plants with naturally balanced nutrient levels without the need for bottled chemical fertilizers. Unlike conventional gardening methods, which focus on feeding the plant directly, a living soil ecosystem encourages microbial growth that innately provides a variety of organic nutrients.
This system of fungi, bacteria, and protozoa decomposes organic matter to recycle the nutrients back into usable forms. It also promotes a more porous soil structure that allows for better aeration. In addition, the microorganisms improve the soil’s ability to retain water and nutrient, resulting in healthier crops with less need for irrigation.
Creating a living soil is an inexpensive and easy way to grow your own organic produce and herbs. You can start by building your own compost pile, which is a great way to make use of all your food scraps while benefiting the environment. You can also use a commercial product like Oregonism XL to add beneficial bacteria and mycorrhizae to your garden.
When making a living soil, it’s important to let the mixture rest before planting. This is known as “cooking the soil,” and it helps the microbes get to work breaking down the organic matter and transforming nutrients into forms the plant can absorb. To further enhance your growing experience, try using a cultivation monitoring system like GROWHub to track environmental conditions and promote microbial growth.
Although you can purchase pre-made living soil, it’s even more affordable to create your own. This option empowers you to tweak ingredients and customize your grow for specific cultivars. In addition, ditching the tiller is a more sustainable way to grow, as it reduces the amount of fuel and chemicals used in harvesting.