During this trying time I, mostly unintentionally, expanded my composting practice at home to include three different methods. For years I’ve simply relied on my ‘open-pile’ in our side yard—my loyal digester for all food scraps. But in April I was asked to do a worm bin workshop and now I have several hundred (thousands?) of red wigglers living in an unassuming bin next to the dinner table.

Then, our freezer decided to stop working, disrupting my holding pattern for food scraps (I’d freeze them until I had a worthwhile haul to take to the belly of the outdoor heap). After a few weeks of using countertop storage for food scraps, ants waltzed in *sigh*. But, never fear, I remembered I had an old bokashi bin in the garage! I dusted it off and enlisted ‘Effective Microbes’ to help us out.

Now, nearly everything goes into the bokashi bin to ferment (including meat and dairy - yay!) and when it gets full I empty it into the outdoor heap. Meanwhile, if I’m being honest, I’ve been treating the worms kind of like pets that I have to remember to feed. I like giving them things that are really well rotted—a forgotten banana, slimy greens, a finicky peach. I do what I can to not waste food in the first place, but it’s nice to know that whatever slips through the cracks will delight the wormies.

In addition to this trifecta, I’ve been doodling ideas to level up my side yard into a miniature compost operation with maximum function. I want to be capable of properly composting large amounts of seasonal garden waste (and weeds!) which will require better defined zones for storing and processing feedstocks. I also want to expand an elevated platform to house more cylinders for thermophilic / soil-food-web style composting, Johnson-Su bioreactors, and a place to store mature finished compost. Oh, and while we’re dreaming big, the cylinders should most definitely have automated irrigation! I’ll need to buy a machete too, because what better way to break down all the large vegetation than by the thrill of wielding a sharp primitive tool?!

And just like that, I’ve forgotten all my problems.

From the particular aroma of the bokashi bin (admittedly, not for everyone) and the grounding presence of earthworms, to the dependable bustle of my outdoor heap and the uplift of my imagination—composting has been a steady source of comfort to me.

It’s not only the tactile and living nature of composting that soothes me. It’s the fact that, here, death is not mourned, but celebrated. What a relief it is to visit a microcosm that unapologetically accepts and reveres messiness — where rejection and festering wounds are not hidden behind layers of shame, but welcomed and quickly reshaped. Through the ever-evolving and forgiving dynamic of decomposition, mistakes are transformed and regrets are resolved.

Am I romanticizing the goings on of a compost pile? Surely. But a spiritual practice without romanticization is just a heartless habit. And I know composting to be so much more.

In the coming weeks I will be sharing tales of a handful of different compost piles I’ve visited and / or taken part in creating this year. Some of the insights will be technical, while others will be from the felt experience of having built or witnessed the thing.

Thank you for being here, do send me your composting questions and curiosities :)

🤎 With Love,

Andie

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PS: I just learned substack has a “scan for AI text” feature! Im not sure how it works (prob AI itself ha) or what it will say but to self report: I inquired with Gemini about comma placements in two of my sentences in this piece, so I’d say 99.8% written and edited by me. It’s a strange time as a writer / creator and even consultant in the age of emerging AI technologies. At one point I wanted to describe the worms as ‘quietly working’ but decided not to because that word choice felt ‘so AI’ :-/ I’m definitely still figuring out my relatinoship with the robots (LLMs) and aim to be transparent about when and how I use these tools. <3

Earlier this year, I got to travel to California and share the good news about soil biology at a Field Day in one of the most productive agricultural regions in the United States. While ‘The Central Valley’ makes up less than 1% of our nation’s farmland, it accounts for ~8% of our agricultural value and supplies 40% of our country’s fruit and nut supply! The region supports a variety of crop types: tree fruits, nuts, table and wine grapes, citrus, vegetables, cereal grains and more (source: USGS).

This field day was hosted by the ever-energetic, Richard & Kim Felipe, who manage 200-acres of pistachios just south of Fresno. Richard is a fourth-generation farmer with a fourteen year old son, Hayden, eager to fill his shoes.

When I first met Richard by phone, I found myself transcribing his story because it was so sincerely heartfelt. This is a man who cares deeply about others — his family, his neighbors and the end-consumer.

In their community, the Felipes have witnessed one family after another make the gutting decision to walk away from their farms due to financial struggles. About 4-years ago, while reckoning with the realities of rising costs, Richard decided to take a risk and try something different. He started employing regenerative practices in an effort to, as he says, “take back the farm”.

Today I’m going to share the highlights of some of the cultivation changes taking place at Triple F Ranch!

Covercropping + Grazing

In many orchards, herbicides are routinely sprayed beneath trees to prevent any groundcover from growing and whatever vegetation is allowed to persist in the alleyways is often mowed very short. Between herbicide applications, fuel, equipment, and labor, maintaining bare ground comes at a significant cost to growers. And those are only the obvious expenses — what about the long-term costs to the soil and the broader ecosystem that supports the orchard?

At Triple F Ranch, allowing groundcover to return was one of the first steps toward rebuilding healthy, functional topsoil. A living understory protects the soil surface from erosion and temperature extremes, feeds soil microbial communities, improves water infiltration and moisture retention, and provides habitat and food resources for beneficial insects, including pollinators.

Of course, groundcover still requires management, but Richard has recently enlisted sheep over a lawn mower to get the job done. Through managed grazing using mobile electric fencing, the livestock not only keep the understory in check, but they return nutrients directly to the orchard in the form of manure, turning a maintenance task into an opportunity to build soil fertility!

Raising Microbes

Richard has also employed beneficial microorganisms in place of conventional fertilizers. Once there was a more hospitable place for the microbes to land (covered ground as opposed to bare), Richard started building Johnson-Su Bioreactors - a lot of them! Using IBC totes, he built about one a week for several months, trialing different feedstock ratios (we got to evaluate samples through Rhizos and 100% woodchips performed the best).

He has also started a large vermicomposting bin and been working with Rogue Natural Farming to make indigenous microorganism (IMO) preparations at scale.

Applying Microbes

All of these sources of biology are used to make liquid extracts.

At the Field Day, I got to lead the demo station dedicated to applications where three friends of the farm demonstrated the different types of application Richard’s been using in the orchard — a mix of top-dressing via a basic spreader, foliar spray using an aerofan truck, and soil drenching with a boom sprayer and drip line attached to a no-till, shank cultivator (hoping I’m using the right terminology, always learning).

Concluding Thoughts

What’s struck me about Richard is his willingness to go whole hog! He’s coming at regenerative farming from all sides. He really believes you have to go all in to reap the benefits, and that’s been a challenging thing to navigate with his crop advisors who would rather slowly introduce new practices.

From what I’ve observed, Richard’s commitment has put him on a fast track up the learning curve of a new and better way of farming. He’ll be the first to tell you about the challenges he’s faced, but on the whole his trajectory is undoubtedly positive. He’s already using 20% less water than he used to and his trees are healthier than his Dad has ever seen them.

Perhaps most meaningful to me though was witnessing Richard and Kim’s fourteen-year-old son, Hayden. Plenty of farm kids learn to drive tractors early, but few possess Hayden’s curiosity. I frequently saw him pulling up a chair to join a conversation with strangers, genuinely engaged in the purpose behind the work. Seeing the values and perspective his parents are passing down to him—shared through every success and failure—gives me incredible hope for our future.

I would love to hear any questions you have or what you think of these examples of regenerative farming! If you want to learn more about the Felipe’s story, I’d highly recommend this interview by Preston Smith of Rogue Regenerative Agriculture. If you’d like to see video footage of biological applications, this video also by Preston, shows equipment in action along with some highlights from the Field Day.

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I was attracted to Cass’s no-frills posting on all things decomposition. While I was thoughtfully curating science communication content (read: overthinking) with the aim of making soil science accessible, interesting and ‘sexy’, Cass was impulsively sharing photos of all the strange and squirmy things in her compost pile (interesting!) and noting how that was impacting her life — from her physical strength to her community and worldview (sexy!).

Over the years we’ve formed a supportive long-distance friendship and witnessing her journey has delighted and inspired me. Her composting curiosities have grown into a life-long practice, her online sharing has evolved into The Rot, and from her community engagement a scrappy field guide has matured into a proper book!

Compost After Reading: A Practical Manifesto for Purposeful Decomposition by Cass Marketos is both a pragmatic field guide and work of art (one that I’m honored to have taken a small part in by editing a couple chapters!)

Today I’m sharing an interview with the author herself. I hope you enjoy this rich conversation about decomposition and beyond :)

Interview with Cass Marketos

Everyone with a compelling interest in soil health has arrived from a different entry point. Looking back, what portal led you to the world of soil biology and soil health?

I guess it was many things at once, a perfect storm of factors.

It was… exposure to really inspiring people working on climate change at an old job, it was getting to a place of real burnout-borderline-self-destructiveness in my life and needing to make some big changes, it was going back to school, it was simply starting a compost pile in my front yard and using that as a vector to get to know people and learn things when I moved to a new city.

Slowly, slowly working with soil just started to become this great, big thing that helped in every way. It was fascinating, physical, fun, and felt like it actually mattered.

Previously, I’d had a succession of pretty standard desk-computer jobs, and I was not fit for that work. I got depressed. I ultimately loved working with soil because it was a way to be outside.

How is it that you started composting? And how did it feel to you initially — intimidating, awkward, confusing, approachable, relaxing, intuitive, fun?

It definitely felt, initially, very intimidating to me.

I had grown up with a Mom who was a composting enthusiast, but for whatever reason I never connected with that pile and I never learned anything about how it “worked.” It wasn’t until I got to LA and started volunteering at a native plant nursery here, that I met people who composted seriously, and started getting involved with it more deeply.

I started a “neighborhood pile” in my front yard and invited people to bring their food scraps to me, which sparked a very surprising amount of interest. That was a thread I just kept pulling.

I had a hard time finding straight answers about compost stuff. The information online was overwhelming and even people I spoke to directly were sometimes confusing. (Now, as a person who understands a lot more about compost, I understand the challenge of attempting to explain it to beginners.)

I ultimately let the pile itself be my teacher, which was the best. That was when compost went from intimidating to extremely fun and playful, for me. It was a great way in, and now that is how I try to help people learn.

How did your composting practice evolve from an activity to the core subject matter of your writing and content online?

I was a writer way before I was a composter. Writing was the thing I wanted to do since practically birth. (My Mom still has “stories” I wrote before I knew how to spell, that I think were mostly about giraffes.)

After I started my neighborhood pile, I started getting tons of phone calls and DMs about compost. I couldn’t believe how many people were interested and had questions, and most of those questions covered the same basic topics. Eventually, I realized if I wrote things down somewhere, I could more easily handle all the incoming queries. That’s when I started a newsletter.

I didn’t initially intend to have any kind of “audience”, it was just meant to be a place to store information, or something. But then some friends with larger audiences linked to me, and suddenly I had a following. It was incredibly fun and I started writing all the time and quite enthusiastically after that.

Finding your niche topic will certainly unlock your creativity. I had a blast writing about compost, and figuring out how to create these explainers really honed and deepened my own knowledge, which was its own kind of pleasure.

In what ways has composting affected your life and work?

It’s changed my entire life. I am so happy and love my life so much these days! In the larger sense, I have just made so many friends, have such a deep sense of loving community, and it’s all thanks to compost.

I have helped run a community compost where I live in Los Angeles for the last six years now, and it’s so wonderful.. I’m constantly stunned that so many people want to show up and compost every week, how cool they are, and how much fun we have.

We make compost, help grow food, and give everything away for free. The vibes are impeccable. Don’t tell the capitalists, but it turns out joy can be completely free and involves just supporting and caring for other people and the earth!

In the smaller and more personal sense, it has definitely made me a better person. I have learned so much from the practice of composting, it’s genuinely been a kind of needed therapy for me. Nothing will get you out of your own head and ego faster than working with death and decay all day long, and realizing we’re all destined for ashes. It’s a straight shot of perspective.

You often work at the intersection of compost and art! Can you share some of your more creative composting projects?

My microbe shirts are a recent favorite! I tell the whole story and explain the process in a recent newsletter.

I’ve otherwise made composts for a number of museums, including for PST with The Getty, MoCA Boulder, and Probably Gallery in Los Angeles. The show with Probably Gallery is probably (no pun intended) my favorite. I just piled a huge amount of compost in a corner of the gallery and said it was a sculpture called “FREE COMPOST.” Viewers were invited to take home the compost. By the end of the show’s run, there was nothing left. Perfect.

There are different types of composting archetypes, which one are you?

(e.g. the nerdy composter who monitors everything very closely, the chaotic composter who throws everything in one pile and barely manages it, the compost steward who lets observation & intuition lead the way, etc.)

COMPOST STEWARD, all the way. My whole approach is very, very much based in intuitive and interactive learning from your pile: What do you see? What do you smell? What changes over time and in response to what?

Not all people, and especially not me, are “traditional” science learners — and it’s a shame that science was only taught one, very specific way when I was in school (Numbers! Memorization! Rigid facts!). There is actually a place for so much awe, exploration, joy, and play in learning science. And when that learning can be interactive and touch-based, I find that it opens the door to knowledge for a much wider range of people.

For that reason, I like teaching people compost in a very hands-on, intuitive way. I also like DOING compost in that way. I am never going to be the person who tracks ratios and temperatures, and tries to optimize the pile. I am always going to be a person that looks, sees, adjusts, and accepts mistakes as part of the cycle of learning (and life).

Your book, despite being a piece of text, certainly reads as a guide to this hands-on, intuitive path of learning!

Looking back, are there any shifts in your practice that unlocked an easier or more enjoyable experience?

Truthfully, I think simple acceptance was the big one for me.

When I started out composting, it just felt like there was one, very specific and complex way to do compost “right.” It took a second for me to realize that there was really not any way to get compost “wrong.”

All biological materials are destined for decomposition, with or without your intervention as the composter. So no matter what you do (or don’t do), they’re headed that way. That perspective really took the pressure off.

There are, of course, ways to make decomposition faster, less smell-y, a million ways to make compost intentionally, and I embrace those completely! But letting go of the idea that there was one “correct” way and opening my mind up to accept mistakes as part of the process really, really, really helped.

Thank You, Cass!

One of the many things I admire about Cass is her ability to surrender to the process of being shaped by her experiences. Much of her work in composting is volunteer-based outside of a full-time job. And yet, by consistently tending to her evolving interests in composting and soil health, she’s been able to have a significant impact in her community and beyond.

If you do not currently have a composting practice, it is my hope that you will allow this book to impact and shape your journey! Or considering seeding that experience within someone else by gifting them a copy.

If you want to learn more about the creative journey behind Compost After Reading, check out this post over on The Rot.

About Compost After Reading:

With wry and brilliant writing, ​Cassandra Marketos brings the culture, beauty, community, and philosophy of compost to life in this one-of-a-kind, inventive work of narrative nonfiction that brings compost out of the dark ages and into the contemporary moment. Delightfully philosophical and inviting, it is an accessible guide to everything you need to know about compost, with actionable advice for beginners and experienced composters. You will learn why compost works, where to put your compost, how to pick your compost set up, the basics of decomposition, what to put in a compost pile, where to source your compost materials, and how to build a pile. With insights on what tools to consider, how to deal with odors, insects, and other critters, and transitioning your compost pile for colder weather, find easy-to-follow compost pile designs, tips on composting in small spaces, composting with worms, and how to compost things you’re always told you can’t (you just need to know how).

Where can I purchase Compost After Reading?

You can easily purchase here on Bookshop.org

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Hello Soil Friend,

Is it just me, or does life seem to contain more duality as we get older? Nothing really prepares you for the amount of loss, disappointment and regret that is bound to accumulate as you age. But of course there is also the accumulation of fond memories, rich experiences and accomplishments too.

After a busy and exciting start to the year, I’ve been met with several unexpected and heartbreaking experiences this spring. I’ve been doing what I can to give myself the time and space to process, grieve and rest.

The part of life I’m clinging to at the moment is all the mundane stuff that’s not particularly memorable, but makes up the bulk of life anyway: sleep, chores, meals, time-passing activities.

In this era of convenience it’s easy to gravitate towards a frictionless life, especially in times of stress. Pre-made meals abound, anything you want can quickly be delivered to your door, and even emails try to write themselves. But I question if all conveniences are truly helpful to me, and if all friction is truly inconvenient.

In theory conveniences are supposed to free me up to do more of what I want with my time — am I actually doing more of what I want? What is it that I want anyway and why am I always forgetting? And how might what I want / need change during challenging times?

For instance, perhaps the inconvenience of making a meal does give me more of what I want, a worthwhile friction to my every day.

What I Want

If I really think about it, at the most basic level what I want is pretty simple: I want to make things. Big things. Small things. Significant things. Inconsequential and Superfluous things. Things with little to no purpose. Things that bring comfort or spark joy. Tangible things, yes, but also abstract, conceptual things. The kind of things that impact others, and the kind that simply please my dog.

Why do I feel compelled to make such things? I’m not so sure, but it seems to be a good indicator of life being lived — using my hands to tinker, my brain to imagine and learn, and my feet to carry me to and fro as I make and share my various things.

Better to not leave my mind or body idle, after all it’s only on this extraordinary planet for an unknown but surely brief amount of time. And the capacities I have today are not guaranteed tomorrow (I could lose a hand at any moment!)

While I’ve been blue, it’s been hard to create certain things (currently sitting on a pile of soil-related writing fodder that I can’t seem to kindle lately), but I inherently create nonetheless:

I haven’t seen my appetite in weeks, and yet I make myself at least two beautiful meals a day because at least the sight of them is satisfying and makes me feel cared for. I haven’t had the energy to keep up with two-thirds of my garden, but the one-third and I tend to each other daily. I’ve not had the will to pick back up on a house painting project, but the simple caring act of making my bed and tidying up has taken on new significance.

I know I will soon ‘carry on’ and return to the bigger goals I had been working toward in my business, home and community. But for now, I’m giving myself permission to just keep up with my basic responsibilities and appreciate the things that are inevitably created everyday. That is, to at least acknowledge that even during a trying time, I’m still here and making things.

I’d love to hear any reflections you may have of your own, or hear what gets you through a hard season. Will return to regular soil health and composting content very soon 🤎

With Love,

Andie

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Things I have made or enjoyed lately (aka: proof of life):

I got a juicy question that I thought we could dig into today. This comes from Ryan who works in the grounds department at a community college in Nevada. He has been enrolled in the Re:wild Your Campus program, in partnership with The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), where I recently gave a talk that explores soil as an ecosystem, and practical tools available to the landscaping industry to steward it as such!

One of those tools is a composting method called a Johnson-Su Bioreactor. If you’ve never heard of this, I’d encourage you to check out a couple oldie but goodie posts I’ve written about them (here and here).

In short, a Johnson-Su Bioreactor (JS), is a very DIY-friendly static, aerated compost cylinder designed by husband and wife, Dr. David Johnson and Hui Chun Su. They only require carbon-rich feedstocks (think woodchips, brown leaves) and when managed correctly (building it right and keeping it moist) they yield a very biodiverse, and fungal-rich soil amendment which can be diluted in water as a compost extract and applied as a soil drench, introducing a full suite of beneficial microbes to the rootzone which is all too often deficient in bacterial predators and fungal communities.

That is the background you need to know, now lets get to Ryan’s questions!

Oh and if you have any thoughts or experiences to share related to this topic, or follow-up questions of your own, please share them in the comments. This is meant to be a forum where we can collaborate. 🤎

Q:

Some of my colleagues and I attended the talk you gave for Re:wild Your Campus on soil and compost and we were fascinated. We were also happy to hear that you’re a fellow compost enthusiast! Compost is a big part of our grounds management in these high desert soils.

Last year we started experimenting with JS bioreactors here trying to convert some of the cleaner portions of our cardboard waste stream into usable compost. We struggle with seasonal inputs like fall leaves and not having enough green material, or spring grass but having no carbon. Cardboard is available all year and we want to have some form of composting happening all year long. It’s just an experiment with a couple of bioreactors for now but I wanted to bend your ear.

We run into a lot of worry about contamination with our use of cardboard as a primary carbon feedstock. I was wondering about your thoughts on the likelihood of contamination and if mitigation is possible. Right now we limit the feedstock to choice pieces that have not tape or labels, colorful dyes, glossy or shiny coating.

We’re in uncharted waters here with a cardboard dominant compost in a JS bioreactor as an institutional practice. The closest analog that we could find to answer the concern of contamination was research on cardboard in sheet mulching, showing that it’s largely safe but I’m curious about your thoughts and experiences.

We’re also looking at scaling the cardboard composting but we’re debating if it’s worth it to have a whole mess of bioreactors or try to build one or two very large bioreactors. When looking into large bioreactors, I came across Soil is Sexy and saw a picture of a larger, horizontal JS bioreactor. Do you have any experience with scaling these to more of a production scale or know anyone who has? What was the experience? Any resources you would recommend?

Any guidance you could give would be welcome and we’re happy to hear from you!

A:

Hi Ryan! You’ve sparked so many thoughts for me, and I am so encouraged to hear about the practices you’re employing through your program — your grounds team sounds like true land stewards! That’s the world I want to live in. 💚

I’ve organized my response to address specific items you shared:

We struggle with seasonal inputs like fall leaves and not having enough green material, or spring grass but having no carbon.

Might it be possible to stockpile / store feedstocks so that you have carbon on hand during the spring time, and green material on hand for the winter? The former being straightforward (heap), and the latter being trickier, but not impossible!

You can dry down green material by spreading it out on a large tarp or pavement, allowing the sun and wind. Dehydrating green material will preserve the nitrogen content within the feedstock, but allow them to be stored in a container (ideally breathable). Once re-wetted they’ll behave like a nitrogen-rich feedstock.

Just an idea for at least some of your composting that requires more nitrogen than the JS systems!

We run into a lot of worry about contamination with our use of cardboard as a primary carbon feedstock [in a Johnson-Su Bioreactor]. I was wondering about your thoughts on the likelihood of contamination and if mitigation is possible.

It’s frustrating that we have to constantly be concerned with contamination even with materials that are natural and should breakdown readily. That’s the world we live in for now. Here is how I see this:

• Green Flags: Carbon is a similar Carbon-to-Nitrogen ratio (C:N) as woodchips. As far as I know, most inks are soy-based, and the glues used in cardboard are readily decomposed by fungi.

• Red Flags: Outside of plastic tape, the biggest thing I’ve been taught to look out for (through the Soil Food Web Foundation curriculum) are glossy textures and bright colors.

  Tackifiers that add gloss can be harmful to beneficial microbes (and they’ll obviously resist decomposition). Additionally, bright colors may contain heavy-metals (though lead is no longer allowed in the printing industry).

• Yellow Flags: more recently, I’ve had concerns of PFAS contamination from things like pizza boxes that may be specially treated to hold up to grease. Secondly, cardboard is likely much more sterile than other, more natural feedstocks which may make them slower to decompose.

  • Tip: you could spray the cardboard with a biologically active compost extract to inoculate it at the time of building, or water them in with extract post-build.

When it comes to possible contamination I like to lean on a few things:

• Scientific Literature: It sounds like you’ve already done some research! I’d specifically look into PFAS and cardboard to see if there are any known types to avoid (and let us know what you find!)

• Observation: taking note of any observations — from sight, smell to feel — and comparing that to your other experiences of bioreactors built with woodchips or more conventional carbon-rich feedstocks.

• Biology: the microscope can be a very useful tool to bring insight and peace of mind. In my book, if at the end of the day we have a biologically diverse community of microbes, the material ought to be safe enough for our soils.

  • Red flags under the microscope look like little to no life at all, or only bacterial communities and nothing else.

• Plant Assay: additionally, trying to germinate seeds using the product can give good peace of mind before applying across large areas of land

In short, I’d look at a sample of your cardboard bioreactors ~6 - 9 month time from to see what the microbial communities are looking like. It could be assessed later, but ~6 - 9 months should give you an idea if there are any concerns and allow a chance for any corrections.

We’re also looking at scaling the cardboard composting but we’re debating if it’s worth it to have a whole mess of bioreactors or try to build one or two very large bioreactors.

I don’t have any first-hand experience scaling past irrigation, large remesh cylinders. The only scaled systems I’ve seen are the cattle-panel pen design pictured on Colville Compost’s website. I’ve also seen stacked IBC totes that are modified to honor the principles of the JS design (example below, plus check out Midwest Restore).

You’re at the forefront, my friend! I’d encourage you to innovate and iterate ✊ for soil’s sake!

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When it comes to amending soils, I’m used to thinking on two scales: by hand in a garden plot, or with industrial equipment on large farms.

Our residential landscaping project posed a new challenge. Not only because of the size (~¼ acre), elevation changes, and variety of native plant types, but also because it required cooperation with multiple parties and a need to not be overly complicated or exact.

Luckily, my brain has a switch that allows me to either be detail-oriented and exacting or *flip switch* scrappy and good-enough. I often toggle between these modes when doing microscopy and field work, respectively.

I scrapped together the resources I could to help prep the soil before planting and was grateful the crew was willing to entertain my antics, they even let me pitch in with the labor, ha!

My amendment plan wasn’t perfect by any means, but it’s a good example of a philosophy I’m always sharing: do the best you can with the resources you have.

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Background + Rationale

Our soil is dense clay, presumably a slice of the Blackland Prairie judging by its color. There was no fluffy topsoil to speak of when we moved in due to the devastation of new construction. Our task has essentially been to rebuild a dynamic, living topsoil on top of subsoil!

A traditional soil chemistry test showed a fairly alkaline pH (8.0) and low organic matter (2.6%). While there wasn’t much need to look at this soil under a microscope, I did so anyway to establish baseline data and visuals for comparison over time. As expected, it was characterized by dispersed minerals (no aggregation), overly abundant bacterial populations, and low biodiversity — biological indicators of an early-succession soil ecosystem with very limited nutrient cycling.

My instinct was to get some biochar into the system to serve as scaffolding for improving soil structure but to be light-handed with it given the alkaline soil. I planned to mix it with a rich, living compost and inoculate plant roots with mycorrhizal fungi to help transplants establish quickly and become drought-tolerant.

Implementation

On Day 1, the contractor had to deconstruct my composting area to get the skid steer into the backyard. While doing so he exclaimed, “It’s teeming with life over here!” Geckos and salamanders leapt, beetles and spiders scattered, grubs and worms dug deeper. It was devastating, of course, but I reminded myself how quickly that ecosystem had developed and that it will recover once I resume composting after this one-time disruption.

I had about two cubic yards of lively compost that I’d made over the prior year. This was set aside to mix with the biochar when it arrived.

Ideally I would have used an already “charged” or “activated” biochar (you can read more about biochar in this deep dive post), but I couldn’t source a bulk order on short notice. Instead, I mixed it on-site with my compost, Happy Frog soil conditioner, and liquid humates.

We emptied all the solids into a large pile, layering biochar and compost, then the skid steer would scoop up a bucket and toss it to mix while I saturated it with liquid humates using a hose-end sprayer.

This mixture was spread in a thin layer across the planting areas, followed by a thin layer of engineered topsoil, which is typically used in landscaping for minerals and drainage.

Then it was time for planting! As each hole was dug, a small scoop of Mykos mycorrhizal inoculant (by Xtreme Gardening) was tossed in, the plant was transplanted, and everything watered in and lastly, mulched.

Sloped areas were seeded with annual rye and covered in a biodegradable erosion blanket - this proved to be very effective at preventing erosion during the establishment phase.

Ideally I would have watered in all transplants with a compost extract, but again, I made do with the limitations. I can always come in with a soil drench or foliar spray.

Soil Amendment Summary + Visuals

1. Combined Amendments Materials

   1. Biochar + Homemade Compost + Happy Frog Soil Conditioner

2. Hydrated + Inoculated Mixture
   The skid steer repeatedly scooped and tossed the pile to mix the materials while I saturated it with liquid humates using a hose-end sprayer

3. Spread Across Planting Areas
   The biochar–compost mixture was applied in a thin layer across all planting zones.

4. Engineered Topsoil
   A light layer of engineered topsoil was spread on top to provide additional mineral structure and drainage typical of landscape installations.

5. Planting + Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation
   As each hole was dug:

   • A small scoop of Mykos mycorrhizal inoculant was added

   • The plant was transplanted

   • Everything was watered in (water in with compost extract if possible!)

6. Mulch + Seeding + Erosion Blanket
   All planting areas were mulched with a standard hardwood mulch to help protect the topsoil and retain moisture. Some areas were also seeded with Native American Seed’s general mix. Sloped areas were seeded with rye grass and covered with a biodegradable erosion blanket.

6. Future BioAmendment Applications
   Ideally I would have watered everything in with a compost extract, but sourcing and timing didn’t allow for it. I can always come back later with a soil drench or foliar spray :)

Updates + What’s Next

Now that we’re heading into spring, I’ve started putting compost extract out, especially around the tree plantings. I plan to apply extract as foliar sprays on anything that appears stressed.

I expect to pick up MORE plants at the Wildflower Center’s spring plant sale and will continue seeding additional Native American seed mixes. So far, maintenance has mostly involved hand weeding, which should become less necessary as the plants fill in. At some point I’ll have to add more mulch — I hope to use a combination of pruned plant matter and aged wood chips to mulch certain areas as-needed.

I’ll likely replace the blue agave with other varieties that don’t pup out, and incorporate some sotol and other structural plants (the agaves were simply something we already had on hand and provided some immediate anchors / visual interest).

Oh and of course, at some point I need to get my vegetable garden beds going! I’ve only transplanted onions that a friend gave me. As you may be able to tell, I’m much more engaged with composting than I am with gardening :) And in the garden, I tend to focus more on native plants than I do vegetables. I love that we all come to stewardship from a different angle / point of interest!

In short, our “yard” is officially a garden, and I’m so excited to tend it and allow it to evolve over time 💚 I know spring hasn’t sprung everywhere, but I’d love to hear updates from your garden!

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Till next time,

PS: It’s been a wild start to the growing season! In between soil assessments and workshops (including the building of a “worm wedge”) I squeezed in an epic trip to California — from a regenerative field day in the Central Valley to touring a worm farm and finally meeting Cass Marketos of The Rot in real life (!), I’ve gathered so much to share. I’ll be unpacking it all here as I find pockets of time to write in the coming weeks. 🤎

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If I’m being perfectly honest, I want to share it with others once it’s poppin’ off in spring, ha! Petty, I know. I’m also tempted to give you a dozen disclaimers before sharing photos (I’ll resist).

It’s truly taken me a while to process the end-result. Landscaping remodels are not like interior remodels, they’re not at all in a finished state when the crew leaves. The new plantings can look sparse and awkward, the soil raw, not yet cloaked in a blanket of groundcover.

While I am enjoying it in its current state, I’ve had to constantly remind myself that the intention and design vision will only be realized through growth and the art of tending over time. Nevertheless, what we have now is a huge step forward in our journey as sub/urban land stewards. The earthworks have been such a gift: we’re able to better access the sloped land, create zones for more diverse flora (and hopefully fauna) and manage water more responsibly.

Please enjoy this story of photos, I plan to expand on the soil amendments next post.

Before

While our development is innovative in many ways, especially when it comes to energy and efficiency, it is unfortunately not pushing the envelope in the outdoor department. Our lot started out, like every other, as a builder-grade yard — bermuda grass sod, a couple of shumard red oaks and a crape myrtle tree. Oh and the saddest landscaped bed with boxwoods, dwarf nandina and loriope. I don’t have many photos of this time, probably due to the landscape’s total lack of inspiration. But, I do have many records of what the lot looked like after we gave it over to the weeds (more on that story here).

2021 (Before):

This is one of the few records I have of our turf days. I would occasionally spread granular humates from MicroLife on the lawn, but otherwise we just kept it mowed.

2025 (Before):

Somewhere along the way, as an experiment, I gave the land back to the weeds. Per my photo record, I’d say 2023 is when we really pulled back on mowing and all sorts of things started growing in earnest. This was what our yard looked like as we were entering the design phase last year:

Design

Most landscape companies are in the business of outdoor carpentry, not environmental stewardship or habitat-building. It was challenging to find the right collaborator who shared our values, was capable of reading land / mindful of water movement, all while balancing their creativity and technical skills with the constraints of our site and budget!

Ultimately, we found our fit in Earthwise Industries and with great excitement, the design started to form. The part of a project where I get to live in my imagination and the imaginations of others, is often the funnest part :)

The plant list is not represented here, but we aimed for diversity among native plant species and emphasized edible varieties to add an interactive element for visitors (nothing sparks curiosity in plants like “did you know turk’s cap is edible? Here, try one!”) Additionally, lots of seed was spread using Native American Seed mixes.

A note on water management: I had already dug a swale on the side yard with my friend and talented landscape designer, Laura Brusson, to help retain water during storm surges — it was very effective! Our designers from Earthwise built upon that, removing our berm and adding a dry creek bed to slow and spread the flow of water as it moves down hill.

After

During the construction, every day after the crew left, James and I would scramble around the yard and say things like “this is going to change our life”. As in, how we live, where and how we spend time. I’m actually writing this in the warm winter sun on the south edge of the pergola listening to the birds while our dog, Clover, takes a nap in the shade 🤎. Speaking of, no one seems more pleased with our new yard than Clover. After all, her love language is spending time together outside.

October 2025 (Progress):

November 2025 (Completion):

Winter 2025 / 2026:

Concluding Thoughts

I want to acknowledge a few things:

1. We did not have to make such a big investment to spend more time outdoors or to be good environmental stewards — we could have kept tackling bite-size projects ourselves over time (don’t underestimate the impact of a small area of native plants). But the assist from a crew has provided a very helpful foundation that we can continue to create upon over time. It’s like we had molding clay in our hands, and the landscaping crew gave us a pottery wheel and basic tools to start shaping it into something not only more beautiful, but useful to all living beings who interact with it. (I hope this analogy is landing, I’ve never thrown pottery…)

2. No installation is ever perfect, there will be flaws. At first, the flaws of our install distracted me from the big picture. The less than stellar paint job, the cracking mortar as things settled, the plants available at the nursery vs the plants selected, the errors in how the irrigation zones were set up… It’s so easy to get worked up over these things when you’re paying good money for a professional service, and yet I’ve been around enough construction projects to know that’s just how things go. So much is out of anyone’s control, and contractors are humans that make mistakes. The important thing is the big stuff: are structures stable and safe? is it a good foundation for us to build upon? Most definitely. The expectation wasn’t that we’d never work on our yard again! It was that we’d have a new and improved yard to continue observing and tending to.

While visiting cobblestoned cities in Europe recently I realized just how special it is to have access to greenspace right out our back door. There may be a lot “wrong” with urban sprawl and suburban development, but what if we lived in a world where sub/urbanites viewed themselves as land stewards? I wonder what that could do for the biodiversity crisis, the small water cycle, emissions and other environmental issues of our time…

Next week, I’ll share what kind of soil amendments we used during the installation and how I plan to manage things going forward 🤓. Until then, I hope you enjoy a patch of sun (or shade, for our southern hemisphere friends) wherever you are on this beautiful planet.

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Since soil became a full-time focus for me, I have been reaching for more fiction during my down time. But it’s important to keep new information and perspectives flowing into my work, so this year I aim to read at least 6 books on the topic of soil and climate. And I’m challenging myself to work through books I already have in my library, but have yet to read.

What If We Get It Right? | By Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

I’ve been enjoying the podcast of the same name, it’s been serving as a touchstone to the big-picture, global perspective on climate solutions. The title question captures the importance of story-telling — specifically the stories we tell ourselves and others about not only the climate crisis, but the solutions available to us today and what the future could look like if we get our collective act together. I’ve started this book already and the vibe is: pragmatic hope (my favorite kind of hope).

What Your Food Ate | By David Montgomery & Anne Bikle

I’ve loved every book from these two authors, they’re excellent communicators. I’ve had this book on my shelf for a while and am excited to tap into the food / diet side of soil — a sub-topic I haven’t visited in a few years, at least via a book. My household has come a long way in the quality of our protein sources; I have a feeling this book is going to inspire me to make more progress in my gardening practice and veggie sourcing.

Beyond the War on Invasive Species | By Tao Orion

I read a few chapters of this a couple years ago and despite liking the subject matter, I fell off. Like many non-fiction reads it can be dense, but my instinct is I need to see this one through as it’s a fresh perspective on a topic that is often negatively monotonous.

Wanted! Mountain Cedars | By Elizabeth McGreevy

Similarly, this book is a rich history and fresh perspective of the too often maligned mountain cedars prevalent in my region. I’m particularly excited about this one as I’ve recently had the pleasure of working with Elizabeth McGreevy on her initiative, Project Bedrock.

Experimental Design for Biologists | By David J. Glass

I learned experimental design for a very specific context: lab experiments. I’m hoping to brush up on techniques for field experiments and trials with this concise textbook.

The Secret Life of Compost | By Malcolm Beck

Another one that’s been sitting on my shelf too long! Malcolm Beck is a local legend in Central Texas on all things compost, soil and mulch. While I know a lot about composting, both intuitively and intellectually, in theory and in practice, I hope this read gives me some new perspective on composting at scale.

Note: where possible, I’ve linked to bookshop.org which is a great way to support a local bookshop through an online purchase rather than funneling more money to you know where.

🤎 Check This Out: Krisi Olivero’s TED Talk: The Nightmare Below Your Feet

My friend in soil, Krisi Olivero, is a fellow Soil Food Web alumni and co-owner of Alter Eco Farms in Tennessee. Krisi’s enthusiasm for soil life is unmatched and with her background in theatre, she is the perfect person to take these concepts to the TEDx stage. She managed to pack a punch in this short talk introducing soil ecology in a thoroughly entertaining way (there’s dancing!). This is a great one to share with your friends who aren’t yet obsessed with soil ; )

Enjoying any videos, podcasts, books or articles on the topic of soil & climate lately? Please share in the comments!

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🗓️ ICYMI

December and January posts in review!

💬 Let’s Chat!

Ask Me Anything (AMA) or Share Anything by leaving a comment on this thread! Sometimes I write in some Q’s I’ve received from readers lately, feel free to chime in on any thread if you have something to add. I love hearing from you.

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In a previous newsletter for my business, Rhizos, I explained how even these nuanced quantification methods are still largely qualitative due to the dynamic, living ecosystem of soil and biological amendments. The intention of this microscopy working group is to develop methods and reporting that better account for this inherent variability, while also being more practical to execute.

That’s right, we want to see if we can make microscope assessments easier to carry out, and even more accurate in the information they convey.

This is a project that we will be chipping away at this year in between our full-time work as soil consultants, compost makers and lab-technicians. Today, I’m sharing our purpose statement!

While this may seem technical, our goal is to unlock affordable, accessible microscope testing. By lowering the barrier to entry, we hope to welcome small farmers and hobbyists into these insights—empowering them to make and source better biological amendments such as compost and take an informed approach to restoring the health of the soils they steward.

They say, “create the change you wish to see in the world”, and I’d like to add: do it in community with others, because what emerges is greater than the sum of its parts. We shall see what comes of this. ✨

Purpose Statement

From the Holobiont HUB microscopy working group: Brian Vagg, Triin Savet, Andie Marsh, Renald Flores, Keisha Ernst, Sebastien d’Ursel, Tanja Dekker, and Adam Cobb

Ecological Vitality (EV)¹ is an emerging concept that links organism biomass and richness², with ecosystem processes and services. This framework promotes effective caretaking for land, soil, microbiomes, plants, and animals while enhancing meaningful field trials and community science³.

Generally, the presence and abundance of diverse organisms suggest favorable environmental conditions and food web functions⁴. Accurate and precise assessments of onsite biological communities⁵ are currently limited, hindering use of microscopy for land and soil regeneration⁶.

A novel protocol for Rapid Microorganism Checks (RMCs)⁷ will provide a new standard for practical, qualitative, and interpretable assessments of local biotic networks⁸. Both professionals and enthusiasts, equipped with a microscope, will be able to track key bioindicators⁹ of ecological well-being without the need for tediously counting organisms.

Our team’s goals are to…

• Elevate mindful microscopy¹⁰ that’s compatible with other bioscience data, demonstrating how microorganisms are the foundation of land and soil health¹¹

• Combine innovative scientific knowledge and community field experiences that enhance social collaboration and the spread of holobiont literacy¹²

• Establish a widely-adopted approach that links thriving microbiomes and ecosystem regeneration while providing free and open-source educational materials

Next steps

We’re preparing a Mindful Microscopy Primer that communicates the EV framework and explains how to complete an RMC within a few minutes. For example, we’re developing an intuitive system that allows comparisons between samples and shows trends over time.

Ultimately, our vision is to spread reliable insights through straightforward reconnaissance of the micro-world. Information provided by RMCs can be widely accessible and helpful to practitioners, supporting land and soil stewardship at every scale.

By selecting from visual references, users will benchmark the relative densities and morphological variations for micro-life subcommunities¹³, such as (1) fungal spores, (2) fungal filaments, (3) protozoan, and (4) nematode. These bioindicators can be estimated within a few minutes, minimizing sampling noise¹⁴ by embracing the variability and uncertainty in all living systems.

Primer 1.0 will center on compost assessments, an essential component of land and soil management. Future modules (expansions) may be added in collaboration with our practitioner community, as evidence accumulates.

Final thoughts

Mindful microscopy opens the door to deeply compelling and authentic storytelling. By making the invisible visible, RMCs can promote a common language and illustrate how biological communities build ecosystems and support human society.

While offering guidance that’s as repeatable and reliable as possible, we recognize microscopy is only one tool in the toolkit¹⁵ and must complement other technical and social diagnostics, such as direct observations, plant health tracking, chemistry reports, molecular testing, and more.

Forthcoming materials will be open-access and non-commercial, allowing wide adoption and adaptation (like this active compost primer on Holobiont Hub). We intend that any related applications or technologies be free and transparent, inviting reasonable challenges and welcoming new discoveries to inform ongoing breakthroughs.

Footnotes

1

ecological vitality (EV) - “...the inherent capacity of nature to be healthy, robust, and full of life.” (see Lifestyle Sustainability Directory); the combination of key ecosystem factors, such as biodiversity, health, resilience, and interconnectedness

2

organism biomass and richness - the population (estimated abundance) and variety of species or types of a particular organism grouping, for example, nematodes

3

meaningful field trials and community science - communal activities, such as repeated and reported direct experiments, designed and coordinated to expand our knowledge and comprehension of regenerative practices and ecological land management

4

food web functions - how all organisms within an ecosystem relate to each other and create unique processes, such as the flow of energy and cycling of nutrients

5

biological communities - the various and interacting organisms within a sample that is collected from a larger area, such as a compost pile

6

land and soil regeneration - improving degraded habitat and restoring key ecosystem features, such as fertility and biodiversity

7

Rapid Microorganism Checks (RMCs) - a proposed method to quickly gauge each microorganism group (subcommunity) by selecting from reference images, getting an overall snapshot of samples in minutes, rather than exhaustively counting organisms

8

biotic networks - complex linkages between all the living parts of an ecosystem, for example, healthy soils support a multitude of interactions between individual organisms, populations, and the entire biological community

9

key bioindicators - microorganisms that drive ecosystem processes and food web functions by their activities and interactions, for example, the predation of bacteria and fungi by protozoa that creates a nutrient loop/cycle

10

mindful microscopy - a shift in thinking that focuses on dynamic functions and characteristics of the microscopic life forms that support our biosphere, instead of demanding numerical outcomes that lead to limiting judgements. For example, regarding the vast array of lifeforms that depend on soil as an energetic community that we can nurture and collaborate with, rather than merely defining and controlling

11

land and soil health - the capacity of soil ecosystems and landscapes to recover from stress, self-renew, and continue supporting plants, animals, and microbiomes with key processes and services, such as nutrient cycling and water filtration

12

holobiont literacy - a broad understanding that individual plants and animals provide a scaffolding for complex microbiomes where hosts, together with all other organisms living around, on and within their bodies, form a united community of relationships

13

subcommunities - a distinct group of organisms that lives within a larger biological community, for example the protozoan subcommunity found in compost

14

sampling noise - unavoidable variation and innate errors that reduce the accuracy and precision of all biological appraisals that are based on population samples

15

one tool in the toolkit - recognition that microscopy is a single approach to gathering information about biotic networks; ultimately combining different and contextually appropriate measurements is crucial to a more holistic view of biological communities

🔬 Let me know what comments or questions you might have for this working group!

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THE PILE

I felt like a hot mess leading up to the holidays. I was busier than I like to be, and I have this tendency to feel weirdly victimized when I’m overscheduled—as if I have no say in my commitments, and that they aren’t aligned with how I want to spend my time (they almost always are).

When I’m due for an attitude adjustment, building a compost pile can be very cathartic. Its scrappy, imperfect nature reminds me not to take things so seriously; most of life doesn’t require precision, just attention to a few basic principles. The physicality of the task metabolizes whatever energy I need to rid myself of. And, I’m not quite sure how to put this last one into words, but… I find a lot of forgiveness and reassurance in composting. A feeling of, “you can’t really get this wrong” and “just do your best and you’ll adjust along the way”. The pile itself is forgiving, and so is the practice. And the act of being responsible for at least some of my own waste - food waste - feels at least a little redeeming (if not too strong a word).

Ever since our big landscaping project, I’d been without a household compost, thankfully able to take our food scraps to the community garden in the interim. With all the holiday meal plans, I knew the scraps would be plenty, so building a new home pile was high on the priority list. (Also high, because: free therapy.)

As I grappled with a task list that was really more of a perfectionist’s wish list, and my parents arrival fast-approaching, I tapped into the creative part of me that doesn’t do overwhelm (isn’t it great we contain multitudes?). She suggested, “maybe Dad would actually enjoy creating a compost pile with you.”

So, I asked him. Not only was he down, he woke up early to collect bags of leaves from their yard in DFW which he stuffed into the car for the 3-hour drive to Austin. My Dad’s love language, as far as I can tell, is being of service. By asking for his help, I wasn’t adding to his plate, I was giving him a chance to express that love.

I had originally thought I needed to get everything in tip-top shape so my parents could just relax and float through the holidays without lifting a finger. But y’know what? Sometimes people want to sweat, I know I do! They want to help make an elaborate meal (my mom’s love language), do a workout together, or pitch in on a project.

People are constantly touting the importance of “community”, but I don’t think most of us even know what we mean by that. It can feel abstract. My take: Gathering is great, but you know what’s even better? Creating something together.

So, here is a reminder to myself and to you: invite others to create things with you. It could be anything, big or small, but do it together and see if it feels any different than gathering without creating, or creating without others. And please, report back :)

Wishing you a very Happy New Year! And excited for the things that will be created and shared this year, right here.

PS: I wrote down a few things I want to let go of this year and will hand them over to the belly of the compost to process for me. I call this composting my feelings <3

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HOWDY.

The seasons are shifting, but the work belowground never stops. As we approach the winter solstice, it’s a natural time to reflect on the year’s growth and plan for the cycles ahead.

❄️ In this winter edition:

• Spotlight: Multi-species management at Sunrise W Ranch

• Updates: Small-batch “bioamendments” are coming this spring

• Event: A hands-on composting workshop in January

SPOTLIGHT.

Stewardship vs. “Re-wilding”

This fall, I sampled several fields at Sunrise W Ranch—ranging from recently cleared land to holistically grazed pastures and untouched areas. This range establishes a baseline to track how different management strategies influence soil biology over time.

One early takeaway: land clearing may cause temporary declines in fungal biomass and bacterial blooms. That’s not bad—it’s part of the process. What matters is the stewardship that follows.

The Hypothesis:

I suspect that the intentionally managed fields will show greater gains in soil health in the matter of months, compared to the areas that a “naturally re-wilding” without management. Why? landscapes lack the natural processes, like the migration of animals, that build topsoil due to modern constraints like fencing, roads, and fragmented land use. However, “stewarded” soils account for this and take measures to make up for them through the use of strategically managed livestock, covercrops, and / or compost applications.

The Sunrise W Sequence:

• Goats to clear unwanted vegetation

• Cattle to graze and trample biomass

• Chickens to scratch, spread manure, and disturb the soil surface

• Vermicompost tea to reintroduce and support soil biology

Under the microscope, their vermicompost showed excellent quality. We saw a successful increase in protozoa through the brewing process—a key factor for Sunrise W’s bacteria-rich soils, as protozoa regulate bacteria and release plant-available nutrients.

The Takeaway

This experience at Sunrise W is a good reminder that sampling isn’t about collecting endless data. For land managers, it’s about detecting trends, understanding the impact of management decisions, and telling a clear story of regeneration—successes, setbacks, and all.

Thoughtful sampling doesn’t have to be excessive or expensive. It just needs to be intentional.

If you’re unsure how often to sample or what approach makes sense for your land, I’d be happy to talk it through.

Book a complimentary Intro Call to discuss a sampling plan.

UPDATES.

Small-Batch Bioamendments

It’s official: Rhizos is beginning to produce craft compost. We’ll be doing a small-batch launch this spring through our sister brand, Soil is Sexy, geared toward gardeners and suburban land stewards. We’ll be selling through an online shop and in-person events in the Austin area.

Agricultural Scaling

We are currently working toward fulfilling larger, agricultural-scale orders in late 2026. If you’re curious about our process or want to discuss how these amendments might fit into your long-term plans, reach out at andie@rhizos.science.

EVENT.

Workshop: Composting With Purpose

January 3, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | The Regen Ranch, Oakwood, TX

Join Christine Martin and me for a day designed to help you start or level up your composting in 2026! We will help you build a compost plan tailored to your specific context—considering your available time, local feedstocks, and land goals. We’ll also build a pile together so you can get a feel for the process.

Register for the Workshop Here

It’s the honor of a lifetime to share in this work with you. Wishing you all very happy holidays and a wonderful new year!

Warmly,

Andie

HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU?

• Consulting: Book a complimentary intro call to discuss your soil health goals.

• Education: Join our upcoming Composting With Purpose workshop.

• Connect: Follow Rhizos on LinkedIn for more frequent soil biology insights.

Feedback: Have a suggestion for how we could better serve land stewards? We are always open to your ideas and constructive feedback. Write to us any time at hello@rhizos.science.

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At times, that financial metric feels like a gut punch and makes me question if I’m cut out for this entrepreneurial thing. But at other times, I feel wise enough to challenge that perspective. Here is my argument—my attempt to explain what value I’ve gained during this time—to the 29-year-old version of me who had the courage to pursue this path.

Dear 29-year-old Andie,

Over the last four years in business, we have been fortunate enough to have many opportunities to share our love and knowledge of soil health. While we’ve yet to take a liking to social media (sorry, wish it were different), we are constantly making meaningful connections, especially here locally.

I am so thankful to be doing this work in Central Texas—it is positively vibrating with excitement about soil health, composting, and land restoration. We get to attend and speak at conferences, host workshops, and mentor college students, sharing about this growing industry and recruiting the next generation to work towards a regenerative future.

You are welcomed into the agricultural community in ways that will often move you to tears. We’ve met incredible leaders in the regenerative movement (people you’ve been reading about), and are learning firsthand from the land stewards on the front lines of this transition toward ecological land management.

We’ve evaluated several hundreds of soil and compost samples, gaining insight into unique characteristics across various contexts and regions in North America, all while helping others better understand the principles of soil ecology and track their progress. You’ve had the privilege of collaborating with land managers to identify ‘soil-utions’ that are most practical for their context.

We’re doing it!

But here’s the thing: I’ve yet to commit to a singular, clear business plan. I know this sounds insane four years in—to still be gathering insight, accumulating experience, and trying new things. But I’ve come to understand just how important this flexible, adaptive growth stage is for us.

For better or worse, we are deeply intentional and thoughtful (you’re an enneagram 4 wing 3, woof). I am laying a path for us that feels truly sustainable long-term and meaningful in its contribution to improving soil health, and that requires time. Time spent nurturing relationships, taking a variety of actions, gaining insight and listening to the needs of others. And a lot of that time goes unpaid.

I know, restoring our soils and drawing down carbon is urgent work. And yes, getting paid is a key factor of sustainability. But my instinct is that an earth-oriented business, as much as the world needs them, cannot be rushed. Because, as it turns out, there’s no tried-and-true blueprint for an ethical, profitable, regenerative enterprise. There are, unfortunately, plenty of examples of business plans that fail to account for environmental costs and values.

In this way, we are not on the ‘cutting edge’ where demand is high and business is thriving, rather we’re on the bleeding edge teetering into uncharted territory. Building a business on that precipice, at least the kind that would require funding, would be very risky and require a bulletproof business plan. So, I’m not.

Instead, I’m choosing to stand on that ledge, maintaining my self-employment without being overly ambitious and taking on debt. This phase has been about prioritizing insight over profit. And, while I’m out here I’m actively calling people into this movement and cultural shift, contributing to the kind of momentum that will drive innovation and foster thriving, earth-oriented businesses in the, hopefully near, future.

One day, we will graduate from scrappy self-employment to a true business plan, one rooted in ecological values and comprehensive accounting. But for now, this patient, steady way of navigating a career in the relatively new niche of applied soil health, feels like the best way to honor the nature of the work itself.

I want you to know, I am so grateful to you for orienting us this way. Despite the opportunity costs associated with this path, I wouldn’t trade it for anything — not a bigger paycheck, or a higher status with an employer. And speaking of comprehensive accounting: I feel unquestionably rich in meaningful work, relationships and experience.

Our investments will pay dividends, I am sure of it.

With Love,

Andie

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She named her pumpkin Persephone which somehow made the whole thing even more delightful. Soon they became the topic of my dinner conversations, and everyone was rooting for her. In October, I met up with Jessica so I could pepper her with questions about the competition and what it was like to grow her first giant pumpkin. Today, I’m sharing her fun account of the experience.

Background

Jessica has a background in molecular bioscience and works for Enlightened Soil Algae (EnSoil), integrating their biological solutions into agricultural systems. She travels frequently between Texas and California to meet with growers. Before entering this competition, she “didn’t know a lick” about giant pumpkin growing.

The Tri-Counties Giant Pumpkin Growing Contest covers the Monterey–San Benito–Santa Cruz region in California, with the weigh-off held at the annual Hope Harvest Festival. The event raises funds for local cancer warriors and their families, helping ease the financial burden many face during treatment.

INTERVIEW

How it Works

First, let’s lay some groundwork. How many people compete, and how does the competition begin?

There were 55 contestants this year, with about the same number of pumpkin genetic combinations. All the seeds come from Giant Pumpkin varieties (some of which can cost $80–$150 each).

A small committee oversees the rules and manages all the genetics. One committee member breeds the plants ahead of time, producing dozens of seedlings. From there, contestants participate in a draft (kind of like fantasy football) where a randomized order determines who picks genetics first. After choosing, each contestant buys their transplant—proceeds go to the Hope Harvest Cancer Fund.

Are there rules and prizes?

The main rule is that you must grow your pumpkin within the tri-county area. Beyond that, the pumpkin must be able to be carried by a forklift on and off the scale—so rot or cracks that penetrate the outer wall will not hold up. No use of silicone or other bandages are allowed.

Cultivation practices are unique to each grower, each implements their knowledge, beliefs and preferred cultural practices. This competition is about demonstrating your green thumb!

There are cash prizes for the top three ($1,000, $750, $250), but this competition is more focused on community and charitable fundraising compared to big national weigh-offs like Half Moon Bay.

Growing Persephone, the Giant Pumpkin

Tell us about your start to the competition.

The day I picked up my transplant (April 11th) it was incredibly windy—a rough start for a little 4–6-week-old plant. I took it straight to a plot we call The Patch, where several contestants grew side-by-side. It was fun to keep an eye on each other’s progress.

What was your cultivation approach?

I planned to take a regenerative approach. What I appreciate about regenerative farming, compared to a strict organic framework, is that you can use any tool as long as you have a solid rationale and apply it responsibly. The priority is always biology: soil life, the plant’s microbiome, and the health of the broader environment.

I used mostly biological products—ensoil algae, microbe-based inoculants, molasses, compost, etc.

Month one was fully biological. In month two, when Persephone clearly needed more nitrogen, I added biological nitrogen sources like amino acids, plus a small amount of synthetic nitrogen and some conventional calcium. But the majority of inputs throughout the growing season were biological.

Did you have irrigation?

Yes! All the growers have access to a main irrigation line, but it is up to them to customize it from there. This is a significant part of a growers strategy. No irrigation set up was the same between growers.

I chose to set up with above ground 360 degree emitters connected to a fertigation tank on a timer to alternate between fertility and water cycles.

Explain giant-pumpkin growing to us like we’re five.

The vine grows like a horizontal Christmas tree—one main stem with lateral branches. Choosing where to pollinate your pumpkin on the vine is part of the cultivation strategy (many growers have varying thoughts on pumpkin placement); I chose one about 12-feet along the vine. But to prevent splitting, you keep a few other pumpkins attached as water reservoirs, just not so many that they limit nutrients for your main pumpkin.

What challenges did you face during your growing journey?

Plenty! First, I underestimated how much management the secondary vines required—they root, but you have to bury them to keep them vegetative.

Because I live in Texas, I couldn’t check on Persephone as frequently as I wanted. Thankfully local friends and family visited the patch for me. Once I had a miscommunication with my mom and she removed all the other pumpkins… so we were all in on Persephone at that point! Having no contingency pumpkin really made my brow sweat!

Later, when she got too big for me to move alone, I had to convince my ag friends to help add sand and insulation around her. People take consent very seriously in giant vegetable growing, ha!

Then, three-weeks before weigh-off we got an unexpected stretch of wet weather. Persephone developed a blossom-end split, so I made the very tough decision to cut her off the vine to stop further damage, even though it meant she’d start losing weight from evaporation.

A few days later she developed a patch of rot in another area, which is the kind of thing that knocks people out of the competition fast.

How many contestants made it to weigh-off day?

Only 12 of the 55.

Wow. How did you deal with the rot issue?

If I had seen it earlier, I would’ve treated with fungicide. But by the time I got to California, I had to perform emergency pumpkin surgery—cutting around the affected area (carefully, so I wouldn’t cut too deep) and treating it. This was all within two weeks of weigh-off. I just needed her to hang in there, and thankfully she did.

The Festival

How does one move a giant pumpkin?

With a lot of care and big equipment! A photo explains it better than words.

What’s the environment of the Hope Harvest Festival like?

So fun. Around 200 people came out to enjoy games, food, a pig roast, and a silent auction. The whole event centers on community support and this year it raised over $20,000 for families dealing with cancer. All finalist pumpkins were lined up and weighed one by one, followed by an awards ceremony.

How did you and Persephone fare against the competition?

We placed third at 846 lbs! I’m the first woman to place in the top three in this competition.

All top three growers used biological approaches. First place (1,218 lbs) focused heavily on mycorrhizal fungi, second place used an organic strategy, and fourth place was 100 lbs lighter than Persephone.

Do you plan to compete again?

It would be an honor and a privilege!

I love that Jessica’s journey shows what’s possible with a biological approach—and that this ended up being a story of a woman, my friend, making history! Are you inspired to participate in a growing competition?

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About Jessica Murison

Jessica is a joy to work with and a wealth of knowledge on the use of EnSoil Algae in agriculture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at jessica@ensoilalgae.com.

Day in the Life

I’ve always found it interesting, if not helpful, to see how other people live and work. I was recently invited to share a “day in the life” for Soil Science Ladies — a “community that empowers women and other marginalized communities in the soil sciences”. I would have loved having this kind of representation to look to when I was an undergraduate interested in soil, lost as to what careers may exist for me—a feminine gal from suburbia, in a field that’s largely masculine and rural.

I thought today I’d expand upon the instagram post that featured an average day in my life—spanning personal habits, business tasks and my more creative pursuits.

PS: while it might read like it, none of these links are affiliate links, just sharing what works for me :)

Oh and please, do tell, what’s a day in your life like? I want to know.

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Morning

6:00 - 6:30am 🥰

To start the day right I must snuggle my love bugs for a minimum of 30-minutes, it’s the best part of every day.

6:30 - 7:30am 🧘🏻‍♀️

After face-washing and teeth-brushing, I make a mud/wtr tea and do a quick home workout—either guided weight lifting or mobility exercises (I’ve been doing whatever Morgan Tyler tells me to do, for years).

It’s important that exercise feel super casual, I don’t even bother putting shoes on. For my cool down I do a 5 - 10 min guided meditation on Insight Timer.

7:30 - 8:30 am 🐾

This hour is all about Clover, we go on a long walk or to the dog park. I’m usually dressed in a ridiculous outfit I can freely sweat and get dirty in. About half the time I listen to a podcast.

Highlight: I love joyfully greet the moody teens waiting for the bus, I like to think they get a kick out of me and my dog, but the chances are high I’m just annoying.

8:30 - 9:00am 🌮

Breakfast things. I should probably change it up, but for the past couple years I've been making myself a sausage, egg and cheese taco with a side of kefir.

9:00 - 9:30am 💃

Sometimes I get straight to work at 9, other times I take my time to put a little make-up on, smooth my hair and put on a more civilized outfit. Regardless, a cup of earl grey lavender tea gets made.

9:30 - 10:00am 📝

I check inboxes and tighten up my agenda for the day, a few minutes are often spent annoyed with myself that I didn’t plan today, yesterday.

10:00 - 11:30am 👩🏻‍💻+✨

If I can budget it, this is my creative time block to write for substack, create content, etc. I really function best when I start my work day with creative tasks, it makes me feel less bothered by all the other things I have to do that aren’t as fun.

11:30 - 1:00pm 📧 + 📊

This time block is usually spent responding to emails, writing reports for clients and / or administrative tasks like queueing up invoices.

Note: by design I do not get notifications for emails and I only tend to my inbox in brief intervals about twice a day.

Afternoon

1:00 - 2:00pm 🥪 + ☀️

I make myself some lunch and urge myself to eat outside which usually leads to me poking around the compost pile or garden or just sunning myself with Clover.

This is a very important part of the day that I sometimes have to coach myself through — as nice as it sounds I don’t always want to take the time to make a meal and sit outside.

2:00 - 5:30pm 🔬 + 📞

The second half of the day is reserved for calls and microscope work. If I don’t have enough of either to fill 3 - 4 hrs then I’ll work on an improvement to my business in some way, lately I’ve been learning how to use ClickUp to help with general organization and project management.

5:30 - 6:00pm 🙃

In theory I should be shutting down during this time—cleaning lab equipment, checking email one last time, planning the next day’s agenda, etc. But if I’m being honest, I usually get distracted and abandon my work station to start dinner or do a house chore and don’t come back till the next day.

Evening

6:00 - 7:30pm 🕯️🥘

My husband and I cook together every night and we enjoy our meal at the dining table, lit candle n all. It’s a simple ritual that we look forward to daily to catch up with each other. It usually ends in one of two ways: a fit of laughter, usually at the expense of one of us or our dog, or a meandering discussion as we try to unpack the politics of our times.

7:30 - 8:30pm 🏡 🫖 🐶

Some combination of chores, playing with Clover, and an evening tea.

8:30 - 9:30pm 📖

Usually spent co-existing in the same room together, reading, doing a little work or winding down with an evening shower or some yoga.

After a digital detox last year, “TV Tuesdays” were established which broke our nightly tv habit.

9:30 - 10:00pm 🛌 🪥

Get ready for bed.

10:00 + 💤

Snoozing.

This doesn’t happen in a vacuum of course, sometimes I have much cooler things to do like a site visit to attend or a compost to build, other times a wrench gets thrown into the mix (like having to call an emergency plumber last week) and some days we’re too exhausted to feed ourselves and end up at the nearest taco truck. But, on the whole this is my idea of a good average week day — what’s yours?!

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🤎 Check it Out:

• Critical Ecology Lab: this research group, led by Dr. Suzanne Pierre, is “building a new pathway for scientific experts and communities to produce the high-quality information and interventions needed in this critical moment for the environment and society” (criticalecologylab.org).

  In short, they account for the complex social issues that have shaped ecosystems over time which is essential to developing solutions that restore the environment long-term, and prevent further damaging dynamics.

  I love following the Critical Ecology Lab newsletter and wanted to share this new video that captures their story (below). If you want to explore more, I’d recommend their instagram and this Ologies podcast episode.

🗓️ ICYMI

Here is a round-up of November’s posts. There was a lot of talk this month about legless creatures, ha!

💬 Let’s Chat!

Ask Me Anything (AMA) or Share Anything by leaving a comment on this thread! Sometimes I write in some Q’s I’ve received from readers lately, feel free to chime in on any thread if you have something to add. I love hearing from you!

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The Life Cycle of a ‘Hungry Worm’ Red Wiggler

By Scott Kent

1. How Worm Babies Are Made

Over the years I’ve worked with lots of different feedstocks for the worms, starting with food waste from local restaurants then moving to manure as I live by a lot of dairies. Today we use dairy manure as the feedstock for all of our worms.

We place Adult worms in this manure material and give them the opportunity to find love, settle down, and start a family in what’s called a “breeder bin”. Earthworms are hermaphrodites, and during mating both worms will become “pregnant” and lay a “cocoon” that will develop 1 - 5 baby worms.

The cocoons take about 3 - 4 weeks to hatch, and the adult worms are removed before the babies are born so that all the worms in a bin are the same size / age. The baby worms spend a few weeks in the breeder bin before being given more room to grow.

2. Growing Healthy Red Wigglers

We have a pretty impressive shelving system which stores all the bins that the worms live in. They are mortar trays with a sheet of bubble wrap over them to prevent excess evaporation.

The breeder bin that the baby worms started in eventually gets divided into more bins to minimize competition for available nutrition and give them access to more food. Each new bin that is started gets filled up with fresh manure which doubles as bedding and food for the worms to eat. Once the worms have processed the manure, if they aren’t fully grown yet, the bins will get divided again until that generation of worms has had the chance to plump up and reach adulthood.

3. Worm Harvesting & Shipping

The adult worms are separated from the composted material through a worm harvester. Most of them are shipped off to find a new home with composters, home gardeners, and businesses all around the country (and sometimes out of the country!) to help people turn their organic waste back into living plants.

Some worms are kept for me to make a new generation of baby worms, and that process continues. The vermicompost that falls through the trommel during worm harvest goes into a continuous flow-through system (CFT) for further processing, along with some worms that slip through.

4. Worm Casting Production

Up to this point, everything has been focused on worm reproduction and growth. From here we are focused on producing worm castings. All the vermicompost that the worms were living in gets placed into a CFT bin which has its own separate worm population—none are removed from the system for sale as the goal here is not to sell worms, but to produce castings.

The design of a CFT plays on worm’s attraction to food. At first, you won’t do any harvesting until the bin has been completely vermicomposted and is full of worm castings. Then, you place a layer of fresh food on top. The worms will leave the lower levels of the bin to eat the fresh food.

A cutting bar (pictured) can then been used to cut across the bottom of the bin, causing a couple inches of worm castings to fall through the grate. The remaining material in the bin will then sink a couple inches due to the lost material on bottom, leaving new room to add more fresh food on top once they have converted the previous feeding into castings.

From here our castings are shipped to our customers — home gardeners, greenhouse farmers, and even a group of competitive pumpkin growers :)

Wow! Huge thanks to Scott for opening the bins and sharing his knowledge and operation with us. Stories like these remind me that doing good, meaningful work doesn’t have to be overly complex. A little care and intention can go a long way in facilitating others and the change we wish to see in the world.

To connect with Hungry Worms, or to snag some worms or castings for yourself, check out hungryworms.com

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About Hungry Worms

Scott Kent raises composting worms in Idaho and Utah to support his family.

• Want to start a worm compost bin? Order Red Wiggler Worms from Hungry Worms!

• Have Questions? Call Scott at 435-994-4987

• Hungry Worms Website

I hope you enjoy the story behind Hungry Worms as well as some fun facts and helpful tips when it comes to vermicomposting. Next week we’ll take a virtual tour of Hungry Worms unique operation in Idaho-Utah area!

The Interview

How did you first get started with worms and worm composting?

Through a series of poor life decisions ;)

In all seriousness, my affection for worms comes from my passion for sustainable agriculture!

When I was 18-years-old I was gifted my first worm bin for Christmas. I accidentally killed my first couple batches of worms, but I learned from those mistakes and grew more.

I soon understood worm composting is a very effective way to help “close the loop” on waste, allowing nutrients to be returned to plants instead of lost entirely.

What inspired you to start your business, Hungry Worms?

I wanted to be able to make a career out of something I like doing and that I’m passionate about. Of all things, raising earthworms ended up being my job choice. I enjoy the “art” of vermicomposting and knowing that my worms are going out across the country to start or continue other people’s vermicomposting practice, that feels meaningful to me.

Can you tell us a little about Hungry Worms and what makes your operation unique?

Yes! Hungry Worms is a bit of a one of a kind worm farm. Most other worm farms have lots of space and can use that to their advantage. I don’t. I’ve had to become very optimized, both in space efficiency and worm breeding / growing efficiency, in order to match the “worm-output” of bigger businesses. I only have 1,000 square-feet of space, but am able to grow hundreds of pounds of red wigglers monthly.

What challenges have you faced in running a worm-focused business, and how have you / are you overcoming them?

Growing too quickly can be a problem. If you sell too many worms it can be hard to re-supply yourself. Predictability / reliability in the worm supply is also tricky, people expect you to have worms ready every week and it can be hard to provide that reliability.

Are there common mistakes you see new worm composters make? What advice might you have for someone starting their first bin?

The biggest thing is to provide the worms with enough bedding: 3 to 6-inches of high carbon, water absorbent material (what most composters would refer to as “browns”) is a must for starting a bin. If you have a solid “base” for your worm bedding you’ll be able to bounce back from most other kinds of mistakes.

Learning to maintain a “wrung out sponge” feel throughout the worm’s environment—creating a balance of water and oxygen— is probably 80% of the work.

For my detailed tips you can check out my worm composting guides!

Any fun facts about worms that most people don’t know?

• Earthworms are hermaphrodites i.e. both male and female simultaneously.

• Scientists have found that the fluid inside earthworm’s body cavities (coelomic fluid) has anti-cancer properties.

• Charles Darwin, towards the end of his life of studying animals, said; “it may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world as these lowly organised creatures.”

How do you see worm composting contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle or community?

It’s two-fold: worms recycle waste and produce bio-fertilizers. Worm composting allows for less “waste” to actually be wasted, which also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, while their castings allow for less dependence on chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, tilling, etc.

What advice would you give someone who is considering starting a worm composting business?

It’s a great side hustle, but a hard business. Start small and don’t invest more than you can afford to lose.

What has been the most rewarding part of your Hungry Worms journey so far?

On the business side, seeing something I dreamed of becoming a reality is very cool. When it comes to Hungry Worms specifically, it will never get old seeing people find success with worm composting and being able to experience the magic of giving their dead organic matter new life as the worms turn waste into new healthy plant life.

How do you hope Hungry Worms will grow or evolve in the next few years?

Just more slow and steady growth in the worm department, and a new focus on soil regeneration using Soil Food Web methods, like yourself (Andie)!

Do you have a favorite worm story or memorable experience with your worms?

Well, most experiences are memorable because of the “gross” situations I get myself into, ha! For example, a massive fly outbreak (only happened a couple times), testing out new food sources that smell horrible, etc.

To give a positive one, very early on when I saw a banana peel disappear within a week of me placing it in the bin, I couldn’t believe it. I was hooked.

If worms had personalities, how would you describe your herd?

Hah! I haven’t thought about that. I would say kind :) I think / hope they appreciate the lives I provide for them, and I appreciate the life they kindly provide for me and my family in return.

Concluding Note

Scott’s respect and affection for the humble earthworm reminds me how much impact small, thoughtful systems can have!

Stay tuned for Part II, where we’ll take a virtual tour of his composting setup and see the smart solutions that have allowed Scott to make a good living as a worm farmer.

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About Hungry Worms

Scott Kent raises composting worms in Idaho and Utah to support his family.

• Want to start a worm compost bin? Order red wiggler worms from Hungry Worms!

• Have Questions? Call Scott at 435-994-4987

• Hungry Worms Website

In my corner of far east Austin, rattlesnake sightings were off the charts this year. A neighbor, who I affectionately call our local Steve Irwin, kept count: over 75 rattlesnakes have been relocated from yards, garden beds, and garages since April, several more have been observed but not captured and presumably many were unreported and / or killed. Yikes.

By June, I was having rattlesnake nightmares and come July I wouldn’t let our dog Clover out unattended. Three different neighbors’ pets were bitten — two survived after a $4,000 vet bill, and one sadly didn’t make it. Neighbors started swapping resources on our community Slack channel: how to avoid snakes, what to do in an emergency, and how to make our yards less inviting — “mow your grass, clear brush, skip the bird feeders / avoid anything that attracts rodents" (like, say… a compost pile?).

By these standards, I was the poster child of a snake magnet!

It turns out, despite my affection for ecology, I’m just as susceptible to developing irrational fear about a factor of the natural world as anyone else. I even started rethinking our landscape plan to make it more “snake-proof”, which completely contradicted the project’s ethos: to build habitat and encourage biodiversity.

But as I thought on this more, the advice to essentially sterilize our yards wasn’t adding up. As far as I know, the incidents with pets occurred in traditional lawns, not in wild gardens or overgrown yards. Then, when considering the torrential July rains and new developments breaking ground nearby, it felt clear that snakes weren’t “infesting” our neighborhood so much as being displaced from theirs.

I had to remind myself: snakes aren’t out to get humans and their pets; it’s not like they want to make a meal of us. Rather, we’re both scared of each other. We are the same in this way. Also, I rationalized, their presence is a basic function of ecology — disturbance (like development by humans) tends to benefit rodents first, and their predators eventually follow. At the end of the day we’re all here together, we all have to co-exist as part of the same ecosystem.

So in attempt to co-exist whilst also staying safe and not becoming the resident snake breeder, here’s where I’ve landed:

• Be prepared: know the symptoms of a bite and where to go for treatment.

• Train the dog: next spring we’ll work with a pro to teach Clover avoidance.

• Common Sense: take basic precautions to not unnecessarily attract large amounts of rodents; stay on the visible paths of designated trails; wear closed-toed shoes.

• Stay alert: watch where you step; use tools to reach into brush or crevices.

• Keep perspective: snakes aren’t villains — they’re indicators of a functioning ecosystem of which you are a part.

I’ve also concluded that providing habitat for various species around my home does not make me more likely to have a bad encounter. If anything, a snake having more places to hide from me and my dog may keep us all safer.

The natural world and all her unexpected facets will be here with us whether we resist or embrace her. I like to think of my approach to sub/urban land stewardship as the more empowered, less delusional choice to embrace nature and my place in it. What say you?

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About the Belonging Series

The Belonging Series is a segment of the Soil is Sexy publication that explores what it means to be native to a place in a modern, sub/urban context. These posts tend to be personal essays that I write whenever inspiration strikes. You can adjust what segments you’re subscribed to in your substack settings.

I first learned of Dr. Elaine Ingham in my Soil Microbiology class in 2012, which (obviously) remains one of my favorite courses and labs from my undergrad at Texas A&M University. Over the next several years, I devoured every book and article I could find on soil biology and decided I wanted to dedicate my career to soil health in some way. At the time, research seemed like the only viable path for me.

In 2017 I studied for the GRE and applied to graduate programs that appeared to focus on soil ecology. Whatever wind had propelled me to this point, swiftly left my sails. Most professors I reached out to never replied, or told me funding for the project I’d been excited about had dried up. Friends already in grad school warned me the quality of the experience often hinged entirely on the advisor and, in the cruelest circumstances, students could be strung along for years as cheap labor.

Perhaps this wasn’t the path for me.

Around the time the rejection letters started rolling in, my online search for soil biology programs led me to the Soil Food Web School. I learned that Dr. Elaine had stepped away from academia — and the constraints such institutions have due to agrochemical funding — to teach what her decades of research had revealed: healthy soil food webs support healthy plants and they can effectively be restored.

From what she’s shared publicly, she’d faced much resistance and skepticism throughout her academic career. I imagine it wasn’t easy to maintain courage, especially in those early years of her graduate studies (late 1970s). Nevertheless, she doubled down on her observations, continuing to prove that nature’s systems of fertility and disease resistance are built upon microbial interactions.

Of course, when your discoveries challenge convention (and to some extent, capitalism), you’re bound to be called a “quack.” Some critics have labeled her as such. But anyone who has learned from her or worked alongside her knows she’s the truest kind of scientist — guided by curiosity, evidence and yes, a touch of conviction and willingness to debate.

When I found her online program, the wind flew back in my sails! It proved to be a much better fit than graduate school — its focus on applied science in action, rather than research (simply, not for me). Through the program I learned how to identify microbes under the microscope, how to incubate diverse soil life through strategic composting, and how to bring those microbes back to the land through compost extracts and teas.

Within a few weeks, even my then-boyfriend—who works in personal finance—was sharing his excitement about soil food webs with his colleagues. None of whom, I assure you, will find themselves elbow-deep in a compost bin any time soon (though, you never know). Yet, to this day, they often ask me thoughtful questions about soil—a topic they’d likely never considered until their co-worker’s wife signed up for that course.

That is the powerful effect of Dr. Elaine bringing her enthusiastic, accessible teachings to the people. She’s one of those rare scientists who has created ripples throughout our culture.

In 2023, the Soil Food Web team invited me to join them for an OHBA event in Houston, where Dr. Elaine was the guest of honor. They asked if I would set up my microscope in the conference hall to facilitate conversations on soil biology between her presentations. I was thrilled. Not only was it a generous opportunity to share about my business, but I’d finally get to meet the Mother of Soil Microbiology herself.

It was such a gift to meet her and if you can believe it, I didn’t get a single photo. Not one. I’ll forever kick myself for that, and forever be grateful for the chance to meet and talk with her at all.

Luckily, my friend Ines Frazier was there and she never misses a photo op, so I shall share that here instead:

The Soil Food Web School is now transitioning into a non-profit Foundation that will carry forward Dr. Elaine’s legacy through education and global online community. I’m excited to see how this next chapter will continue to empower backyard gardeners, farmers, landscapers, researchers, and restoration practitioners around the world.

As for me, the training gave me the confidence to start my own business. While I’m still learning the art of client relations, marketing, and all the rest that comes with running a business, I know I’d still only be reading about soil health instead of participating in it if it weren’t for the Soil Food Web School.

I plan to keep watering the seed that Dr. Elaine has planted in me by continuing to learn about soil systems and sharing the awe of soil microbiology and the magic of composting with anyone who will listen.

Thanks for being one of those people :)

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Inspired by holistic land management seminars, I decided to treat our suburban lot like the rangeland it once was. Instead of constant mowing, we let things grow and watched what emerged. Over time, I came to recognize a surprising mix of plant species—only a few native, some weeds I’ve grown fond of, some I seem to arbitrarily dislike (lookin’ at you Lactuca serriola) and others I’ve learned to pull before they seed (especially ones whose burrs cling to our dog’s fur).

The wildlife has shifted over the years, too. In our early years here, the yard teemed with a surprising number of spiders and roly-polies. A couple of years into our experiment, grasshoppers abounded. Years 3 and 4 have fostered more beetles, geckos, and birds. The yard has hosted annual flushes of swallowtail caterpillars and ladybugs. We now even have a resident family of Texas fence lizards.

My approach has been simple (lazy?): keep the ground covered and maximize photosynthesis. If vegetation is getting too large for our comfort in this suburban context (seems to be ~ 24”), we’ll weed whack it and trample it back a bit as if we’re a herd of livestock grazing. I keep an eye out for vines and anything with thorns and remove those by hand. We don’t irrigate, yet the backyard stays green throughout our brutal summers, unlike our front yard and the neighbors’ lawns, which often fade into dormancy with little insect life in sight.

While this approach may have been simple, it hasn’t always felt easy. More often than not, I’ve questioned our choices and worried about what our guests and neighbors think (our backyard is visible to surrounding properties). I’ve come to appreciate what many landscape designers know well: even a re-wilding landscape benefits from looking intentional. That sense of design not only signals care to the community but also makes the space easier to enjoy.

Something as small as a mowed path would have encouraged me to walk the yard more often and connect with it in a different way. When my self-consciousness reached new heights earlier this year, I texted our surrounding neighbors to explain what we were doing and invited them to share any concerns. To my relief, no one had complaints—one neighbor hadn’t even noticed, and the rest were excited about it and even enjoying ‘the view’!

The message I sent to all my neighbors in early spring:

Responses I got from my VERY SWEET neighbors:

The irony now is that we’re disturbing the landscape in a big way (there’s currently a mini-excavator parked out back). But this time, we’re moving forward with a clear plan: amend the soil as we go, pack in large areas of native plantings, and ultimately create more habitat for us and the critters to call home.

Yesterday, to give the crew access to the backyard, the installer had to move everything that’s made up my composting practice over the past four years. Watching it all get moved out felt like a punch to the gut. But in the wake of the skid steer: rich, spongy topsoil alive with countless larvae and even a few worms, the whole stretch of the side yard was pulsing with life. As I scooped up what I could, to use as inoculant for the new plantings, I thought to myself—this is exactly what I mean when I say, “go make some soil.”

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🗓️ Upcoming Event:

Purposeful Composting Workshop

October 11, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM | The Regen Ranch, Oakwood, TX

I’m partnering up with holistic land management coach, Christine Martin of Thriving Land Stewards, for a full-day, hands-on composting workshop. We’ll explore compost as a biological amendment for soils and how to raise beneficial microbes in a practical way that also handles any waste streams relevant to your household, homestead or farm. Bring your boots and gloves! 💪 Come ready for science, dirty work, and the joy of being outside and in community with other land stewards.

Register Here

🤎 Things I’m Loving Lately:

Genuine recs, not sponsored.

• Symbiosis YouTube Channel: this regenerative design and build firm based in Central Texas has been sharing about their projects through their YouTube channel and no matter where you’re located, it’s sure to get your wheels turning on best practices to manage water and vegetation!

• Happy Frog Soil Conditioner: I’ve always like this product and it was one of the first things I looked at on my microscope that was teeming with life. I’m using this to supplement my own compost, biochar and other soil amendments for the landscaping project!

🗓️ ICYMI

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System Setup

• Water supply: One IBC tote is stacked on top of another and filled with well water. The top tote gravity-feeds 250 gallons into a side tote where the compost extraction happens.

• Pump: A submersible trash pump is used both for recirculation and for transferring extract to the spray tank.

• Spray tank: Final volume brought up to 500 gallons in a field sprayer.

Extraction Process

• Compost loading: ~10 lbs of Johnson-Su compost was placed into a stainless steel wire cleaning basket.

• Breakdown: Within seconds of water flowing through, most compost dispersed into suspension, leaving only some woodchip remnants (pictured).

• Recirculation: The trash pump ran to keep compost in suspension as the tote filled to ~250 gallons.

• Transfer: A valve on the PVC plumbing diverted flow to fill the 500-gallon sprayer. A fine-mesh filter at the sprayer opening caught any stray wood chips (pictured).

Sampling & Observations

At each stage I collected samples to check biology:

1. Starter compost

2. Extract (10 lbs : 250 gal) directly from extraction tote

3. Recirculating extract in extraction tote

4. Diluted extract (10 lbs : 500 gal) in sprayer

5. Extract from spray heads (filtered vs. unfiltered)

6. Extract sprayed at different pressures (40 psi vs. 60 psi)

An unexpected but useful learning moment came when Troy noticed a filter was still installed before the centrifugal pump on the sprayer. This is typically not in place when he applies extracts, but it gave us a chance to compare filtered vs. unfiltered spray — a significant difference under the microscope.

Outside of this filtered sample, I didn’t have any concerns about the pumps, plumbing, or sprayers harming the biology. Living aerobic microbes showed up in every sample, and I saw no evidence of problematic biofilms. The only questions left to consider were about good cleaning practices to maintain these conditions and whether it might be worth increasing the compost-to-water ratio to boost microbial density.

Application

The trailer sprayer (standard agricultural sprayer) required no major modifications other than removing filters at each nozzle and pre-pump. In addition to the fan nozzles at the back, the shanks provided light soil disturbance with drip-style nozzles that applied extract directly to the soil surface. Spray pressure was kept between 40–60 psi.

Tractor Lesson

Once the sampling was done, it was time to apply the extract in the orchard. Troy hopped on the tractor to give me a crash course.

“Have you ever driven a manual car?” -Troy
“…Does an ATV count?” -Me 😬

Needless to say, Troy was patient, and I tried to be a quick learner. I got in a couple passes before an unexpected (but much-welcomed) storm rolled in. We took cover in the barn, grateful the extract would be watered in with a proper rain.

Concluding Thoughts

Experiences like these mean a lot — they help me better understand the realities land managers face at a scale I don’t work on every day. It’s a gift to be invited into the field, bridging the gap between microscope work and real-world applications.

It also reminds me that whether we’re stewarding a backyard plot or hundreds of acres, we already have tools within reach to regenerate land.

Next on my experience wish list: seeing how a drone sprayer could be used to spread microbes. 🧐

PS: I hope my best friend from high school is reading and impressed with how many times I can now say the word nozzle with a straight face ;)

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About Swift River Pecans

Troy Swift stewards 266 combined pecan acres along the San Marcos River. He is the President of the Texas Pecan Growers Association (TPGA). His orchard is the site of various ongoing research studies with collaborators such as Noble Research Institute, Texas A&M University, Texas State University and Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation.

Swift River Pecans is a state champion in commercial pecans (2018, 2022). You can visit their store and tour their sawmill at 9975 San Marcos Hwy Lockhart, TX 78644 or purchase their responsibly made goods in-store or from their online shop.

I personally love using Swift River Pecan Oil in place of highly refined canola or grapeseed oil as it has a high smoke point! -Andie

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