Soil Microbiome

No-till farming, cover crops, and biological inputs improve soil microbial health. Soil should be understood as a biological system rather than a chemical one. The principle that soil microbiome health determines plant health is often overlooked in conventional agriculture and supplement sourcing. The core thesis of the farm project is that soil microbiome health equals plant health. The health of an herb or plant is fundamentally determined by the microbial ecosystem in the soil. A soil rich in minerals but poor in microbial life produces plants of poor nutrient density. Eating food provides microbes to the body, not just extracted nutrients. The farm project will study the relationship between soil microbiome and plant nutrient density. The Microbiometer tool provides a quantitative soil microbial biomass score via a phone app, accessible to small farmers who cannot afford laboratory testing.