Category: Soil Microbiome – Biodiversity

One Year! Living Ground’s Birthday!

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground

 

September 1, 2023,  marks the one year anniversary for tThe Living Ground Project.   One year ago today, we took over our first microbe compost site.    What a year it has been!

A year ago,  were expecting the gifts….a  Mighty Mike Compost Maker and Slow Speed Tracker …to arrive.  It was an amazing and exciting donation to Living Ground from a USA foundation that beleived in our work.    We acquired a site and began preparing it for for mass producing Microbes.     

The equipment never arrived.   The COVID restrictions and transportation mess made it impossible.    Disappointing!  Subsequently, these machines were donated to Dr Elaine’s (our teacher) in Oregon.  Needless to say, we had no choice than to learn how to mass produce microbes by hand.   And, we perfected the process.   I beleive we are the first SFW students to successfully mass produce Microbe Compost.

Then we considered another local site for operations that was around the corner from our operations.  While it was amazing, it was too expensive!  It was an old delapitated building that was home (dormintory) to highway workers.  The grounds were contaminated.   “Imposssible”, we thought! And, perhaps too big for us?    March of 2023, against all odds and much risk taking, we acquired the site literally saving the land from a gas company.  Now what!  The dream grew tremendously and the work too!

A lot has happened in this last year….really it is a full books worth of changes and experiences:   We’ve gained, lost, challenged, overcome and tried to do our best.   

Highlights:

  1. We’ve had successes (like acquiring the Project Site) and disappointments (facing the challenges of human transformations and staying true to our values and morals).   
  2. We’ve charged ahead with gusto making things happen despite having little means.   We acquired the Project Site.  
  3. We’ve opened our Microbe/Health Air bnb.  This is the beginning of the tourism aspect of the Project.
  4. We’ve showcase our value added microbe grown products in our community.   
  5. We are creating the landscape foundations at the Project Site creating the 2nd market garden and Secret garden. 
  6. We are consulting and transforming lands.
  7. We are creating our educational platforms (online and onsite)  
  8. We are moving forward!    Our fireside chat video (here) explains how we are “doing” all we said we would do!   

Yes, as you can imagine, there is a lot going on is the background.   It is organized chaos! 

As Mama Microbe, I am proud of the team and the supporters (volunteers) who are helping make this happen.   It isn’t easy but each one of us is growing, learning and discovering.   

The Project (whether applied to the physcial or the personal) is rooted in the belief that even the tiniest of beings can create ripples of change.    This statement is one I repeat over and over as a mantra to remind myself that this initiative stands as a testament to the power of human determination, creativity, and purpose.   What can we accomplish when we come together?    Our project is also rooted in the concept of symbiosis (which embraces tension) and we practice respect and honor for the earth and each other.   We often we find ourselves giving more than we recieve.   In today’s world of consciousness, this is going against the grain (or the swing of self-obsession).   It is important!

Personally, I see this project as a canvas of hope, collaboration, and transformation. It’s not just a project; it’s an embodiment of the “little good guy” humans working hand in hand with the “little good guys” of nature – the microbes that lay the foundation for all life.   Although the trend is moving towards understanding microbes (in the human and soil), we have in the palm of our hands a unique mission: to nurture the Earth, empower communities, and foster a new understanding of life itself and mimic the microbes symbiosis.   It is beautiful!

Recently, I had the privilege of witnessing another project, quite similar in purpose.   I was inspired and amazed at this Project and intrigue with how we could cooperate.   We are on a similar path with one key difference – the availability of financial resources.  Honestly, it would be easy to feel deflated or frustrated as the Living Ground Project struggles to bootstrap its way forward, working tirelessly with limited financial means. Yet, within this challenge lies a profound opportunity.   I use my mantra to give me hope!    

I realize that there is a book forming from the stories and experiences we are all having at Living Ground.   The ups and downs, the challenges and discernments are creating a symbiotic tale of what can happen is the little guys come together.   I’ve found myself being too trusting in many situations so that the “team” intervenes to put me back in line.   I’ve been blamed and accused of things that I don’t own.  It is quite a story and one that will be shared one day!  

And, the Living Ground Project isn’t just about the end result; it’s about the journey. It’s about proving that dedication, passion, and resilience can transcend personal and economic barriers. It’s a bold assertion that the “little guys” – whether they’re the microbes in the soil or the humans with dreams – can bring about real change, regardless of the odds stacked against them.

Yes, our financial resources are scarce.  But we are doing it!    The Living Ground Project is rich in heart, spirit, and ingenuity. The Soil Squad team pours their soul into each endeavor, raising the project brick by brick, hand by hand, project by project. Every step is a triumph over adversity, an embodiment of the spirit that refuses to be confined by limitations.

Creativity takes center stage as the project navigates the challenge of acquiring materials while ensuring fair compensation (now and in the future). It’s a dance of innovation and determination, a story of crafting something magical.

And, my intention is real!    My aim is to raise this Project until the leaders are confident and secure.   When this time comes, I will gift it into the hands of good people to continue with the legacy and mission.   I have even thought about moving back to a new Magical Forest.  For those who don’t know me, the Magical Forest was my created home when I arrived in Ecuador where I lived without walls, in a tree house and as self sufficent as I could.   I will return to this space and create my nature living once again.  Perhaps I become the crazy lady in the bush who can mentor the Team from afar?

So I am sharing a little of the “Behind the Scenes”.    We are doing the work with purpose.    We are spreading the microbes.    It is happening.   And as we charge ahead with our mission, the microbes silently work their magic in the soil.  Our greatest ally is these “good little guys”.   Together, we weave a narrative of growth, connection, and transformation.

We don’t have much, but the Living Ground Project isn’t just about resources; it’s about redefining success. It’s about proving that the impact of an initiative isn’t solely measured in economics. It’s about leaving an indelible mark on hearts and landscapes, about fostering a community that understands the language of the Earth and the unity of life.

This is about realizing the truth about who we are!   We are more than just humans. We are mostly microbes. Trillions of these microscopic allies reside within our very beings, shaping our existence.  Just as every note in a symphony contributes to the grand melody, every microbe within us harmonizes with the greater whole. These tiny creatures are the unseen architects of vitality, creating ecosystems of unparalleled complexity. Their currencies are nutrients, energy flows, and the exchange of information that shapes the very fabric of life.

In a world often driven by economic systems, the microcosm within us and around us serves as a living testament to a different way of thriving. It’s a profound reminder that the sustenance of life need not be tethered to monetary transactions. Rather, it relies on the elegant dance of ecosystems, the generosity of nature, and the sacred balance that honors the interconnectedness of all beings.

So, as the Living Ground Project marches forward, remember that every step is a triumph over adversity. Every brick laid, every hand extended, every project undertaken is a testament to the unwavering spirit that knows no boundaries. It’s a beacon of hope for all “little good guys,” showing that with heart, determination, and a touch of magic, they can transform the world.

The Living Ground Project is not just a project – it’s a legacy in the making, a living testament to the potential of the “little guys” who dare to dream big.

To Nic, Tamar, Ian and Jimini, I love you dearly!   You are all such adorable misfits.   I ask for your forgiveness in where I fail and your patience as I, too, grow and learn.   One year….one year…and so much has happened.    I adore you!

 

Now for a photo story of the past year1

Our first love

In the beginning

Signage

first site

Microbe Farmers

consulting

Consulting

regenerating

Workshops

Teaching

Having Fun

telling stories

Air BnB (health)

Blending

Market-ing

Projects

Project Site

Improving

I commit and dedicate myself to this work…. it is needed and important for you and those that come behind us!   This is for Kaya!

 

Microbe Compost and Regular Organic Compost: A Comparison

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground

 

Most realize that Compost is a mixture of organic materials that have been decomposed by microorganisms. It is a valuable soil amendment that can improve the fertility, structure, and water retention of soil.  Most do not realize the difference between organic compost, obone (manure) and Microbe Compost.  Here we explain the difference and why Microbe Compost is so important….

Microbe compost is made using a science process that encourages the growth of beneficial microorganisms.   Our aim is to remove all pathogens and enhance the environment for the benficial organisms.   We liken this to a probiotic!    Just like in the human microbiome, these microorganisms help to break down organic matter more quickly and efficiently than in regular organic compost.    We often say we are not making compost we are farming microbes.   And, we get to determine how our compost is with the microscope.   This is an important tool of our work.

Regular organic compost is made using a more traditional method that does not specifically target the growth of beneficial microorganisms. This type of compost can still be beneficial for plants, but it may not be as effective as microbe compost.   Also, it takes much longer and in the process may be home to many bad guy microbes.

Obono is pure manure and does contain pathogens most of the time.  Manure also is like the chemical fertilizers as it forces plant growth with Nitrogen.    A big beautiful plant may appear that is air, water and nitrogen and little else.

Here are four key differences between microbe compost and regular organic compost:

  1. Microbe compost is like a probiotic. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial for the gut. 
  2. Microbe compost is more potent. Because microbe compost is made using a process that encourages the growth of beneficial microorganisms, it contains higher levels of these microorganisms than regular organic compost. This means that microbe compost can have a more immediate and noticeable impact on the health of plants and soil.
  3. Microbe compost is more versatile. Microbe compost can be used for a wider variety of purposes than regular organic compost. It can be used to improve the fertility, structure, and water retention of soil, as well as to suppress plant diseases and pests. Regular organic compost is typically used for improving the fertility and structure of soil.
  4. Microbe compost is more sustainable.  It is mimicking Nature.  It is ensuring life “pro-biotic” literally means “pro life”

Organic Matter OM

In addition to microbe compost and regular organic compost, we also offer specialized Organic Matter.  Our OM is like a Prebiotic.  It feeds the microbes.

Living Grounds OM is a blend of woody materials that is aged and sprayed with microbe extract.   Most wood chips contain “anit-fungals” so the aging process is very imporatant.    Our OMis similar to microbe compost in that it contains beneficial microorganisms, but it is less potent. Organic matter is a good option for improving the structure and water retention of soil, but it is not as effective as microbe compost for improving the fertility of soil.

Which type of compost is right for you?

The best type of compost for you will depend on your specific needs and goals. If you are looking for a compost that is effective, versatile, and sustainable, then microbe compost is a best option. If you are looking for a compost that is less expensive and easier to make, then regular Organic Matter is a good option. And if you are looking for a compost that can help to improve the structure and water retention of soil, then both Microbe Compost and OM is a good option.

It is important to note that organic compost is not always safe. The process of making compost is not always monitored closely, so there is a chance that pathogens could exist in the compost and quite often do.    These pathogens can be harmful to plants and humans. It is important to test compost for pathogens before using it.  Here is where the benefit of our microscope come in.

Another thing to keep in mind is that organic compost can force growth. This means that the plants may grow quickly, but they may not be as healthy as plants that are grown with a more natural approach. The plants may also be more susceptible to pests and diseases.

In a way, organic matter is like the food that we eat, while microbe compost is like the probiotics that we take. Both are important for our health, but they work in different ways. Organic matter provides the nutrients that our bodies need, while probiotics help to keep our gut healthy and functioning properly.

In the same way, organic matter provides the nutrients that plants need, while microbe compost helps to keep the soil healthy and functioning properly. Healthy soil is essential for healthy plants, just as a healthy gut is essential for a healthy human.

If you are looking for a way to improve the health of your soil and plants, then microbe compost is for you.   Remember, we are actively consulting with land owners to regenerate lands, soils and homesteads.   We work within the budget and goals of our clients to bring life back to the soil.   Contact us for more information!   

Soil Food Web in South America! Nurturing Soils & Sustaining Life

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground

At Living Ground, our mission extends far beyond saving soils – it’s about fostering a holistic connection that benefits plants, microbes, and humanity itself. While nature’s challenges persist, we approach them with a different perspective – one of harmony and mimicry, rather than conflict.

Today, we’re excited to invite you into our world through an informative video courtesy of the Soil Food Web (SFW) school. This captivating footage takes you on a journey through the heart of the Soil Food Web approach in Peru, offering a glimpse into the wonders that unfold when we align with nature’s wisdom.

Leisha is a  Soil Food Web Consultant and Nic is currently on his path toward certification within the same renowned program.

As we embark on this shared journey, we invite you to join us in championing a more harmonious and sustainable world. Come witness the magic of nature’s equilibrium, and be part of the Living Ground movement.

Before you delve into this transformative video, remember to subscribe to our blog and stay updated with our latest explorations, insights, and progress. Your presence and engagement mean the world to us.

And now, without further ado, let’s embark on this enlightening adventure by exploring the Soil Food Web approach through our exclusive video presentation.

Fire Side Chat with Darren Phase II Update

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground
This is an exciting chat with Darren (Fire Side Chat) and the Soil Squad where share the latest update on Phase II of the Living Ground Project. We discuss the current developments, including our newly launched healing and education Guest House which is the beginnings of the Health and Microbe Tourism POD. Our conversation delves into the significance of food sovereignty and the critical role of microbe-rich compost in restoring the health of our soil.   Consider supporting our noble mission….and s a token of our gratitude, we are pleased to offer a credit system to donors, providing them with future opportunities for exchange and involvement if they would like to visit the Guest House of the Project Site in the future!

 

Gluten Sensitivity & Glyphosate Toxicity & Microbes

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground

 

Let’s discuss the similarities between gluten sensitivity and glyphosate toxicity. I believe that many  who think they are gluten sensitive may actually be glyphosate toxic.   

Glyphosate was discovered in 1950 by a Swiss chemist named Henry Martin. It was originally developed as a chelating agent, but later found to be an effective herbicide. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, a widely used herbicide that is sprayed on crops to kill weeds. It is also used in other products, such as herbicides for lawns and gardens, and in animal feed.

Glyphosate works by inhibiting an enzyme called EPSPS, which is essential for the production of aromatic amino acids in plants. This causes the plant to die. Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide, which means that it kills both weeds and crops. However, it is more effective at killing weeds than crops. EPSPS is an enzyme that is involved in the shikimate pathway. It is responsible for the conversion of shikimate-3-phosphate to 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate.  The shikimate pathway is a metabolic pathway that is used by plants, bacteria, and fungi to synthesize aromatic amino acids.

The shikimate pathway is essential for the production of aromatic amino acids, which are used to synthesize proteins, vitamins, and other essential compounds. Glyphosate inhibits EPSPS, which blocks the shikimate pathway and prevents the production of aromatic amino acids. This is what kills plants that are exposed to glyphosate.

A little side note here…..It is interesting that Glyphosate and SARS-CoV-2 both affect the shikimate pathway, although in different ways. Glyphosate inhibits EPSPS, which blocks the shikimate pathway and prevents the plant from producing aromatic amino acids. SARS-CoV-2 hijacks the host cell’s shikimate pathway and uses it to produce the aromatic amino acids that it needs to replicate.   

Here are similarities between glyphosate and SARS-CoV-2:

  • Both can affect the shikimate pathway.
  • Both can be harmful to living organisms.
  • Both can be found in the environment.

Glyphosate is a controversial herbicide. Some people believe that it is safe, while others believe that it is a dangerous chemical that can cause cancer and other health problems. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified glyphosate as a likely not carcinogenic to humans, but the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified it as a probable carcinogen.

The use of glyphosate is increasing worldwide. In the United States, it is the most widely used herbicide. The use of glyphosate has been linked to the decline of certain beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies. It has also been linked to the development of herbicide-resistant weeds.

Is glyphosate a toxin and danger?

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen. This means that there is enough evidence to suggest that glyphosate can cause cancer in humans.
  • The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the WHO, has also classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen.
  • The European Union has classified glyphosate as a likely carcinogen. This means that there is limited evidence to suggest that glyphosate can cause cancer in humans.
  • The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified glyphosate as a likely not carcinogenic to humans. However, the EPA’s decision has been criticized by many scientists, who believe that the EPA’s assessment is flawed.

The debate over the safety of glyphosate is ongoing but I think that anyone with any common sense knows it is a dangerous toxin. The weight of evidence suggests that glyphosate is a toxin that can pose a risk to human health.

There’s evidence that glyphosate harms human health in a few ways, including:

  • Cancer: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen, meaning that it is likely to cause cancer. The IARC’s classification is based on a review of several studies that have found an association between glyphosate exposure and cancer, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. However, the EPA has classified glyphosate as a likely not carcinogenic to humans. The EPA’s classification is based on a review of different studies, including some that have not found an association between glyphosate exposure and cancer. More research is needed to determine the true cancer risk of glyphosate exposure.

    Neurotoxicity: Some studies have shown that glyphosate may be neurotoxic, meaning that it can damage the nervous system. For example, a study published in the journal Neurotoxicology in 2019 found that glyphosate exposure can damage the brains of rats. However, other studies have found no evidence of neurotoxicity. More research is needed to clarify the potential neurotoxicity of glyphosate exposure.

    Endocrine disruption: Glyphosate may disrupt the endocrine system, which is responsible for regulating hormones. This could lead to a variety of health problems, such as reproductive problems and thyroid disorders. For example, a study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives in 2013 found that glyphosate exposure can disrupt the production of testosterone in rats. However, other studies have not found an association between glyphosate exposure and endocrine disruption. More research is needed to determine the true risks of endocrine disruption from glyphosate exposure.

    Reproductive problems: Glyphosate may cause reproductive problems, such as decreased sperm count and fertility problems. For example, a study published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology in 2018 found that glyphosate exposure can decrease sperm count in rats. However, other studies have not found an association between glyphosate exposure and reproductive problems. More research is needed to determine the true risks of reproductive problems from glyphosate exposure.

    Gut health: Glyphosate may disrupt the gut microbiome, which is the community of bacteria that live in the gut. This could lead to a variety of health problems, such as digestive problems and autoimmune diseases. For example, a study published in the journal Nature Microbiology in 2020 found that glyphosate exposure can disrupt the gut microbiome in mice. However, other studies have not found an association between glyphosate exposure and gut health problems. More research is needed to determine the true risks of gut health problems from glyphosate exposure.

There is growing evidence that glyphosate can damage the proteins in gluten, making it less digestible. This can cause symptoms in people who are sensitive to gluten.   The symptoms of gluten sensitivity and glyphosate toxicity can be very similar. They can include:

  • Bloating
  • Gas
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Joint pain
  • Skin rashes
  • Anxiety
  • Depression

It can be difficult to tell the difference between gluten sensitivity and glyphosate toxicity, especially if you have been exposed to both. However, there are a few things that you can do to help you determine the cause of your symptoms.

  • Get tested for gluten sensitivity. There is a blood test that can be used to diagnose gluten sensitivity.
  • Avoid gluten for a period of time and see if your symptoms improve. If your symptoms improve when you avoid gluten, then you are likely gluten sensitive.

There are a few things that you can do to naturally cleanse your body of this toxin.

  • Eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will help to detoxify your body and improve your overall health. These foods are high in antioxidants and help the microbiome which can help to remove toxins from the body.
  • Drink filtered water. Glyphosate can be found in tap water, so it is important to drink filtered water whenever possible.
  • Supplements. There are a number of supplements that can help to detoxify your body from glyphosate, such as activated charcoal, chlorella, and spirulina. Activated charcoal is a natural substance that can bind to toxins and help to remove them from the body. Chlorella and spirulina are types of algae that are high in antioxidants and other nutrients that can help to support the body’s natural detoxification processes.
  • Use herbs. There are a number of herbs that can help to detoxify your body from glyphosate, such as dandelion root, burdock root, and milk thistle. Dandelion root is a natural diuretic that can help to flush toxins out of the body. Burdock root is a liver tonic that can help to support the body’s natural detoxification processes. Milk thistle is a liver protectant that can help to repair damage caused by toxins.  These herbs are all in our Liver Love The Blood Tincture.

Other ways to reduce exposure to glyphosate

  • Buy organic foods whenever possible. Organic crops are not sprayed with glyphosate.   Even better, buy microbe grown plants.
  • If you do not know where you produce is coming from, wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them. This will help to remove any residual glyphosate that may be on the surface of the food.
  • Avoid processed foods. Processed foods are often high in glyphosate.
  • Avoid drinking tap water. Glyphosate can be found in tap water, so it is important to drink filtered water whenever possible.
  • Avoid using herbicides and pesticides around your home.Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. It is what gives these grains their chewy texture. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, a herbicide that is widely used to kill weeds. It is a systemic herbicide, which means that it is absorbed by the plant and moves throughout its tissues.

Microbe extracts are more environmentally friendly, less harmful to humans, and can be more effective than glyphosate.  Microbe extracts are not known to be harmful. Some studies have shown that microbe extracts can be as effective as glyphosate at killing weeds, and they can also help to improve the health of the soil.

Here are some of the specific reasons why microbe extracts may be better than glyphosate:

  • Microbe extracts are more environmentally friendly: Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide, which means that it kills both weeds and crops. This can have a negative impact on the environment, as it can kill beneficial organisms as well as harmful ones. Microbe extracts, on the other hand, are more targeted and are less likely to harm the environment.
  • Microbe extracts are less harmful to humans: There is some evidence that glyphosate may be harmful to human health, as it has been linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, reproductive problems, and gut health problems. Microbe extracts, on the other hand, are not known to be harmful to humans.
  • Microbe extracts can be more effective than glyphosate: Microbe extracts can be as effective as glyphosate at killing weeds. In addition, microbe extracts can help to improve the health of the soil, which can lead to healthier plants.

 

Leisha’s Writing with Mama Sea

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground

Recently, I embarked on a journey to the Ecuadorian seaside.  The purpose was to write.  Living Ground is creating our education platform to share our knowledge and self-reliance, health and microbes.  We are creating courses on Microbe Compost, Growing Food and Medicine, Layperson’s Guide to Live Blood Analysis, Alternative Protocols, Kitchen Alchemy, and a comprehensive herbal guide.

I wrote!  I wrote a lot.  Amid this ocean waves sound track, a newfound inspiration surged within me, prompting me to embark on a profound new idea that is perhaps uncharted  in thought and creation (to the best of my knowledge)   

I found myself meticulously crafting the herbal course and it underwent a transformative evolution. I’ve selected 43 herbs, each possessing universal adaptability (can grow anywhere) and have detailed their potent medicinal properties and cultivation methods.  I created characters for the herbs giving them a creation story with a special microbe..the symbiotic relationship.

Yet, the journey didn’t end there; it evolved into a deeper inquiry into the symbiotic relationship between these plants and the microbial world.   Those who know me know I am enthralled by the intricate dance between flora and microbes, I also found myself exploring and writing about the delicate equilibrium that shapes our ecosystem and human microbiome.    It was exhilarating  to say the least and I wrote over 250 pages during my coastal sojourn.  I beleive it is maybe 1/2 complete.

The comprehensive manual for the layperson’s Live Blood Analysis course nears completion, awaiting only the addition of visual aids to enhance its depth. The magnum opus of Microbe Compost, an exploration into the art and science of enriching soil vitality,  is in the final stages of formatting. Equally enthralling is sharing my collection of natural health protocols and terrain theory insights, including a treasury of herbal recipes that bridge the realms of health and culinary alchemy.

As these projectss are slowly reaching their fruition.   It is a labour of love!

Our aspiration is to extend this wealth of knowledge to others.   So, Online platforms will soon offer the courses.

Yet, as much as we embrace the digital age, we hold steadfast to the belief that the most profound learning occurs through tangible experiences. With open arms, we will be able to invite learners, students and seekers to our Project Site, where hands-on engagement breathes life into the written word.   It is slowly and surely coming together.  I am grateful for Mama Sea and the Soil Squad who held down the fort amazingly.    It is a blessing to be working with such generous and kind people!

Our ultimate mission is to send ripples of transformation far and wide, just like a drop in the boundless ocean, as we share the fruits of our labor with a world thirsting for knowledge and healing.

Microbe and Soil Facts

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground

 

Soil and Soil Microbes…the did you know…..

1. Power in Numbers: Did you know that in just one gram of healthy soil, you can find more microbes than there are people on Earth? That’s over 7 billion microorganisms living in a space smaller than a sugar cube!

2. Biodiversity Hotspot: Soil microbes are incredibly diverse. In fact, scientists estimate that less than 1% of soil microbe species have been identified so far. It’s like exploring a vast jungle of microscopic organisms, waiting to be discovered!

3. Tiny Carbon Managers: Soil microbes are superheroes when it comes to carbon storage. They are responsible for sequestering about 10% of the world’s carbon emissions each year, playing a significant role in mitigating climate change.

4. Nutrient Recyclers: These tiny organisms are experts at recycling nutrients. Approximately 80% of nutrient cycling in ecosystems is facilitated by soil microbes, ensuring the availability of essential elements for plants and sustaining life on Earth.

5. Busy Decomposers: Soil microbes are nature’s cleanup crew. They break down organic matter, such as fallen leaves and dead plants, at an astonishing rate. In fact, they can decompose up to 90% of organic material within just two weeks!

6. Multitasking Microbes: Imagine this: a single microbe capable of performing over 100,000 chemical reactions per second! These multitasking microbes are biochemical powerhouses, driving essential processes in soil and supporting the entire ecosystem.

7. Plant Partnerships: Soil microbes form partnerships with plants through intricate symbiotic relationships. Approximately 85% of all plant species engage in mutually beneficial connections with soil microbes, sharing nutrients and boosting each other’s growth.

8. Soil Health Guardians: Healthy soil ecosystems, teeming with diverse microbes, can suppress plant diseases by up to 70%. These microbial superheroes produce natural antibiotics and activate plant defense mechanisms, protecting our crops and gardens.

9. Living Cities Underground: Picture this fascinating fact: if you could gather all the soil microbes from just one square meter of healthy soil and line them up, they would stretch over 100 kilometers! That’s like a bustling underground city, right beneath our feet.

These captivating percentages and facts highlight the incredible capabilities and significance of soil microbes, inspiring awe and demonstrating their essential role in sustaining life on our planet.

Gut and Soil Microbes – The Connection!

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground

We’re in trouble. Our over-reliance on fossil fuels and our taste for foods with a high carbon footprint is causing disruptive climate change. Our throwaway society has flooded the land and seas with plastic pollution. And we face a growing public health crisis triggered by the rise of disease-causing microbes that we cannot kill with antibiotics.

Now for the good news. Living Ground is entering the busy-ness of selling food…but our primary intention to provide a system where people can have ready and affordable access to gut food – that is food grown in microbe rich soils.

Our guts are a real brain. They form part of an intelligent control system which manages our bodies, particularly our appetite and so decides how much and what food we want to eat and how much and where we store fat. Our guts are also home to the bulk of our immune system. Poor guts health is at the source of modern chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and its related heart attacks, dementia etc. A health gut is really important.

But to have a healthy gut means we need the right biology in the first place and we need to feed it the right sort of food. When people find out how gut food is grown the whole idea puts most people off, which is why you can’t buy gut food from the supermarket or in a bottle from the chemist.

Healthy gut biology starts in the guts of creatures that live in the soil.   Read that again!     This microbe biology passes from the guts of the microbes and into the plants where if we eat them soon after they are harvested they will enter out guts and the plants will provide them with food so they will flourish.

We, and all animals, have been doing this for millions of years but the whole idea is totally at odds with our modern antiseptic society so eating gut food will always be for a minority group.   And, humans will diminish!    We can not duplicate Nature as much as science and technology tries.

We know how to grow gut food, you have to have soil which is full of creature of the soil.   To feed the creatures, the soils must be full of organic matter.  We don’t have to be concerned with minerals..there is plenty of that!

And we have to avoid chemicals which will harm the beneficial biology – modern chemicals may not hurt us but they can be a disaster for micro-biology.  And, I will add that Natural insecticides also are harmful.   

And we have to eat the plants shortly after they are harvested before the beneficial biology dies.

All this is a more expensive process than modern chemical industrial farming and supermarket system and to many people quite revolting, which is why we don’t see gut food products on super market shelves.

Good and nourishing food is really about growing food to feed our brain. To do that we have to feed the microbes that already are living in our gut – that’s a pre-biotic.

But we also have to breed new microbes in the soil, which will go into the plants that we will eat and hence from part of our gut brain – that’s a pro-biotic.

To breed these microbes we have to feed and water them – for that we need plants that take the energy from the sun and covert it into microbe food. The plant will exchange this food for the food it needs. So, the microbes go get the plants food.    Now the snag is that there are good bugs which will make us strong and healthy and bad bugs which at best just want to use as a comfy home to breed in – but unfortunately they often get it wrong and kill us.

To breed the good bugs – without the bad bugs taking over – we have to manage the conditions, which means food and water. The good bugs like oxygen and a little water….but not too wet (aerobic) while the bad bugs breed when it is wetter and no oxygen (anaerobic). How is oxygen transported in the human and what does it need to transport oxygen? Iron. But parasites love stored iron. Is this a rabbit hole or what?

Let’s get to the nitty gritty of true health! That means a paradigm shift. It is a 360 on our beliefs about health and microbes. Well, remember, Douglas Adams wrote : “The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything is 42.” We probably only know 5% or less of how Nature works..but we do have some good information to change our ways NOW. And, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT!!!

Will you be apart of this soil revolution?

Why We Are Mineral Deficient!

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground

Soil Food Web Primer

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground

…The Soil Biology Primer represents a new era in our agency’s soil science contributions to natural resource conservation. In the past we have focused primarily on the chemical and physical properties of soil . This publication highlights another integral component of soil , its biological features. The Primer explains the importance of biological functions for productive and healthy agricultural systems , range lands, and forest lands.

The Soil Biology Primer is intended for farmers, ranchers, agricultural profes sionals, resource specialists , students, teachers, and NRCS conservationists, specialists , and soil scientists as a reference for enhanced understanding of the critical functions performed by soil life. I hope you enjoy reading about the fascinating diversity of soil life under our feet and gain a deeper appreciation of the intrinsic value of soil organisms to sustainable civilizations . Protecting our Nation’s soil for future generations is of greatest importance.

ENJOY click to read, explore, learn, download……

Soil_Biology_Primer

What Soil and Soil Diversity?

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground

Soil. It’s our greatest treasure.

It can take hundreds of years and many natural processes to make even a centimetre of soil. The mechanical and chemical weathering of rock makes up around half of any soil’s composition, with around 5% supplied by organic material, and the rest made up by air and water.

Put another way, soil is a complicated mix of both the non-organic, abiotic components- minerals, water and air, and the organic biotic components- bacteria, archaea, fungi, plants and invertebrates that live and die within it.

In addition, and bound together with any basic discussion about soil, is the reality of a living soil, the soil food web and soil biodiversity. Soil is a complex, sustainable and dynamic ecosystem, sustained through the complicated interaction of countless soil fauna like worms, woodlice, springtails, nematodes and mites, together with fungi and bacteria.

“Despite all our achievements, we owe our existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.”

However, within a few generations, we have seen the world’s soils rapidly and increasingly degrade, losing nutrients, carbon and fertility, turning saline or actually blowing away. Crops are losing yield and not responding to NPK fertilisers. Fields and farms are being abandoned across much of the world, forcing even more poverty, suffering and human migration. This degrading is mostly human-driven, due to bad farming practices, pollution, acidification, compaction, deforestation and climate change across the world. It’s a sobering and worrying time. Soil biodiversity is dying, with soil fauna like springtails and soil mites reducing to almost zero. Worms are disappearing, fungal activity ceasing.

Soil scientists and farmers are finally being listened to.   People are learning and gaining more knowledge and understanding.  Research is now well funded and positive changes are being discussed at a governmental level and implemented on a regional and local level. Sustaining, improving and increasing soils is a lengthy and time consuming process, but no dig, microbe compost making and regenerative agriculture are showing great results. Feeding the soil rather than the plant has become a well known mantra amongst gardeners and organic growers. The ship may be sinking, but all is not lost.

Whoever you are and whoever you will become, tread lightly on the earth.”

Primer Soil Microbiology

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground
 

Soil Microbiology: A Primer

by Vern Grubinger
Vegetable and Berry Specialist
University of Vermont Extension

 
Although it may not be obvious, healthy soils are chock-full of living organisms. Some are visible to the naked eye, like earthworms, beetles, mites and springtails, but the majority of soil-dwellers are very, very small. They’re also very, very important to soil fertility.

Just a few grams of soil, less than a teaspoonful, may contain hundreds of millions to billions of microbes. Not only is the total number of microorganisms in fertile soil quite high, but together, they weigh a lot, too. Soil microbial biomass can range from several hundred to thousands of pounds per acre.

By far, the most numerous microbes in soil are bacteria, which have just one cell. Also abundant are fungi, which produce long, slender strings of cells called filaments, or hyphae. The actinomycetes are in-between these two organisms. They are advanced bacteria that can form branches like fungi. It’s the actinomycetes that give soil its characteristic earthy smell. Fungi and actinomycetes are good at starting the decomposition of organic residues, working on materials that are tough to break down. Bacteria finish the job by eating the more digestible ingredients.

Many other microbes can be found in smaller numbers in soil, including algae, cyanobacteria (often called blue-green algae), and protozoa (one-celled organisms that decompose organic materials and also consume bacteria). Nematodes are microscopic roundworms; some of these are beneficial and some are plant parasites.

The soil zone located immediately around active roots is called the rhizosphere. This is an area of high microbial activity. Materials released from roots, called exudates, create a food-rich environment for the growth of microorganisms. Rhizosphere microorganisms in turn help plants by fixing nitrogen from the soil air, dissolving soil minerals and decomposing organic matter, all of which allow roots to obtain essential nutrients.

Some microbes have a specialized role in the rhizosphere. Rhizobia bacteria associate with the roots of legumes to form nodules. This symbiotic relationship provides the bacteria with a source of carbon in exchange for making nitrogen available to the plant. Farmers are familiar with this process, and often encourage it by inoculating legume seeds with a commercial preparation of the Rhizobium species that is suited to the crop species they are planting.

A special kind of fungus called mycorrhizae also associates with plants. By colonizing large areas of roots and reaching out into the soil, mycorrhizae aid in transfer of soil nutrients and water into the plant. This is especially important in situations where nutrient availability or moisture is limited.

Microbes have a lot to do with maintaining good soil structure, which promotes infiltration and drainage of water, soil aeration, and vigorous root growth and exploration. Gummy substances produced by soil microbes (complex sugars and mucilages) help cement soil particles together into aggregates, which contribute to soil structure. This cement also makes aggregates less likely to crumble when exposed to water. Fungal hyphae further stabilize soil structure as their threadlike structures spread through the soil, surrounding particles and aggregates like a hairnet.

The proportion of the different kinds of organisms present in your soil depends on conditions such as available moisture, aeration, organic matter levels and the type of plants present. Chemical conditions such as acidity and alkalinity will greatly affect soil organism populations. For example, fungi often prefer acidic soils, while actinomycetes thrive in more alkaline conditions.

In order to encourage microbial activity on the farm, soil has to be managed to create a favorable environment for both crops and microbes. This can be done by timely and appropriate tillage that avoids compaction; irrigation and drainage practices that keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, liming to maintain a near-neutral pH, and frequent  addition of organic (carbon-containing) residues to provide energy for the microbes.

In general, the abundance of microbes in soil is proportional to the organic matter content. Soils that have large amounts of organic residues regularly added to them tend to support a larger microbial population. However, there is usually an explosion in microbial numbers after the addition of available carbon ‘fuel’, followed by a population crash as that fuel is consumed. Some of the fuel is incorporated into microbial cells and some is given off as carbon dioxide. Later, the microbial cells become food for other microbes and then they, too, are decomposed through microbial activities. So eventually, microbial activity returns to a low level unless more residues are added. The good news is that the microbes are always there, ready to leap into service when environmental conditions are suitable and there’s a source of energy.

For more information on soil microbes, soil management and soil fertility, refer to “Building Soils for Better Crops,” by Fred Magdoff and Harold van Es, available from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program at: www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Books/Building-Soils-for-Better-Crops-3rd-Edition.

Why Are Soil Microbes Important?

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground

Microbes sustain life on earth and they have relationships we are just beginning to understand leading us to discover these smallest of small critters and animals are the basis of all life.

The floriculture of microbes is called the soil microbiome and it is very similar to our humanbiome and definitely intricately connected.    Unseen (with our eyes) microbes have a collective mass greater than all the animals on the planet.   In the human, there are more microbes then human cells.   

We are here because of the microbes and we live in their world!

Microbes (also called microorganisms) are literally everywhere.  They  grow and reproduce in and on your body, and on rocks, within plant roots and on their leaves, in wetlands, oceans and fresh waterways.   And, microbes are in soil.  There are more microbes in a teaspoon of soil than there are people on the earth. There are more microbes in your gut than human cells in your body.   Soils contain about 8 to 15 tons of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, earthworms, and arthropods.

Therein likes the difference to soil and dirt.  There is a big difference.   The Father of Soil Science, Hans Jenny, defined the 3 components of soil.  The first is mineral (texture) which is the sand, silt and clay.    Organisms are the second component.  And, the third is the organic matter (OM).    Without the microbes or the OM, it is simply dirt and void of life. 

In the soil, the microbes decompose and recycle; keep us healthy, make the oxygen we breathe, fix nitrogen, control pollution, are a source of renewable fuel.  They literally feed the world!  Without them, there is no food!  And, without these microbes healthy we may have a plant we can eat force with “ides” and “izers” but it contains no nutrients.   It is like the difference between a tablet of processes vitamin C and a sprig of parsley from good soils.

It is a web of precious live science has neglected for too long Soil microbes throught recycling and decompossition release chemicals (such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) that can be used to build new healthy plants (and animals). So, the flower or a vegetable will eventually become part of another living thing chemically.   So the next time you see cut flowers decay or a garden vegetable rot, remember, you’re really seeing microbes at work.

Our understandings about these microbes is now giving us solid information about how to provide the environment and the biology to ensure the good microbes thrive.  Science is now discovering the microbe world in research that  “…just like the human gut or plant roots, the hyphae of AM fungi have their own unique microbiomes,”  Scientist at the Maria Harrison, Scientist at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI)  “https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/bti-fcm040221.php?fbclid=IwAR28ooKSVt8nVrEltXp0d0vz2Z6XSv-SpaBb2Bw7RaiMezc1UUBg1yMkDQM  

Everything has a symbiotic relationship.   For example, all living things require nitrogen for building DNA, RNA, and protein molecules. We knew nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere but only a few species of microbes can use it in this form. All other organisms depend on certain bacteria that produces enzymes that convert or “fix” gaseous nitrogen (N2) into a form other organisms can use (such as ammonium (NH4+) or nitrate (NO3-)).  Nitrogen-fixing bacteria depend on plants for food therefore forming a symbiotic (or mutually beneficial) relationship. Animals (including us humans) in turn acquire nitrogen by eating plants and plant-eaters.   

Other metabolically talented microbes can metabolize metals, acids, salt, methane, or even radioactive wastes. We are discovering a microbe for every pollutant. Thus microbes can treat sewage, clean abandoned mines, and degrade a variety of industrial chemicals.    

We are just beginning to understand and appreciate this minute world at greater depths.   Maybe it is just in time because we have spent years destroying them and following practices (both chemical and organic) that have harmed their cycle of life.  Soil biology is the mediator of life on Earth. It is the function of the biological systems acting as the “gut” of plants.

When we look into the soil with our microscopes we want to see bacteria, fungi, yeasts, protozoa and nematodes.  They act as microbes in the gut biome to solubilize, sequester and digest the minerals from the sand, silt, clay, rocks, pebbles and crop residues into plant available nutrition.    This nutrition translates for us humans as amazing “taste” that is satisfying. This is referred to as nutrient cycling and in symbiosis with plants, they (the microbes) are critical for carbon cycling also.

We all, farmers and gardeners alike, are realizing this the soil biological system that literally is the “gut” of our environment.    Big money AG and the wrath of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, soluble fertilizers and tillage have left soils void of some of these microscopic soil managers. They are out of balance. Without them, we are left to chemistry that may superficially be a short fix but it is harming the critters.   As our understanding of many of the “-cides” used in agriculture increased, it is clear how devastating these can be to the microbes. We need to eliminate or at the very least, use wisely, all forms of insecticides and fungicides so as to not compromise the biodiversity.   We need to rebuild the biodiversity.

One of the fundamental theories from soil consultants is that not all soil testing is created equal. Simplistic N-P-K and pH tests are fine for determining fertility needs, but worthless when it comes to rebuilding soils.  To rebuild you have to understand the microbiology.

It is important that we remember to view soil as a habitat and an ecosystem, and to shift our mindset from feeding plants to feeding the soil, which will in turn feed the plants and support them in many other ways.   Microorganisms are “everything” and is relevant to everybody.   The proof is around us everywhere.  Microbes actually do everything.  

Soil microbes are the simpliest of creatures that created our environment we live in.   In our soil microscope and compost making we are particularly interested in bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes and soil microaggregates (held together by the microorganism glue). 

There are microbes in us, on us and acting upon everything around us.     If we don’t understand them and stop harming them, there will be no nutrition from our plants and we will left with only “dirt”, barren land, anaerobic conditions and life will cease.  We have to look at this differently.   We have help the microbes thrive.   We all need to eat and we all need healthy nutrition.  Microbes are responsible for creating soils we all desperately need.  

Recently, so many insights into how life happens becauses of microbiology.   The microbes are the engines of production and understanding their role and helping them flourish translates to true sustainability longterm.   As we learn more and more we realize they offer roots to all the solutions we are seeking…at least the most fundamental issue we are face with collectively and that is “health”.   It is important now and even more important in the future.  Taking care of the soil is taking care of the whole!

Grass Is Great

Posted on by Leisha Living Ground

I went on a mission to learn the best method for growing a beautiful lawn naturally. I took it back to the historical roots, learned the reasons we are obsessed with it and then saw grass from an ecological standpoint. Grass is an amazing and super beneficial edible and medicinal plant. If there is one plant we should know it’s how to care for grass. All grass can help us improve our soil as a source of nitrogen for compost with all the new growth rich in nutrient and it’s a source of Protozoa and fungi for many holistic soil management methods. Believe it or not the best way to get grass healthy is to make a tea using healthy grass.

All this works with many plants because to get a plant healthy naturally it has to have its support system. The parameters for growing a plant is the plant in many ways.

Like the concept of we need money to make money when we grow we need life to make life. I didn’t just use grass to make my yard grow this well but for those struggling to understand human engineered teas and extracts plant for plant teas can make a big difference. To make a plant to plant fertilizer we can put a plant in a blender, strain and dilute the juice in 5 gallons of fresh water and scoop, drizzle or spray it onto the same plant we blended. Some plants can affect others differently so if you use one plant to fertilize another and get it in the foliage do so with caution using trial and error hesitations. I don’t want to be responsible for someone using a toxic tropical plant on our natives thinking a healthy plant makes a healthy plant. This is only part of the message. D

ifferent plants have and need different microbes. Kale needs actinobacteria but put actinobacteria on tomatoes and you’ll have blight showing in a few days. I want to help but as with many things I’ve learned the standard ecological answer is, “it depends” so look for 2 sides to everything within the biosphere … “that’s life”, as they say.