The Art & Science of Microbe Farming - Ep. 114

EcoJustice Radio

With growing interest in farming and regeneration of the soil using compost, now is the time to get back to the land -- and simultaneously mitigate greenhouse gases by utilizing excess food waste and yard trimmings. Nevertheless, with most people residing in cities, largely disconnected from Nature coupled with the inter-generational loss of ancestral traditions and practices around growing food and tending the land, many of us now seek to reclaim that lost knowledge. Much of the soil on this continent has been degraded by industrial farming, monocropping, overgrazing, rototilling, the use of pesticides, herbicides and toxic chemicals, negligence and ignorance. It is a great undertaking to nurture and sustain soil as a vital, thriving ecosystem and we would do well to undertake it as a species. Hear the insights of Keisha Wheeler & Casey Ernst, co-founders of Catalyst BioAmendments [http://www.catalystbioamendments.com] as they share how you too can become a Microbe Farmer and regenerate the soil! Keisha Wheeler and Casey Ernst are microbe farmers with a strong background in permaculture, a love for food forests, and an obsession with microscope adventures. They spent many years off-grid building earthen structures, growing plants, creating compost, and teaching travelers how to bring regenerative principles into their own lives. The two shifted their life path to study under the amazing Elaine Ingham. After graduating the Soil Foodweb courses, they began to discover that most commercial compost was void of beneficial life. From this revelation, Catalyst BioAmendments was born, a biologically focused compost company in Nevada City, CA. They produce diverse soil microorganisms to be used in soil regeneration. It is a working model of how composting practices can be altered to quickly produce diverse microorganisms at scale. Keisha and Casey are founding members of the Sierra Soil Biology Association. A non-profit organization of biology focused soil food web consultants, compost producers, lab techs, and community influencers who promote the regeneration of soil. They aim to raise the quality of food through increasing microbial biomass in agricultural soils. They also started Catalyst BioLogical Solutions, a consultation company where they help small to large-scale farmers, homesteaders and gardeners understand how to create, apply, and increase soil fertility on-sites with waste materials from the local area. Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/ Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/ Support the Podcast: https://socal350.org/contribute-to-socal-350-climate-action/ Executive Producer: Jack Eidt Interview by Carry Kim Intro by Jessica Aldridge Engineer: Blake Lampkin Show Created by Mark and JP Morris Music: Javier Kadry Episode 114 Image: Catalyst BioAmendments