An Introduction to the Soil Food Web

Healthy soil is far more than a growing medium—it is a living ecosystem, one that we can all nurture with deeper understanding the soil food web.

Do you want to learn about the diverse communities of organisms at the core of healthy functioning soils? and how to produce compost full of beneficial microbial life?

Join Kelly Moss, Soil Food Web Lab Technician, Irongate Farm composter and foraging expert, for this interactive one-day course exploring the science behind the soil food web and the practical methods used to produce high-quality, biologically active compost. Using working compost systems on the farm, we'll explore a range of composting methods, giving you the understanding and practical skills to put these principles into practice in your own garden, allotment or farm.

You will also enjoy a farm-to-fork lunch, freshly prepared by our GroundSchool chef.

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Soil food web 

An in-depth introduction to the organisms that drive healthy, productive soils.

• Explore the key members of the soil food web:
  • Bacteria
  • Fungi
  • Protozoa
  • Nematodes
• Understand how these organisms interact with plants and each other.
• Learn how soil biology builds soil structure, cycles nutrients, suppresses disease, stores carbon and supports resilient plant growth.
• How the ratio of fungi to bacteria influence what plants the soil can support. 
• The importance of plants and organic matter as the engine the drives life.
• An introduction to microscopes- An opportunity to see first-hand the organisms that underpin healthy soils.

Effective composting

The science and practice of producing high-quality, biologically active compost.

• Understand the principles of successful composting, including feedstocks, carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio, moisture management, aeration, temperature, timings and compost maturity.
• Learn how to setup and manage a range of composting systems, including thermophilic aerated composting, Johnson–Su bioreactors, vermicomposting and Bokashi. 
• When and why a particular composting system may be selected- for culturing different microbial communities, reducing biomass, minimizing odour, maximising nutrient content and managing weeds and pathogens.  
• Compare the benefits, limitations and best uses of each composting method
• Learn how to apply compost effectively and produce compost teas and extracts