Soil Food Web

Compost is more than decayed organic matter—it is a living ecosystem that fuels the soil food web. Microbes, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and earthworms all rely on compost as a source of energy and nutrients. Understanding this connection helps gardeners build regenerative soil that supports healthy, productive plants. 1. Compost as a Microbial Fuel When organic…

A thriving vegetable garden depends on living soil. Beneath the surface, a complex network of microbes, fungi, and soil organisms—collectively known as the soil food web—drives nutrient cycling, improves structure, and supports plant health. Focusing on building this web is a cornerstone of regenerative gardening. Drawing on decades of experience gardening in California’s Central Valley…

Healthy vegetable gardens depend on more than sunlight and water—they rely on living soil ecosystems. The soil food web—a complex network of microbes, fungi, and earthworms—creates fertile, resilient soil that supports vigorous plant growth. Understanding and nurturing this web is central to regenerative gardening. With decades of experience gardening in California’s Central Valley and Sonoma…

Beneath every thriving vegetable garden lies an unseen world of activity—the soil food web. This living network of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods, and earthworms works together to transform organic matter into nutrients plants can use. In regenerative gardening, understanding and nurturing this web is the key to growing vigorous, nutrient-dense crops without relying on…