Soil health is the key to garden success and the book “Teaming With Microbes” by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis lays out important soil information for all gardeners. There are good gardening books that deserve a place in every gardener’s library and this is one of the best. Gardener Scott discusses what’s in the book and why it is one of his favorites (Video #225)
“Teaming With Microbes” https://amzn.to/36Dunoa
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29 Comments
I think the old lady who ate a fly represents the american continent, and all the imported plants and animals. instead of eating each other, they should have only brought over food plants. It's also kinda how I like to garden, just throw new plants in here and there and see what gets eaten, hopefully by me~
Great book. It changed the way I look at soil.
I’ve loved your other book recommendations so I just purchased and downloaded this one as a Kindle book. Looking forward to reading it later on this very windy day that I’ll be staying indoors on. Thanks!
Thanks for the reading suggestions. Always looking to expand my library and understanding of how things work.
Okay, now I want that book! So many chapters you mentioned I want to know more about. Interesting the drier mulch encourages the fungal activity and the wetter the bacterial. I noticed that in my garden. We have flood irrigation and the areas that get the bulk of the water don't have the mold and the wood chip mulch has composted down in a big way. The drier area that often gets no irrigation, has mold growth happening in the wood chips. Now I want to learn more about why. 😀 Thank you. You look even more like a teacher with those glasses on. 😀
Perfect timing Gardener Scott!😉while we're all thinking about growing next spring🌼 Thankyou!🐢🐝🐜🐛❤
Thank you for the recommendation. I'm a novice gardener and have been thinking that I needed just this type of resource.
Your video is quite timely. This is a hot topic right now. Diego Footer has done several videos on how to build the Johnson-Su bioreactor, and how the reactors build the bacteria and fungi in the soil. Doctor Johnson has had amazing results with his microbe-rich compost and compost tea. He has documented increases of 300% to 400% in the growth of plants in his treated fields without fertilizer. Google "Johnson-Su Bioreactor."
"Dr. David Johnson (NMSU/CRA) has been doing breakthrough work in regards to the efficacy of biologically correct, fungal-dominated compost for carbon sequestration and improved soil health and crop yields. His method is called BEAM (Biologically Enhanced Agricultural Management) and centers around the products created using the compost creation system he devised with his wife Hui-Chun Su (called the Johnson-Su Bioreactor).
Compost is usually thought of as fertilizer, a way of adding nutrients to the soil. BEAM compost actually addresses soil health through soil biology. It replaces soil microbes in soil degraded through conventional agriculture methods. That, along with no-till practices, cover crops, and other Regenerative Agriculture practices, enable the normal symbiosis between these microbes and plant roots to occur. Quite quickly, the soil starts to recover, and striking improvements in crop yields and carbon sequestration occurs."
I will enjoy reading "Teaming With Microbes" to see what it adds and how it compares to Dr. Johnson's work.
I just got this book as a birthday gift. I've been hearing about it for some time, and I'm excited to dig into it (pun intended).
Thanks for the book recommendation. What you said about fungal versus bacterial domination particularly piques my interest as a person who ferments food and drink, in which (depending on what I'm making) I'm encouraging competitive exclusion of one over another. Can't wait to explore the gardening parallel to this.
Thank You for your book review. That book is great! I knew a lot about what happens above the soil, but did not know everything that goes on below the soil. I admit I had to read it couple of times to understand it, but its worth it. After reading this book I realized that all thias time I had been harming the microbes with inorganic fertilizers. I have been a organic gardener because of that book for years now. I think that book is a eye opener to what really goes on in the soil beneath your plants. I have another one of his books also.
Found your channel on accident. great knowledge to be learn. keep on. thank you
What a coincidence, I'm ready that book now.
I read this book a few months ago, and it gave me a great deal of humility… There is such an incredible ecosystem that is so perfectly balanced … And who are we to question Mother Nature's ways. Everything has its place… Don't mess with it… Live with it, emabrace it and observe Mother Nature and copy what she does.
so many want to kill everything that they don't want to grow. insects, fungus, microbes, etc. and icky worms. the plants NEED them.
I ordered Teaming with Microbes a few months ago when you talked about it. It’s very informative. I have been sharing some of what I learned, bit by bit, with my 9 year old grandson, and he is gaining an appreciation for the many kinds of life which help his plants to grow. I received The Complete Guide to Saving Seeds today, and I have been looking it over before doing a deep dive. I never realized how little I knew about seeds!
I just started gardening this year and struggling with my clay soil. Thank you so much Gardener Scott for a timely information!
Am a fellow Master Gardener and have all three of Jeff Lowenfel's books (Jeff is fellow Alaskan). Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
Listening to this on Audible. Makes me want to take care of my soil like I do my dog… Lol. It's alive!
I read the complete trilogy during summer. Twice. Last week I purchased a microscope… lots of fun!
I just ordered the book Scott, can't wait to give it a read.
"Nature is always right" the gardener is teaching much as you and that book your advice and I am buying into the system.
I did know a little about the way fungus working with the roots and the roots helps the top growth and make the veggies I want.
Great subject here Sir.
Gardenar Scott thanks again and hopefully others will believe how we can help the plants and just have to enjoy the rewards later.
Yes about the northern fungi helping
A my removing the big rocks are helping me to advance as a Gardenar John Jude person.thanks
Great there are copies of this at the library now to wait for them to open….Thank you Scott, I enjoy how you share growth in knowledge. As the more we research the more powerful we become. Not only with research but with reading.
Stay well and I look forward to your next installment.
Excellent. Check out Dr Elaine R Ingham. She got her PhD from Colorado State University in the 80’s. She developed the soil food web for her PhD. She has written all of the soil biology primer except the last 2 chapters. The book is free from USDA NRCS website. I’m a MGV from UF/IFAS.
WOW!! Thanks,ordering mine today!
I am currently reading Teaming With Nutrients. I actually thought I bought Teaming with Microbes, but I clicked the wrong book by the Dr Jeff. Microbes is next but I would recommend his book on nutrients too!
I agree 100%! Excellent book!
You suggested Gaia’s Garden in another video and it was fantastic soo onto this one at your suggestion 🙂
To me Teaming with microbes was a game changer