Horticulture

Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web (Revised Edition)

Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web (Revised Edition)

  • Downloads：3344
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-09-16 08:54:13
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Jeff Lowenfels
  • ISBN：1604691131
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Summary

Smart gardeners know that soil is anything but an inert substance。 Healthy soil is teeming with life — not just earthworms and insects， but a staggering multitude of bacteria， fungi， and other microorganisms。 When we use chemical fertilizers， we injure the microbial life that sustains healthy plants， and thus become increasingly dependent on an arsenal of artificial substances， many of them toxic to humans as well as other forms of life。 But there is an alternative to this vicious circle: to garden in a way that strengthens， rather than destroys， the soil food web — the complex world of soil-dwelling organisms whose interactions create a nurturing environment for plants。 By eschewing jargon and overly technical language， the authors make the benefits of cultivating the soil food web available to a wide audience， from devotees of organic gardening techniques to weekend gardeners who simply want to grow healthy， vigorous plants without resorting to chemicals。

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Reviews

Gonzalo Mendez ，

It's a great begginers book， describes how microbes work on an easy and clear way。 I thought I was going to learn new things， didn't happen。 If you are familiar with this subject I wouldn't recommend this book to you， but if you are curious to understand this topic is a great book to start。 It's a great begginers book， describes how microbes work on an easy and clear way。 I thought I was going to learn new things， didn't happen。 If you are familiar with this subject I wouldn't recommend this book to you， but if you are curious to understand this topic is a great book to start。 。。。more

Harini Gopalswami Srinivasan ，

Review of this and other related books in my farming blog:https://thelongview2016。wordpress。com。。。 Review of this and other related books in my farming blog:https://thelongview2016。wordpress。com。。。 。。。more

Caolan McMahon ，

A fascinating introduction to the microbes and small critters in the soil and their interactions with plants and each other。 The first half of the book explains the science， it's accessible even if you don't know much biology and would be interesting to non-gardeners too。 The second half of the book gives you some practical tools to encourage a flourishing soil food web。 If you're already gardening organically in 2021 you're most likely using a lot of them already: e。g。 no-dig， compost， and aera A fascinating introduction to the microbes and small critters in the soil and their interactions with plants and each other。 The first half of the book explains the science， it's accessible even if you don't know much biology and would be interesting to non-gardeners too。 The second half of the book gives you some practical tools to encourage a flourishing soil food web。 If you're already gardening organically in 2021 you're most likely using a lot of them already: e。g。 no-dig， compost， and aerated compost teas。 。。。more

Jacqueline ，

I’m really not much of a gardener， I don’t have the patience or desire。 However， I read this book as part of a deal with my husband， who LOVES gardening and treats this books as the Bible in all things growing。 So I went into this with very little knowledge or stakes， or honestly even any significant amount of interest in the topic。I say all this to illustrate how shocking it is that I actually did find this book interesting！ I would look forward to picking up where I left off whenever I was abl I’m really not much of a gardener， I don’t have the patience or desire。 However， I read this book as part of a deal with my husband， who LOVES gardening and treats this books as the Bible in all things growing。 So I went into this with very little knowledge or stakes， or honestly even any significant amount of interest in the topic。I say all this to illustrate how shocking it is that I actually did find this book interesting！ I would look forward to picking up where I left off whenever I was able to continue reading it。 For those who are uninitiated to gardening: this book is extremely approachable and easy to read and understand。 But more than that， it is not really just about gardening。 It opens your eyes to what is going on beneath our feet， and to the amazing reality of how resilient and intelligent nature can be。 Reading this， I gained a little perspective on the hubris of humans who think they know how to grow things better than the organisms that have supported the growth our planet for thousands upon millions of years。 I gained a little of appreciation for the harm that we cause to our soil， to our environment， to nature’s cycle， by bombing our gardens and lawns with chemical fertilizers， pesticides and herbicides， and thus a lot of appreciation for my husband who maintains our household gardens using the science of the soil food web。 Note that this book is not preachy at all， nor does it necessarily suggest that you should not use chemical fertilizers， pesticides， and herbicides at all， but rather that you should put time into learning the soil food web first and understand the impacts of your actions， in order to ultimately make better choices for your gardens。 This is definitely a worthy read for everyone， not just gardeners！ 。。。more

Ann Samford ，

I enjoyed leaning a bit more about soil。 Glad to know the annuals prefer a bacterial rich soil fed by green litter and perennials prefer mycelium rich soil fed by wood chips。 So I was inspired to buy a bale of straw to spread on the annual/veggie garden and will spread wood chips on the native perennial garden and around the trees。 I’m not ready to make the fungal teas。 I am more aware about compost but not sure this book will change out composting habit。 i do need to reconsider fertilizer。 This I enjoyed leaning a bit more about soil。 Glad to know the annuals prefer a bacterial rich soil fed by green litter and perennials prefer mycelium rich soil fed by wood chips。 So I was inspired to buy a bale of straw to spread on the annual/veggie garden and will spread wood chips on the native perennial garden and around the trees。 I’m not ready to make the fungal teas。 I am more aware about compost but not sure this book will change out composting habit。 i do need to reconsider fertilizer。 This is a helpful book to understand what’s going on in soils and how to think about them。On the negative。 The male author is still stuck in the “survival of the fittest” mind set and does not focus on how much cooperation really goes on in nature。 I think he’d learn more if he weren’t so trapped in that world view。 。。。more

Jeff Giuliano ，

This book catapulted me into the world of composting。 Jeff writes fairly deeply about the science of soil and the organisms that live in it and how they benefit plants。 In the second section he writes about how we can assist the soil in helping the plants we grow。 His three main tools for doing that are compost， mulch and actively aerated compost tea。 The depth in which he discusses most of this is really impressive。The only thing that I would have liked to see in his book is a little more detai This book catapulted me into the world of composting。 Jeff writes fairly deeply about the science of soil and the organisms that live in it and how they benefit plants。 In the second section he writes about how we can assist the soil in helping the plants we grow。 His three main tools for doing that are compost， mulch and actively aerated compost tea。 The depth in which he discusses most of this is really impressive。The only thing that I would have liked to see in his book is a little more detail about steps to take in composting。 I would consider myself a beginner composter and probably would have preferred more concrete list of steps or maybe a different format in how he presents composting。 Still， a really fundamental read for gardeners and especially organic gardeners。 。。。more

Justine ，

This book has changed my entire understanding of what is going on in the soil， and has overall made me feel more connected and respectful to that which I cannot see within a handful of soil in my hands as a gardener。

Kathleen ，

This book helped me understand the nature of life in the soil， how the food web sustains all plant growth and sustains the people who grow and eat those plants。

Trish Remley ，

Packed full with good info。 The soil is alive！ What I want to remember: 1） Most vegetable， annuals， and grasses prefer their nitrogen in nitrate form and do best in bacterially dominated soils。 2）Most trees， shrubs， and perennials prefer their nitrogen in ammonium form and do best in fungi dominated soils。 3） DO NOT rototill or disturb the soil。 This I already knew but in my opinion for anyone who reads this review， this is the number one Soil Food Web Gardening Rule presented。

John M。 ，

For gardeners， this is a good introduction to soil life and how bacteria， fungi， and small animals create the ecosystem for plants to thrive。 The main points are to avoid tilling or otherwise disturbing the soil and that adding a surface layer of compost 2-3 times per growing season is the best thing a gardener can do。 It's well-researched but written for a general audience， so it's accessible to almost everyone。 For gardeners， this is a good introduction to soil life and how bacteria， fungi， and small animals create the ecosystem for plants to thrive。 The main points are to avoid tilling or otherwise disturbing the soil and that adding a surface layer of compost 2-3 times per growing season is the best thing a gardener can do。 It's well-researched but written for a general audience， so it's accessible to almost everyone。 。。。more

Shannon ，

A must read for all gardeners！

Missy ，

Very good information！ It will change how you view your soil and learn all about the soil food web。 Just a little hard to read。 Some parts of the book were way over my head。。。too scientific。

Paul ，

Accessible and doesnt gloss the science stuff

Bec ，

Fantastic book which all gardeners should read。 Great in-depth scientific descriptions of the amazing world under the surface of the soil。 Reinforces a lot of the organic and no-dig principles I already follow whilst giving me a better understanding of how and why these things work， but best of all I have finished the book with lots of ideas of how I could do it even better。 I only wish they did an abridged pocket version in order to draw more people in。

Ivan Chaperot ，

This is perfect to listen to on Audible， with enough repetitions for new concepts/names。 This changes the perception of the usual practices in horticulture: adding salt fertilizers with high N，P，K is bad （kills microbes eventually）， and tilling up raised beds destroys the soil structure。 This is an inspiring guide to understand and change practices。 The book is heavily praising the "actively aerated compost tea"， the efficacy of which isn't convincing the scientific community。 More analysis woul This is perfect to listen to on Audible， with enough repetitions for new concepts/names。 This changes the perception of the usual practices in horticulture: adding salt fertilizers with high N，P，K is bad （kills microbes eventually）， and tilling up raised beds destroys the soil structure。 This is an inspiring guide to understand and change practices。 The book is heavily praising the "actively aerated compost tea"， the efficacy of which isn't convincing the scientific community。 More analysis would be helpful before investing in supplies and preparing compost tea。 。。。more

Toni ，

The idea of the book is nice and a lot of the material is very worth your time if you like me do not know all that much about soil microbial life。 Unfortunately， the author builds his recommendations on dubious theories that lack evidence。 I only learned this after having started the book， but the main theorist behind the "soil food web" doesn't publish her research in peer-reviewed journals。 The author also claims all kinds of effects from so called "compost teas"， which has not been backed up The idea of the book is nice and a lot of the material is very worth your time if you like me do not know all that much about soil microbial life。 Unfortunately， the author builds his recommendations on dubious theories that lack evidence。 I only learned this after having started the book， but the main theorist behind the "soil food web" doesn't publish her research in peer-reviewed journals。 The author also claims all kinds of effects from so called "compost teas"， which has not been backed up by evidence as well。 These things simply do not work in the way their proponents say， so it seems like a lot of wasted work for gardeners。 As someone said: "Leave the organic matter on the soil surface and let nature make its own tea"。 It's possible that most of the material in this book is actually backed by evidence， but when the author makes claims on things like compost tea and the soil food web， it's difficult as a reader to know what other claims in the book are not evidence-based。 This makes me doubt this book and look for better sources。Here's a review of the issue on compost teas: https://puyallup。wsu。edu/lcs/ 。。。more

Eveline Hall ，

Excellent。 I love soil

Michelle Miller ，

A must read for anyone considering setting up the fundamentals of garden soil。

Bonnie ，

Good information。 Lots of big scientific words， wish I was listening to the book instead of reading to hear the pronunciation of most。

Jennifer DeMent ，

Read it Now :）I don’t know why I waited。 If you want to know how to grow organically this is the best place to begin。 I’ve read other great books， books I would still recommend， yet I hesitated to pick up this one till we bought a farm: I read it straight through and can only say I wish I had read it sooner

Jeremy Savage ，

Incredibly educational and also fun to read。 Salute to the authors。

Julie Mickens ，

This is an appealing introduction to soil science and some microbiology as seen through the worm's eye view of the garden。 Lots of really cool electron microscope images。 If you enjoy "gee whiz！" science facts， you'll get plenty， as well as the broader knowledge to contextualize them。 I thought I knew some of this from college intro-to-biology classes， but turns out I didn't know as much as I thought。 1） This is a rapidly advancing field of knowledge with lots of new info。 2） Focusing on the soi This is an appealing introduction to soil science and some microbiology as seen through the worm's eye view of the garden。 Lots of really cool electron microscope images。 If you enjoy "gee whiz！" science facts， you'll get plenty， as well as the broader knowledge to contextualize them。 I thought I knew some of this from college intro-to-biology classes， but turns out I didn't know as much as I thought。 1） This is a rapidly advancing field of knowledge with lots of new info。 2） Focusing on the soil and particularly the "rhizosphere" is its own world apart from general-ed microbiology -- every little rootlet is a marvelous micro-ecology unto itself。 The authors detail some "how-to" applications of the science， but it's not primarily a how-to manual; I'd say it leans more toward nature-in-the-garden appreciation and general knowledge。 The most broadly applicable messages are to turn the earth less， use more compost， and avoid chemical fertilizers and -cides， and this book gives the average person a more detailed， clearer idea of how and why。 For the advanced gardener， there are also specific instructions about making aerated compost teas and how to fine-tune your compost pH。 。。。more

Nancy Lyles ，

This book provides the information needed to recover from destructive labor intensive and toxic horticultural practices we're conditioned to。 Excellent！ Easy to read！ I would give it five stars， but only a one star option is available for some inane unknown reason。。。 This book provides the information needed to recover from destructive labor intensive and toxic horticultural practices we're conditioned to。 Excellent！ Easy to read！ I would give it five stars， but only a one star option is available for some inane unknown reason。。。 。。。more

Michał Wojtera ，

Amazing book。 I rarely give 5 stars， but if there were 6 to give， this book would get them。If you have plants in pots you'll want to read this book， if you have a lawn you'll want to read this book， if you want to start a orchard/garden， you'll want to read this book。Perfectly balanced between theory and practice。 A wealth of practical advice on how to help the soil thrive。 It's a complex topic， this is not the first book I've read on the subject，but definitely one I will come back many times。 Amazing book。 I rarely give 5 stars， but if there were 6 to give， this book would get them。If you have plants in pots you'll want to read this book， if you have a lawn you'll want to read this book， if you want to start a orchard/garden， you'll want to read this book。Perfectly balanced between theory and practice。 A wealth of practical advice on how to help the soil thrive。 It's a complex topic， this is not the first book I've read on the subject，but definitely one I will come back many times。 。。。more

Francesco Petretto ，

TOP！

Ashish ，

This is a tremendous book which explains the role of microbes so lucidly。 The natural phenomena behind the interplay of different microbes is really interesting and a good pointer for any gardener。

Bill Leach ，

The authors provide an overview of the soil ecosystem， examine the benefits of a balanced microbe population and provide advice on how to improve the soil food web。The book takes a brief look at all of the major groups of organisms that make up the food web。 The bacteria （including Archaea） and fungi are the basis for the web。 Moving up， the algae， protozoa， nematodes， arthropods， earthworms， gastropods and finally the higher animals are examined。 Bacteria convert ammonium to nitrite then on to The authors provide an overview of the soil ecosystem， examine the benefits of a balanced microbe population and provide advice on how to improve the soil food web。The book takes a brief look at all of the major groups of organisms that make up the food web。 The bacteria （including Archaea） and fungi are the basis for the web。 Moving up， the algae， protozoa， nematodes， arthropods， earthworms， gastropods and finally the higher animals are examined。 Bacteria convert ammonium to nitrite then on to nitrate which causes the soil to go somewhat alkaline。 Fungi processes produce ammonium ions and acidic enzymes so soils dominated by fungi will be low in nitrates。A key factor in soil web gardening is the recognition that bacteria dominated soils are preferred by annuals， lawns and vegetables， which fungi dominated soils are preferred by perennials， bushes and trees。 The fungal to bacterial biomass （F:B） can be measured。 Vegetables prefer a ratio of 0。3:1 to 0。8:1; lawns 0。5:1 to 1:1， while trees prefer 10:1 to 50:1 and conifers higher yet。Mycorrhizal fungi grow in association with the roots of plants。 They obtain nutrients from the plant but in return extend the root system， capturing inorganic nutrients such as nitrogen， phosphorous and copper over a larger volume which is referred to as the mycorrhizosphere。 There are two main groups - the ectomycorrhizal fungi that develop a sheath around the roots to provide an interface， and the endomycorrhizal fungi which penetrate the root wall。 Soil sterilization and rototilling are not recommended as they destroy mycorrhizal fungi。 These fungi can be added to growing seedlings and plants for improved growth。The soil web can be improved through the use of compost， mulch and compost tea。 The authors include good detail on each of these approaches。 They prefer actively aerated compost tea （AACT） over simple manure tea which is anaerobic。A good， practical introduction to the complexities of the soil system and how to cultivate it。 。。。more

Nathan Rupp ，

I once had a career botanist tell me that if he could go back in time and rechoose his college major， he would have skipped botany and gone strait for soil biology。 After reading this book I see what he meant。 Our gardening， farming and lawncare practices lack consideration for the delicate ecosystem living under our feet which is essential for intentionally growing plant-life well。 In Part 1， Teaming With Nutrients will ground you （pun intended） in the science of the soil food web and how its h I once had a career botanist tell me that if he could go back in time and rechoose his college major， he would have skipped botany and gone strait for soil biology。 After reading this book I see what he meant。 Our gardening， farming and lawncare practices lack consideration for the delicate ecosystem living under our feet which is essential for intentionally growing plant-life well。 In Part 1， Teaming With Nutrients will ground you （pun intended） in the science of the soil food web and how its health and symbiotic make-up is essential to the health of everything one would want to grow。 In Part 2， you will learn how to apply it and tend to soil health （namely without exccessive soil disturbance）， as well as troubleshoot issues affecting plant life。 So if you are interested in a simple and sustainable way if organic gardening， then this book is for you。As a side note， there was recently an audio version of this book released， which is good， but there are graphs， and quick reference ratios and lists in the book that， for obvious reasons， would make also having a hard copy helpful for anyone who has the intention of applying it。 。。。more

Julietta Watson ，

You will never garden the same way again。

Aysha Ross ，

A wonderful crash course in sustainable gardening。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web (Revised Edition)

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web (Revised Edition)&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web (Revised Edition)&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0