The Soil Food Web
The Technology of the natural world
In healthy soil, there exists an ecosystem comparable to a jungle in its diversity, productivity, and health. Just like in a jungle, plants are a part of this ecosystem. Just like in any ecosystem, greater diversity means greater productivity, and if certain key players are removed, than the whole system is thrown off balance. Factors like compaction, over-watering, and chemical pesticides and fertilizers have largely wiped out the organisms in our agricultural and horticultural soil. Without them, we need to fill their natural role of protecting and nurturing our plants by using chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Modern interdisciplanary technology has given us the ability to put the biology back. Now we also prove that if we put the organisms back, we no longer need the chemicals.
Dr Elaine Ingham, PhD
Dr Ingham is the scientific pioneer of the 'Soil Food Web' approach to growing systems. She holds a PhD in Soil Microbiology from Colorado State University, she worked as an associate professor at Oregon State from 1986-2001 (when she resigned under some questionable circumstances) She continues to work as a research fellow with the University of Georgia, and is president of Soil Foodweb Inc. (www.soilfoodweb.com)
Thank you Dr Ingham, for your hard work, passion, and determination.