Yes, the Foundation Courses are 100% online, theory-based courses. You will watch a series of lectures and take a short quiz after each one.

Yes, they are. You’ll be able to login at any time, watch a lecture as many times as you like, then prepare for the short multiple-choice quiz that follows each lecture.

You can start as soon as you sign up.

• About the various groups of microorganisms that make up a fully-functional soil ecosystem, and how their interactions result in a constant flow of nutrients being made available to plants and trees.
• How plants and trees control the army of microorganisms in their root zones. Plants feed specific groups of microorganisms in order to harvest the particular nutrients required at any given moment. This results in vibrant, healthy plants and in super-nutritious fruits and vegetables.
• That there is an abundance of nutrients locked-away in the crystalline structure of the mineral particles that make-up all of the world’s soils – from the desert sands to prairies and forests, there is no soil on earth that is incapable of providing all the nutrients that plants require. The missing-link is the army of soil microorganisms that can access these nutrients and make them available to plants.
• How beneficial soil microorganisms prevent diseases and pests from attacking plants. By occupying infection sites all over the roots and all of the above-ground parts of the plant, beneficial microorganisms make it impossible for the ‘bad-guys’ to get access to the plant. In addition to this, beneficial microorganisms create aerobic conditions in which the ‘bad-guys’ (which are mostly anaerobes) cannot survive.
• That beneficial microorganisms build structure in the soil, thus preventing soil erosion whilst simultaneously improving water holding capacity, infiltration and oxygenation. Having structure in the soil enables roots to go much deeper into the ground, where they can access greater quantities of water and nutrients.
• About the way in which the presence of beneficial fungi results in diminished weed pressure. Have you ever noticed how there are very few weeds to be found in a forest?
• How introducing the Soil Food Web can drastically increase the ability of a soil to capture and store carbon from the atmosphere.
• The history of agriculture and how certain practices have resulted in the destruction of the soil food web in so many of the world’s soils.
• Basic plant physiology and biochemistry. The course covers the basics that are required in order for you to be able to fully understand the processes that are taking place in a living, functional soil.
• About how the soil food web has been reintroduced to over 5 Million acres worldwide. You will review a number of case-studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of the soil food web and how it can be implemented on projects of any scale, any crop and in any climate.
• How to make and apply BioComplete™ compost and liquids.
• About the different kinds of equipment you can use to make and apply the amendments you make.
• The farming practices that are harmful to soil biology and what farmers can do to avoid them.
• How to quantify the different organism groups in a soil, compost or liquid sample, using the compound microscope. This will enable you to measure results as they happen underground and before they happen above ground.

There are 63 lectures total in all four Foundation Courses. To see the full breakdown of the Foundation Courses and the lecture titles, please click here.

The regular price is $5,000 for the 4 courses.

Students typically require about 150 hours in order to complete the FC at a reasonable pace.

We expect that a student can complete the FC in 4 weeks, if studying full-time. The maximum time allowed to complete the FC is 12 months. You can apply for an extension if you need it.

The courses are designed for people with no background in the field.

tudents wishing to pursue a career as a Soil Food Web Consultant will need to progress from the FC to the Consultant Training Program.

Some become Soil Food Web Consultants who help farmers, ranchers and growers to transition away from using chemicals, to a biological/regenerative farming technique. Others focus on producing great compost, which they then can sell to soil consultants or direct to farmers. And others become Soil Food Web Lab-Technicians who perform biological assessments for farmers and growers, or for Soil Food Web Consultants.

Students typically need to make at least 6 compost piles before they can achieve the required standards for passing the compost practicum. If you have the resources, you can make multiple piles, with varying recipes, simultaneously, to save time. Each pile will require up to 28 days to complete, once built. A reasonable time-frame for the compost practicum is 3-12 months. Some students may take longer.

The amount of time required depends on your other commitments. Students are expected to complete the GTP within 2 years. The maximum allowable time for completion is 3 years after which your enrollment will expire. This policy is designed to help students to remain focused and motivated. You can of course apply for an extension if there are extenuating circumstances. Below is a breakdown of the time needed to complete each stage of the GTP:  

GTP Stage 1 – The BioComplete™ Compost Practicum

Students typically need to make at least 6 compost piles before they can achieve the required standards for passing the compost practicum. If you have the resources, you can make multiple piles, with varying recipes, simultaneously, to save time. Each pile will require up to 28 days to complete, once built. A reasonable time-frame for the compost practicum is 3-12 months. Some students may take longer. 

GTP Stage 2 – The BioComplete™ Liquid Practicum

Students can expect to complete Stage 2 within 3 months, or less if they are well prepared and focused. 

GTP Stage 3 – Implementation

The duration of the Final Project should be around one growing season +/-1 month. You should allow some time prior to the growing season for preparation; several hours per month, during the growing season, for data collection; and several days of work at the end of the growing season for data analysis and the write-up of your project. 

The courses are designed for people who are either Farmers, Ranchers or Growers. While you don’t need a background in science or any other qualifications, you will need access to some land and other resources. If you are considering taking this course before you purchase land, that’s ok, so long as you have some space and resources to make your compost (and to practice microscopy) in Stage 1, and to make your liquid amendments in Stage 2. You will need the land by the time you reach Stage 3  for implementation.

You will need to purchase several pieces of equipment in order to complete each stage. The precise budget will depend on the size of your operation. Your mentor will be able to advise you on equipment selection. The minimum requirements are likely to cost at least $1,000. You may be able to repurpose some of your existing equipment e.g. spraying rigs for the application of liquid biological inoculate. 

This is not currently possible, but we are hoping to put on a number of in-person intensive workshops in 2022.

Yes it is. GTP students are required to complete the CLP in Stage 1 of the GTP. Click here for more info.

The GTP is intended for farmers, growers and ranchers who do not wish to become certified consultants but if you change your mind during your program (before you enter Stage 3), you can transfer from the GTP to the CTP and complete Stage 3 of the Consultant Training Program. This will enable you to be certified as a Soil Food Web Consultant. 

The term BioComplete™ is used to refer to compost and liquid amendments that meet the minimum biological requirements defined by Dr Elaine Ingham as being required in order for the amendment to be effective in restoring the soil biome, when correctly applied. You will be trained how to make these amendments in the GTP. Once you have successfully completed the GTP, you can apply to the Soil Food Web School for a license to use the term in association with your products, but the term can only be used by individuals and corporations that have a license agreement in place. Licensees will be required to meet stringent quality assurance requirements.

Yes, the course includes 18 pre-recorded lectures and quizzes delivered entirely online. You can login any time you like, watch the lectures as many times as you wish and then take the short, multiple-choice quiz. 

Yes, you can access and view the lectures and take the quizzes at your own pace. Students typically require about 40 hours in order to complete the IPC at a reasonable pace. We expect that a student can complete the IPC in 1 week, if studying full-time. You will have access to the IPC content for as long as we maintain the program.

You can start as soon as you sign up.

• In this program, you’ll learn about some of the principles of permaculture and how they can be applied to the land, to water management and to most aspects of life. Course themes include:
  • What is Permaculture?
  • 12 Principles of Permaculture
  • Three ethics: Earth Care, People Care, Fair Shares
  • Importance of Observation
  • Design Sequences
  • Why do trees matter and how do they work?
  • The Answer Lies in the Soil
  • Cycles of Intervention
  • Zones, Sectors and Throughputs

There are 18 lectures. Each lesson is a lecture delivered by Graham Bell with a PowerPoint presentation, with interspersed contributions from other Permaculturalists from various parts of the world. The PowerPoints will be available to download as PDFs. Each lesson is followed by a short quiz to help you track your comprehension.

No. Graham is not available for Q&A at this time.

$200 as a free-standing course, but it’s free with the October 2021 promotional bundle. 

The courses are designed for people with no background in the field.

Yes

No. This is a  five-part, live discussion course. 

• The first workshop is a 5-week event (once per week for 5 weeks). Sessions last ~2.5 hours and will be held once a week for five weeks. 
• Sessions are scheduled for the following 5 dates: November 8, 15, 22, 29 and December 26, 2021. 
• There will be 2 sessions per day, to suit people in different time zones. The morning session will run from 10:30-13:00 and the afternoon session will run from 18:30-21:00 Eastern time. Students can only attend one session per day.
• The sessions will be held on the Zoom platform. You will be sent the relevant link after registration.  
• Sessions will be recorded, so if you miss a session you can get caught-up.

This is a  five-part, live discussion course. 

• The first workshop is a 5-week event (once per week for 5 weeks). Sessions last ~2.5 hours and will be held once a week for five weeks. 
• Sessions are scheduled for the following 5 dates: November 8, 15, 22, 29 and December 26, 2021. 
• There will be 2 sessions per day, to suit people in different time zones. The morning session will run from 10:30-13:00 and the afternoon session will run from 18:30-21:00 Eastern time. Students can only attend one session per day.
• The sessions will be held on the Zoom platform. You will be sent the relevant link after registration.  
• Sessions will be recorded, so if you miss a session you can get caught-up.

Whether you are a farmer, a policymaker, a journalist, or an investor trying to make a change in the world, after taking this course you will see the potential of simple strategic land-management decisions to create the conditions for land to naturally regenerate its water-absorbing sponge-like structure and function. Click here to download a full class description.

There are 5 sessions, each 2.5 hours long.

$300 as a standalone workshop  but it’s free with the October 2021 promotional bundle. 

• The workshop is a 5-week event (once per week for 5 weeks) and is scheduled for the following 5 dates: November 8, 15, 22, 29 and December 26, 2021.
• There will be 2 sessions per day, to suit people in different time zones. The morning session will run from 10:30-13:00 and the afternoon session will run from 18:30-21:00 Eastern time. Students can only attend one session per day.
• Sessions will be recorded, so if you miss a session you can get caught-up.
• The sessions will be held on the Zoom platform. You will be sent the relevant link after registration.

The courses are designed for people with no background in the field.

Whether you are a farmer, a policymaker, a journalist, or an investor trying to make a change in the world, after taking this course you will see the potential of simple strategic land-management decisions to create the conditions for land to naturally regenerate its water-absorbing sponge-like structure and function.