• About the various groups of microorganisms that make up a fullyfunctional 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 supernutritious fruits and vegetables.
• That there is an abundance of nutrients locked-away in the crystalline structure of the mineral particles that makeup 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.

In Foundation Course 1 you will learn:

• About the damage that modern agriculture has done to soils all over the world.
• How Regenerative Agriculture is the soil-ution and how you can rapidly regenerate your soils with the Soil Food Web Approach.
• How the Soil Food Web Approach can be adopted on any scale and in almost any environment, with a multitude of crops.
• About the 4 major groups of Beneficial Microorganisms that are needed to restore ecosystem functions to your soil.
• How Beneficial Microbes work in harmony with your crops to nourish and protect them.
• How benefits such as increased yields, reduced erosion, reduced pest, disease and weed pressures etc. can be achieved.
• About several projects from around the world that Dr. Elaine Ingham has worked on personally.
• About some of the management practices you can adopt to ensure that the biology in your soils is not compromised.
• How soil structure is created by beneficial microbes, improving water infiltration in clay soils and better water retention in sandy soils. And how good structure enables plants and beneficial microbes to penetrate deep into the soil profile, improving plant health.
• How beneficial microbes access the abundance of nutrients stored in the parent material (think sand and clay particles) and how this is then made available to your plants.
• How plants influence the soil biome, by releasing sugary exudates that feed specific groups of beneficial microbes, in return for nutrients.
• How having a balanced soil biome can result in great benefits, such as Weed Suppression and Increased Carbon or Organic Matter content.

In Foundation Course 2 you will learn:

• About the different definitions of compost and why we consider it as a means of multiplying beneficial microbes instead of just a way of delivering nutrients to the soil.
• How to make your own Biological Compost, using Dr. Elaine’s close-control composting method that enables beneficial microbes to multiply rapidly, while suppressing detrimental microbes.
• Techniques that can be used to balance the biology in your compost, ensuring that the 4 main groups of microbes are present.
• How to apply Biological Compost to your soils so that beneficial microbes can interact with your plants in the root zone, offering nutrition and protection.
• About the various types of methods and equipment that can be used to produce Biological Compost, depending on scale. This includes vermicompost and hot-composting.

In Foundation Course 3 you will learn:

• How to produce Biological Extracts and Teas from your Biological Compost, using different types of equipment depending on the scale you are operating at.
• About the uses and application methods of Biological Extracts and Teas
• How to apply Biological Liquid Amendments to your soils using different equipment, depending on the scale of your project. And how you can use conventional spraying equipment with some minor modifications.

In Foundation Course 4 you will learn:

• How to correctly set-up and use a compound microscope.
• About the biological morphology of the 4 major groups of beneficial soil microorganisms.
• How to identify and quantify the key groups of beneficial microbes that all soils need in order to be fully functional, using the compound microscope. This will enable you to conduct your own soil biology assessments on-farm.
• How to process and interpret data.
• How to recognize microarthropods, algae, pollen and other objects in your soil.

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.

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 for the 4 courses is $5,000. With the October, 2024 offer you pay $3,199 and you get lots more FREE!

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.

Students 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.

What You Will Learn

• You’ll be assigned to one of our highly trained Mentors who will guide you as you work towards mastering the art of making BioComplete™ Compost using the techniques you have studied in the Foundation Courses.
• You will also work 1-on-1 with your Mentor to develop your microscopy skills to the required standard to become a Certified Soil Food Web Lab-Tech.
• You’ll learn from the experience of others as your Mentor will be able to advise you on common mistakes to avoid, when making your compost.

What’s Included

• 26 hours of total Mentor Time dedicated to helping you to make your own Biological Compost and Master the Microscope.
• Free listing in the directory of Certified Soil Food Web Lab-Techs, once you pass the Microscopy Proficiency Assessment (MPA).
• The Guide to Making Small Scale BioComplete™ Compost manual.
• The Certified Lab-Tech Program (CLP) Course Manual.
• The Launch Your Lab Guidebook.

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 do hold 2-week intensive workshops designed to help you get a head-start on all the practical aspects of this training. 

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 Consultant Training Program (CTP) and complete Stage 3 of the CTP. This will enable you to be certified as a Soil Food Web Consultant. 

The term BioComplete^TM 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 Grower Training Program.

As this is a trademarked term, protected under copyright law, it can only be used with written permission of the Soil Food Web School.