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Offer 1
Level Up Your Soil Package
- All 4 Soil Food Web Foundation Courses
- The Soil Food Web Essentials – NEW
- The Soil Sponge Workshop – Live Interactive Course
- Exclusive Earlybird Coupon*
(*Terms & Conditions Apply)
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Offer 2
Soil Food Web Essentials
- Transformative program on living soil
- 5+ hours of self-paced online lectures
- Presented by Dr. Elaine Ingham and our dynamic, diverse team of soil experts
- Exclusive Earlybird Coupon*
(*Terms & Conditions Apply)
Watch the Video
- Do you want to teach and advise others on how to work in harmony with nature so they can transition to cost-effective and environmentally friendly ways to grow crops and pastures; maintain golf courses, parks, and sports fields; maintain urban and suburban landscapes; grow gardens and herbs, and so much more?
- Do you want to regenerate your own soils and/or help your community better understand how to nurture their soils?
- Farmers, ranchers, growers, gardeners, landscapers, land stewards, restoration specialists, hobbyists, and so many others can benefit from our courses and the innumerable applications of the Soil Food Web Approach.
- Despite spending more and more money each year to improve soil fertility and protect their crops, the farming community, growers, landscapers, arborists, land stewards, and gardeners still face huge challenges.
- Do you need help to improve your soils and grow healthier plants, pastures, and crops without expensive chemical inputs?
- Do you need help understanding how to transition to regenerative agriculture, or are you seeking a better understanding of the benefits of a healthy living soil biome?
- Do you want to help improve the health of our one and only planet?
You CAN make a difference…
- Help stabilize climate change
- Protect our animals, insects, pollinators, and plants
- Prevent soil erosion
- Protect our rivers and oceans
- Accelerate soil carbon accumulation
- Help farmers, growers and gardeners transition to regenerative agriculture and deliver higher yields, reduce costs, increase the quality of produce, and suppress diseases and weeds
- Turn waste into natural capital
- Create land that is resilient to flood, fire, and drought
Trusted by 1000s Worldwide
The Soil Food Web School is a global leader in soil ecosystem management and the education and promotion of healthy soil systems.
Founded by Dr. Ingham, widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost soil biologists, who has advanced our knowledge about the Soil Food Web for over four decades.
The Soil Food Web Approach has been used to successfully restore the ecological functions of soils on six continents.
The Soil Food Web School staff and faculty comprise a diverse and dynamic team of experts, mentors, and scientists who are ready to empower you to become a soil steward.
Student Testimonials
Meet some of our most recent students and learn why they love the Soil Food Web School.
“I'm learning so much that I never knew before, after receiving a degree in Horticulture. She explains everything so well and precise! I'm so excited to start this journey with the Soil Food Web School!”
Kyle BabcockSoil Food Web Student“I intend on this becoming my career and I am loving every minute! Worth every penny! She does a really good job breaking down complex systems in a way that is easy to understand.”
Jennifer RalstonSoil Food Web Student“It was one of the greatest classes I have ever taken and I’m very excited at the possibility of being able to take the Consultant Training Program.”
Adam QueenSoil Food Web Student“I'd been somewhat floundering in and out of the scientific world for a lot of my adult life, not finding much to feel inspired about, and I feel like that's shifted with finding the Soil Food Web School.”
Joshua StoneSoil Food Web Student“There's nobody like her in the world! I don’t want to listen to anybody else because nobody else knows what she knows!”
John GehlSoil Food Web Student“Great information, it has given me a new outlook for the future of farming.”
Vernon HafsoSoil Food Web Student“I’ve taken many different adult education courses and professional certifications throughout my career and I do appreciate this format. I find it to be very adaptable to people’s different situations and learning styles. Obviously the content is invaluable.”
Eamon GradySoil Food Web Student“I have greatly appreciated this course. It has filled in gaps in my knowledge on how to heal depleted soil.”
April DivineSoil Food Web Student“I would like to thank Dr. Elaine for her dedication to making our soils healthy and the excellent presentations she made during her lectures. She was very thorough and clear. I enjoyed it immensely!”
Lynn ThurstonBlue Sky Produce“I am overwhelmed by the depth and thoroughness of these courses…I am still amazed at the amount of content. Absolutely love it… The classes are absolutely fabulous.”
Rob MosierSoil Food Web Student
Offer Details & Curriculum
LEVEL UP YOUR SOIL PACKAGE
The Level Up Your Soil Package (LUYSP) is a unique combination of courses that will teach you about the theory and science behind the Soil Food Web Approach, “Nature’s Operating System,” as well as provide training dedicated to helping YOU make your own biological compost and develop your microscopy skills.
What's Included:
The Soil Food Web Foundation Courses
A comprehensive soil education program designed for farmers, ranchers, growers, gardeners, landscapers, land stewards, restoration specialists, and others. Learn how to rapidly and effectively regenerate soils, protect the environment, and increase profits. Discover the science behind the soil food web: how to make, assess, and apply biologically complete compost and liquid amendments. Also learn how to use a microscope to assess the biological community and interpret the messages of the microorganisms.
Over 45 hours of lectures delivered by Dr. Elaine Ingham covering the theory and application methods behind the Soil Food Web Approach. You’ll be able to get your questions answered by our science team through access to our student forum and monthly student-only webinars.
Foundation Course 1: Introduction to the Soil Food Web (FC1)
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.
Foundation Course 2: Making BioComplete™ Compost (FC2)
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.
Foundation Course 3: Making BioComplete™ Extracts and Teas (FC3)
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.
Foundation Course 4: Introduction to Microscopy (FC4)
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.
- How to process and interpret data.
- How to recognize microarthropods, algae, pollen and other objects in your soil.
Free Bonuses
Soil Food Web Essentials
What's included in The Soil Food Web Essentails?
Built on the Soil Food Web Approach, this visionary and transformative course will teach you about the role of soil life in our biosphere and transform your understanding of how to work with microorganisms to grow plants, crops and food more successfully. For anyone who wants to build naturally fertile soil and to understand ways of becoming a better grower, gardener, farmer, or land steward, this course was designed for you.
Led and presented by a dynamic, diverse, and inclusive team at the forefront of soil science, you’ll receive all-new self-paced online lectures and presentations. This short course acts as an introduction into the world of the Soil Food Web Approach and is the perfect place to start your educational journey. After completion of this module, we are sure you’ll wish to continue your learning journey with the next 2 stages of the all-new Permaculture Design Course (PDC), due to be released later in 2024.
The Soil Sponge Workshop
What's included in The Soil Sponge Workshop?
This workshop on whole-systems landscape function will give you an alternate view of climate, soils, water, and economics. You will learn why the living matrix of a healthy “soil sponge” is fundamental infrastructure that makes life on land possible, how the work of other species creates our climate and weather, and underlies all successful economies. Completion of the course also serves to fulfil the prerequisite for those who want to join the international Land and Leadership Development Community.
The SSW is a 5-part live discussion workshop with Didi Pershouse, one of five speakers at the United Nations-FAO World Soil Day in 2017 and author of The Ecology of Care: Medicine, Agriculture, Money, and The Quiet Power of Human and Microbial Communities and Understanding Soil Health and Watershed Function. In this workshop, you’ll meet people from around the world and come away feeling inspired by a new understanding of how we can address many of our major challenges through simple changes in land management. It will also provide a stepping stone to Didi’s new ‘advanced’ courses, due to be launched throughout 2024.
The regeneration of a deep soil sponge can provide interrelated benefits such as:
- Healthier crops, animals, and people
- Food and water security
- Cooler regional temperatures
- Reduction of wildfire risk
- Increased resilience to flooding and drought
- Reduced erosion, dredging, and road repairs
- Prevention of algae blooms and dead zones
- Cleaner air and water
- Reduced conflicts over resources
- Thriving local economies
- Putting atmospheric carbon to work creating landscapes that support all of life.
This isn’t your usual “how to” workshop. It isn’t about using heavy equipment to move soil around. It isn’t about buying biological or chemical products. This workshop helps to develop the mind that can see watersheds/catchments as working wholes, see and measure the work of other species, and understand where specific well-designed local actions can create enormous positive outcomes downstream.
We will draw on the diverse experiences within the group, as well as successes of innovative land managers who are providing real value to their communities by reducing damages from storms and crop diseases, while restoring the dignity and profitability of farming.
Participants will gain:
- An increased ability to evaluate the effectiveness of land-management decisions, practices, and policies
- A clearer picture of soil’s central role in addressing current economic, social, and environmental needs
- An introduction to working with living-systems frameworks as an instrument for personal development and effective decision making
- A community of practice: deep discussions with people working toward similar goals
Receive a $150 Coupon
Where/When can I use this coupon?
Receive a $150 Coupon to redeem on the all-new forthcoming PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE (PDC)
About the Permaculture Design Course:
Deepen your ecological understanding of nature’s brilliance while you explore permaculture through video presentations, live webinars, and personal projects. You can build your capacity to collaborate with plants and microorganisms across every garden, farm, or landscape. Learn to use the concepts and techniques from permaculture to overcome obstacles and address problems. Learn to navigate the decisions and design opportunities in your life, home, work, and relationships more effectively. Join a global community of like-minded people and upgrade your resume with a formal sustainability certificate. This diverse and inclusive course features more than 70 teachers from 6 continents.
Who will benefit from the PDC?
- Land stewards who want to utilize their time, energy, and money effectively.
- Anyone wanting to grow more of their own food
- Seekers of self-sufficiency and resiliency.
- Those who have always wanted to learn about permaculture but have not yet found the right fit.
- Permaculture practitioners who want to bring in more diverse perspectives and deepen their learning.
- Those wanting to play a more active part in addressing pressing planetary problems.
- People interested in learning more about natural processes.
- Those wanting to live in deeper alignment with nature.
- Those seeking a community of like-minded people.
- Those wanting to learn from nature’s wisdom.
- Gardeners who want to take their plot to the next level.
- Growers who want to partner with soil biology for more abundance.
- Professionals seeking a regenerative framework for their career or business.
- Technical experts who want to upgrade their understanding of nature’s design.
- Landscapers who want to green their business practices.
- Citizen scientists who want to contribute more effectively.
- Individuals striving to engage with citizen science.
- Students of any discipline who want to bring an ecological understanding into their education.
- Permaculture practitioners who want a comprehensive refresher.
- Organizational leaders who want to green their approach.
SOIL FOOD WEB ESSENTIALS
In this all new course for 2024, soak up the essential science of soil ecology and biology so you can steward resilient ecosystems. This accessible and affordable course invites you into the transformative world of practical microbiology. Explore with Dr. Elaine Ingham and over a dozen additional Soil Food Web School Science Educators to level up your collaboration with living systems.
Free Bonus
Receive a $150 Coupon
Where/When can I use this coupon?
Receive a $150 Coupon to redeem on the all-new forthcoming PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE (PDC)
About the Permaculture Design Course:
Deepen your ecological understanding of nature’s brilliance while you explore permaculture through video presentations, live webinars, and personal projects. You can build your capacity to collaborate with plants and microorganisms across every garden, farm, or landscape. Learn to use the concepts and techniques from permaculture to overcome obstacles and address problems. Learn to navigate the decisions and design opportunities in your life, home, work, and relationships more effectively. Join a global community of like-minded people and upgrade your resume with a formal sustainability certificate. This diverse and inclusive course features more than 70 teachers from 6 continents.
Who will benefit from the PDC?
- Land stewards who want to utilize their time, energy, and money effectively.
- Anyone wanting to grow more of their own food
- Seekers of self-sufficiency and resiliency.
- Those who have always wanted to learn about permaculture but have not yet found the right fit.
- Permaculture practitioners who want to bring in more diverse perspectives and deepen their learning.
- Those wanting to play a more active part in addressing pressing planetary problems.
- People interested in learning more about natural processes.
- Those wanting to live in deeper alignment with nature.
- Those seeking a community of like-minded people.
- Those wanting to learn from nature’s wisdom.
- Gardeners who want to take their plot to the next level.
- Growers who want to partner with soil biology for more abundance.
- Professionals seeking a regenerative framework for their career or business.
- Technical experts who want to upgrade their understanding of nature’s design.
- Landscapers who want to green their business practices.
- Citizen scientists who want to contribute more effectively.
- Individuals striving to engage with citizen science.
- Students of any discipline who want to bring an ecological understanding into their education.
- Permaculture practitioners who want a comprehensive refresher.
- Organizational leaders who want to green their approach.
Offers
Level Up Your Soil Package
$2,950
What's Included
- You are registering for the Soil Food Web Foundation Courses for just $2950, saving over $2000
- You’ll also receive two free bonus courses with this offer: the all-new Soil Food Web Essentials course and the Soil Sponge Workshop with Didi Pershouse, for an additional savings of $499.
- Plus, you’ll receive a coupon for $150 to redeem against the forthcoming Permaculture Design Course
- This package has a total value of $5499, for which you’ll pay only $2950, saving you a total of $2549. That’s a saving of over 46%!
You’ll get a 30-day, no questions asked, money-back guarantee on the total price paid. The only condition is that you have watched fewer than 32 lectures of the Foundation Courses.
You’ll get a 30-day, no questions asked, money-back guarantee on the total price paid. The only condition is that you have watched fewer than 32 lectures of the Foundation Courses.
Soil Food Web ESSENTIALS
$199
What's Included
- You are registering for the Soil Food Web Essentials course for just $199,
- Plus, you’ll receive a coupon for $150 to redeem against the forthcoming Permaculture Design Course
You’ll get a 15-day, no questions asked, money-back guarantee on the total price paid. The only condition is that you have watched fewer than 16 sections of the Soil Food Web Essensials.
You’ll get a 15-day, no questions asked, money-back guarantee on the total price paid. The only condition is that you have watched fewer than 16 sections of the Soil Food Web Essensials.
*Rates from 0% APR or 10-36% APR. Payment options through Affirm are subject to an eligibility check and are provided by these lending partners: http://affirm.com/lenders. See http://affirm.com/licenses for important info on state licenses and notifications.
Case Studies
Whether you’re growing on a small scale or large, alfalfa or almonds, United States or United Emirates, the Soil Food Web Approach simply works. Watch these short case studies to hear more…
Farmer Case Studies
Adam York
10,000 acres Illinois, USA
York Farms is a 10,000 acre multi-generational family farm in Illinois growing soy and corn, servicing 100,000 acres of surrounding farms. Adam York reported saving over $1M by reducing chemical inputs in the first 3 years.
Jenn Sirp
¼ acre California, USA
Jenn’s farm was experiencing problems with fertility, compaction and disease. Working with Soil Food Web Consultant, Brain Vagg, has helped her to make great improvements in year 1.
Roberto Silva
Piura, Peru
In this awesome film you can hear how Roberto has collaborated with Soil Food Web Consultant, Miles Sorel, reported yield increases of over 100% in year 1, and nearly 100% in year 2.
Cory Miller
3,000 acres Montana, USA
Cory operates Grass Valley Farms where he produces high quality hay, beef, eggs and honey. He’s seen multiple improvements each year.
Consultant Case Studies
Corn & Soy 10,000 Acres
York Farms (USA)
York Farms is a 10,000 acre multi-generational family farm in Illinois growing soy and corn, servicing 100,000 acres of surrounding farms. Todd reported that as the chemical and fertilizer costs went down, his client saved more than $1,000,000 in the first three years.
Potatoes, Onions, Greens…
Market Garden Makeover (Sweden)
Soil Food Web Consultant, Renald Flores, reported an average increase in yields of 72% across 8 different types of crops on this market garden near Stockholm, Sweden.
172 Acre Park Project
Governor’s Island, NYC (USA)
Dr. Elaine & Todd Harrington discuss Todd’s work at Governor’s Island in the heart of New York Harbor. This 172 Acre Park Project created a public parkland from concrete rubble and bare ground.
Grapes, Cannabis, Turmeric
Ecuador, India, Peru, & USA
Terraforma saved one client $600 per acre and increased yields for another client by 146%. In this amazing webinar, Soil Food Web Consultant Miles Sorel presented case studies on projects from 4 different countries.
FAQs
Will it work in my region?
Dr. Elaine has used the Soil Food Web Approach to regenerate soils on 6 continents. We now have students in over 80 countries and so far we haven’t found anywhere in the world where the soil ecosystem cannot be restored. (Antarctica is the obvious exception since the soil isn’t accessible there!)
Will it work on all crops and plants?
All plants form symbiotic relationships with microorganisms in the soil. That’s because when plants first evolved on the land, around 500 million years ago, the world’s soils were already populated with microbes. So these relationships have been there from the beginning. Our persistent disturbance of the soil, with the plow and more recently with chemicals, has destroyed the balance that existed in the soil ecosystem. Fortunately, we can put that right very rapidly with the Soil Food Web Approach, which is all about harvesting microbes from the local area, multiplying the aerobic microbes using Dr. Elaine’s close-control composting system, and then re-introducing them to the soil. With regenerative agricultural techniques like no till, the soil biome is protected and so repeated treatments may not be necessary.
Will it work at a large and/or small scale?
The short answer is ‘yes’. Dr. Elaine has worked on large scale projects that cover thousands of acres. She has also worked on some smaller projects too. BioComplete™ Compost and liquid amendments can be produced at large scale, using industrial equipment and also at very small scale, using hand tools and home-made brewing kits. Of course, application at large scale is very different than it would be in someone’s garden, but the good news is that conventional spraying equipment and irrigation systems can be used to deliver BioComplete™ Liquid Amendments to the soil, with some very minor modifications.
Do I need a science background?
Our training programs are designed for people with no scientific or agricultural background. Dr. Elaine has an informal teaching style that makes the lectures easy to follow. You’ll have access to the Student Forum and monthly live Q&A sessions where your questions will be answered.
Will the program fit my schedule?
The Level Up Your Soil Package (LUYSP) is a flexible online program, so you can work at your own pace. The Foundation Courses can be completed in as little as 4 weeks or in as long as 12 months.
The Soil Food Web Essentials (SFWE) is also flexible, and you’ll have 12 months to complete it.
The Soil Sponge Workshop is a three-part, live online discussion workshop.
- Students can choose between Workshop A and Workshop B, both held in March 2024, OR wait to be notified of the upcoming sessions, at dates yet to be determined.
- The Workshop A, Weekend Intensive takes place Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 8, 9, 10. Daily sessions will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM Eastern Standard Time (New York, USA).
- The Workshop B, Weekend Intensive takes place Friday, Saturday, Sunday March 29, 30, 31. Daily sessions will be held from 2 PM to 6 PM Eastern Daylight Time. (New York, USA).
- Students can only attend only one Workshop; they cannot attend both Workshop A and Workshop B.
- The workshops will be held on the Zoom platform. You will be sent the relevant link after registration.
- The entire workshop will be recorded so that if you miss a session, you can watch the replay and get caught up.
Foundation Courses
What will I learn?
- 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.
What's included in FC1?
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.
What's included in FC2?
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.
What's included in FC3?
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.
What's included in FC4?
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.
Are the courses all online?
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.
Are the courses self paced?
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.
When can I start?
You can start as soon as you sign up.
Can I see a breakdown of the Foundation Course Lectures?
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.
How much do they cost?
The regular price for the 4 courses is $5,000. With the January-February 2024 offer you pay $2,950, and you’ll get the all new Soil Food Web Essentials and the Soil Sponge Workshop for free.
How long will it take me to complete them?
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.
Do I need any qualifications to start the courses?
Keisha and Casey Ernst came from backgrounds in Massage Therapy and Permaculture, and they now run a successful compost production business. Click here to watch their testimonial video.
Will this course enable me to find employment as a Soil Food Web Consultant?
Students wishing to pursue a career as a Soil Food Web Consultant will need to progress from the FC to the Consultant Training Program.
What do graduates do when they have completed their training?
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.
Soil Food Web Essentials
Where/When can I use this coupon?
Receive a $150 Coupon to redeem on the all-new forthcoming PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE (PDC)
About the Permaculture Design Course:
Deepen your ecological understanding of nature’s brilliance while you explore permaculture through video presentations, live webinars, and personal projects. You can build your capacity to collaborate with plants and microorganisms across every garden, farm, or landscape. Learn to use the concepts and techniques from permaculture to overcome obstacles and address problems. Learn to navigate the decisions and design opportunities in your life, home, work, and relationships more effectively. Join a global community of like-minded people and upgrade your resume with a formal sustainability certificate. This diverse and inclusive course features more than 70 teachers from 6 continents.
Who will benefit from the PDC?
- Land stewards who want to utilize their time, energy, and money effectively.
- Anyone wanting to grow more of their own food
- Seekers of self-sufficiency and resiliency.
- Those who have always wanted to learn about permaculture but have not yet found the right fit.
- Permaculture practitioners who want to bring in more diverse perspectives and deepen their learning.
- Those wanting to play a more active part in addressing pressing planetary problems.
- People interested in learning more about natural processes.
- Those wanting to live in deeper alignment with nature.
- Those seeking a community of like-minded people.
- Those wanting to learn from nature’s wisdom.
- Gardeners who want to take their plot to the next level.
- Growers who want to partner with soil biology for more abundance.
- Professionals seeking a regenerative framework for their career or business.
- Technical experts who want to upgrade their understanding of nature’s design.
- Landscapers who want to green their business practices.
- Citizen scientists who want to contribute more effectively.
- Individuals striving to engage with citizen science.
- Students of any discipline who want to bring an ecological understanding into their education.
- Permaculture practitioners who want a comprehensive refresher.
- Organizational leaders who want to green their approach.
What's included in the Soil Food Web Essentials course?
Video presentations, short quizzes, downloadable slide decks, and a student manual that shares many resources, including links to research papers, books, websites, and movies.
Is this course completely online?
Yes, the course is delivered entirely online.
Is this course self paced?
Yes, you can take the course at the best pace for you.
When can I start?
You can start as soon as you sign up.
What will I learn?
The Soil Food Web School teaching team, including Dr. Elaine Ingham, Dr. Carla Ribeiro Machado e Portugal, Dr. Adam Cobb, and Loida Vasquez, present essential scientific and practical concepts of living soil. The team travels with you through presentations about the ecology and biology of soil, how to observe and support soil health, how to create and feed living soil, and how to take your understanding of soil life with you during the next steps of your learning journey.
How many presentations are in the Soil Food Web Essentials course?
The course includes 31 pre-recorded video presentations with about 6 hours of content.
How much does it cost?
$199 USD.
How much time will students need to commit?
Students typically require about 10 hours to complete the SFWE at a reasonable pace.
Do I need any qualifications to start the course?
The course has no official prerequisites; however, English language comprehension and a reliable internet connection will help you get the most out of the course.
Does this course lead to other Soil Food Web School courses?
The Soil Food Web Essentials course sparks inspiration to learn more about living soils, ecology, and biology, as well as regenerative gardening and farming. Next steps at the Soil Food Web School could include:
- Foundation Courses
- Introduction to Permaculture (IPC, revised and expanded Spring 2024)
- Permaculture Design Course (the IPC is a prerequisite for this course)
- Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration
Whatever your next steps are, we encourage you to go deeper with this uniquely meaningful, practical, and relevant learning journey.
Soil Sponge Workshop
What's included in the Soil Sponge Regen Workshop?
Didi Pershouse is the author of The Ecology of Care: Medicine, Agriculture, Money, and the Quiet Power of Human and Microbial Communities and Understanding Soil Health and Watershed Function. She teaches participatory workshops both in person and online, helping to show the nested relationships between soil health, human health, water cycles, and climate resiliency. She is the founder of the Land and Leadership Initiative and the Center for Sustainable Medicine, and a co-founder of the “Can we Rehydrate California?” Initiative. She is an independent trainer and curriculum developer for the UN-FAO Farmer Field School Program and the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming Initiative in India. She was one of five speakers at the United Nations-FAO World Soil Day in 2017.
Healthy soil is the fundamental infrastructure that makes life on land possible, but only when it is alive and functions like a sponge. A living “soil sponge” can soak up rain, store and filter water; and provide health, resilience, and thriving economies for the communities that grow from it.
Farmers and communities that create conditions for a soil sponge to grow experience interrelated benefits such as:
- Healthier crops, animals, and people
- Abundant clean water
- Cooler regional temperatures
- Reduction of wildfire risk
- Resilience to flood and drought
- Reduced erosion, dredging, and road repairs
- Higher farm profitability
- Prevention of algae blooms and dead zones
- Cleaner air
- Increased biodiversity
- Reduced conflicts over resources
- Improved local economies
- Putting atmospheric carbon to work creating landscapes that support all of life
Topics covered:
- Landscapes that Work for All of Life
- Collaborating with the Essential Workforce of Other Species
- Measuring Change for Long Term Success
- Money, Life, and Land
- Choosing Effective Intervention Points
Participants will gain:
- A working knowledge of whole systems landscape function
- An increased ability to evaluate land management decisions, practices, and policies
- Tools to create and lead soil health initiatives in your region
- A community of practice: deep discussions with people working towards similar aims
Participants will also have:
- A clear picture of soil’s central role in addressing current economic, social, and environmental pressures
- A scientific understanding of the living matrix of the soil carbon sponge, and its relationship to carbon, water, and nutrient cycles
What you’ll get with this workshop:
- Interactive peer learning environment
- Network with other students/farmers in the group setting
- 3 weekly sessions each lasting ~4 hours
Is this course self paced?
No. This is a three-part, live online discussion workshop.
- Students can choose between Workshop A and Workshop B, held in March and April 2024, OR wait to be notified of the upcoming sessions, at dates yet to be determined.
- The Workshop A, Weekend Intensive takes place Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 29, 30, 31. Daily sessions will be held from 2 PM to 6 PM Eastern Standard Time (New York, USA).
- The Workshop B, Weekend Intensive takes place Friday, Saturday, Sunday April 12, 13, 14. Daily sessions will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM Eastern Daylight Time. (New York, USA).
- Students can only attend only one Workshop; they cannot attend both Workshop A and Workshop B.
- The workshops will be held on the Zoom platform. You will be sent the relevant link after registration.
- The entire workshop will be recorded so that if you miss a session, you can watch the replay and get caught up.
When can I start?
This is a three-part, live online discussion workshop.
- The workshops are weekend-long events held over three days. Sessions last ~4 hours and will be held daily for three consecutive days.
- Sessions are scheduled for the following dates March 29, 30, 31, and April 12, 13, and 14, 2024
- 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.
What will I learn?
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.
How many sessions are in the Soil Sponge Workshop?
There are 3 sessions per Workshop, each 4 hours long.
How much does it cost?
$300 as a standalone workshop, but it’s free with your purchase of the January-February promotional offer on the Level Up Your Soil Package.
How long will it take me to complete it?
- The workshop is a 3-day event (three daily sessions over a weekend) and is scheduled for the following 2 groups of dates: March 29, 30, 31, and April 12, 13, 14, 2024
- Students can choose between Workshop A and Workshop B, held in March and April 2024, OR wait to be notified of the upcoming sessions, at dates yet to be determined.
- The Workshop A, Weekend Intensive takes place Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 29, 30, and 31. Daily sessions will be held from 2 PM to 6 PM Eastern Standard Time (New York, USA).
- The Workshop B, Weekend Intensive takes place Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 12, 13, and 14. Daily sessions will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM Eastern Daylight Time. (New York, USA).
- 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.
Do I need any qualifications to start the course?
The courses are designed for people with no background in the field.
What will I take away from this course?
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.
Permaculture Design Course (PDC) COUPON FAQs
What is the PDC?
The PDC is the Permaculture Design Course, launching in 2024.
The PDC offers you the opportunity to deepen your ecological understanding of nature’s brilliance while you explore permaculture through video presentations, live webinars, and personal projects. You can build your capacity to collaborate with plants and microorganisms across every garden, farm, or landscape. Learn to use the concepts and techniques from permaculture to overcome obstacles and address problems. Learn to navigate the decisions and design opportunities in your life, home, work, and relationships more effectively. Join a global community of like-minded people and upgrade your resume with a formal sustainability certificate. This diverse and inclusive course features more than 70 teachers from 6 continents.
Permaculture Design Course (PDC) Coupon: Terms and conditions
Terms & Conditions
- Only one coupon with a value of $150 redeemable on the Permaculture Design Course (PDC) can be used per person.
- This coupon is non-transferable.
- The coupon can only be redeemed against the Permaculture Design Course (PDC).
- To redeem your coupon for the PDC course (when launched), please checkout as normal and apply the coupon code on the order form.
- The coupon expires at midnight PST on December 31st, 2024.
- Cannot be used in conjunction with other coupons. Coupon cannot be used against SFWS products or offers other than the specified one.
- Coupon can be used only once.
- Unless otherwise stated, the coupon can be used in the same transaction as other promotional offers.
- The coupon cannot be used as partial payment for any other product or service.
- The coupon has no cash value.
How do I obtain the PDC coupon?
It is included with your purchase of the Soil Food Web Essentials (SFWE) or the Level Up Your Soil Package during the January-February promotional offer. You will receive this risk-free special coupon, valued at $150 USD, to be applied toward the forthcoming Permaculture Design Course (PDC). There is no obligation to purchase this future course; you automatically receive this coupon now and can enjoy a discount on the full PDC, once it is released. Terms and Conditions apply.
How do I apply the coupon?
To redeem your coupon for the PDC course (when launched), please checkout as normal and apply the coupon code on the order form.
What is the value of the coupon?
The coupon is valued at $150 USD and only one coupon is redeemable on the Permaculture Design Course (PDC), per person. This coupon is non-transferable and has no cash value.
How much does the PDC cost?
The Soil Food Web School PDC is not yet available but is expected to be launched in Spring of 2024; the price is not yet determined.
Can I use this coupon on any Soil Food Web School course?
No, it only applies to the forthcoming Permaculture Design Course. Unless otherwise stated, the coupon CAN be used in the same transaction as other promotional offers for the forthcoming Permaculture Design Course but it cannot be used against Soil Food Web School products or offers other than the specified one.
How long is the coupon valid?
The coupon expires at midnight PST on December 31st, 2024.