Soil Building & Composting

Regenerative Soil Principles

• Bio-diversity — the more variety in your soil ecosystem, the healthier it is
• Organic matter — feed the soil, not just the plants
• Compost — the foundation of fertility
• Always growing — keep roots in the ground year-round

Cover Crops: The 5 Cousins Mix

A diverse cover crop blend using annuals. Chop and drop — no-till root system breaks down fast.

• C3 & C4 Grasses — Sugar cane, sorghum, corn, amaranth
• Buckwheat — fast-growing, great for pollinators
• Cowpeas — nitrogen fixer
• Daikon Radish — breaks up compacted soil with deep taproots

Composting Methods

Hot Compost (Fast)

Component	Ratio
Greens (nitrogen)	1/3
Browns (carbon)	1/3
Manure or starter	1/3

1. Combine in layers, minimum 3 ft cube
2. Water until it leaks from the bottom
3. After 3 days, turn every other day and keep moist
4. Target temperature: 130–140°F

Pros: Kills weed seeds, parasites, and eggs Cons: Creates nitrates, gasses off CO2

Woody/Fungal Compost

Two approaches:

• Michael Phillips method — start hot, then combine with woody materials and leave for 1 year
• Johnson-Su method — pile it up and leave for 1 year with minimal turning

Fungal-dominant compost is especially beneficial for perennials and trees.

Additional Amendments

Amendment	Benefit
Compost tea	Microbial inoculant for soil and foliage
Vermi-compost	Worm castings from kitchen scraps
Bone char	Phosphorus and calcium
Wood ash / Pot ash	Potassium and pH adjustment
Kelp	Micro and trace minerals
Eggshells	Calcium (slow release)
Biochar	Long-term carbon storage and water retention

Further Reading

• Dr. Elaine Ingham — soil food web, 2-turn compost with chimneys
• Johnson-Su bioreactor — no-turn fungal composting
• Michael Phillips — holistic orchard soil management