Teaming with Microbes A Gardeners Guide to the Soil Food Web

Teaming with Microbes A Gardeners Guide to the Soil Food Web

Teaming With Microbes enlightens readers in two important ways. First, in clear, straightforward language, it describes the activities of the organisms that make up the soil food web, from the simplest of single-cell organisms to more familiar multicellular animals such as insects, worms, and mammals. Second, the book explains how to foster and cultivate the life of the soil through the use of compost, mulches, and compost teas. By eschewing jargon, the authors make the text accessible to a wide audience, from devotees of organic gardening techniques to weekend gardeners who simply want to grow healthy, vigorous plants without resorting to chemicals.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Embarrassed by my ignorance
Prior to reading this book, I was one of the millions of Americans who bought into the wonders of “Miracle Grow” & “Turf Builder”. Oh how wrong I was. After reading this wonderful book on the importance of the amazing world of soil, I’ve sworn off my dependence on these synthetic fertilizers in favor of compost & compost teas.

In part one of the book , the author does a fantastic job of educating the readers on the make-up of soil. Then in part two, the author provides the readers with helpful soil improvement techniques that will hopefully wean America of its fascination with synthetic fertilizers. Every gardener should have a copy of this book in their library.

5 Stars Really a “must have” if you’re an organic gardener
I’m gardening since 20yrs, the last decade I attempted an organic approach and failed - I got slugs and snails and all pests you can imagine.

After reading this book I know why and how to “heal” my garden.

I will recommand the book to all my friends.

5 Stars Buy this if you want a beautiful garden, now and the future. Feed the soil!!
I dislike reading books but I found this book easy and fun to read. There are many technical/scientific explainations in this book but it still makes very good sense…common sense to a gardener perhaps. Through many years of gardening (usually ‘organic’) I found that a lot of what I have read I believe to be true; i.e. through experience it works! Some of the new things I’ve learned from this book I’ve tried and they appear to be working as well.

I’m not an organic gardening ‘purist’ but I guess I’ve always taken care of the soil; using leaves, compost, cow/chicken manures, etc. without even realizing how healthy I was keeping my soil. Bottom line…my neighbors can’t seem to compete even though THEY try. Hey, I’m just gardening

5 Stars 5 stars
Never in my right mind did I think I would find interest and excitement in something I could not see or understand: soil microbes!

It was a challenging and delightful read because of the clarity of content, the authors understanding of the Soil Food Web, and interesting fashion in which it was presented. I feel a whole new world has been opened up to explore and understand.

If you are interested in soil science, organic gardening, and how it all comes together, this is an excellent book to read. You may only be “scratching the surface” to an intricate and delicate science but it is enough to understand the basics and lay a foundation for further study.

5 Stars Must read!
This is simply a fantastic read. Too often, the word “organic” can turn people off as an offshoot of hippy-mysticism. Here, the authors counter that by laying out the solid “science & logic” of letting nature do more of the work that traditionally breaks the gardener’s back, wallet, and good cheer.

Balanced, pragmatic, and entertaining; this is a must read for gardeners spanning the full spectrum from Iowan adherents of industrial agriculture, to Oregon vegan granola farmers. A GREAT companion book to this is The Living Garden: The 400-year History of an English Garden by George Ordish.

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