What it is
Dr. Elaine Ingham's Soil Food Web School offers online courses teaching soil biology assessment through microscopy, compost tea production, and biological soil management. The curriculum covers identifying soil organisms under a microscope, evaluating soil food web health, brewing and applying compost teas, and diagnosing biological imbalances. Certification programs train practitioners to consult professionally.
Why we picked this
Ingham is the world's leading expert on the soil food web, having spent 40+ years studying the microbial communities that drive soil health. Her school translates that expertise into practical skills for farmers, gardeners, and consultants. The ability to look at your soil under a microscope and assess biological health is a genuinely transformative capability for regenerative practitioners.
Key takeaways
- Microscopy-based soil assessment reveals biological diversity (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes) that chemical soil tests completely miss.
- Compost tea production protocols taught in the course can multiply beneficial soil organisms 10,000-fold in 24 hours when properly brewed.
- The certification program has trained thousands of soil consultants worldwide, creating a professional network for biological soil management.