Teaming with microbes : the organic gardener's guide to the soil food web

Smart gardeners know that soil is anything but an inert substance. Healthy soil is teeming with life — not just earthworms and insects, but a staggering multitude of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. When we use chemical fertilizers, we injure the microbial life that sustains healthy plants, and thus become increasingly dependent on an arsenal of artificial substances, many of them toxic to humans as well as other forms of life. But there is an alternative to this vicious circle: to garden in a way that strengthens, rather than destroys, the soil food web — the complex world of soil-dwelling organisms whose interactions create a nurturing environment for plants. By eschewing jargon and overly technical language, the authors make the benefits of cultivating the soil food web available 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. teaming0003......Page 3 teaming0003a......Page 7 teaming0004......Page 8 teaming0005......Page 9 teaming0006......Page 10 teaming0008......Page 11 teaming0008a......Page 12 teaming0008b......Page 13 teaming0011......Page 15 teaming0012......Page 17 teaming0012a......Page 18 teaming0013......Page 19 teaming0018......Page 20 teaming0018a......Page 21 teaming0018b......Page 22 teaming0018c......Page 23 teaming0018d......Page 24 teaming0018e......Page 25 teaming0018f......Page 27 teaming0018g......Page 28 teaming0018h......Page 29 teaming0018j......Page 30 teaming0018k......Page 31 teaming0018l......Page 32 teaming0018m......Page 33 teaming0018n......Page 34 teaming0018o......Page 35 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teaming0183......Page 201 teaming0185......Page 202 teaming0186......Page 203 teaming0187......Page 204 teaming0188......Page 205 "Teaming with Microbes enlightens readers in two important ways. First, 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. Knowing how each of these groups contributes to the soil drives home the complexity and fragility of their interactions, and promotes respect for their integrity. 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 and overly technical language, the authors make the benefits of cultivating the soil food web available 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."--Jacket The basic science. What is the soil food web and why should gardeners care? Classic soil science Bacteria Fungi Algae and slime molds Protozoa Nematodes Arthropods Earthworms Gastropods Reptiles, mammals, and birds Applying soil food web science to yard and garden care. How the soil food web applies to gardening What do your soil food webs look like? Tools for restoration and maintenance Compost Mulch Compost teas The lawn Maintaining trees, shrubs, and perennials Growing annuals and vegetables A simple soil food web garden calendar No one ever fertilized an old growth forest Appendix. The soil food web gardening rules. Healthy soil is teeming with life not just earthworms and insects, but a staggering multitude of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. This title lists the benefits of cultivating the soil food web. It explains the activities and organisms that make up the web, and shows to cultivate the life of the soil through usage of mulches and compost.