Jen’s Boot Camp and Allerton Abbey Experience

Thanks, Greg! It’s exciting to see it progressing!

(BRK Day 6)

Ah, Jen, such an awesome post!  

Since Fred doesn't post, any chance you'd give a brief summary of the Soil Microscopy Program at Wheaton Labs?  What did Fred et al see, and what are their goals for the soil?

Hey Kerry,

Josiah made up some aerated compost tea from our pile at the Abbey today, so I got out the microscope this evening after work while the other boots were cooking dinner and took a sample of the tea to check out the microbiology, then everyone took a turn at the microscope. The results were pretty encouraging—very active, lots of critters from the upper trophic layers. When we did microscopy last year on our soil, the biota were mostly from lower trophic layers and not very abundant—not unexpected for our mostly immature soil. The compost tea should definitely help things—we have enough organic matter on the basecamp hugels that inoculating them with this soil life should take, IMO. We are seeing a lot more earthworms, as well. I would like to take some soil samples for additional microscopy, and will try to remember to post the results here. I think Josiah might have gotten some pictures or video on his phone through the microscope; if it turned out at all, I bet you’ll be able to see it on his thread!

Went walking in the woods up on the Lab today.

(BRK Day 7)