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The Hidden Heroes of Soil Health

soil microbes

Introduction
Ever wondered why some gardens, pots, lawns and fields flourish while others struggle? The secret could be right beneath our feet. Soil microbes—tiny organisms that play a giant role in agriculture, gardening, and health—are increasingly gaining attention for their significant contributions to soil health and productivity. Today, we’ll explore the role of beneficial microbes and how they can transform your growing practices.

What Are Soil Microbes?
Soil microbes are microscopic organisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses, that are critical to fertile soil and healthy crops. Although invisible to the naked eye, they perform essential functions like breaking down crop residues, cycling nutrients, and stimulating root growth.

The Rhizosphere’s Role
A teaspoon of fertile soil contains more microbes than there are people on Earth. This rich community lives in the rhizosphere, the area around plant roots. Here, microbes and plants engage in a symbiotic relationship, exchanging nutrients and supporting each other’s growth.

Why Soil Microbes Matter
Balanced soil microbial activity is crucial for several reasons:

  • – Nitrogen-Fixation: Converts atmospheric nitrogen into forms plants can use.
  • – Nutrient Solubilisation: Makes nutrients more available to plants.
  • – Pathogen Suppression: Protects plants from diseases.

When Soil Microbiome Fails
An imbalanced soil microbiome can lead to:

  • – Imbalanced soil pH
  • – Nutrient run-off
  • – Die-off of young roots

Boosting Soil Microbial Activity with Probiotics
Just as probiotics benefit human gut health, soil probiotics improve soil health. These microbial soil amendments support nutrient absorption and root growth, making your plants more resilient and productive.

Synergistic Benefits
Certain strains of soil probiotics work better together, offering multiple benefits to the soil. Tailoring them to specific crops ensures a balanced and effective microbial community.

Choosing the Right Microbes
Selecting the right soil biological strains is crucial. Companies like Locus Agricultural Solutions offer tailored microbial strains to improve soil quality, expand root growth, enhance nutrient uptake, and boost yields.

Practical Tips for Gardeners and Farmers

  1. Assess Soil Health:  Regularly test your soil to understand its microbial composition and nutrient levels.
  2. Use Organic Amendments:  Incorporate compost, manure, or mulch to provide food for soil microbes.
  3. Minimise Chemical Use:  Reduce the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides that can harm beneficial microbes.

The role of soil microbes in gardening and agriculture cannot be overstated. They are essential for maintaining soil health, supporting plant growth, and ensuring sustainable farming practices. By understanding and harnessing the power of these tiny organisms, you can create a thriving ecosystem in your garden or farm.

To long, didn’t read

Whilst this might be a lot of information, if you’re ready to boost your soil health, just add some Ocean2Earth and let the microbes improve your soil and plant health!

soil microbes
This image shows how healthy soil can boost plant health, making them resilient to pests, diseases ……… AND FROST!
We don’t know what caused this field treated with Ocean2Earth to look like this on a frosty morning, but we’re determined to find out!

Browse our O2E products online shop

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Winter Vegetables

frost in winter vegetables

The beginning of cooler weather doesn’t have to mean the end of growing your vegetables. Autumn is an excellent time of the year to sow those vegetable and herb seeds that love cooler conditions. These will be ready to harvest throughout Winter and Spring — providing fresh produce and ingredients for your home.

Getting your Autumn and Winter vegetables to grow

With the arrival of the colder months, amateur and professional gardeners alike have a very specific set of difficulties. Cooler days, freezing nights and reduced daylight all make successfully growing vegetables harder.

Considerations when planting Autumn and Winter Vegetables

Here are some of the critical considerations for getting your Autumn and Winter vegetables to grow happily:

  • Sunlight
    Sunlight is crucial for vegetables. Fruiting and flowering ones need full sun for healthy yields. Winter vegetables also thrive in the sun but leafy greens and root veggies can manage with less light. Place your Winter garden in the sunniest spot on your property, away from strong winds or frost.

sunlight

  • Frost
    Frost can greatly impact plants, especially delicate young ones. In frost-prone areas like southern Australia, establish plants early to help them handle temperature changes. Use geo fabrics like hessian for protection or consider hothouses. Some Winter veggies can handle frost and even taste better due to increased sugar production. Try harvesting hardy crops like snow peas, parsnips, carrots, and brassicas post-frost.

frost in winter vegetables

  • Timing your planting
    Recognise the full growing period of your plants. Consider weather conditions from seed planting to harvest. Leafy veggies may be ready in 6 weeks, while root Winter veggies like parsnip take 18 weeks. Check seed packet for details. Some varieties like broccoli may benefit from starting indoors if weather is too warm outside, reducing chances of bolting.

 

  • Pests and diseases
    During cooler months, pest issues decrease, offering relief from constant control. In warmer climates, watch out for pests. Maintain good air circulation, space plants adequately to prevent fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Water plants early morning to avoid excess moisture on leaves overnight, which can harbour diseases.

 

  • Maintenance
    Another advantage of growing vegetables in Winter is that evaporation rates slow down, which means your plants will not dry out as fast. You will still want to ensure a steady supply of moisture for your Winter vegetables to ensure that they continue steadily growing and have the best flavour and texture. Mulch also plays a huge part in keeping your soil weed free and warm in the cooler months.
  • Nourish your plants with organic matter like Ocean2Earth, providing a balanced blend of nutrients for both the soil and the plants.

 

  • Product Tips
     – Apply OCEAN2EARTH  around your crops to increase biological activity and improve the soil structure. 
  • – A fortnightly dose of diluted compost solution or worm wee is also a great way to provide an additional kick to your plants without overfeeding them. If you don’t want to purchase these extra items. Simply dilute 50-100gms of Ocean2Earth into a 9 Litre watering can and water till it is running off the leaves and the soil is wet.
  • – Once you have harvested your garden, plant a green manure crop to improve the soil structure and replenish some of the nutrient levels before spring sowing. Dig them into the soil before they set seed to provide nitrogen and organic matter as they rot. This is a good time to add the recommended does of Ocean2Earth 

  • What are the best vegetables to grow in Winter in Australia?

If you have been asking yourself what seeds to sow in Autumn and Winter in Australia? In most regions, Autumn and early Winter is the perfect time to sow these vegetables and herbs:

  • – Broccoli
  • – Cabbage
  • – Carrot
  • – Cauliflowers
  • – Endive
  • – Kohl Rabi
  • – Leek
  • – Lettuce
  • – Onions
  • – Parsley
  • – Parsnip
  • – Silverbeet
  • – Snow pea
  • – Spinach
  • – Swede
  • – Turnip

 

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Winter Soil Preparation: Getting ready for a blooming spring garden!

Winter in the garden is often seen as a time of dormancy, a period where the vibrant life of spring and summer retreats into the quiet chill of shorter days. However, for avid gardeners in Australia, especially across the temperate regions of our south east and west, winter presents a unique opportunity to prepare and enrich the garden soil, ensuring a robust start to the growing season come spring.

Understanding the unique winter conditions from the cool southern states to the milder tropical north is crucial for implementing effective soil enrichment practices. With temperatures generally ranging from 3 to 1°C during Australia’s winter months of June through August, gardeners must adapt their strategies to suit local conditions, ensuring their soil is not just surviving but thriving.

The Importance of Winter Soil Preparation

Winter soil preparation is less about immediate gratification and more about setting the foundation for future growth. It’s a time to nurture the garden, to replenish and enrich the soil, readying it for the burst of life that spring promises. One of the simplest, yet most effective ways to feed your garden soil a long, gradual supply of nutrients throughout summer is by adding a 1″ to 2″ layer of compost in early spring.

But why wait until spring? Preparing your soil in winter means you’re on the front foot, allowing the compost to integrate and begin its work of enriching the soil ahead of time. This proactive approach ensures that once the warmer weather arrives, your plants have all they need to grow vibrantly.

The Benefits of Ocean2Earth 

An innovative approach to winter soil preparation for Australian gardens is the application of Ocean2Earth products. This natural fertiliser, derived from composting seafood waste, is particularly beneficial during the cooler months. It not only builds up plant strength, making them more resilient against diseases but also ensures the promise of vibrant flowers and juicy fruits and vegetables once spring arrives.

The magic behind Ocean2Earth lies in the micro and macro-nutrients provided by the composted seafood waste. These nutrients are not only healthy for the soil but also beneficial for the environment. During winter, when soil nutrient needs are minimal, chemical fertilisers often result in nutrient leaching and waste. In contrast, a natural fertiliser like Ocean2Earth contributes essential minerals such as potassium and calcium directly to the soil without the risk of leaching.

Furthermore, the consistent addition of microbes to the soil plays a vital role. These microbes work tirelessly throughout the winter to break down nutrients that have been locked up over time, making them available to plants as the weather warms. This process is crucial for unlocking the full potential of your garden soil, ensuring it is primed for planting as spring approaches.

Implementing Winter Soil Preparation

  1. Evaluate Your Garden’s Needs: Consider the specific conditions of your garden, including soil type and local climate. This will help determine the most effective winter soil preparation strategy.

 Apply Compost: Adding a layer of compost, such as Ocean2Earth, enriches the soil with vital nutrients and microbes. Do this early in winter to allow the compost to integrate well before spring.

  1. Minimise Disturbance: Keep soil disturbance to a minimum during the colder months to protect the microbial life and structure of the soil.
  2. Plan Ahead: Use the winter months to plan your spring garden. This includes deciding on plant placements based on the enriched soil areas.
  3. Water Wisely: Although less water is required in winter, ensure your soil doesn’t completely dry out, as this can harm the beneficial microbes working to enrich it.

By following these steps and utilising natural, nutrient-rich products like Ocean2Earth, gardeners can significantly enhance the health and fertility of their garden soil, setting the stage for a lush, vibrant garden come spring.

Winter may seem like a time to retreat indoors, but for the garden, it’s an essential period of preparation and renewal. By taking the time to enrich and prepare your soil now, you’re investing in the future health and beauty of your garden. When the first buds of spring appear, you’ll be rewarded with a flourishing landscape ready to burst into life.

The Benefits of Ocean2Earth Compost

Ocean2Earth compost is particularly beneficial for winter soil preparation due to its rich content in both micro and macro-nutrients. Unlike chemical fertilisers, which can leach away and waste nutrients during winter when the soil doesn’t require as much feeding, Ocean2Earth provides a natural alternative. It introduces essential minerals such as potassium and calcium into the soil without the risk of leaching, making it both healthy for your garden and the environment.

An application of Ocean2Earth to your plants during winter can build up plant strength, helping them resist diseases. This preparation ensures that once spring arrives, your garden will be ready to showcase vibrant flowers and produce juicy fruits and vegetables. The secret lies in the compost’s ability to add not just nutrients but beneficial microbes to the soil.

Microbes: The Unsung Heroes of Your Garden

The addition of microbes to your soil is, perhaps, one of the most significant benefits of winter composting. These microscopic organisms play a critical role in breaking down locked-up nutrients that have built up over time, making them available to plants as the weather warms. This process is crucial for ensuring that your garden has access to all the necessary nutrients it needs to flourish in spring.

Final Winter Prep

Preparing your garden for winter might not be the first thing on your mind as the temperature drops. However, for those passionate about gardening or landscaping, the colder months offer a golden opportunity to set the stage for a successful, vibrant spring. By choosing the right compost, like Ocean2Earth, which is not only rich in nutrients but also environmentally friendly, you can ensure that your garden is not just surviving the winter but thriving in preparation for the seasons ahead.

Remember, gardening is not just a seasonal hobby but a year-round commitment to nurturing and understanding the earth. Winter soil preparation is a testament to this commitment, ensuring that when the flowers return, your garden is ready to welcome them with open arms.

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Healthy Citrus Gardens with Trace Elements

citrus garden

Citrus orchards, with their boughs heavy with oranges, lemons, and limes, evoke the pleasant image of sun-drenched groves beside the briny blue. Ironically, that very sea which shimmers on the horizon holds secrets to the health and vibrancy of those very trees.
In the world of horticulture, there’s a newfound enthusiast for the treasure troves of minerals found in the sea, particularly seafood wastes and seaweed that are rich in trace elements critical for the robust growth of citrus fruits. These trace elements, including calcium, magnesium, and iron, are the building blocks of a nutrient-dense, mineral-rich soil that’s the foundation of health for citrus trees.

The Ocean, a Bountiful Harvester of Nutrients

Composting seafood waste creates a soil enhancer rich in microbes and sea minerals, essential for Citrus growth. This process compiles critical elements into an accessible form for plants, sustaining life from the ground up.

Sea Minerals for your garden through Composting
Organic matter, including seaweed and seafood waste, undergoes a transformation in composting that results in the extraction and concentration of these trace elements. Incorporating this compost into the earth not only enriches the soil with beneficial microbes but also boosts soil structure, moisture retention, and the uptake of macronutrients— all essential nutrients for healthy plants and health fruit.

The 5 Essential Sea Minerals for your Citrus
Here are five starring trace elements that are indispensable for your citrus plants in the garden or in pots.

  • Calcium – Essential for cell wall structure and integrity, calcium ensures that your fruits are lush, smooth, and free of defects.
  • Magnesium – The ‘central atom’ of chlorophyll, magnesium is the lynchpin of the photosynthetic process, ensuring vibrant green leaves and efficient energy production.
  • Iron – A key player in chlorophyll production, an healthy tree with enough iron will have deep dark green leaves due to efficient photosynthesis.
  • Zinc – A regulator of growth hormone, zinc ensures a balance between vegetative growth and reproductive health, aiding in flower and fruit set.
  • Manganese – A workhorse enzyme activator, manganese is necessary for numerous metabolic pathways, including those that neutralise reactive oxygen species within the plant.

Trace elements like calcium and magnesium are essential for citrus fruit health and productivity. Enriching the soil sets the stage for a fruitful relationship between earth and tree. Iron, zinc, and manganese also contribute to plant health through various functions. Each element plays a unique role in supporting plant vigour and fruit quality.

The Ocean in Your Garden
Seaweed and seafood waste, often under-appreciated byproducts of the sea, hold within them the key to healthy fruit and zesty citrus fruits. By recognising the role that healthy soil plays with the natural addition of these important trace elements that come from the composting process, we can utilise these minerals from the sea to enrich your garden. . The approach is sustainable, economical, and effective in the long-term health of your citrus.

*We recommend a balanced and sustained standard feeding, watering and mulching program.

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Autumn Citrus Success: Healthy Soil and Sea Minerals

Autumn in the temperate regions of Australia is a critical time for gardeners, especially those nurturing citrus trees. These fruit-bearing wonders thrive on more than just sunlight and water; the secret lies beneath the surface in the health of the soil. In this article, we’ll explore how a symbiotic relationship between beneficial microbes, vital sea-derived minerals, and robust soil can lead to citrus that are not just good – but great and how healthy soil leads to healthy plants and fruit.

Great Citrus Fruit starts with Healthy Soil: The health of soil is paramount when it comes to growing citrus fruit. It’s the life force that fuels stronger root growth, leads to healthier plants, and acts as a defence against pests and diseases. But what exactly makes soil ‘healthy’? The answer is thriving microbial life.

Beneficial Microbes – Nature’s Essential Workers

Microbes in the soil play a significant role in amplifying the availability of essential nutrients through increased cation exchange. This enhances the brix levels in plants, which is a fancy way of saying more natural sugars are produced, leading to better-tasting fruit. Furthermore, these microscopic allies bolster the plant’s intake of nutrition, ensuring every orange, lemon, or lime from your tree is the taste and health.

Minerals from the Sea:Trace Elements!

Our oceans are teeming with life, but did you know that they are also a reservoir of vital minerals? For citrus plants, adding a pinch of the ocean’s bounty – which includes calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus – can work wonders.

  • Calcium and iron ensure lush green leaves, a testament to evident plant vigour.
  • Magnesium is like a health tonic for the entire plant, necessary for photosynthesis and overall well-being.
  • Phosphorus secures the promise of strong roots, providing a solid foundation for the beauty that blooms above.

The Role of Phosphorus and Potting Mix Boosters

In particular, Phosphorus is crucial for root development, which is vital during the autumn season as plants prepare for the cooler months ahead. For those growing citrus in containers, incorporating a potting mix booster such as Ocean2Earth,  that’s rich in these sea-derived minerals can replicate these conditions found in nature.

Stronger Plant Growth – Seasonally Adjusted

Each season brings its own charm and challenges, and autumn is the time to lend your citrus trees some extra care. Supporting them with the right mix of minerals replicates the balance of elements they would naturally find in a thriving coastal ecosystem.

Big Blooms, Tasty Fruit, and Shiny Leaves

When a citrus tree has all it needs, it shows. Expect to see:

  • Big, vibrant flowers: harbingers of the juicy fruit to come.
  • Tasty fruit: with complexity in flavor, thanks to higher sugar levels.
  • Healthy shiny leaves: reflecting vitality, contributing to the photosynthesis powerhouse.

Sustainability: Giving Back to Mother Earth

While we take from the sea, it’s essential to give back to the land. By diverting products like fish waste destined for landfill into microbially rich soil enhancers, we’re not just reducing Carbon emissions but enriching our garden soil sustainably. Similarly, opting for sustainable packaging solutions for gardening supplies plays a small but significant role in our quest for greener living.

Grow better Citrus this Autumn

For gardeners with dreams of helathy and delicious citrus fruit and for those already growing, remember that Autumn is an opportunity. Adjusting our practices to include the gifts of the sea and the partnership of microbes can upgrade the typical growing experience to one that truly celebrates natural richness and sustainability.

It is never too late to improve your soil as these microbes and minerals will go to work immediately. Citrus are heavy feeders and go through flowering and then Fruit set, so added micronutrients will help stave off pests and diseases at the important stages.

Healthy plants, stunning flowers, and delicious fruits provide a daily reminder of the role healthy soil, and a little oceanic assistance, play in the circle of life. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and give your citrus trees the underfoot conditions they need to flourish. Your taste buds will thank you come harvest time!

Happy gardening! 

If this insight into citrus cultivation has rooted a seed of interest, share your thoughts, experiences, or questions in the comments below. We love connecting with fellow gardening enthusiasts and sustainable living advocates!

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Exciting Job Opportunity

🌊🌿 Exciting Opportunity! 🌿🌊

Join the Ocean2Earth family as our National Product Manager and be part of a game-changing circular economy initiative! 🌏✨

Ocean2Earth is not just a business; it’s a movement towards a no-waste economy. 🔄 We’re turning “seafood waste” into premium organic garden products, revolutionising the way we manage and recycle industry byproducts. 🦐🌱

Our mission is to be the leading natural fertiliser brand in the market, and we need YOU to make it happen!

As the National Product Manager (NPM), you’ll be the powerhouse behind our day-to-day sales and marketing operations nationwide. 🚀 Working closely with our timber sales force and utilising our four nationwide warehouses, you’ll drive sales initiatives, build new accounts, and nurture customer relationships.

Why Ocean2Earth?

✅ Circular economy focus

✅ 100% natural products

✅ Made from Australian industry byproducts

✅ No artificial or synthetic additives

This role is based in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, or other major cities in Australia. 🏙️

Apply now and be part of shaping the future of natural garden products in the market. 🌱🛍️

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make a real impact!
Apply now and grow with us! 🌱🌊
https://www.seek.com.au/job/73228401?ref=search-standalone&type=standout#sol=9b46bf7301e1cee53905b8222d26bbf1c809c78c

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Stories of change – Ocean2Earth

Ocean2Earth converts waste materials into a value-added product, finding opportunities to grow through challenging times.

Ocean2Earth’s is an excellent illustration of how businesses can adapt during challenging times, and how seeking opportunities in the face of adversity can not only help overcome difficulties but also elevate a product.

“Know where resources are located, what is available locally, and how you can use that to take your product”

Environmental composting business Ocean2Earth is the coming together of two brothers who were looking to launch a war on waste. Based in the Bega Valley – an area boasting beautiful hinterlands, winding rivers and coastal waterways – Ocean2Earth had access to an abundance of local natural waste resources.

By using local resources and products, Ocean2Earth have been able to demonstrate its passion for the environment and circular economy, all while making a difference to its local landscape and community.

Ocean2Earth’s success can be attributed to its connection with the land and community, and its collaborative effort with local businesses and the Bega Valley Shire Council to reduce excess waste in the Shire.

“Think outside the box and beyond your market in the local area, always think about the next step”

Utilising local fish waste from fishing boats and seafood processes, timber by-products and a house-made microbial inoculant, Ocean2Earth has created a 100% natural product that not only works to keep the local community free of waste but also brings great benefits to the garden.

Having launched in April 2019, the start-up was impacted substantially by the Black Summer bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. Through support from government grants and subsidies and pivoting to support a booming online market driven by the pandemic, Ocean2Earth was able to continue to thrive despite the odds.

“Secure your infrastructure, sort out your regulatory items and make sure your business is in a position where other businesses will want to take you on as a partner”

Major suppliers like Mitre 10 began to show interest in the Ocean2Earth Soil Enhancer, but the business didn’t have the infrastructure at that stage to take it to the next level.

By partnering with Pentarch Group and pulling the product from the self for a few months to focus on establishing the appropriate infrastructure, Ocean2Earth was able to grow into the next phase of its business.

This article has been supplied by BVSC – https://begavalley.nsw.gov.au/business/stories-of-change-ocean2earth

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Eden brothers turning fish waste into compost – Ocean2earth!

Fish to marine compost ocean2earth

Article written: Ian Campbell – About Regional

Two brothers from Eden have created a new business that turns fish waste into compost and solved an ongoing problem facing the community at Bega Valley boat ramps.

Bega Valley Mayor, Kristy McBain, has launched Ocean2earth, an Eden-based company founded by Kyran and Tim Crane.

Continue reading “Eden brothers turning fish waste into compost – Ocean2earth!”