The 2011 Garden Writers of America Gold Award for Best Writing/Book proves 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.
Teaming with Microbes
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"It takes readers underground to meet the critters that live if you let them under the garden."
(Virginian-Pilot)
"All good gardeners know healthy plants start with healthy soil. But why? And how? In Teaming with Microbes Lowenfels and Lewis reveal the new research in the most practical and accessible way." (Kym Pokorny The Oregonian)
"For years, we've thought of the 'food chains' in our environment. Lowenfels and Lewis explain an even more wonderful idea: the 'soil food web.' Read Teaming with Microbes and keep it or give it to the library so others may learn of this astounding way to grow vegetables, trees, lawns."
(Rockland Courier-Gazette)
"Read this book and you'll never think of soil the same way." (Anchorage Daily News)
"The authors have given gardeners an inside scoop on the scientific research supporting organic gardening." (Washington Gardener)
"This book has all the best dirt on all the best dirt. It...explains the basics of good soil practices, and it's written especially for home gardeners. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
"This is sure to gain that well-thumbed look than any good garden book acquires as it is referred to repeatedly over the years." (Pacific Horticulture)
"This is the most complete book on the market about biological or organic methods in horticulture...highly recommended for all gardeners, landscapers, or anyone taking care of a lawn or garden." (Nature's Way Resources)
"[This book] is a must read for any gardener looking to create a sustainable, healthy garden without chemicals." (Detroit News)
(Virginian-Pilot)
"All good gardeners know healthy plants start with healthy soil. But why? And how? In Teaming with Microbes Lowenfels and Lewis reveal the new research in the most practical and accessible way." (Kym Pokorny The Oregonian)
"For years, we've thought of the 'food chains' in our environment. Lowenfels and Lewis explain an even more wonderful idea: the 'soil food web.' Read Teaming with Microbes and keep it or give it to the library so others may learn of this astounding way to grow vegetables, trees, lawns."
(Rockland Courier-Gazette)
"Read this book and you'll never think of soil the same way." (Anchorage Daily News)
"The authors have given gardeners an inside scoop on the scientific research supporting organic gardening." (Washington Gardener)
"This book has all the best dirt on all the best dirt. It...explains the basics of good soil practices, and it's written especially for home gardeners. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
"This is sure to gain that well-thumbed look than any good garden book acquires as it is referred to repeatedly over the years." (Pacific Horticulture)
"This is the most complete book on the market about biological or organic methods in horticulture...highly recommended for all gardeners, landscapers, or anyone taking care of a lawn or garden." (Nature's Way Resources)
"[This book] is a must read for any gardener looking to create a sustainable, healthy garden without chemicals." (Detroit News)
About the Author
Jeff Lowenfels has been writing a weekly column for the Anchorage Daily News since 1977. A member of the Garden Writers of America Hall of Fame, he is a leading proponent of gardening using the concepts of the soil food web. After working at his father's hobby farm in his youth, he developed a life-long love of gardening that has led him to writing countless articles, hosting a popular gardening television show, and founding a successful program for soup kitchens called "Plant a Row for the Hungry" that is active in 48 states and has resulted in over 14 million meals fed to those in need. A native New Yorker, he is a Harvard graduate and now works as an attorney in Alaska.
Wayne Lewis is a lifelong Alaskan gardener. He has worked with Jeff Lowenfels on many projects over the past 25 years, including the now national Plant a Row for the Hungry program (started in Anchorage by Jeff), which encourages gardeners to donate a portion of their harvest to charitable organizations in their community.
Wayne Lewis is a lifelong Alaskan gardener. He has worked with Jeff Lowenfels on many projects over the past 25 years, including the now national Plant a Row for the Hungry program (started in Anchorage by Jeff), which encourages gardeners to donate a portion of their harvest to charitable organizations in their community.
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Customer Reviews
“ The author also makes an effort to put these interactions and relationships into simplier terms so that most gardeners will understand. ”
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
66 of 72 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The first part of the book is pretty good. But then it comes completely off the rails in the second part. The author admits that mycorrhizal fungus is new to him. Adding a chapter on the subject for this latest revision was insufficient. The facts about mycorrhizal fungus means his theories about plant succession and bacterial vs fungal soil is completely wrong. Some vegetables are very dependant on mycorrhizal fungus. He should have completely rewritten part two. Example link:[...]
I agree that people should not till in the spring just before planting. But tilling in the late fall and working in organic matter and then planting a mycorrhizal cover crop will renew the fungus and achieve superior results. Buy this book for the first part and then ignore the second part.
I agree that people should not till in the spring just before planting. But tilling in the late fall and working in organic matter and then planting a mycorrhizal cover crop will renew the fungus and achieve superior results. Buy this book for the first part and then ignore the second part.
87 of 103 people found the following review helpful
By Forest7
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I enjoyed the beginning of Teaming with Microbes, but as I went on through it, I began to be uncomfortable with some of its tone. The authors seemed to be wanting to put their attachment to non-organic industrial lawn and garden products behind them, but they also seem to be doing advance work for a new bio-tech industry, rather than just proposing to work "with" the soil life in an organic way.
They relate [p.69] that one of them wrote a weekly gardening column for 30 years and never once mentioned mycorrhiza "out of sheer ignorance." On the same page they write, that it was only in the 1990's that the term mycorrhiza started to "creep into the agricultural industry's lexicon, much less the home gardener's." Most organic gardeners are aware that it is with home gardeners and "soil pioneers" progress is made in soil science, and not in an entrenched industry.
On p. 125, with the section "a quick look forward," they write, "Given the advancing scientific techniques, the high degree of interest in the subject, and the human as well as the monetary implications of usable bio-products, it is certain more will be taken up - more and more often - as additional tools for restoration and maintenance." In other words, more industry involvement.
Further, on page 126, the authors disclose their wish for the bio-tech development of "an endophytic fungi that rids the lawn of dandelions." The development of such a fungi that kills dandelions could be an ecological disaster. Besides the value of dandelions as a food source for many nations outside of the U.S., dandelions are a nitrogen fixing soil improving plant. Then too, did the authors consider that the bio-tech created endophytic fungi might adapt to also kill other root vegetables, such as sugar beets, and carrots?... Read more ›
They relate [p.69] that one of them wrote a weekly gardening column for 30 years and never once mentioned mycorrhiza "out of sheer ignorance." On the same page they write, that it was only in the 1990's that the term mycorrhiza started to "creep into the agricultural industry's lexicon, much less the home gardener's." Most organic gardeners are aware that it is with home gardeners and "soil pioneers" progress is made in soil science, and not in an entrenched industry.
On p. 125, with the section "a quick look forward," they write, "Given the advancing scientific techniques, the high degree of interest in the subject, and the human as well as the monetary implications of usable bio-products, it is certain more will be taken up - more and more often - as additional tools for restoration and maintenance." In other words, more industry involvement.
Further, on page 126, the authors disclose their wish for the bio-tech development of "an endophytic fungi that rids the lawn of dandelions." The development of such a fungi that kills dandelions could be an ecological disaster. Besides the value of dandelions as a food source for many nations outside of the U.S., dandelions are a nitrogen fixing soil improving plant. Then too, did the authors consider that the bio-tech created endophytic fungi might adapt to also kill other root vegetables, such as sugar beets, and carrots?... Read more ›
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Pankaj Gupta
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have been reading a lot of books related to 1) Gardening 2) Composting etc. and most of them leave a lot to be desired in terms of the scope of information contained.
This particular book is detailed, while at the same time reading like a novel. It is full of excellent information about microbiology of soils. When you read a book on a particular subject, what you are really looking for is clarity and answers to your questions. This book provides all of that, and more.
Wonderful book. Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in 1) Organic Gardening 2) Composting, or organic mulches or compost teas 3) Soil microbiology
This particular book is detailed, while at the same time reading like a novel. It is full of excellent information about microbiology of soils. When you read a book on a particular subject, what you are really looking for is clarity and answers to your questions. This book provides all of that, and more.
Wonderful book. Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in 1) Organic Gardening 2) Composting, or organic mulches or compost teas 3) Soil microbiology
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Such a paradigm shift! I had started out learning about organic gardening, then began learning about Gaia's Garden, Second Edition: A Guide To Home-Scale Permaculture and recently found Teaming with Microbes. I will never think about gardening or the earth the same way again. Dandelions = a calcium deficiency in your lawn? I used to think they were just lawn weeds who's leaves could be purchased at health food stores for a high price as a foodie delicacy. Love. Love. Love this book. It teaches you, in a very easy to understand way, how the soil food web works and what you can do to naturally improve your soil and crops/plants for sustainable and efficient growth. Now that's a gardening book. Brilliant. 5 stars!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a long time organic gardener, I thought I had things pretty well figured out - compost, no chemicals, mulch. But this book (which, surprisingly, I was unable to put down) opened my eyes to the world of soil microbiology, and in a fascinating, often funny style. I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't realize the best thing about compost is not the nutrients it contains, but the germs. And that disturbing soils kills mycorrhizae (something I'd just been reading about in Paul Stamets' books on fungi).
The authors have arrived at the perfect mix of science and readability - this book fed my hunger for solid science, AND was fun to read. It's my go-to book on soil microbes. Get it, and keep it next to the dictionary on your Important Books Shelf.
The authors have arrived at the perfect mix of science and readability - this book fed my hunger for solid science, AND was fun to read. It's my go-to book on soil microbes. Get it, and keep it next to the dictionary on your Important Books Shelf.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By BlindSquirl
Format:Hardcover
I stumbled across this book while doing research on compost tea. It explains, in layman's terms, exactly what should be going on in our soil. It also lays the foundation for transforming the way you think of soil. It explains why petro-chemical based, artificial fertilizers appear to give you results in the beginning, but ultimately lead down the slippery slope of ever increasing needs for more and more, expensive fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides. My business and web site have benefitted from reading this book. The instructor for my Master Composting class is "constantly amazed" and much of what I know came from this book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Intro to Soil, as in "It's Alive!!!"
Excellent intro to the community of soil dwellers and how they relate to each other (ie, eat each other) with clear explanation of how mycorhizzae (root related fungi) connect work... Read more
Published 3 days ago by Mary J N Tran
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
Seems very complete. I am new to this, so have nothing to compare it to...but I have to say I am walking away from reading the book feeling empowered to improve the state of my... Read more
Published 8 days ago by Jennifer Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars
What goes on under our feet
A wonderful book that clearly describes the living systems contained within the soil that are so essential to all land based plant life and hence to land based animal life. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Milton Hetrick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Teaming with Microbes
Extensive study of soils and the microbes building it. It shall be used in my studies. Excellent find. I recommend it highly.
Published 10 days ago by Josephine F. Leyte-Vidal
5.0 out of 5 stars
Goes deeper
This is an important upgrade of the previous book with the same name. It takes a lot of the subjects to a greater depth with superior clarity.
Published 24 days ago by Virginia Bergstrand
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
I'm only part way through this book but am already very impressed with the author's ability to simplify and make a book of this type such an interesting read. Read more
Published 29 days ago by amztim
5.0 out of 5 stars
Learning the soil basics
This book is an excellent resource for the novice or experienced gardener. It provides the reason why good soil exists and methods for maintaining it for the benefit of not only... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gerald S.
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best on soil science
This updated version corrects some of the errors of previous editions. Healthy soil is the most important aspect of our agriculture--understanding the "soil food web" is a... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Embaker
5.0 out of 5 stars
good fungi info
Could have more pics of fungi, especially decomposers. Well written for non-biology types like me. Bacteria treated well with good descriptions of other microbes and their... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Robert Hicks
4.0 out of 5 stars
I am using the info now!
The information in the book has changed my whole way of gardening. The book is not hard to read or understand. Read more
Published 2 months ago by MerSaw
