The Little Things Matter

I started gardening to grow food that tastes better and lasts longer than anything I could buy at the grocery store. Initially, I worked with composted manure, vermicompost, and mulching to provide nutrients for the garden. It worked well for a while, but I used the same material every season. I was young and didn’t have a big budget, so I used what I had access to. I started a worm tower in the backyard, which was fun. They mostly ate shredded paper and coffee grounds. I found an old manure pile on a friend’s lot and took some home when I could – it was tough without a truck. 

The worm castings and manure were really nice to use, and the soil seemed healthy. The Plants grew well and produced enough fruit, but I still had pest and disease pressure and the fruit didn't always taste as good as I knew it could. It's because I was missing some key ingredients to ensure a healthy and resilient garden. If the soil is missing critical minerals, your plants will be more prone to pest and disease pressure, and the food produced will be less flavorful, less nutritious, and more likely to spoil. That’s what I learned from Dr. William Albrecht’s work.  

Why Soil Health Matters 

Dr. Albrecht believed that the health of the soil determines the health of plants, animals, and people. It’s simple and the logic is easy to follow, yet it’s deep and insightful. How do we bolster our connections to life around us? Albrecht thought minerals and trace elements were the key to that connection. His work focused on the ideal mix of minerals, like calcium and magnesium, and trace elements, like zinc and boron. 

Simple Steps to Improve Your Soil 

You don’t need expensive tools or chemicals to start. Here are five easy tips inspired by Albrecht: 

Test Your Soil (Beyond NPK) 
Get a soil test that checks micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, and trace elements. A good calcium-to-magnesium ratio improves soil structure and root growth. 

Feed the Soil, Not Just the Plants 
Add compost rich in organic matter and minerals. Rock dust (like basalt or azomite) can help restore missing micronutrients. 

Try Foliar Sprays 
Spraying nutrients directly on leaves can quickly fix deficiencies and boost fruit quality. Zinc, boron, and calcium are especially helpful. 

Plant Cover Crops 
Clover, rye, or vetch protect soil, add nutrients, and reduce weeds naturally. 

Avoid Over-Tilling 
Tilling breaks up soil life. Use no-till or low-till methods to keep microbes and fungi healthy. 

The Little Things

When I was younger, I really liked to spend time on the “big picture.” Thinking, how can we truly transition to a healthier society? It’s hard to know and a hard question to solve, but many things are. These days, I still spend some time thinking on the big picture, but I much prefer the small one. To me, the little things are everything, and they’re not honored enough. Albrecht spent his whole life honoring the little things, and I think he was onto something.