Our Work
Minds Of Soil has a global presence, having undertaken research projects worldwide alongside leading agroecologists specializing in soil microbiology. Our focus lies in developing innovative solutions aimed at promoting regenerative farming practices. Through our collaborations and research initiatives, we strive to advance the field of agriculture towards greater sustainability and resilience.
01
CEPEAS - Centro de Pesquesias em Agricultura Sintropia - Brazil
Minds Of Soil partnered with Fernando Rebello, the founder of CEPEAS, to pioneer the development of Bio-complete compost utilizing locally-sourced resources, thereby enriching both new and existing plantations. Our collaboration delves into the convergence of principles between the Soil Food Web and Syntropic Farming, seeking tailored solutions that render these practices feasible and advantageous for both local and large-scale farmers.
02
A case study, " A Blueprint to Return to The Garden of Eden" Ernst Gotsch, Soil Food Web reseach project with Minds Of Soil - Bahia, Brazil
Minds Of Soil partnered with Ernst to compare the soil biology of 4 Brazilian landscapes and found remarkable differences in soil microbiology. This research underscores the transformative potential of combining Ersnt Gotsch's Agroecological Farming model and the SFW Approach as a blueprint for regenerative agriculture to meet the needs of the present while regenerating ecosytems.
The full PDF report containing Minds Of Soil's research can be downloaded under the video.
PDF dowload - A Blueprint to Return to
The Garden of Eden
03
Syntropic Cocoa Faming v Conventional Cocoa and the Soil Food Web - Henrique Sousa, Fazenda Ouro Fino, Bahia- Brazil
Minds Of Soil collaborated with Henrique Sousa to conduct a study comparing soil biology across six different syntropic systems spanning 26 years of management. This research also included conventional farming practices utilizing pesticides and insecticides, as well as farming relying solely on chemical fertilizers. The findings underscored the efficacy of syntropic agriculture in nurturing soil microbiological communities over time through strategic succession planting methods.
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Henrique's farm notably outperformed neighboring sites suffering from compaction, disease, and pest issues due to insufficient microbial activity in their soil. This study highlightes the effects of inorganic fertilizers on both productivity and soil regeneration within conventinal cocoa systems.
04
Casa Umami Regenerative Homestead
Costa Rica, Playa Zancudo
Minds Of Soil collaborated with Casa Umami to establish a resilient homestead business rooted in permaculture design principles. This initiative involved the implementation of diverse cash crop systems, on-site fertilizer production, and a focus on food production through fermentation. The project underscored the resilience achieved through diversified whole system design, creating a closed loop system.
05
Permaculture Desing and Erosion control - Lake Atilan, Guatemala
At Minds Of Soil, we develop properties through the principles of permaculture design. By following its ethics and principles, we craft designs that exhibit positive reinforcement as the system evolves. For instance, our practice of planting vetiver on contour serves to safeguard slopes against erosion, due to the remarkable capacity of vetiver roots to stabilize soil. This strategic approach facilitates the slowing, spreading, and sinking of rainwater into the landscape as it moves downhill. Through the implementation of SALT (Slope Agricultural Landscape Techniques), the planting of vetiver facilitates the creation of micro-terraces through chop and drop management, effectively capturing runoff and enhancing soil fertility over time. This method significantly increase the land's capacity.
A PDF of this project will soon be available to download explaining more systems we have implemtned.
05
Vermicompost
Vermicomposting is a tool utilized by Minds Of Soil to produce premium-quality compost for integration within agricultural environments. Rich in beneficial microorganisms, vermicast plays a pivotal role in facilitating nutrient cycling for plants. In worms digestive tract, they metabolize various bacteria, amoebas, protozoa, and pathogens, culminating in the formation of worm casts within the growth chamber. These casts, enriched with beneficial microflora inherent to the worms, foster the proliferation of aerobic organisms. Upon release into the soil, these concentrated balls of high aerobic microbiological diversity stimulate the soil food web, whereby biological materials undergo a process of complexification. Notably, worm casts boast elevated levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), along with essential minerals such as iron, calcium, sulfur, and humic acid, thereby augmenting soil fertility and vitality.
06
3 day workshop and lecture in University of Prague Life Science and Brno Czech Republic
We are proud to have hosted our inaugural workshop in the Czech Republic last year, a 3-day intensive focused on the vital role of soil life in regenerative agriculture. Developed to address the urgency of soil regeneration, the workshop provided participants with practical tools and knowledge to cultivate healthy, living soils. Attendees learned how to analyze soil vitality, identify key microorganisms with a microscope, and master the creation of biocomplete compost. By blending the principles of the Soil Food Web and syntropic agriculture, we empowered growers to improve yields, enhance ecosystem health, and build resilience against climate change.
07
Piedra Azul - Mexico
In addition to our work with regenerative farmers in Mexico, we have also implemented a range of innovative, nature-based systems. This includes transforming a depleted, compacted peanut farm in Oaxaca.
Our first project involved creating a highly productive cucumber market garden. Within just three months, using on-site resources and our Soil Food Web (SFW) methods, we established a self-sustaining system that yielded over 5 kg of cucumbers every two days.
Our expertise also extends to designing and implementing syntropic silvopasture tree lines, which are integrated with a diverse perennial pasture for raising buffalo, seeded with a mix of grasses and legumes to enhance forage quality and soil fertility. We also established a multi-layered mulberry-cocoa patch that creates a resilient, productive agroforestry ecosystem. These diverse projects demonstrate our commitment to designing holistic and site-specific solutions that restore landscapes and produce high-quality yields.
