Superfoods can only grow in super soil. Expert growers know that they don’t grow plants, they grow soil. So if you want superfoods, grow superfoods by growing soil. You don’t have to be a super gardener−you just have to become a steward of the soil.

Healthy Superfood Soil Tips

1. Get a one-time heavy metal test.

You need to be sure your plants aren’t pulling toxic metals into their bodies. This will help you to avoid heavy metal contamination in your body. While it is an expense, it can save you tons of money in medical expenses in the long run… and most importantly, your health!

2. Get a soil nutrient test.

This will tell you where the nutrient levels in your soil are and what you might need. For both the heavy metal and nutrient test, TPSLab.com is a great resource. They test soils all over the globe and we’ve experienced the friendly customer service there.

3. Know your soil.

You can do this with a home jar test. It’s also a really fun family experience! Visit our blog here for a quick How-To on soil Jar Testing.

Our Top 5 Tips for Building Super Soil for Superfood

Growing Superfood Tip #1: Compost

Compost adds nutrients and soil biology that carry nutrients to plants. If you’re growing less than 9 months out of the year, you’ll want a 2″ layer of Compost. If you’re growing more than 9 months, add a 2″ layer twice a year.

Growing Superfood Tip #2: Rock Dust

Rock dust provides vital trace minerals for your plants. It can take up to a year for the minerals to become bioavailable to your plants, so apply yearly.

Growing Superfood Tip #3: Compost Tea

Compost tea will boost the organic organisms in your soil by… well, a lot! Just one small handful of COMPOST contains roughly eight billion microorganisms. Eight billion… That’s as many people as there are on the planet! But if you think that’s BIG, then you should know that compost tea has been found to contain up to 10,000 times that number in the same volume of space! That’s HUGE! That’s 80 trillion little workers ready to do the garden work for you, right in the palm of your hand.

Growing Superfood Tip #4: Worm Castings

Studies show that adding 20% worm castings to your substrates for transplants can significantly boost the health of your plants and their immune system. Add this to your transplant mixes, and another bit when you plant–add a small handful under transplanted plants, and a thin row under your seeded row plants.

Growing Superfood Tip #5: Hands… AND FEET OFF!

Avoid stepping in the garden. Stepping on soil compacts it, preventing water and air flow. It also makes it more difficult for plant roots to navigate through.

Also, avoid working in the soil when it’s wet and ideally, only lightly hoe the top 2-4″ of soil. If you lightly hoe the soil once a week, you can keep pests down. If you hoe the soil any deeper than that, you run the risk of destroying the underground micro cities of your soil beneficials.

When if comes to superfoods… you can only get them if you have super soil. Want to learn more on how to grow superfoods by growing soil?

Download Your Free Superfood Soil Building Guide

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The 8th Annual Superfood Garden Summit Comes Early This Year

Supercharge Your Health with These Superfoods Garden Tips

The secret to harnessing the full power of superfoods lies in the freshness. Imagine relishing a meal garnished with vibrant, nutrient-packed greens and herbs plucked straight from your backyard. Growing your own superfoods isn’t just gratifying; it ensures you’re getting the optimal nutrients your body needs to thrive. Right from your garden to your plate, here are some growing tips to supercharge your health.

Supercharge Your Health With Nutrient Powerhouse Kale

Did you know your planting strategy affects your yield AND leaf tenderness? A good strategy to increase yield and tenderness while keeping pests at bay is to plant kale 8″ apart instead of the typical recommendation of 12 inches. Then, harvest the leaves earlier when they’re smaller and more tender. Always leave 5-7 leaves on the plant. Less leaves can compromise photosynthesis but more leaves invite the pests in.

Here’s How to Supercharge Your Health with Garlic

Are you team hardneck or softneck garlic? Your choice should depend on your climate. Hardneck thrives in cooler climates and is rich in allicin, whereas softneck can grow in slightly warmer climates. But you should know: store-bought garlic should not be used for planting; it may harbor soil pathogens, or have been treated and fail to grow entirely. Plus, store-bought varieties aren’t selected for their nutrient content but rather for their shelf-life. So these garlics rarely have the nutrient density worthy of your garden space.

Supercharging With The Tropical Spice Twins 

Growing ginger and turmeric demands patience. It can take upwards of 8-10 months for these crops to mature under ideal conditions. Water these twins generously, but be sure your soil drains well to prevent root rot.

Did you know that not all turmeric is orange? Turmeric also comes in blue! Both require similar care, so why not grow a spectrum for your curries and teas? You can sometimes find this unique variety at one of our favorite seed suppliers: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com)

Supercharging Your Health With Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are one of those vegetables that are considered a whole food. They’re so packed full of nutrients that the human body could survive for a long time just by eating sweet potatoes… that’s AMAZING! What’s more,  is that sweet potato leaves are also edible. So you can get the root and the leafy green veg all in one plant! Just be sure to harvest the leaves sparingly; over-picking can impede root development. 

Supercharge With Berries

For blueberry lovers, you need to know that this plant requires a certain number of chill hours to produce. Chill hours are the minimum number of hours of cold weather a plant requires in order to bear fruit the following season. Be sure to select varieties that suit your climate’s chill hour requirements. This ensures a bountiful harvest of these antioxidant-rich berries.

Elderberries are a superfood star, but you should never consume them raw. Also, be aware that only certain varieties are safe for consumption. Proper investigation and processing is key to enjoying their immune-boosting benefits.

Supercharge the Entire Garden

Did you know that filling at least 30% of your garden with perennial flowers and herbs can create a thriving ecosystem? This strategy not only beautifies your space but also fortifies it against pests and diseases. Remember: diversity means healthier plants and a more robust garden ecosystem.

Download Your Free Superfood Gardening Guide

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Garden Mindsets: Fun is Better Than Perfect

The 8th Annual Superfood Garden Summit Comes Early This Year

Join us for the 8th Annual Superfood Garden Summit, the much-anticipated global event of the year for garden enthusiasts and health-conscious growers! This year, we’re delighted to bring you the summit early so you have the opportunity to apply fresh insights and strategies to your current growing season.

Here’s a Sneak Peek of What’s Coming for You!

Stacey Murphy ignites our passion for DIY bioenergetics and electroculture. Murphy advocates for playful experimentation in the garden, incorporating elements like lunar gardening and biodynamic farming. By testing different techniques, Murphy encourages us to embrace a fun, trial-and-error approach to growing food.

Ocean Robbins, CEO of the Food Revolution Network, takes the stage to discuss “Supercharging Your Health with Berries and Greens.” Robbins spins heartwarming stories from his family garden while uncovering the importance of growing greens and berries. Robbins invites us to convert even the smallest spaces into nourishing food havens.

Also joining us at the summit this year we have Charles Dowding, a proponent of No-Dig Gardening. Whether you’re delving into gardening with a few pots of potatoes and leafy greens, or you are a homestead grower, Dowding’s insights on no-dig gardening are sure to optimize your efforts.

Greg Peterson from Urban Farm U joins forces with seed-saving expert Bill McDorman to discuss “Seed Saving Hacks and Wild Seeds.” Dispelling myths about hybrid seeds and advocating for native ecosystems, Peterson and McDorman guide us through the strategies for seed stewardship and resilience-building in our own backyards.

Who Else is Coming to the 8th Annual Superfood Garden Summit?

Rounding out our expert lineup, we have Michael Kilpatrick, who will help you transform your backyard into a berry paradise, Kilpatrick covers the cultivation of elderberries, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries with a side of rhubarb. Marjory Wildcraft explores the wonders of growing your own chocolate while Amy Landers teaches us how to create butterfly havens in our gardens.

That’s Not All!

In addition to our garden topics, we have herbal experts Kami McBride from Living Awareness Institute and Sarah Popham from The School of Evolutionary Herbalism. McBride shares respiratory benefits of garden sage, and Popham joins us to dive into  herbs for our garden that bolster immunity.

Last but certainly not least, Matt Powers dives into the world of regenerative soil, illuminating its crucial role in nurturing our ecosystem. Jason Matyas shares how gardening and homesteading can instill resilience and valuable life skills in children. Commercial grower, Crystal Meserole, shares beneficials for your soil.

Join us at the Superfood Garden Summit, to discover how to enrich both your garden and your life. It’s our mission to empower you to cultivate your own nutrient-dense food. We strive to empower growers so you know exactly what’s on your plate. By harnessing the knowledge of expert growers, you can grow plants with higher nutrient density and get better yields with ease. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned grower, this summit is an essential resource to bring you more health, joy, and superfood into your life!

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– Fun is Better than Perfect