What is “fungal dominant compost” (FDC)
Well, it’s not a top dressing, a compost, nor a fertilizer. We like the words trigger, inoculate, or our recent favorite, biotic after probiotic from yogurt. Maybe funbiotic?
The science seems to be suggesting that the compost is a signaling agent. Chemical signals tell the various players, fungi, protozoa, amoeba, etc, hey kids, party has started. And then when the plant or seed roots come in contact with these newly activated soil residents — great things begin to happen at an accelerated rate.
The newest literature calls this “quorum sensing.”
Why is this important and worth my support?
Because the lifeforms that are triggered are all made of carbon. What do we need to do to fix the planet CO2 excess we are experiencing? Remove carbon from the air. What does adding trillions of carbon lifeforms to every square meter of degraded soil do for the planet? It could remove gigatonnes of carbon from the atmosphere.
THIS IS ONE STEP
This removing of carbon with this fungal trigger material — this is what we are investigating.
So far our results are pointing to the fact that YES this process is sequestering carbon.
Emma’s farm plot experiment had three key results: One; soil fungal balance improved. Two; carbon in the soil increased (as much as doubled in one area). Three; plantings of peas, grass, sunflowers, asters all showed stronger growth in the FDC plots. Lettuce, meh, not so much.
This process we’re looking at appears to work and it is much needed.
What is the process of making this trigger material?
The trigger material is made over a two year process of slowly composting leaf waste. We chop the leaves, give them a suitable water based starter, put them in “bio reactors” and then wait. And wait. And wait.
You can watch the videos of various folks mashing up leaves and filling the bio reactors on YouTube HERE
We are building more videos and information almost daily. So please, stop back. Or even better. Join the fun. Volunteers and citizen scientists wanted.
Why are you doing this?
We want to find out if we can do three things:
One; increase plant health and nutrient density (yes, that’s kind of two things).
Two; can we sequester or store carbon in the soil? It looks like fungi are great at capturing and sequestering carbon. Its not just fungi though. We are trying to restore soil and that means protozoa, nematodes, a whole host of carbon based lifeforms. If this growth is indeed enhanced and we grow carbon in the soil, then we may have a real tool to use on atmospheric CO2.
Three; can we use the soil regeneration story to enhance community knowledge and create actual participation in reducing the CO2 burden on our planet.
Remember. To solve climate change we need to work together. We are certainly not alone in actively seeking means to ACT. So when we say, Share One Step with us, what we are doing is working to give everyone the tools to reduce CO2 and improve the health of our shared ecosystem.
This is why your help is so essential. You are an essential part of actually working — actively acting on climate change.
Here is a technique that appears to be working for solving climate change. Here is your opportunity to actively support and help solve climate change. Not talk. Act. Not support a cause. Act. Not create hot air. Act.
Who else is doing this?
Many many many people. Farmers in western Canada are huge into soil regeneration; researchers in the US; the list is very long.
However, by joining us, you’ll be among the first to do this type of Ontario based research. And your support is incredibly valuable.
Plus, how often do you get a chance to put your name down in history. The participants of this research will be listed in the annuls of history for as long as humans can access documents. It is our hope that this research will only grow. And you’re an essential part of the team.
A reminder: ONfungi fundrazr page, get your kit here!
What’s next for ONfungi?
Come back soon. We will be adding a research section that will document recent research. We will also be providing “condensed” versions of the research to enhance knowledge distribution. smile.
So join in. Help fight climate change and, just as importantly, eat richer, healthier food. Your contribution will make a difference.