The microbial world underneath our feet

A few weeks ago, the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy had the privilege of hosting a fascinating and insightful workshop with Wesley Soule from SoilScopes. SoilScopes is a new organisation that was established in 2022 and has already left a big impact on the South African agricultural world over the past few years. SoilScopes brings in modern, regenerative agricultural practices to farmers on how to tend to their soil more naturally. 

Wesley introduced us to a whole new world hidden beneath our feet, the complex and essential ecosystem of soil microorganisms. Through practical demonstrations and expert insights, we learned how healthy soil is the foundation of any productive landscape. When soil ecosystems are in balance, they provide plants with the nutrients they need to improve water retention and increase overall resilience to drought and disease.
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One of the most exciting parts of the workshop was the microscope session, where we examined soil samples up close and got to see the microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and much more that live in the soil. These tiny life forms might be invisible to the naked eye, but they are critical to soil health. Continuously disturbing the soil will hinder these little microbial organisms, making the soil unfit for them to live in, and will result in an infertile soil ecosystem with degraded plant growth.

Wesley showed us that by identifying the microorganisms present in the soil, we can better understand what is missing or out of balance. Whether certain microbes are lacking or others are overly dominant, this knowledge allows us to assess the situation and introduce natural microbial elements—such as compost teas or organic amendments—to help restore balance. This targeted, nature-based approach enables landowners, conservationist and farmers to regenerate their land in a sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly way.
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The workshop also covered practical topics such as soil sampling techniques, making organic compost suited to the plant species that are growing within our nursery, and the principles of regenerative agriculture. The training also focused on better understanding the microorganisms that live in water and within wetland soils. This is essential as we embark on new projects that focus on the wetland environment and to help us better understand our river health. It was an inspiring session filled with knowledge, laughter, and muddy hands, and it was the best kind of learning!  We were also happy to include our partners at the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve to attend this training.

​Thank you to Linda Oosthuizen, who made contact with SoilScopes through a prize that she won for us on Facebook. The prize included some free microbial testing, free soil manuals and a compost thermometer. We were then able to use our funding from IUCN and IKI Small Grants to obtain this more in depth training. This opened a whole new field for us that will improve our conservation efforts in both our Alien Clearing and Restoration Projects!

Linda and Wesley exchanging caps from both organisations to conclude the training session!