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The Thriving Farmer Podcast


Jun 22, 2020

Are you tuned into and tending to the vast cultures and activity taking place underneath your farm?

Widely renowned agroecologist, systems thinker, educator and storyteller, Nicole Masters, joins us today to impart some valuable knowledge about the often misunderstood realm of soil science. Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, Nicole founded Integrity Soils Ltd in 2002, a company dedicated to comprehensive regeneration of our food production systems. Integrity Soils Ltd is a treasure trove of contemporary information and educational material covering the complexities of soil health, how our approach to soil has changed over the years, and how to repair damages caused by some of those approaches. If you’ve found yourself questioning the productivity of your farm’s soil, or you’d just like to safeguard and fortify your land, this is the episode for you! 

 

You’ll hear:

How Nicole’s obsession with soil began 2:22

What problems occur when chemicals in soil find their way into our waterways 4:47

How Nicole classifies soil health 10:51 

What Nicole means by “enabling factors” 18:41

Why it’s important to understand the six different livestock classes in soil 22:17

How the sugars plants absorb end up feeding soil 27:03 

What the roles that fulvic and humic acid play in soil health 31:46

About the current situation with the hydroponic movement 36:16

About the steps Prospect Farm in Australia took to achieve success 38:07

The fastest way to bring crops back into production on land that has historically produced those crops for long periods of time 43:15

Why Nicole recommends dribbling humic acid into furrows during the deep ripping process 45:14

What cation exchange capacity is and why it’s important 55:12

What Nicole thinks about worm production on farms 58:15

Why Canadian Thistle might not be as bad as it’s made out ot be 1.02:35

The biggest mistake Nicole sees newer farmers making 1.04:34

How important mindset and self reflection are as a farmer 1.07:39

Nicole’s favorite farming tool 1.10:40

How Nicole evaluates the present for being a time to start farming 1.11:34

Where you can learn more about Nicole and Integrity Soils 1.18:29 

 

About the Guest:

Nicole Masters is an independent agroecologist, storyteller, systems thinker and educator. She is recognized as a knowledgeable and dynamic speaker on the topic of soil health.

Her team of soil coaches at Integrity Soils work alongside producers in the U.S., Canada and across Australasia. Supporting producers who work with over 1.1 million acres to take their operations to the next level in nutrient density, profitability and environmental outcomes.

She is one of a growing number of people who are facilitating a rapidly expanding world of quality food production and biological economies.

Her book titled “For the Love of Soil” showcases examples of the tools and principles producers are using to regenerate their soils. Describing a step-by-step triage of actions, so that you too can regenerate your land.

 

Resources:

Website - www.integritysoils.co.nz

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IntegritySoils/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/masters.nicole/