Soil Nurture’s Quarterly Update - Celebrating the Harvests! 🌱🎉
Luke Boxall - December 2023
Dear Member of the Soil Nurture Community,
We’re thrilled to have celebrated another harvest with you, and what an incredible period it has been! As we reflect on these last three months, we are excited to share the latest updates and stories from the farmers, growers, and enthusiasts who make up our vibrant community.
Farming Insights: Navigating Challenges and Embracing Innovation
As winter settles in, farmers have been diligently sowing winter crops despite weather challenges. For those exploring the benefits of vermicast products, our new Bio Worm Extract (BWE) has been a game-changer. For the winter crops, we’ve seen BWE being applied post-emergence or as seed soak. BWE, when applied during these early stages, helps with homogenous crop growth and enhancing of root mass, leading to improved and regular yields.
Field where BWE was applied as a foliar spray post-em.
Vineyards: Weathering the Storm and Celebrating the Harvest
Signs have been popular for visitors across different vineyards generating conversations throughout tours.
Although the harvest was on average very high, limited sunshine and a higher volume of rain led to increased risk of diseases before the fruit was collected. Vineyards using our products, particularly Bio20 and Bio Worm Tea, experienced notable differences – from improved recovery against powdery mildew to a more open grape structure. It’s great to see how vineyards are investing in improving their environmental and sustainability credentials whilst still producing fantastic wines.
Greenhouse Growth: Microbial Life Enhancing Compost
There have been some exciting developments in horticultural greenhouses as Bio Worm Cast has been added to green waste compost. Since Bio Worm Cast is filled with beneficial microbes, incorporating it with compost addresses the lack of essential biology in green waste composts. This mixture should improve the Electrical Conductivity (EC) issues commonly faced in greenhouse operations.
Greenhouse Growth: Microbial Life Enhancing Compost
There have been some exciting developments in horticultural greenhouses as Bio Worm Cast has been added to green waste compost. Since Bio Worm Cast is filled with beneficial microbes, incorporating it with compost addresses the lack of essential biology in green waste composts. This mixture should improve the Electrical Conductivity (EC) issues commonly faced in greenhouse operations.
Strawberries, Landscapers, and More: Expanding Our Reach
We are excited to collaborate with both strawberry growers, as they trial Bio Worm Tea for improved fruit growth, and with landscapers that are benefitting from Bio Carbon Soil when mulching trees. Vermicast-based products’ beneficial and positive impacts extend across various sectors. As more industries recognise these benefits, we are delighted to witness different people and sectors finding out how they can use natural products while improving and maintaining efficiency.
Scientific Insights: Understanding the Microbial Magic
A recent study by Bicky et all, 2023, delves into the specific microbes within vermicast that offer protection against a broad range of disease-promoting phytopathogens. The diverse microbial community in vermicast continues to unveil numerous benefits, with ongoing investigations shedding light on its potential applications.
Soil Nurture Updates: Bio Worm Extract Unveiled
We have listened to our community and are proud to introduce our latest innovation, Bio Worm Extract – a stable liquid extract with a 6-month shelf life. Packed with the benefits of vermicast and increased humic acid, this product accelerates nutrient absorption and promotes plant growth and health.
Vermicast liquid extracts have shown to be a fantastic solution for large-scale soil and plant health improvement for ag sectors in other countries. We are delighted to be offering this new product that will help you decrease the need for chemical and mineral products.
Contact us if you would like to know more.
Referral Rewards: Growing Together
We invite you to be a part of our journey towards growth. Refer us to fellow farmers and growers, and earn a 15% referral fee if they decide to make a purchase. Visit our website for more details: Referral Program.
Other News: International Vermicomposting Symposium
Our founder, Luke Boxall, recently attended the International Vermicomposting Symposium in Italy. Inspired by the diversity of vermicast companies, Luke shares his insights into his experiences at the symposium.
“I had the privilege of attending the inaugural International Vermicomposting Symposium in Florence, Italy, this past November. The symposium showcased a diverse array of vermicast companies, each with unique business models. From those employing worms for waste management, like Mynoke (NZ), to others specialising in high-quality vermicast creation, such as Terravesco and Worm Power (USA), and those dedicated to social enterprises like Worm Hotels (NL) and The Urban Worm (UK), the event provided invaluable insights. I gained a wealth of knowledge from each participant and was delighted to witness the growing interest in vermicomposting among individuals from around the world, including the UK”
Meet Luke Boxall - The Worm Guy
Today you can get to know a little bit more about our passionate co-founder, Luke Boxall, aka The Worm Guy.
Luke co-founded Soil Nurture because he feels frustrated when farmers and growers are blamed for climate change. He believes that there is a lot of work to be done in the sector to improve its environmental impact, but it is not the fault of farmers or growers as everyone wants to find better and improved ways of working with land and soil.
Luke was born and raised in Brazil when his British parents emigrated there to do mission work. Ever since he was a child, he wanted to become either a farmer or a football player. He claims that he wasn’t good enough to play in the Brazilian football team but his passion to join the agricultural community remained throughout the years. After spending more than 10 years working in the digital industry in London, Luke decided that he wanted to put his effort and passion into what he really cares about; Agriculture and Climate Change! This is when he founded Soil Nurture.
Luke studied Geography at Exeter University where he focused on soil pollution and climate change. He is also a serving Officer in the Army Reserves and completed a tour of Afghanistan. When he is not talking about earthworms or soil, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Steph, his two children, who are 10 and 8, and his dogs, bees, sheep, and, of course, his earthworms.
In the News
https://www.fruitandvine.co.uk/earthworm-power-used-to-advance-english-vineyard-sustainability-journey/ – How vermicast is helping vineyards become more sustainable
https://directdriller.com/farmer-focus-tim-parton-5/ – Tim Parton, a regenerative farmer, is trialling a number of products including Bio Worm Tea.
A Big Thank You
Thank you for being a vital part of Soil Nurture’s journey. As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue growing, learning, and adding life back into the soil together.
Looking forward to this coming winter where we will continue to work with you to encourage thriving ecosystems!
Happy Soil Nurturing!
Worm regards,
The Soil Nurture Team
