Black Swallow Living Soils
137 Nelson Street N3S 4B5 Brantford, ON, Canada

We’re stocking up. This is one of two truckloads of compost that we had delivered today. We like to have a load or two sitting and maturing, so that we do not run low. Same with the stacks of peat and perlite in the background. Almost all of our suppliers are experiencing delays in being able to fill orders, so we’ve been stocking up for the spring. We’re ready- are you? #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil

Repost from @subtleseedfarm I love following some growers who have their game dialed in. These folk are a great example. Grassroots beds, Blumat irrigation system, and living soil from @dirtcraftorganics. They already have their greenhouse planted, and this will be their 4th crop running from their second year. Give both these folk a follow! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil

Dang- gotta make up my mind- what’s it gonna be? Gotta do Geistgrow’s Purple Rogue Ghost again, and Freeborne’s Pina was so stellar, still a few seeds of that around. But got his Cherry West as well, and you know you wanted to run that! And what about Massive’s Tropeganate- those flowers looked killer! But you got Keif’s Glazed Cherries that you been putting off for a couple season. Then there’s Mandelbrot’s Pure Royal kicking around, and don’t forget Ganja Rebel’s 5G’s Purple, or Roundtable’s Mendo Maraschino..... you ain’t never gonna get this sorted! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil

Repost from @concessionroadgarden multi-sown lettuce mix being pricked into these brilliant compostable ‘Fertil’ pot trays. Seedlings will be planted in greenhouse in a week or so, and then ready for an early spring mixed green harvest. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil

Here are a few details from a clever DIY small batch indoor ACT brewer a customer put together. The Airlift Bioreactor design appealed to him and is based on Tim Wilson’s Mini Microbulator build as referenced by Tad Hussey. The part He didn’t like is it can get pretty messy when brewing vermicompost indoors and after 36 hours, can make for a very unhappy wife. So he ended up modifying the design in several ways which makes for a much cleaner brewing process while still reta...ining the benefits of the airlift which does an excellent job in breaking up the water surface tension. However he had decent results with air stones in the past and figured you can never add too much air therefore he incorporated both into this design. The key to the design is the use of a 5 gallon paint pail’ with an integrated flexible rubber spout in the lid. This creates a perfect seal on the schedule 40 - PVC pipe and supports the complete assembly in the lid. After brewing he simply disconnect the airlines, lift the complete assembly out of the brew bucket and place in a spare 5 gallon for cleanup. In this case he has a spare dual outlet pump for the air stones while utilizing a 1400 GPH for the airlift though one could use for both. Minus the pumps, his cost was around $45.00. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil

We lost our previous silica supplier, and have had many of you reach out to see if we had found an alternative. We’re exceptionally pleased to be able to say we have- Zumsil. Monosilicic acid is the form of silicon that is available to a plant. Silicon is the second most abundant mineral on earth, and is found in many forms in the soil, but only the monosilicic acid form is available to the plants. Microbial activity decomposes organic matter to form humic substances and caus...es reactions with Silicon to form organic forms of Silica which can be translocated to the plant and absorbed by the roots. Absorption of ZumSil by plants is equivalent or superior to essential elements such as nitrogen and potassium and its accumulation in plants is similar to essential micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, sulfur. The resultant benefit for plants is improved nitrogen fixation, improved availability of phosphorus, strengthened cell wall structure, maximized photosynthesis, buffering of plant stress, boosting of plant immunity and increase in sugar content and quality in your plants. Directions for use: Dilute 1:1000 or higher for foliar, 1:1200 for drench or drip. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil

Wiarton Willie has just made his prediction- spring is coming early! So strap on your guitars kiddies- after this nasty winter lockdown, with a possible gut punch Feb to still get through, our gardens may mean more for our soul health than ever before. Get out and Grow! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil

If there is one product category that we have worked the most on vetting, it is our compost offerings. I was chatting with one of our suppliers earlier and could sense the passion and excitement in his voice as he told me about the latest batch he made this fall past. He spoke about how he could see the potential for a great batch of compost early on in the cycle when he stepped outside early in a cool morning and could see the steam vapours rising evenly off his windrows. He... caught such an image and shared it with me. It’s the passion of producers like this that set our composts and soils apart from all others! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil See more

We had the greatest pleasure to meet Rick Simpson a few years ago when he was in the area. Rick is one of the foundation stones of the canna industry. He’s living in Europe these days, but has suffered a stroke recently. A fund raising effort has been created to assist him. A couple decades ago he gave a rare Volkswagen - a Doka Syncro to his buddy that he knew from when they were kids in New Brunswick. This friend is now going to be offering the truck up for auction soon aft...er Christmas, in an effort to help with the fund raising. We will be reporting on this as the auction gets closer, but in the meantime donations can be made to his website- Phoenixtears.ca. Or, go there to purchase his book! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil See more

All stocked up on Grassroots fabric pots. We stock 16 different sizes in pots from 1 gallon to 600 gallons, as well as 5 different sized beds. We also offer custom sized beds up to 120’ long. Grassroots make the best fabric pots on the market! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil

New stickers with each and every order! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil

We take our coffee pretty seriously here at Black Swallow. I am the official Black Swallow barista, and it is a round of cappuccinos each morning for the crew. So here’s two tips if you are into your Capps- the first is a superb coffee roaster & supplier in Toronto that I have been purchasing from for years now- @socialcoffee. The other is an amazing company that Andres just turned us onto- @wabanakimaple. These folk infuse maple syrup- which is critical to a good cappuccino-... with aged whiskey, bourbon and toasted oak. Wabanaki is 100% Indigenous female-owned and located on Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) in New Brunswick. Check out these two great small businesses!!! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil See more

Thanks fam! We were able to deliver a cheque to Nova Vita, a shelter for woman & children escaping violence. We had committed a percentage of total sales for the month of Nov. to this goal, and were pleased to be able to write a cheque for just shy of $2,900.00. Domestic violence is an issue at anytime of the year, let alone at Christmas. And with the extra challenge of Covid restrictions, families everywhere are especially burdened. This is the second year we have done this, so thanks to our customers for making this possible! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil

We get asked all the time what it is that makes our soil perform so remarkably better than other soils. It’s not so much the ‘what’ that is special- though our ingredient list is certainly distinctive- but rather the ‘how’, and truth be known- the ‘who’. We are indeed proudly staffed with dirt nerds and humus sapiens, however here is a rare moment where our master soil maker is taking a break from his toils to catch a few rays of sun. This is the guy right here who brings all the magic and special mojo together that results in our legendary KIS Mix!!!! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil

We’re getting ready for spring! Warehouse is stacked with cases of Fertil pots. These pots are produced in France, and there is inevitably a lead time for getting orders, so we’ve brought in about as many as we can. But if you’re thinking of running these this coming spring, make your plans now- these will not last long once we get into the new year, and we can make no promises about our ability to restock. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil

Give @soilnsmoke a follow- this guy is one of the most passionate and dedicated growers I know, and he killed it this year in his garden. This is Animal Cookies x Sour Strawberry x Grape Soda Skunk. No powdery mildew or botrytis to date. Grown in 100 gallon@grassrootsfabricpots. Genetics by @Meangenefrommendocino. Irrigated with@blumatwateringsustems. Soil from blackswallow_livingsoils.

One of the single all time best tools in your growing tool box is well brewed compost teas. If you start with a good soil, then your focus should be on building and enhancing the biology in that soil, which then unlocks the nutrients and recycles them into plant available forms. But often enough, folk get intimidated by how to make good teas. Granted, it is not as simple as opening a bottle and mixing it with water, but once you’ve brewed a tea, it’s all down hill from there.... And- despite popular perception- you do not need to have a microscope to brew successful teas. Tim Wilson is one of the most informed sources of sound information when it comes to brewing compost teas. His website microbeorganics dot com is an excellent site for all things about brewing. Here’s one of his main recipes for a gallon or a 5 gallon batch. Just brewing this alone will result in your garden reaching a complete new level. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil See more

From The Guardian- They can't shout "whodunnit" but plants could offer vital clues when it comes to finding clandestine graves, researchers say. Forensic experts in the US have begun experiments at a body farm - a facility where decay processes can be studied - to explore whether decomposing human remains leave their mark on surrounding vegetation, for example by affecting the colour of the leaves.... If successful, the team say the approach could help efforts to find and recover bodies. "There should be spectral changes that occur in foliage, in the leaves, that we should be able to see," said Neal Stewart, a professor of plant sciences at the University of Tennessee, and a co-author of a proposal for the approach. Writing in the journal Trends in Plant Science, Stewart and colleagues note that in the US alone 100,000 people go missing each year. They say searching forests on foot is particularly challenging, and remote sensing of features on the ground can be obstructed by foliage. However, the team say the plants themselves might offer clues, and if so then these may be detectable from above using sensors on drones. They say the key is that microbes and chemicals associated with decomposing bodies, known as the necrobiome, alter the surrounding environment. The team note that an average human body contains about 2.6kg of nitrogen. "[With a] large nitrogen flux, the plants would respond by producing more chlorophyll - at least, that is our expectation. But it could stress some species of tree or shrub so that maybe they would even lose leaves or their leaves would change colour, either going to yellow or red," said Stewart. Stewart said such effects should be detectable by measuring characteristics of the light absorbed by leaves, and they might appear within a matter of days, with invasive plants or weeds expected to be the first to respond. The team are planning to start drone flights over the body farm this month. They also plan to carry out laboratory measurements to see whether plants exposed to decomposing bodies show changes in their fluorescence. Continued in the comments......

Because donating a portion of all sales this month to Nova Vita wasn’t enough we decided to do this to ourselves! Good news is skipper is winning so far! Stop by the link below to donate if you want. https://ca.movember.com/mospace/14503663

Nova Vita is a local woman’s shelter that we like to support. Last year we were pleased to be able to make a contribution to their cause with all the support we received from you, our customers. This year we’re going to do something a bit different. Their needs are significantly increased with the challenges of COVID and the impact that it can have on some families, especially as we approach the Christmas season. So for the month of November, we are donating a portion of all ...retail sales to Nova Vita. This fundraising event will run until Dec 2 nd, Giving Tuesday. And on top of this, we will be taking the names of all customers each week, and drawing one for a weekly prize. This week we’re giving away a Black Swallow hat- you can see this on our fetching model- Luke Fair- in the previous post. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil See more

Meet Luke- the newest member at Black Swallow. Hard working grinder on the job, as well as on his own time. Figured he’d take care of his gutter cleaning today, but forgot to take off his Black Swallow hat first. Great addition to the team, but he can be a bit of a drama queen if he doesn’t get his cappuccino on time!

If you pulled down your plants a few weeks ago, then you might have missed the oh so very fine expressions that can show in the last few weeks in sun grown cannabis. This is a cross between Meangene’s Oilspill and Rebel Cookies, grown in a 45 gal @Grassrootsfabricpots and Black Swallow Living Soil.

Running some valued genetics, so getting a breeding project on the go. LCBO paper wine bags work nicely to contain a male pollen branch over the flower for 24 hours. I tap it occasionally for good dispersal. Simple and effective. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting #blackswallowsoil

From The Guardian- They cant shout "whodunnit" but plants could offer vital clues when it comes to finding clandestine graves, researchers say. Forensic experts in the US have begun experiments at a body farm - a facility where decay processes can be studied - to explore whether decomposing human remains leave their mark on surrounding vegetation, for example by affecting the colour of the leaves.... If successful, the team say the approach could help efforts to find and recover bodies. "There should be spectral changes that occur in foliage, in the leaves, that we should be able to see," said Neal Stewart, a professor of plant sciences at the University of Tennessee, and a co-author of a proposal for the approach. Writing in the journal Trends in Plant Science, Stewart and colleagues note that in the US alone 100,000 people go missing each year. They say searching forests on foot is particularly challenging, and remote sensing of features on the ground can be obstructed by foliage. However, the team say the plants themselves might offer clues, and if so then these may be detectable from above using sensors on drones. They say the key is that microbes and chemicals associated with decomposing bodies, known as the necrobiome, alter the surrounding environment. The team note that an average human body contains about 2.6kg of nitrogen. "[With a] large nitrogen flux, the plants would respond by producing more chlorophyll - at least, that is our expectation. But it could stress some species of tree or shrub so that maybe they would even lose leaves or their leaves would change colour, either going to yellow or red," said Stewart. Stewart said such effects should be detectable by measuring characteristics of the light absorbed by leaves, and they might appear within a matter of days, with invasive plants or weeds expected to be the first to respond. The team are planning to start drone flights over the body farm this month. They also plan to carry out laboratory measurements to see whether plants exposed to decomposing bodies show changes in their fluorescence. Continued in the comments......

Repost fro @soilnsmoke 6 weeks growth in a 200 gallon @grassrootsfabricpots. Each photo taken 1week apart. . Animal Cookies bred by @meangenefrommendocino. . @blumatwateringsystems and all soil/amendments obtained from Black Swallow Living Soils Soilnsmoke be killin it!! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Hungry bumble bees make plants flower early by cutting holes in their leaves By Erik Stokstad When bumble bee queens emerge from hibernation, they need to gather pollen and nectar to start their new colonies. If they wake up too soon, there may not be enough flowers in bloom. Now, researchers have discovered the bees have a way to order some fast food: They nibble holes in leaves, spurring plants to blossom weeks ahead of schedule. Many questions remain about the details of t...his strategy and how it evolved. Its certainly surprising, says Lars Chittka, a behavioral ecologist at the Queen Mary University of London, who was not involved. Were only at the beginning of exploring this phenomenon. Researchers at ETH Zrich chanced upon the discovery when they noticed curious bite marks on leaves while studying how bees respond to plant odors. They had added bumble bees to a research greenhouse and observed them cutting holes in the shape of half-moons. What was going on? At first, the researchers thought the insects might be feeding on fluid from the leaves, but the bees didnt stay long enough to get much. Nor did they appear to be taking any part of the leaves back to their colonies. A key observationthat bumble bees from colonies with less food were more avidly damaging the leavessuggested another goal. The researchers wondered whether the damage triggered the plants to flower sooner, providing pollen to the hungry pollinators. After all, some plants speed up their flowering when they are stressed by disease or drought because these threats provide an incentive to reproduce sooner. But no one had ever shown that a pollinator can stimulate flowering. I thought it was a long shot, recalls Mark Mescher, an evolutionary biologist at ETH Zrich who co-led the research. The researchers set up a greenhouse experiment with black mustard , a crop they had been studying. Ten plants were put in mesh bags with bumble bees that hadnt eaten any pollen for 3 days; they proceeded to nibble five to 10 holes in each plant. On average, those plants flowered after 17 days; undamaged plants that had not been exposed to bumble bees took an average (continued in comments.....) See more

#Repost @kisorganics LIVE GREENHOUSE TOUR: Sustainable Large-Scale Cannabis Production with The Green Organic Dutchman (TGOD) & KIS Organics . Get an inside look into one of Canadas leaders in organic, sustainably grown cannabis. Tad Hussey will be interviewing TGODs VP of Growing Operations, David Bernard-Perron. Tad and David will discuss the ins and outs of how to grow high-quality, organic cannabis. They will talk specifically about the innovative technology and pro...cesses TGOD uses to streamline complex organic growing methods, to produce clean and pure, certified organic cannabis. . Here are a few of the other topics that will be covered on this LIVE Greenhouse Tour: . * The benefits of growing organically in living soil * A look at the current and upcoming strains/cultivars growing in TGODs greenhouses * How TGOD practices sustainable methods beyond organic growing * A chance to ask David Bernard-Perron your questions on TGOD and organic growing practices * LIVE Q&A . WHAT TO EXPECT/HOW TO PARTICIPATE: It is FREE to participate. But you must sign up for a virtual ticket to receive the link to attend the event. (LINK IN BIO, also @KISOrganics) . Date: Tue, August 18, 2020 Time: 2pm ET/11am PT Location: From your phone or computer . You will need to download the Microsoft Teams app (Its free on Microsoft.com) to join this event. You will receive a link to join the live tour shortly before the event starts on 8/18/2020. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL BEFORE THE EVENT STARTS FOR THE LINK TO JOIN. . A replay will be available if youre not able to attend the event live. . #TGOD #KISOrganics #CannabisCultivation #OrganicCannabis #RegenerativeCannabis #RegenerativeFarming #sustainablegrowing #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting See more

Update on the turkey vultures- the little cuties about grown up. Still a few weeks I suspect before they try to fly out of the barn. The other one was hiding under the canoe, so only got a vid of this one. Once again- full sound on to hear their demonic warning hiss! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

I used the 510 Fertilpot to start my plants in this spring, then transplanted up to the largest(.8 gallon), then once again into the 5 gallon @grassrootsfabricpots. Wanted to see how the root penetration progressed, so I took one of the male 5 gallon root balls, cut it in half, and carefully washed the soil away. Heres the results. Original 510 was almost completely biodegrade, but you can still see the 580. As for root penetration- like a hot knife through butter!! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Nathan has swallows in his barn, and I have turkey vultures in mine. These two babies hatched awhile ago, and are just starting to get their pin feathers. Up to now, they are snowy white balls of fluffy down with wicked purple/black faces. You have to turn up your volume on this, as they they try to scare you away with a most hellish hiss. This is the second year that we have had them in the barn. They leave a heck of a mess though! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Recent feedback from a customer- Just wanted to let you know, I love these Fertil pots. This is one week after transplanting the 1 rock wool plugs. This is our first season with these pots, but the results are already starting to come in. The sweetest aspect of these pots is that they simply get planted into your soil- no need to remove anything, as the roots travel easily through the fiber walls. Simple, and no transplant shock. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Repost from rangi_kijani Here are some stunning images from a very talented grower who has dialed in his game exquisitely. This plant was not grown in soil, but rather canna coco, fed Mantis buffered nutrients that were mixed by a dosatron and delivered by a Blumat sensor and drip emitters. However, he has done an excellent post mortem on this plant, which shows wonderfully how the roots responded to his growing technique and drip system. Last pic was pre harvest. Nicely done! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Background on our name, Black Swallow Living Soil. When we were putting together the initial plans for the company, Nathan had recently bought a small country property which had a building on it that we considered could be used for storage of our totes. Problem was that there was a healthy colony of barn swallows nesting in the building which came back each year. As these birds are considered endangered in Ont., we were reluctant to do anything that might jeopardize them. Nat...han contacted Bird Studies Canada, who came out and documented the colony, eventually trapping and attaching tiny radio transmitters to some of them. They could then follow the birds movements throughout southern Ont. 5 years later, weve managed to operate and grow without taking over the swallows space, and they continue to return and nest. These images capture their amazing aerial acrobatics and are from a set of prints that I presented to Nathan for Fathers Day. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting See more

Apologies folks, but even after stating that loosing our phone service for a day is completely unacceptable, Bell has gone ahead and shut us down while they rejig our lines. Shoot us an email however, and well try to get back to you as soon as possible!

Check out the tight garden game of Danger and Nicole- our erstwhile partners in crime! Serious canna and veg garden effort, run on @blumats and @grassrootsfabricpots. Well done! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

This was interesting. Mom showed up just as evening was approaching. They seemed to know she was coming, as they were all alert and looking at the back corner of the property. Her head poked up, and they all ran for her and followed her back over the bank. Few minutes later she pops up again, with only three of the eight following her, leading me to believe she had dragged a kill home and the other five were out of sight enjoying it. But these three went for her nipples initi...ally, then switched to her neck- causing her to up chuck some meat, which they ravenously attacked. She never came near the deck, but dad, a much larger coyote did show at dusk. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting See more

Heres some pics that a customer recently sent us. Middle of week 4, second cycle on our KIS mix, with only our reamendment kit and compost added between cycles. Nice, tight, living soil game! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Wish I knew more about mushrooms! Found this patch of fungi on the butt end of a log that was well decayed. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Used the frozen Grassrootspot as a bird feeder last winter. Got great enjoyment from all of the blue jays and mourning doves that flocked to the seed we spread each week on the surface. So heres the unexpected payback- a healthy cover crop well established, just waiting for the transplant. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Found out there is a coyote mom living under the deck. Noticed these little ones last evening for the first time. They were a bit wobbly on their legs, but out again with the morning light. Although we hear and see them frequently, pretty unusual for a coyote to have her den so close to a house. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Back in stock. Were stunned at how many of these its and beds have gone out the door this spring, and consequently ran low on some sizes way before we figured we would. But were in pretty good shape now. GrassRoots pots and beds are extremely well made, and will give you a decade or more of service. The pots range from 1 gallon up to 600 gallons, and the stock beds go up to 4 x 16. We can custom order the beds to various widths and up to 120 long. Pricing on our website. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Another tri axle &pup load of compost shipped out to a customer this week. Its planting time! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

This is the weekend- get it done! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Black Swallow now offers complete Fertilpot flat filling services. We now work with a partner that allows us to quote cannabis and hemp growers on their larger scale projects. We will ship you the filled flats, topped up with our starter mix ready for seeding. This video is of a job we are currently working on for a client. Give us a shout if youd like to discuss! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

repost @nicolepalenchar Nicole and Danger are slaying it with their. Royal Mauiberry - Day 43 Genetics by @emeraldmountainlegacy [ @blockchainnovelties ] Grown in @blackswallow_livingsoils using a 55gal @grassrootsfabricpots bed with a gravity fed @blumatwateringsystems.... Loved very much by Nicole, but even more so by @danger.kimsto #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

50 yard load of KIS mix going down the road. This was the first year we have been able to supply soil all winter long, without the disruption that the deep freeze causes. The result has been a stable supply to our customers, without any delays. That said, weve been building more in order to keep ahead of the curve- so far so good! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Repost @fertil_usa Fertile pots design allows roots to pass right through the side wall of the pot, eliminating the girdling of roots that happen in plastic. The pots are completely plantable, making transplanting much quicker and shockless. Rapidly biodegradable, OMRI listed, no glues or binders and great for seed starting or clones. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Here is one of the last truckloads of compost that was shipped to a farmer over the past few weeks. This farm is making a major commitment to regenerative agriculture, with the purchase of over 30 truckloads of compost. Next job is for them to spread this, along with a granular humic product over the farm to prepare for spring planting. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Last post we were asked about what the difference between the Fertilpot and a peat pot is. This short video helps to answer that! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Repost @fertil_usa Check out the root development with the Fertil pot from this clone. Roots, water and oxygen pass easily through this thin, but strong wood fiber and peat wall. Grow in it and then plant the whole pot- little to no transplant shock or labour. And none of the girdling that you all too often see in plastic pots, which is so damaging to root development. Coming soon to Canada from Black Swallow Living Soil! Should be up on the website by weeks end. #livingsoil #soilbiology #backyardgarden #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #biodegradable #hemp #cannabis #propagation #clones #rooting

Repost @eyeofscience Cross-section through a root nodule of a clover with rhizobia (nitrogen fixating bacteria) inside cells (light blue areas). Rhizobia are bacteria that establish symbioses with legumes (Fabaceae). Rhizobia are able to convert elemental atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen compounds (especially ammonia) and make them available to the plants. The bacteria get carbohydrates from the plants (succinate, malate and fumarate) from photosynthesis. Their ability to f...ix gaseous nitrogen makes legumes an ideal agricultural organism as their requirement for nitrogen fertilizer is reduced. So, there are two things to remember from this. The first is free nitrogen. This is how you lock down free nitrogen there are hundreds of pounds of the stuff floating in the atmosphere above your plants. These bacteria grab it and fix it into the soil in a very bioavailable form. Two- it is the photosynthesis of the plants that produces the root exudates that feed these bacteria. This is a critically important point that I hammer frequently here- it is the plant photosynthate, the simple sugars and carbon chains, that feed the bacterial populations in the rhizosphere or the root zone of your plants. Your plants are able to produce a variety of photosynthates, each capable of turning on or off various bacterial colonies in this root zone. (Making the plant the ultimate gardener!) In the case that we are looking at here, these bacteria specifically fix nitrogen. Others perform a multitude of other biological tasks, all of which build plant health. Which is the incredible value of cover crops and why we should never have bare ground without plants growing in it! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil #symbiosis

This was a project we helped out on last spring. Over 200,000 cannabis seeds planted in a starter mix that we made up for this grower, all started in the Fertil pots. This allowed for no transplant whatsoever, as these plants- pots and all- simply went directly into the soil. Go time was pretty hectic for them, as the seed starts were not staggered quite enough. But even with the delays, and many plants getting 10-12 tall in a 2 pot- they all made the transition nicely, and produced a harvest. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil

Matt over @grocannabis is crushing it, wouldnt you say??? Hes certainly doing his Black Swallow Soil proud! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil

Why do we keep showing pics of horribly bound roots as some kind of heroic accomplishment?? The reality is just the opposite, as John Kempf so exquisitely pointed out recently in one of his blogs- We routinely harvest only a fraction of the genetic potential our crops are capable of. Few of us actually know what a really healthy crop actually looks like anymore. Here is an image that describes what is possible.... This is a photo of corn root system from Al Trouse, from a demonstration conducted at the National Soil Laboratory at Auburn University. The photo and notes below were shared by Jim Martindale from Cursebuster, who heard Al Trouses presentation to a group of Brookside consultants approximately 1979 or 1980. In this demonstration, soil was sifted into a growth chamber so it would have a uniform density (other than gravitational pull). In this growth chamber with uniform soil density, the seminal roots reached the bottom of the chamber (6+ feet) in a few days. Growing roots extend very rapidly though the soil until they encounter any change in soil density. When they encounter either an increase or decrease in soil density, they temporarily stop extending, and then slowly begin growing once more. If the soil density is uniform, they will extend very rapidly during the root systems establishment phase. During the establishment phase, plants expand their seminal root system as widely and deeply as possible. This phase lasts for about 40 days, until the ear embryo begins to form. The outer root system boundaries are established during this phase. Future root growth does not expand past the established borders. What might this mean for cultivation close to the 40 day mark? Disturbing root systems at this point doesnt seem like a wise idea. Once the embryo begins to form, the root system shifts to the expansion phase, where fine roots emanate from the seminal root mass that has already been established, and fill the zone inside the established boundaries. Continued......

We have to apologize for the recent delays in getting quotes and emails back to people. We have seen a significant uptick in orders and requests which is keeping us dancing. Knew spring was going to be busy, but this is something different. Were beginning to think that many of you are hoarding our soil and amendments, because were certainly busy sending it out. Well ask for your patience as we work to stay on top of the demand! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil

Please bear with us, as we are swamped with orders currently and are working very hard to keep up with the order volume. These are extreme times, but we are confident that we can continue to service our customers without compromising the safety of our customers, staff and families. Stay safe everybody! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil

Repost from box of @boxofrain.mt- (great name for their garden company!) if youre like me, you have gone through much of your life wishing you had more hours in your day. If there is one thing that isolation has given us though- it is more time to do things. And now is an excellent time of the year to plan and begin a garden. There is probably no better return than what you get back from putting a garden in, whether it is a backyard effort, or just a few pots on the patio. So make your plans, and get your green imagination going! #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil

Repost from @grocannabis After getting on their flight to catch Spannabis, Matt and his wife arrived only to find the show canceled due to covid. They were able to get back home to western Canada with some difficulty, but now must also spend the two weeks in isolation. Fortunately, they have their garden to self isolate in. Who needs Spannabis when you have a haven like this in your basement? Can I take a minute to tell you just how fucking healthy these plans are! Ive never seen anything like this in my life.. with such little effort.

We therefor ask that you place your order online if you would like to come pickup. We feel it is in the best interest of all parties if we practice some social distancing. We will be happy to get your order ready and you can call us from the parking lot when you have arrived. We can bring it out and load it up when you have arrived. Payments can easily and safely be made by Etransfer. Note that we do not have any options for interact or credit cards. We would be happy to chat... and answer any questions you have via phone or email but unfortunately in person isnt an option. Please note at this point our normal hours are 830 to 430 Monday through Friday. If that changes, we will let you know to the best of our ability. This will minimize person to person contact and help do our parts to keep all safe. #livingsoil #soilbiology #sustainablefarming #soilfoodweb #notillgardening #soilmicrobes #organic #organicgardening #soilecology #permaculture #soildiversity #microbiology #soillife #healthysoil #feedthesoil See more