​At Summer Roads Farm we take this management very seriously.  It is the basis of the success of our farming so we use the following practices to ensure the healthy of the soil microbes in the land we manage.

1. All of our soils are managed using zero tillage--> this helps keep the soil structure and does not disrupt or kill microbial populations

2. We compost using thermophylic (hot) composting methods--> this maximizes microbial life in the compost before it is added back to our gardens or pastures

3. We try to keep living roots in the ground 24/7/365 --> This no only keeps the soil covered but the roots of plants release the food for microbes.  This creates a constant supply of food and a safe home for the microbes in our soils

4. We apply compost extracts to our pastures especially when they first come under our management--> this inoculates a pasture with microbes to get the whole system started if the microbe population and soils are degraded from previously poor management

5. We intensively rotate our livestock and bale graze in the winter--> this evenly distributes manure and urine through out our pastures to feed the microbes.  The manure also puts new microbes from the guts of our animals back into the soil