The living soil beneath our feet, teaming with micro and macro fauna and flora. These organisms recycle organic matter back into the basic building blocks of life. But how? What influences how fast (or slow) nutrients are made available to the other living beings, mainly plants, that rely on this function. Plants even make trades to these organisms and the currency is derived from the sun.

This session will cover the main players in the soil food web, their functions, and what influences can disrupt or bring balance to this food web and the soil ecosystem.

This presentation will be given by Dr. Janel Louise Ohletz, Durham County Extension Agent focused on small farms and local foods. Her background as a local food system thinker and soil scientists merge in working across disciplines to increase resiliency in the local and regional food systems from the ground up.