Episode Details

Steve Diver has earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Horticulture and has conducted research on fruit and nut production, and seasonal changes in elemental concentration in pecan fruit and leaves. He has served as the Extension Horticulture Agent in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, and has also worked as an Agriculture Specialist with the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. In 2010, he established an independent firm, Agri-Horticultural Consulting, which provided soil analysis and consultancy services in eco-agriculture, organic and sustainable farming, and environmental sciences.

In this episode, Steve and I discuss rock powders, biology, and bioenergetics, the oxidation/reduction potential in soils, the use of liquid biological agents in soil health and crop success, and the value of bioenergetics in agriculture. Steve has some really great knowledge from his many years of experience in the lab and in the field.

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Resources

Acres U.S.A

William Albrecht, Gary Zimmer, Neal Kinsey

Korean Natural Farming (KNF)

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)

Episode 13 - Steve Diver - Highlights

3:06 - What are Steve's memorable moments leading him to where he is today?

• Steve got a good introduction to organic and biodynamic farming

4:35 - What did Steve encounter that was different compared to the work he had been doing?

• Steve has been interested in organic agriculture for a long time
• 3 pillars of eco agriculture: minerals, biology, bioenergetics

6:50 - What lead Steve add bioenergetics to minerals and biology in these pillars?

9:10 - Discussion around Oxidation/Reduction Potential -Eh (Redox)

12:40 - What is something that has surprised Steve over the years?

• Prairies have a very fungal nature
• Steve was finding high ratios of fungal to bacteria on prairies (7.5:1)
• Liquid biological amendments (LBA)

14:40 - What kind of crop response was Steve seeing?

• Using both a LBA and some kind of management practice (with some sort of rotational grazing) can lead to impressive changes