When we start gardening, it’s easy to focus on the plants—but what if we’re missing the bigger picture? Today, I’m chatting with Gregg Forster of Wisconsin Mineral Solutions about why soil health is the key to nutrient-dense food and thriving farms.

We dive into how industrial agriculture has depleted our food’s nutritional value, what homesteaders might be getting wrong, and the simple changes that can make a big difference. Whether you’re growing a backyard garden or running a farm, this episode will change the way you think about soil, sustainability, and the future of our food.

Podcast Episode Highlights

Gregg's background and how he got into this business
The nutritional value of fresh produce
What contributes to nutritional loss in our food
How this nutritional loss affects our health
What we need to nurture in our soil
Step 1: Soil Tests
Step 2: Adding amendments the right way
Step 3: Adding diversity to your soil
Red flags in your garden that there's a problem
How to prevent problems in the first place
How long does it take to get results
Final tips and thoughts from Gregg

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Gregg Forster and his services here: https://www.wisconsinmineralsolutions.com/

Learn more about Meal Craft here: https://mealcraftmethod.com/meal-craft-main177846-9453

Check out Redmond's Soil Testing Kit here: http://theprairiehomestead.com/soiltest

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: https://jillwinger.substack.com/
Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback!

S17: E12: The Underground Reason Your Garden isn't Thriving (and What You Can Do About It)