Humanity knows more about the stars above their heads than the soil beneath their feet says Nathan Knechtel of Black Swallow Living Soils.
“Numerically, there’s more biology in a spoonful of dirt than humans on the planet,” said Knechtel, whose compost, soil amendment and mixtures business is based around delving deeper into the microbial relationships and growth potential illustrated within even that small sample size.
In basic terms, soil can be quantified within percentages of triangular boundaries defined by sand, silt and clay at its points. Those elements could be compared to the dimensional lumber which frames a house, its identifiable structural integrity.
It’s the finishes, design elements and decorations which bring the house to life however, or in this illustrative example, enhanced understanding of the fungal pathways and bacterial counts which put the ‘living’ into soil.
To be clear, Knechtel’s target market is the organic sector, but he understands the vital role conventional agriculture plays in feeding the world’s growing population.
“We need big ag, we need to produce corn at the levels we have to, no ifs ands or buts. And you’re not going to do that with hopes and dreams.”
However, he supports the concept of a hybrid model, a symbiotic relationship where even larger production practices can benefit from greater understanding of soil biology. For instance, Knechtel points to the increased use of no-till practices and cover crops, as well as a study indicating incorporation of essential microbes with commercial urea-based fertilizer can reduce application rates of the latter by 50 per cent.
“That’s not a hippy-dippy altruistic sort of thing - that’s good business.”
His own business model evolved from a family background in a pair of health food stores founded and operated by his parents, eventually sold during a transition into the importation of fireplace components from China. What amounted to an apprenticeship in business practices as well as access to top-notch granola combined with available infrastructure dovetailed with Knechtel’s own belief in the value of medicinal cannabis, and the clear sense legalization was a matter of when, not if.
“I wanted to be a part of it in some capacity.”
That tumultuous period has been nicknamed ‘the green gold rush’, an allusion Knechtel advances by saying the people who had the best potential for financial return weren’t the prospectors, but those selling picks and shovels.
“We decided to focus on picks and shovels,” he smiled.
Knechtel avoids being pigeonholed into that market sector, and emphasizes Black Swallow Living Soils caters toward the organic growing of a diverse range, be that a couple of tomato - or other - plants on a condo balcony, a greenhouse full of cucumbers or a large commercial microgreens operation.
“Everything, right across the board.”
However, a significant majority of his market is what could be termed ‘craft cannabis’ producers of various sizes. As in any form of agriculture, there are a variety of approaches, including rooting plants in a synthetic substrate in order to strictly control a water-based fertigation recipe which speaks to the goal of consistent, ongoing and potentially larger-scale production.
Alternatively, those seeking what they believe is a more natural expression of the plant including development of terpene profiles - unique strain characteristics including flavour notes and undertones - which are believed to contribute significantly to the entourage - overall, if not precisely defined - effect.
Carefully-curated or created soil mixtures and ‘teas’ (blends of fertilizer equivalents including a variety of organic ingredients) may be integral components to this approach. Black Swallow inventory includes these elements or ingredients, as well as those used in, for example, creating organic sprays for fruit trees.
The company tries to focus on uncommon things says Knechtel, avoiding competition in saturated spaces. For example, they offer Blumat watering systems, import Grass Roots fabric pots and have secured registration for kelp, oyster and pumice.
Black Swallow has three locations, two farm properties where product is either stored or stored and mixed, and the 137 Nelson St., Brantford warehousing, packaging and retail outlet which is open to the public.
Beyond a focus on organic products and helping provide access to them, Knechtel strives to be open and transparent with test results.
“Which are posted online (blackswallowsoil.com), which a lot of other companies don’t do.”
Although living in a real world where things have to ‘pencil out’ or make economic sense, Knechtel does carry an element of altruism, that good business can also include sustainable practices that benefit the environment and society in general.
He admits so-called ‘new practices’ are often based or inspired by very old practices. The Aztecs used to enrich soil by proscribed burns which added charcoal, First Nations people gained inter-cropping benefits from combining ‘the three sisters’ (squash, beans and corn) in plantations, Newfoundlanders caught and put capelin into their gardens, and Korean natural farming seeks to take advantage of microorganisms to create rich, highly-producing soils.
“They didn’t necessarily understand everything, but they knew it helped.”
His own journey toward broader understanding does not include formalized education, but is the product of an inquisitive, analytical mind, research, networking and attendance at related conventions or events.
“The school of hard knocks,” he smiled. “It’s learning by osmosis.”
And while his ‘education’ thus far only underlines how much there still is to learn, Knechtel’s open, approachable Black Swallow approach is one which has resonated with clients.
“It’s worked out very well,” Knechtel concluded.
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