An expensive course that offers valuable insights, but some details are lacking or fundamentally unsound.
While the Soil Food Web course covers an interesting and important subject, its delivery falls somewhat short of expectations, especially given the premium (and ever-changing) price. The content is intriguing and highlights some fundamental issues within agriculture, ecology, and soil management. However, the course itself feels poorly structured and lacks polish, with many essential details either glossed over or omitted.
A significant issue lies in the course continuation process, which requires passing quizzes. Unfortunately, these quizzes do not constructively assess the knowledge gained from the preceding sections. Instead, they seem designed to reinforce the course's overarching narrative rather than encourage critical thinking or deeper exploration of the material.
One of the most troubling aspects is the course's repeated emphasis on the idea that "all the minerals you will ever need are already in the soil," implying an essentially infinite supply accessible solely through biological activity. This claim is not only scientifically questionable but is contradicted by data presented within the course itself, which shows that without closing the nutrient cycle, soils can become depleted within decades. Several participants raised this concern, but it was met with an unsettling lack of acknowledgment or engagement by the course authors.
In some areas, the course lacks scientific rigor or skips over important explanations. For example, the microscopy module provides guidance on taking measurements but stops short of explaining the calculations required to interpret the results. Instead, participants are directed to rely on external tools to process the data, potentially fostering dependence on these resources without a clear understanding of the underlying methods.
That said, the course does include some genuinely valuable insights and underscores the importance of soil biology in sustainable farming. However, it would benefit greatly from addressing its gaps in scientific explanation, engaging more openly with valid critiques, and prioritizing education over what sometimes feels like a revenue-driven agenda.