Even at this early stage, my vision was not simply to replicate existing mixes; I wanted to make them consistent, reliable and sustainable. I knew that the final product would not only have to support fast-growing, heavy-fruiting, hungry plants but also address known challenges in providing balanced nutrition organically to these demanding crops.
The Beginnings of Eco-Life—Our First Living Soil
In the US, companies like KIS Organics and BuildASoil had already set the benchmark with blends based on the ‘Coots Mix,’ an interpretation of Cornell University’s 1/3 rule (⅓ compost, ⅓ aeration, ⅓ growing media) with organic amendments like neem, seaweed and crustacean meal. But no one in the UK had managed to replicate this at scale. When I noticed Ben’s UK-adapted version, I reached out to him with an idea. I had the network to distribute living soil across the UK, and he had tried and tested a recipe to get us started. Together, we saw an opportunity to introduce British growers to the benefits of living soil.
"Entering into a collaboration with Ben was the first logical step—we could achieve more together than apart."
Scaling up production presented its own challenges. Living soil needs time to “cook” before it’s bagged—a process where microbial activity stabilises the mix. Without this, the soil risks going anaerobic in the bag and becoming a stinky mess. Most commercial soil blenders couldn’t provide the space or time needed. To solve this, I suggested cooking the amendments separately to create a super-charged compost. This allowed us to blend everything into a ready-to-use mix without compromising on microbial activity.
In early 2018, after several small test batches, Eco-Life was born.
Learning Through Growth: The Challenges of V1
The initial reception to Eco-Life was fantastic. One grower, completely new to living soil, even won a competition with his very first crop. It gave us the confidence to expand production. By mid-2019, Eco-Life was widely available.
As more growers started using the mix, they reported varying results. While some achieved healthy growth and high yields, others faced challenges right from the start. Troubleshooting with growers revealed that many issues stemmed from improper watering practices and less-than-ideal environmental conditions. However, there were also puzzling problems related to nutrition. This made it clear that I needed to deepen my understanding of soil chemistry rather than simply replicating or adapting American living soil recipes.
This led me into the wonderful world of soil testing. I began analysing the nutrient content of Eco-Life pre-bagged and post-harvest, as well as lab testing all the individual amendments. What I found was eye-opening, to say the least. Sodium levels were higher than expected in certain soil amendments, and inconsistent nitrogen content was also affecting plant health.
"It was a steep learning curve, but lab testing the soil and amendments gave me the initial data I needed to improve the mix."
Things came to a head in late 2019 when one batch of compost turned out to be subpar—it was under-aged and unstable. After much thought, I made the tough decision to temporarily pause production of Eco-Life. Maintaining quality was non-negotiable.
Building Something Better: The Creation of V2
Rather than dwell on the setback, I saw it as an opportunity to rebuild and improve. By early 2020, I was fully focused on refining Eco-Life and making it all in-house at Ecothrive HQ, determined to address any potential issues and deliver a product that was even more reliable for growers. At this stage, I started systematically tweaking the soil’s core ingredients.
The first step was tackling the sodium issue. Sodium is highly reactive, and excess sodium in the mix was interfering with nutrient uptake, particularly calcium, magnesium and potassium—three critical elements for plant health. After analysing potential alternatives, I replaced krill meal with insect meal, which offered the same nitrogen content without the sodium risk. This single change made a significant impact on the mix’s nutrient balance.
Next, I turned my attention to seaweed meal. While seaweed is an excellent source of beneficial growth stimulants, the quantity we had been using also contributed to excess sodium. I reduced the amount of seaweed meal to a threshold where sodium was no longer an issue but it was still providing its beneficial properties. At the same time, I introduced rock phosphate to improve long-term phosphorus availability.
Improving the nutrient content was only part of the process. We also enhanced the soil’s physical structure by adjusting the aeration components. We switched from perlite to pumice for improved drainage and oxygen flow—key factors for supporting microbial life and root health. Such fine-tuning would later inform the addition of biochar and coco coir in our next-generation soil. Through consultation with Ben, we also changed the peat fractions to create a mix we were much happier with in terms of air and water holding capacity.
The last piece of the puzzle was the compost. Large suppliers of thermophilic compost couldn’t meet our standards, so we decided to switch to using just vermicompost, aka worm castings. While this was a more costly option, the consistency batch-to-batch was amazing! With barely any variation in nutrient content, it was the obvious choice to ensure a consistent soil mix.
Throughout the development of V2, we relied on feedback from growers and lab testing. Every change was tested and double-checked, paying close attention to how well the soil retained nutrients over time and performed in real-world conditions. Each iteration brought us closer to a soil that would deliver outstanding results, with balanced nutrition and necessitating fewer grower intervention points.
One of the most rewarding parts of developing V2 was seeing how these improvements translated into healthier, more vigorous plants. Early testers reported fewer nutrient imbalances and more predictable yields.
By September 2020, Eco-Life V2 was ready. It was more than just a refined version of the original—it was a complete overhaul, crafted to provide a balanced, consistent foundation for plants, cycle after cycle.
Crucially, this journey toward V2 taught me the importance of synergising the soil’s components. Ingredients like mealworm frass (Ecothrive Charge) provided immediate nitrogen and phosphorus boosts, while insect meal and rock minerals contributed medium-term stability. Understanding these different release rates and their interaction with soil microbes laid the groundwork for our next great leap forward.
The Birth of Ecothrive Living Soil
In 2022, the next chapter began. With the impending UK peat ban, I knew it was time to rethink Eco-Life. Peat had been a foundational component, but transitioning to coco coir presented an opportunity to innovate further. Coco has its quirks—it contains high potassium, needs extra calcium and has a certain nitrogen drawdown effect. But, by carefully adjusting the recipe, I found ways to compensate. Where peat-based mixes could rely on calcitic lime to raise pH and supply calcium, coco-based mixes demand a more diverse approach: multiple calcium sources (including gypsum and micronised rock powders), careful nitrogen management and additions like olivine for steady magnesium and silicon release.
Biochar became a key addition, chosen not only for aeration and nutrient retention, but also for fostering beneficial microbial habitats. By incorporating roughly 3% biochar—enough to support microbial health without causing nitrogen drawdown—we struck a perfect balance. This was a result of extensive testing of various sources and grades, building upon everything we learned from our growing trials with Eco-Life and its V2 improvements.
The nitrogen drawdown challenge prompted us to use a diverse array of nitrogen sources, including quick-acting from the vermicompost and frass. Fast-assimilable nitrogen ensures that plants can thrive early on, while other amendments such as alfalfa and bone meal release nutrients more steadily over time. Similarly, the careful selection and reduction of certain amendments, plus the use of targeted potassium sources rich in fulvic acids in top-dress solutions, helped fine-tune nutrient delivery.
Another key moment in this development phase was the shift to micronised sources of rock dust and rock phosphate. These super fine-grade powders enable the plant to access nutrients much more readily as phosphorus is particularly slow release from standard grades of rock phosphate. So, rather than waiting for a more acidic environment to release it from coarser rock particles, I found a micronised source that was over 75% more efficient! This was a critical insight towards the eventual formulation of Ecothrive Living Soil.
The parallel development of our Soil Food amendments further elevated the mix. These top-dress solutions, including Soil Food Grow and Soil Food Bloom, offer targeted nutrient replenishment during critical growth phases, allowing growers to customise their approach. Soil Food Grow provides readily available nitrogen and balanced N-P-K during vegetative stages, while Soil Food Bloom, enriched with fulvic acid, supports abundant flowering and improved nutrient uptake. Soil Food Re-Gen revitalises spent soil between cycles, supplying a backbone of long-lasting nutrition and stabilising elements like olivine.
Let me just stay with olivine for a moment—as this really turned out to be a game-changing component—a magnesium iron silicate that releases magnesium and silicon steadily. This addition strengthens plant tissues and enhances stress resistance, reflecting our commitment to selecting each element of Ecothrive Living Soil with a specific goal in mind: long-term stability, robust growth and sustainable fertility.
Our new blend, Ecothrive Living Soil, isn’t just a no-added peat version of Eco-Life. It’s a soil built from the ground up—coco-based, biochar-amended and minutely balanced with diverse organic inputs—designed to accommodate different styles of living soil cultivation. Whether you prefer large beds and a simple “just add water” approach or smaller containers complemented by top-dress amendments, Ecothrive Living Soil provides a strong foundation for flexibility and innovation.
“This isn’t just another bag of soil—it’s a labour of love and years of learning poured into one product.”
The meticulous selection and integration of ingredients—ranging from insect meal for cleaner nitrogen, through micronised rock phosphate for improved phosphorus uptake, to fulvic-rich lignosulphonates and olivine—ensures that every handful of Ecothrive Living Soil is teeming with life and potential.
What’s Next?
Ecothrive Living Soil marks a transformative step forward. I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved, but the journey of innovation never ends. Whether it’s through our Ecothrive Living Soil or complementary products like Soil Food, I’m committed to helping growers unlock their full potential with sustainable, science-backed solutions.
For more information, visit www.ecothrive.co.uk
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