Living Soil Building Kits & Organic Amendments
BuildASoil is the primary brand in this collection -- a Colorado-based soil company producing organic amendments, complete soil building kits, and individual inputs for living soil programs. BuildASoil products are used by growers building and maintaining living soil systems where a thriving population of soil microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and beneficial nematodes) cycle nutrients naturally from organic matter, eliminating the need for soluble nutrient inputs and pH adjustment in well-established beds. This collection covers both complete kits and individual amendment products for customizing or refreshing existing soil.
Complete Soil Building Kits
The BuildASoil Complete Soil Building Nutrient Kit provides the full set of amendments needed to build a high-quality organic soil mix from a base of compost and sphagnum peat moss or coco coir. Available in 2.2, 3.0, and 3.8 cubic foot bale kit sizes, the Complete Kit includes the mineral amendments, biological inputs, and organic nutrient sources that establish a biologically active growing medium. The Clackamas Coots Style Nutrient Kit is BuildASoil's version of the widely documented Coots recipe -- a mineral-heavy organic blend based on basalt, kelp, neem, and other inputs developed by no-till organic grower Clackamas Coots. Additional kits target re-amending old soil between crops and building bloom-stage top dressing programs.
Individual Amendments
Beyond kits, BuildASoil offers over 180 individual amendment products -- rock dusts (basalt, gypsum), biological inputs (worm castings, insect frass, Beauveria bassiana), organic matter (kelp, neem, karanja), carbon sources (biochar, rice hulls), and plant-based inputs (aloe, coconut water powder). Browse all growing media or see all nutrients for complete program options. Fast shipping.
Soil Building Kits FAQ
What is a living soil system and how does it differ from conventional growing?
A living soil system is a growing medium maintained as a biologically active ecosystem -- the soil contains a diverse population of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and beneficial nematodes that break down organic matter and cycle nutrients into plant-available form. In a well-established living soil, plants receive nutrition through the soil food web rather than from soluble nutrient additions, pH management is handled by microbial activity rather than acid/base additions, and the growing medium improves with each crop cycle rather than being discarded. The primary tradeoff is the investment of time and inputs required to build the system initially, and the need for plant-based or biological nutrient inputs rather than conventional soluble nutrient programs.
What does the BuildASoil Complete Soil Building Nutrient Kit include?
The BuildASoil Complete Soil Building Nutrient Kit includes the full amendment package needed to build a biologically active organic soil mix -- mineral inputs (basalt rock dust, gypsum, oyster shell), biological inputs (worm castings), organic nutrient sources (kelp, neem and karanja meal, insect frass), and carbon amendments for soil structure and water retention. The specific components vary by kit size and version; check the individual product listing for the exact contents of the current kit formulation. The kit is designed to be mixed into a base of compost and sphagnum peat moss, coco coir, or a pre-made potting soil to create a complete growing medium ready for planting.
How do I re-amend living soil between crops?
At the end of each crop cycle, top dress the bed or container with a re-amendment kit that restores the nutrients consumed by the previous crop. BuildASoil's Re-Amend Old Soil Nutrient Kit provides the inputs needed to refresh an existing living soil without fully rebuilding it. Top dress by broadcasting the amendments over the soil surface and watering in -- soil microorganisms break down the amendments over the following weeks, restoring the nutrient reserves and biological activity that support the next crop. Allow 4-6 weeks between amendment application and planting where possible to allow full microbial incorporation of the new inputs.
