SD Microbes

07/25/2026

07/19/2026

https://sdmicrobeworks.com/blogs/news/understanding-base-saturation-in-soil-calcium-magnesium-potassium-sodium

Understanding Base Saturation in Soil: Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Sodium Explained

Learn what base saturation means, how calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium affect soil, and how to read base saturation on a soil test.

06/13/2026

https://sdmicrobeworks.com/pages/about-us

After years of working with and around several different soil and compost companies throughout San Diego, I started seeing the same problems over and over again.

Too much manure.
Cheap filler compost.
Inconsistent bulk materials.
Soil mixes that looked good on paper but didn’t perform the way growers needed them to.

That’s a big part of why I started SD Microbes.

I wanted to do things differently.

I believe better soil starts at the compost level. If the compost, vermicompost, and base ingredients aren’t clean, balanced, and biologically active, the finished soil will always have limitations.

At SD Microbes, we focus on clean inputs, plant-based composting, living biology, and balanced soil blends made for real growing results.

We’re not trying to make the cheapest soil in San Diego County.

We’re trying to make soil that actually works.

From BierKashi Bokashi to plant-based vermicompost, living potting soils, compost top dressings, and bulk soil blends, everything we make comes back to the same idea:

Healthy soil starts with better compost.

Pickup available by appointment in Ramona.
Delivery available throughout San Diego County.

Text photos, questions, or project details to Andy: 814-823-9709
Email: [email protected]

SD Microbes
Premium soil, vermicompost, and bokashi made in San Diego County.

About San Diego Microbes Premium Garden Soil, Vermicompost, Bokashi and Mulch Made in San Diego County SD Microbes was built after seeing too many soil companies cut corners with cheap filler composts, manure-heavy materials, and inconsistent bulk blends. We believe better soil starts at the compost...

05/11/2026

Most people don’t realize how a lot of bulk “garden soil” is made around San Diego.

A lot of these yards or cattle operations have manure coming in constantly, and they need to move it off the property. So it ends up getting worked into a lot of their soil, compost, and planter mixes.
A little well-composted manure can be fine.
But when too much manure is used, it can create problems.
Too much manure can make soil too salty, too hot, or too heavy. It can throw off the nutrient balance, especially with phosphorus and nitrogen. It can also be rough on young plants, seedlings, and roots if it wasn’t composted and aged the right way.
That’s one of the big reasons we do things differently at SD Microbes.
Our compost operation is completely manure-free and plant-based. We build our soil mixes from clean plant material, compost, vermicompost, and biology — not from trying to get rid of a manure pile.
We’re not saying manure is always bad.
We’re saying there’s a big difference between using a little manure correctly and building an entire soil program around moving it off the lot.
Know what’s in your soil.
SD Microbes
Manure-free. Plant-based. Made in Ramona.