What Makes Ancient Soil Different?
Look, we get it. You've probably tried a bunch of different fertilizers and soil amendments, and honestly? Most of them don't live up to the hype. That's exactly why we created Ancient Soil.
Here's the thing—your soil isn't supposed to be just dirt that holds your plants up. It's meant to be this incredible living ecosystem, buzzing with billions of tiny organisms that work together to feed your plants naturally. But somewhere along the way, we forgot that. We started dumping chemicals on everything, killing off the good stuff along with the bad.
Ancient Soil brings it all back. We've carefully selected five ingredients that work together to rebuild what nature intended. And yeah, we only source from suppliers right here in the USA because quality matters to us. Every single ingredient gets tested before we package it up and send it your way.
The Five Ingredients That Do All the Heavy Lifting
Organic Worm Castings (The Foundation)
- Packed with beneficial microbes your soil desperately needs
- It's basically a nutrient buffet for your plants
- Makes your soil structure way better
- Helps keep the bad guys (pathogens) in check
- Third-party verified, so you know it's legit
Think of worm castings as the ultimate soil starter. These little guys have already done the hard work of breaking down organic matter and turning it into plant food that's ready to go. Plus, they're teeming with helpful bacteria and fungi that keep your soil healthy.
Sea Kelp (Nature's Multivitamin)
- Over 70 vitamins and minerals in one ingredient
- Your veggies will be bigger and last longer
- Perfect for reviving sad, stressed plants
- Makes plants tougher against pests and diseases
- Helps them handle drought and crazy weather
We're talking about kelp harvested from clean ocean waters. It's loaded with trace minerals you just can't get from regular fertilizers—the kind of stuff your plants are craving but probably never get.
BioChar (The Water Saver)
- Holds onto moisture like a sponge
- Keeps nitrogen from washing away
- Actually helps fight climate change
- Balances your soil pH naturally
- Creates little homes for beneficial microbes
Biochar is basically super-charged charcoal that's been specially processed. It works like thousands of tiny sponges in your soil, holding water and nutrients right where your plant roots can reach them. Seriously cuts down on how often you need to water.
Bat Guano (The Growth Booster)
- Makes your plants that gorgeous deep green
- Gets seedlings going fast
- Really kicks flowering into high gear
- Keeps feeding your plants for months
- Rich in all the good stuff (nitrogen and phosphorus)
Bat guano sounds exotic, but it's just one of nature's most concentrated fertilizers. It's ethically harvested and absolutely packed with nutrients. The nitrogen makes your plants green and lush, while the phosphorus builds strong roots and flowers.
Azomite (The Mineral Recharge)
- Wakes up dormant soil microbes
- Improves how air and water move through your soil
- Puts minerals back that have been depleted
- Contains 67 different trace minerals
- Seriously boosts yields (we're talking 79% more tomatoes in studies)
Azomite comes from ancient volcanic deposits out west. It's loaded with trace minerals that used to be in all our soils but have been farmed out over the years. Your plants need these minerals for all kinds of processes—they just can't perform without them.
How to Actually Use This Stuff
It's Really Pretty Simple
You don't need to be a soil scientist to use Ancient Soil. Just mix it at about 20% with whatever soil you're using, or sprinkle it on top as a top dressing. Here's the breakdown:
Mix Ancient Soil at 20% with coco coir, peat moss, or whatever base you prefer. So like, 2 lbs of Ancient Soil with 8 lbs of your regular soil. Easy math.
Here's a quick cheat sheet:
#3 pots get 2 lbs
#5 pots get 2.5 lbs
#7 pots get 4 lbs
Just mix it in before you plant.
No problem. Just sprinkle about an inch of Ancient Soil around the base of your plants, then water it in. Do this every 4-6 weeks during the growing season and watch what happens.
Mix Ancient Soil into the top 6 inches of your bed at the start of the season. That's where most of your plants' feeder roots hang out, so they'll find it right away.
Why This Works Better Than Regular Fertilizers
Traditional synthetic fertilizers are like giving your plants an energy drink. Sure, you get a quick boost, but then what? They crash. And worse, all those chemicals kill off the beneficial microbes in your soil that should be doing this work naturally.
| What You're Looking At | Ancient Soil | Chemical Fertilizers |
|---|---|---|
| Soil Life | Adds billions of beneficial microbes | Kills off the good stuff |
| How Plants Get Fed | Steady feeding for months | Big spike, then nothing |
| Environmental Impact | Actually helps the environment | Pollutes water, kills ecosystems |
| Water Retention | Holds moisture like crazy | Doesn't help at all |
| Over Time | Your soil gets better every year | Soil gets worse and worse |
| Plant Health | Strong, resilient plants | Weak plants that need constant feeding |
The biochar alone has been shown to cut chemical inputs by 80% while boosting yields. When you combine that with worm castings and all these minerals, you're building a soil system that actually gets stronger each season instead of weaker.
What Other Gardeners Are Saying
"Once a week...does well so far. I've seen remarkable improvement in my garden since switching to Ancient Soil."
"Got busy today transplanting my plants into bigger pots using ancient soil. Looking forward to watching them flourish and grow!"
"The Ancient soil feels really nice and the plant juice smells like life. Getting seeds started is my passion. Thank you for this wonderful product."
"I love the feel of Ancient Soil! It's a fine rich soil. You mix it at 20% to your soil. Plants react to the soil as happy plants!"
"My first season with elm dirt. Beefsteak did wonderful. Also added to all garden products and it did really well. Thank you for being there."
"Elm dirt ancient soil is the best living soil I've seen."
Who's This For?
Honestly? Pretty much any gardener. But here's how different folks are using it:
Vegetable Growers
Mix it into your beds at the start of the season and you're basically set. The slow-release nutrition keeps your plants fed from seedling all the way to harvest. Tomato growers especially love it—there's actual research showing 79% yield increases, and the flavor is noticeably better.
Container Gardeners
Container soil gets depleted fast because every time you water, nutrients wash out. Ancient Soil solves this. The biochar holds onto nutrients, so they stick around for your plants instead of disappearing down the drain.
Houseplant People
Indoor plants can be finicky, but they love Ancient Soil. The sea kelp especially seems to wake up sad, stressed plants. You'll see those leaves perk up and turn a deeper green within a couple weeks.
Flower Gardeners
The balanced nutrition is great for both leaves and blooms. Some folks use just Ancient Soil, others pair it with our Bloomin' Soil when they want their flowers to really pop.
The Living Soil Idea
Modern farming kind of trained us to think of soil as this dead thing we just dump chemicals on. But that's not what soil is supposed to be. Healthy soil is absolutely alive—there are more organisms in a handful of good soil than there are people on Earth.
When you use Ancient Soil, you're not just adding nutrients. You're rebuilding that whole ecosystem. The worm castings bring in the microbes. The biochar gives them homes. The minerals from azomite and sea kelp feed everyone—plants and microbes alike. It all works together.
That's why people tell us they need less fertilizer each year, not more. Once your soil biology gets established, it starts cycling nutrients on its own, the way nature designed it.
Want to dive deeper into how this all works? Check out our Science Behind Our Products page.
We're Serious About Quality
Every ingredient in Ancient Soil comes from suppliers we know and trust, all based in the USA. Our worm castings are third-party verified. The biochar comes from sustainable forestry operations. The bat guano is ethically harvested. Everything gets tested before we package it.
And here's something cool—the biochar in Ancient Soil actually sequesters carbon. It takes CO2 out of the atmosphere and locks it in your soil for decades. So you're not just growing better plants, you're helping with climate change. Small scale, sure, but it adds up.
You can read more about how we approach sustainability on our Eco-Friendly page.
Your Questions, Answered
How much do I actually need?
For new plantings, mix Ancient Soil at about 20% with your base soil. Easy way to figure it out: divide your total soil amount by 5. If you're top dressing existing plants, put down about an inch and water it in. Repeat every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.
Can I use this on everything?
Yep! Works great on vegetables, flowers, houseplants, herbs, fruit trees, shrubs, even your lawn. The nutrient mix and microbes are beneficial for pretty much any plant. If you're really into flowers, you might want to pair it with our Bloomin' Soil too.
How long does it last?
The bat guano feeds your plants for 3+ months. But the biochar and worm castings? They improve your soil permanently. A lot of our customers tell us they need less and less fertilizer each year as their soil biology takes hold.
Is it really organic?
100%. All five ingredients are certified organic and sourced right here in the USA. No synthetic chemicals, nothing sketchy. It's totally safe for growing food.
What if I have terrible soil?
Ancient Soil is actually amazing for problem soils. Got heavy clay that doesn't drain? The biochar and worm castings loosen it up. Got sandy soil that won't hold water? Same ingredients help it retain moisture. The organic matter helps balance both extremes.
Can I use this with your liquid fertilizers?
Absolutely! Ancient Soil makes an awesome base, and then you can supplement with Plant Juice or Bloom Juice every couple weeks. Lots of our customers do exactly that. Just avoid harsh synthetic fertilizers that'll kill the beneficial microbes.
Does this stuff go bad?
Nope. Store it somewhere cool and dry in the resealable bag, and it lasts indefinitely. The microbes in the worm castings are dormant until they get wet, so they're just waiting to wake up whenever you use them.
Do you sell bigger amounts?
We've got sizes from 2 lbs up to 25 lbs. Need even more than that for a big garden or commercial operation? Just reach out and we'll work out custom pricing for you.
Ready to Give Your Soil an Upgrade?
Join thousands of gardeners who've made the switch
Free shipping over $30 • 180-day money-back guarantee
Add to Cart